?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fmiis.maths.ox.ac.uk%2Fmiis%2F284%2F&rft.title=Akonni+Biosystems%3A+Wicking+in+Microchannels+on+Biochips&rft.creator=Daneshbod%2C+Yousef&rft.creator=Kominiarczuk%2C+Jakub&rft.creator=Kreykes%2C+Jason&rft.creator=Nadim%2C+Ali&rft.subject=Materials&rft.subject=Medical+and+pharmaceutical&rft.description=Microfluidics+is+the+science+of+designing+and+manufacturing+devices+and+processes+for+manipulation+of+extremely+small+volumes+of+fluid%2C+typically+micro+to+nanoliters.The+most+mature+application+of+microfluidics+technology+is+ink-jet+printing%2C+which+uses+orifices+less+than+100+%CE%BCm+in+diameter+to+generate+drops+of+ink.+The+complex+devices+now+being+developed+for+biological+applications+involving+the+analysis+of+DNA+(in+genetics+and+genomics)+and+proteins+(in+proteomics)+and+bio-defense+typically+involve+aqueous+solutions+and+channels+30+to+300+%CE%BCm+in+diameter.+Unlike+microelectronics%2C+in+which+the+current+emphasis+is+on+reducing+the+size+of+transistors%2C+microfluidics+is+focusing+on+making+more+complex+systems+of+channels+with+more+sophisticated+fluid-handling+capabilities%2C+rather+than+reducing+the+size+of+the+channels.+Although+micro-+and+macro-fluidic+systems+require+similar+components+including+pumps%2C+valves%2C+mixers%2C+filters%2C+and+separators%2C+the+small+size+of+microchannels+causes+their+flow+to+behave+differently.+At+micron+scales%2C+fluid+motions+are+primarily+dominated+by+surface+tension+and+viscous+forces.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn+the+problem+under+consideration%2C+the+issue+is+one+of+wicking+or+leaking+of+the+sample+from+the+reaction+reservoir+to+the+waste+region+at+elevated+temperatures.+A+mechanism+responsible+for+this+phenomenon+was+thought+to+be+the+%22wedge+effect%2C%22+which+refers+to+the+tendency+of+liquids+to+move+along+a+sharp+corner+by+capillary+effects+if+the+conditions+are+right.+The+analysis+performed+during+the+workshop+also+mainly+focused+on+this+effect.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile+a+definitive+solution+to+this+challenging+problem+posed+in+the+workshop+was+not+identified%2C+it+was+felt+that+using+a+manufacturing+process+that+can+affect+the+corner+angles+in+the+channels+may+hold+the+most+promise%2C+allowing+the+wicking+mechanism+to+be+controlled+without+surface+treatments+that+insert+hydrophobic+stops+in+the+channel.+For+instance+by+%22rounding%22+the+side+walls+to+increase+the+corner+angles+from+90+toward+180+degrees%2C+the+leaking+of+the+sample+away%0D%0Afrom+the+reaction+chamber+might+be+delayed.&rft.date=2009&rft.type=Study+Group+Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fmiis.maths.ox.ac.uk%2Fmiis%2F284%2F1%2F3_Akonni_Biosystems.pdf&rft.identifier=++Daneshbod%2C+Yousef+and+Kominiarczuk%2C+Jakub+and+Kreykes%2C+Jason+and+Nadim%2C+Ali++(2009)+Akonni+Biosystems%3A+Wicking+in+Microchannels+on+Biochips.++%5BStudy+Group+Report%5D+++++