This volume contains an archival record of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Microfluidics Based Microsystems – Fundamentals and App- cations held in Çe ?me-Izmir, Turkey, August 23–September 4, 2009. ASIs are intended to be high-level teaching activity in scientific and technical areas of current concern. In this volume, the reader may find interesting chapters and various microsystems fundamentals and applications. As the world becomes increasingly concerned with terrorism, early - spot detection of terrorist’s weapons, particularly bio-weapons agents such as bacteria and viruses are extremely important. NATO Public Diplomacy division, Science for Peace and Security section support research, Advanced Study Institutes and workshops related to security. Keeping this policy of NATO in mind, we made such a proposal on Microsystems for security. We are very happy that leading experts agreed to come and lecture in this important NATO ASI. We will see many examples that will show us Microfluidics usefulness for rapid diagnostics following a bioterrorism attack. For the applications in national security and anti-terrorism, microfluidic system technology must meet the challenges. To develop microsystems for security and to provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art assessment of the existing research and applications by treating the subject in considerable depth through lectures from eminent professionals in the field, through discussions and panel sessions are very beneficial for young scientists in the field.

In this 2nd edition of Micro-Drops and Digital Microfluidics, Jean Berthier explores the fundamentals and applications of digital microfluidics, enabling engineers and scientists to design this important enabling technology into devices and harness the considerable potential of digital microfluidics in testing and data collection. This book describes the most recent developments in digital microfluidics, with a specific focus on the computational, theoretical and experimental study of microdrops. Unique in its emphasis on digital microfluidics and with diverse applications ranging from drug delivery to point-of-care diagnostic chips, organic synthesis to microreactors, Micro-Drops and Digital Microfluidics meets the needs of audiences across the fields of bioengineering and biotechnology, and electrical and chemical engineering. Authoritative reporting on the latest changes in microfluidic science, where microscopic liquid volumes are handled as ""microdrops"" and separately from ""nanodrops." A methodical examination of how liquid microdrops behave in the complex geometries of modern miniaturized systems and interact with different morphological (micro-fabricated, textured) solid substrates A thorough explanation of how capillary forces act on liquid interfaces in contact with micro-fabricated surfaces Analysis of how droplets can be manipulated, handled, or transported using electric fields (electrowetting), acoustic actuation (surface acoustic waves), or by a carrier liquid (microflow) A fresh perspective on the future of microfluidics

Electrowetting has been widely used in digital microfluidics as a reliable actuation method due to its considerable advantages such as the absence of heat generation, rapid switching response, flexibility, and low power consumption. Research on the improvement of this method has turned into one of the attractive fields in the design of fluid handling micro devices. This work presents a combined numerical and experimental study to investigate the effect of electrode shape in electrowetting-based microsystems. A new crescent-shaped electrode is proposed which provides a uniform actuation force at the contact line as well as overlap between the adjacent electrodes. The onset of actuation and droplet mobility on electrode arrays have been investigated. The numerical method is based on the Volume of Fluid technique to track the 3-D interface along with the Laplace equation solver to calculate the electric field in the domain. Furthermore, the dynamic behaviour of tri-phase contact line is modeled using the molecular-kinetic theory. Validation experiments were carried out to characterize the droplet actuation on various electrode shapes. The superior performance of the new electrode shape is demonstrated by comparing the droplet velocity and deformation, as well as contact angle distribution with those of a simple flat electrode. Using crescent electrode, the droplet actuation occurs with less deformation and higher velocities. The velocities obtained by using the crescent electrode are up to 4 times at the onset of the actuation and 2 times at the steady state motion of those on the flat electrode. The novel crescent shape can even actuate the droplets which are not placed on the electrode.

Starting from the basic principles of wetting, electrowetting and fluid dynamics all the way up to those engineering aspects relevant for the development of specific devices, this is a comprehensive introduction and overview of the theoretical and practical aspects. Written by two of the most knowledgeable experts in the field, the text covers both current as well as possible future applications, providing basic working principles of lab-on-a-chip devices and such optofluidic devices as adaptive lenses and optical switches. Furthermore, novel e-paper display technology, energy harvesting and supercapacitors as well as electrowetting in the nano-world are discussed. Finally, the book contains a series of exercises and questions for use in courses on microfluidics or electrowetting. With its all-encompassing scope, this book will equally serve the growing community of students and academic and industrial researchers as both an introduction and a standard reference.

Microdroplet technology has recently emerged to provide new and diverse applications via microfluidic functionality, especially in various areas of biology and chemistry. This book, then, gives an overview of the principle components and wide-ranging applications for state-of-the-art of droplet-based microfluidics. Chapter authors are internationally-leading researchers from chemistry, biology, physics and engineering that present various key aspects of micrdroplet technology -- fundamental flow physics, methodology and components for flow control, applications in biology and chemistry, and a discussion of future perspectives. This book acts as a reference for academics, post-graduate students, and researcher wishing to deepen their understand of microfluidics and introduce optimal design and operation of new droplet-based microfluidic devices for more comprehensive analyte assessments.

Droplet and Digital Microfluidics: Ideation to Implementation is a detailed introduction to the dynamics of droplet and digital microfluidics, also featuring coverage of new methods and applications. The explosion of applications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in recent years has driven demand for expertise and innovation in fluid flow in the microchannels they contain. In this book, detailed descriptions of methods for biological and chemical applications of microfluidics are provided, along with supporting foundational knowledge. In addition, the principles of droplet and digital microfluidics are explained, along with their different applications and governing physics. New additions to the technological knowledgebase that enable advances in droplet and digital microfluidics include machine learning and exciting future avenues for research. Provides step-by-step fabrication, testing, and characterization instructions in each chapter to support implementation Includes explanations of applications and methods in biological and chemical settings Describes the path to automation of digital and droplet microfluidic platforms