MICRO- & NANOFLUIDIC INSTRUMENTATION LABORATORY
Molecular Assay Methods
Our focus in this research area has been to improve the detection limit of airborne, liquid phase and surface deposited biological samples employing microfluidic immunoassay and PCR methods. Additionally, several of these assay platforms are being designed to allow signal readout using commercial instruments, e.g., microplate readers.
Micro- and Nanofluidic Separations
In this area of research, we have focused on developing micro-pumps that enable on-chip pressure-generation with high precision and dynamic control within micro- and nanofluidic networks. Over the years, we have then applied these pressure-generation capabilities towards improving the resolving power of microchip-based electrophoretic and chromatographic separations.
Energy Conversion Devices
Evaporation-driven electrokinetic energy conversion devices relying on glass channels or nanoporous membranes as the evaporating surface are being developed in this research area. In particular, our work focuses on characterizing liquid transport and solvent evaporation rates across the evaporating surface in these platforms for open and closed systems.
Band Broadening Theory
Our contributions in this area of research include the development of mathematical models for describing zone dispersion in band and continuous separation systems. These analytic models based on the method-of-moments approach capture the effects of dispersion sources that are either inherent to the method or arise due to non-ideal operating conditions.