A miniaturized wide-angle 2D cytometer.

Background: We present an optical waveguide based cytometer that is capable of simultaneously collecting the light scattered by cells over a wide range of solid angles. Such comprehensive scattering data are a prerequisite for the microstructural characterization of cells.

Methods: We use latex beads as cell mimics, and demonstrate the ability of this new cytometer to collect back-scattered light in two dimensions (2D).

Rapid self-assembly of DNA on a microfluidic chip.

BACKGROUND: DNA self-assembly methods have played a major role in enabling methods for acquiring genetic information without having to resort to sequencing, a relatively slow and costly procedure. However, even self-assembly processes tend to be very slow when they rely upon diffusion on a large scale. Miniaturisation and integration therefore hold the promise of greatly increasing this speed of operation.