Optoelectrofluidic platforms for chemistry and biology

Lab Chip. 2011 Jan 7;11(1):33-47. doi: 10.1039/c0lc00117a. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

Extraordinary advances in lab on a chip systems have been made on the basis of the development of micro/nanofluidics and its fusion with other technologies based on electrokinetics and optics. Optoelectrofluidic technology, which has been recently introduced as a new manipulation scheme, allows programmable manipulation of particles or fluids in microenvironments based on optically induced electrokinetics. Herein, the behaviour of particles or fluids can be controlled by inducing or perturbing electric fields on demand in an optical manner, which includes photochemical, photoconductive, and photothermal effects. This elegant scheme of the optoelectrofluidic platform has attracted attention in various fields of science and engineering. A lot of research on optoelectrofluidic manipulation technologies has been reported and the field has advanced rapidly, although some technical hurdles still remain. This review describes recent developments and future perspectives of optoelectrofluidic platforms for chemical and biological applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices* / trends
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / trends
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
  • Optics and Photonics / trends