Developing a prototype electrowetting on dielectric device to perform immunoassays

The goal of this project is to develop a prototype microfluidic device to rapidly determine whether a target protein is present in a sample. Applications of this device include genomic and proteomic research, pharmaceutical testing, and quality control for various industries, including food preparation. The prototype will make use of electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) actuation, which uses the application of electric fields to manipulate confined droplets. Unlike conventional microfluidic devices, EWOD devices do not require complex features for flow control or external pumping. This makes them easier to fabricate, smaller, and more suitable for applications that use multiple reagents. The industrial partner for this project is Engineering Services Inc. This company has expertise bringing emerging biotechnology to market and access to clients that would benefit from the proposed devices. This project will help Ontario become a leader in the development of commercial microfluidic devices that satisfy the high throughput demands of biological testing.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Ridha Ben Mrad

Student:

Michael Schertzer

Partner:

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

University of Toronto

Program: