A Droplet Based Multi-Drug Screening System Controlled With Electrostatic Microvalves

Abstract

This paper presents a droplet-based drug effect analysis system utilizing electrostatically-actuated normallyclosed microvalves to screen the effect of multiple drugs on a single type of cell. Proposed system minimizes the need for off-chip equipment by utilizing parylene based electrostatic microvalves. Prototypes of the system were fabricated and tested using colored DI water and 3 μm diameter micro beads, emulating drugs and cells respectively. During the tests, micro beads could be successfully entrapped in 137 pl droplets. Tests carried out with yeast cells also yielded successful encapsulation of the cells. It was shown that, switching between the drugs could be achieved by applying 200 V dc to operate the microvalves.