Microfluidics and Microsystems Laboratory

Acoustofluidics is not a simple combination of acoustics and micro-scale fluid mechanics, but provides superior advantages over other fluid manipulation techniques, including non-invasiveness, high biocompatibility, simple fabrication and operation, effective fluid actuation and favorable particle/cell manipulation. Our overarching goal in this research thrust is to improve and translate existing acoustofluidic achievements based on acoustic bubble/membrane/sharp edge in applications involving real biological fluids and clinic samples, which are still at early stage.

Improved microfabrication and visualization technologies have made microfluidic engineering a easy way to collect tons of data that otherwise can only be acquired in vivo. In conjunction with data harnessing, convolutional neural network and recurring neural network, we aim to build sample-to-answer diagnostic systems through microfluidic data training and real sample validation for public health. Architectures such as unstructured-to-unstructured, sequence-to-unstructured, image-to-unstructured, and image-to-image are investigated, and finally used for clinic diagnosis.

Most of the microfluidic devices developed nowadays require sophisticated fabrication processes, not to mention their limited capabilities in reproducing complex physiological structures with nonstandard cross-sections. To facilitate the development of novel microfluidic systems for public healthcare and provide unprecedented advantages for creating complex microstructures, additive manufacturing technology, or the so-called 3D printing technology, has become a promising tool in microfluidic engineering. We are exploring and expanding its potential in various microfluidic applications, including but not limited to cellular filtration and classification, digital microfluidics, magnetofluidics, and integrated microfluidics.

Recent microfluidic engineering has witnessed a explosive trend from using glass and silicon as the building blocks to ubiquitous and cheap materials such as paper and plastic film. The corresponding applications have reshaped the way how multidisciplinary methods are integrated into microfluidics and established a foundation for future point-of-care and public healthcare.