Democratizing Digital Microfluidics by a Cloud-based Design and Manufacturing Platform

Akin to the impact that digital microelectronics had on electronic devices for information technology, digital microfluidics (DMF) was anticipated to transform fluidic devices for lab-on-a-chip (LoC) applications. However, despite a wealth of research and publications, electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) DMF has not achieved the anticipated wide adoption, and commercialization has been painfully slow. By identifying the technological and resource hurdles in developing DMF chip and control systems as the culprit, we envision democratizing DMF by building a standardized design and manufacturing platform. To achieve this vision, we introduce a proof-of-concept cloud platform that empowers any user to design, obtain, and operate DMF chips (https://edroplets.org). For chip design, we establish a web-based EWOD chip design platform with layout rules and automated wire routing. For chip manufacturing, we build a web-based EWOD chip manufacturing platform and fabricate four types of EWOD chips (i.e., glass, paper, PCB, and TFT) to demonstrate the foundry service workflow. For chip control, we introduce a compact EWOD control system along with web-based operating software. Although industrial fabrication services are beyond the scope of this work, we hope this perspective will inspire academic and commercial stakeholders to join the initiative toward a DMF ecosystem for the masses

Sub-Second Electrochemiluminescence Imaging Assay of SARS-CoV‑2 Nucleocapsid Protein Based on Reticulation of Endo-Coreactants

The nonphotodriven electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imageology necessitates concentrated coreacting additives plus longtime exposures. Seeking biosafe and streamlined ensembles can help lower the bar for quality ECL bioimaging to which call the crystallized endo-coreaction in nanoreticula might provide a potent solution. Herein, an exo-coreactant-free ECL visualizer was fabricated out in one-pot, which densified the dyad triethylamine analogue: 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in the lamellar hive of 9,10-di(p-carboxyphenyl)anthracene (DPA)-Zn2+. This biligated non-noble metal–organic framework (m-MOF) facilitated a self-contained anodic ECL with a yield as much as 70% of Ru(bPy)32+ in blank phosphate buffered saline. Its featured two-stage emissions rendered an efficient and endurant CCD imaging at 1.0 V under mere 0.5 s swift snapshots and 0.1 s step-pulsed stimulation. Upon structural and spectral cause analyses as well as parametric set optimization, simplistic ECL-graphic immunoassay was mounted in the in situ imager to enact an ultrasensitive measurement of coronaviral N-protein in both signal-on and off modes by the privilege of straight surface amidation on m-MOFs, resulting in a wide dynamic range (10–4–10 ng/mL), a competent detection limit down to 56 fg/mL, along with nice precision and parallelism in human saliva tests. The overall work manifests a rudimentary endeavor in self-sufficient ECL visuality for brisk, biocompatible, and brilliant production of point-of-care diagnostic “Big Data”