Microliter-bioreactor array with buoyancy-driven stirring for human hematopoietic stem cell culture.

This work presents the development of an array of bioreactors where finely controlled stirring is provided at the microliter scale (100-300 mul). The microliter-bioreactor array is useful for performing protocol optimization in up to 96 parallel experiments of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cultures. Exploring a wide range of experimental conditions at the microliter scale minimizes cost and labor.

AC electrothermal enhancement of heterogeneous assays in microfluidics.

AC-driven electrothermal flow is used to enhance the temporal performance of heterogeneous immuno-sensors in microfluidic systems by nearly an order of magnitude. AC electrokinetic forces are used to generate electrothermal flow, which in turn produces a circular stirring fluid motion that enhances the transport of diffusion-limited proteins. This provides more binding opportunities between suspended antigens and wall-immobilized antibodies.