A simple, optically induced electrokinetic method to concentrate and pattern nanoparticles

We demonstrate an optically induced electrokinetic technique that continuously concentrates nanoparticles on the surface of a parallel plate electrode that is biased with an AC signal. A highly focused beam of near-infrared light (1064 nm) was applied, inducing an electrothermal microfluidic vortex that carried nanoparticles to its center where they were accumulated. This technique was demonstrated with 49 nm and 100 nm fluorescent polystyrene particles and characterized as a function of applied AC frequency and voltage. With this technique the location and shape of colloidal concentration was reconfigured by controlling the optical landscape, yielding dynamic control of the aggregation. Colloidal concentration was demonstrated with a plain parallel plate electrode configuration without the need of photoconductive materials or complex microfabrication procedures

Towards the use of a smartphone imaging-based tool for point-of-care detection of asymptomatic low-density malaria parasitaemia

Background: Globally, there are over 200 million cases of malaria annually and over 400,000 deaths. Early and accurate detection of low-density parasitaemia and asymptomatic individuals is key to achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 sustainable development goals of reducing malaria-related deaths by 90% and eradication in 35 countries. Current rapid diagnostic tests are neither sensitive nor specific enough to detect the low parasite concentrations in the blood of asymptomatic individuals. Methods: Here, an imaging-based sensing technique, particle diffusometry (PD), is combined with loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) on a smartphone-enabled device to detect low levels of parasitaemia often associated with asymptomatic malaria. After amplification, PD quantifies the Brownian motion of fluorescent nanoparticles in the solution during a 30 s video taken on the phone. The resulting diffusion coefficient is used to detect the presence of Plasmodium DNA amplicons. The coefficients of known negative samples are compared to positive samples using a one-way ANOVA post-hoc Dunnett's test for confirmation of amplification. Results: As few as 3 parasite/µL of blood was detectable in 45 min without DNA extraction. Plasmodium falciparum parasites were detected from asymptomatic individuals' whole blood samples with 89% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Conclusions: PD-LAMP is of value for the detection of low density parasitaemia especially in areas where trained personnel may be scarce. The demonstration of this smartphone biosensor paired with the sensitivity of LAMP provides a proof of concept to achieve widespread asymptomatic malaria testing at the point of care

Long-range and rapid transport of individual nano-objects by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer

Plasmon-enhanced optical trapping is being actively studied to provide efficient manipulation of nanometre-sized objects. However, a long-standing issue with previously proposed solutions is how to controllably load the trap on-demand without relying on Brownian diffusion. Here, we show that the photo-induced heating of a nanoantenna in conjunction with an applied a.c. electric field can initiate rapid microscale fluid motion and particle transport with a velocity exceeding 10 μm s -1 , which is over two orders of magnitude faster than previously predicted. Our electrothermoplasmonic device enables on-demand long-range and rapid delivery of single nano-objects to specific plasmonic nanoantennas, where they can be trapped and even locked in place. We also present a physical model that elucidates the role of both heat-induced fluidic motion and plasmonic field enhancement in the plasmon-assisted optical trapping process. Finally, by applying a d.c. field or low-frequency a.c. field (below 10 Hz) while the particle is held in the trap by the gradient force, the trapped nano-objects can be immobilized into plasmonic hotspots, thereby providing the potential for effective low-power nanomanufacturing on-chip

A Capacitive Micro Gas Flow Sensor based on Slip Flow

This paper presents a capacitive pressure-based micro gas flow sensor with slip flow analyses considering velocity slip at the wall. The sensor consists of a pair of capacitors for measuring pressure difference between the inlet and outlet and absolute pressure at the outlet, inlet/outlet reservoirs, and the main microchannel causing pressure difference. The main microchannel is 128.0 ??m wide, 4.64 ??m deep, and 5680 ??m long, where the outlet Knudsen number is 0.0137. The sensor was fabricated using wet etching, ultrasonic drilling, Deep Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and anodic bonding. The capacitance change of the sensor and the mass flow rate of nitrogen were measured as the inlet to outlet pressure ratio increased up to 1.24. With the increasing pressure difference, the capacitance change of the differential pressure sensor and flow rates through the main microchannel increases. The sensitivity of the sensor will also be discussed

Rapid generation and manipulation of microfluidic vortex flows induced by AC electrokinetics with optical illumination

We demonstrate a rapid generation of twin opposing microvortices (TOMVs) induced by non-uniform alternating current (AC) electric fields together with a laser beam on a patterned pair of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. A fast and strong jet flow region between twin microvortices is also generated. Its pattern and direction, such as whether it is symmetric or asymmetric, are controlled mainly by the location of a single laser spot relative to the ITO electrodes. With two laser beams, two separate flows are superposed to give a new one. In situ generation and control of the TOMV flow are tested in suspensions of fluorescent polystyrene particles, as well as in milk emulsions. This technique has great potential for dynamically manipulating micro-fluid flows, functioning as a micro-pump or mixer

Optically induced electrokinetic concentration and sorting of colloids

We demonstrate an optically induced ac electrokinetic technique that rapidly and continuously accumulates colloids on a parallel-plate electrode surface resulting in a crystalline-like aggregation. Electrothermal hydrodynamics produce a microfluidic vortex that carries suspended particles toward its center where they are trapped by local ac electrokinetic hydrodynamic forces. We characterize the rate of particle aggregation as a function of the applied ac voltage, ac frequency and illumination intensity. Hundreds of polystyrene particles (1.0 mu m) suspended in a low conductivity solution (2.4 mS m(-1)) were captured at a range of voltages (5-20 V-pp) and frequencies (20-150 kHz) with an optical power of approximately 20 mW. This technique was not restricted to near infrared (1064 nm) illumination and was also demonstrated at 532 nm. The sorting capability of this technique was demonstrated with a solution containing 0.5 mu m, 1.0 mu m and 2.0 mu m polystyrene particles. This dynamic optically induced technique rapidly concentrates, sorts and translates colloidal aggregates with a simple parallel-plate electrode configuration and can be used for a variety of lab-on-a-chip applications