PortaDrop

PortaDrop implements a portable digital microfluidic platform that manipulates discrete liquid droplets via electrowetting-on-dielectric for automated fluid handling and integrated electrochemical measurements.

Key Features:

• Electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD): Digital microfluidic manipulation of discrete droplets enabling reconfigurable assays.
• Integrated electrochemical measurements: On-board support for electrochemical sensing coupled to the microfluidic platform.
• Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) monitoring: Characterization and monitoring of media exchange and passive dispensing using EIS.
• Passive dispensing protocol: Support for sequential replacement of a droplet by droplets of another medium.
• Linux-based Raspberry Pi control: Control and computation implemented on a Linux-based Raspberry Pi.
• Hardware I/O via USB and GPIO: Expandability through USB and GPIO interfaces for connecting laboratory equipment.

Scientific Applications:

• Low-volume droplet manipulation: Handling of sample volumes in the nanoliter to picoliter range for assays requiring precise droplet control.
• Automated electrochemical assays: Integration of automated fluid handling with electrochemical measurements for electrochemical assay workflows.
• Passive dispensing characterization: Monitoring and characterization of media exchange via passive dispensing using electrical impedance spectroscopy.

Methodology:

PortaDrop uses electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) to manipulate discrete droplets on a digital microfluidic platform, implements integrated electrochemical measurements including electrical impedance spectroscopy to monitor processes such as passive dispensing, and employs a Linux-based Raspberry Pi for control.