Microfluidic Automation Using Elastomeric Valves and Droplets: Reducing Reliance on External Controllers

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of elastomeric valve‐ and droplet‐based microfluidic systems designed to minimize the need of external pressure to control fluid flow. This Concept article introduces the working principle of representative components in these devices along with relevant biochemical applications. This is followed by providing a perspective on the roles of different microfluidic valves and systems through comparison of their similarities and differences with transistors (valves) and systems in microelectronics. Despite some physical limitation of drawing analogies from electronic circuits, automated microfluidic circuit design can gain insights from electronic circuits to minimize external control units, while implementing high‐complexity and high‐throughput analysis. In microfluidic devices , demands for the minimal use of external controllers while implementing high‐throughput analysis are increasing. To this end, an overview of elastomeric valve‐ and droplet‐based microfluidic systems is provided: the working principles and limitations of representative components in these devices along with relevant biochemical applications are discussed.