Research Projects

Microfluidic technologies are central to lab-on-a-chip (LoC) systems used in diagnostics, chemical analysis, and portable sensing. These systems enable manipulation of small fluid volumes and suspended droplets and particles with high precision. A major research objective is to implement active flow control without relying on mechanical components or complex cleanroom fabrication. This project proposes a novel resin-printed microfluidic platform with embedded electrodes for electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow control and particle manipulation. The approach combines high-resolution additive manufacturing with post-fabrication integration of electrodes into or near the microchannel walls. These embedded features allow spatially tunable electric fields that can trap, sort, or concentrate particles and EHD manipulation of droplets within microfluidic geometries. Two fabrication strategies will be employed. In the first method, enclosed microchannel structures will be fabricated using stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printing, followed by electroless metal deposition to form conformal electrodes along the channel walls. This approach enables precise, cleanroom-free integration of conductive features within the microfluidic network. In the second method, SLA 3D-printed microchannel enclosures will be aligned and bonded onto CNC-milled tracks on FR4 (PCB) boards. Electrodes will be manually embedded through the enclosures to establish contact with the underlying FR4 surface. The milled FR4 board then automatically comprises of flow channels and electrodes, which can then subsequently be bonded with integrated discrete electronics components for on-board applications such as sensing. This hybrid strategy supports rapid prototyping using standard PCB materials while maintaining channel integrity through printed structures. Electrode performance will be characterized potentially using impedance measurements, and channel quality and dimensions will be verified via microscopy and profilometry. Electrohydrodynamic particle and droplet manipulation will be studied using polystyrene microspheres as proxies for biological samples. These tests will examine trapping efficiency, particle trajectory control, piv-derived flow fields and separation performance under varying electric field strengths and frequencies.The study also aims to understand the dynamics of droplets such as deformation, migration, etc. in such electrified systems. Besides the experiments, we also aim to have numerical simulation driven towards understanding such electrohydrodynamic full form systems. The proposing team has experience on such numerical techniques. Numerical simulations will model electric field gradients and EHD force profiles across different electrode arrangements, including interdigitated, edge-aligned, and castellated designs. The numerical simulations will be compared to experimental outcomes to optimize geometry, frequency, and voltage conditions. Potential applications include size-based separation, microvalving, and analyte pre-concentration for sensing. The modular fabrication approach enables rapid and parametric design, making it suitable for multifarious applications. Its versatility supports the design of application-specific chips for diagnostics and bioanalytical workflows. In the long term, we shall also look into the development of devices with integrated electronics where the platform can be adapted for use with real biological samples such as cells, bacteria, or vesicles, under appropriate biosafety protocols. This may lead to future innovations in point-of-care testing, cell sorting, and automated sample preparation. In summary, the project combines resin 3D printing and embedded electrode integration to develop a microfluidic platform capable of electric field-assisted flow and particle control. It bridges advanced fabrication and microscale actuation to expand lab-on-a-chip capabilities in a compact, accessible, and customizable format.