Open Science - Desktop Digital Biology Laboratory

Detailed process on how to prepare the carrier with a thin foil and how to apply a hydrophobic coating for the OpenDrop digital microfluidic device is now documented in a video tutorial online.

Part 1: preparing the carrier: Part 2, applying the fluor polymer:

Check out this nice demo video of the OpenDrop by Luis Ruben Soenksen, PhD student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Luis is planing to do research in drug organ interactions in communicated tissues (organ-on-a-chip) and sharing results with the community.

http://www.gaudi.ch/OpenDrop/?p=153

A simple 3D printable spectrometer was developed that fits with the OpenDrop V2. The DIY design is based on the PublicLabs Spectrometer using a conventional computer WebCam as a sensor and a piece of DVD as a diffraction grating. With this spectrometer the hole in the centre of each electrode can be used to optically inspect the droplet sitting on the electrode.

For more details see here:

http://www.gaudi.ch/OpenDrop/?p=206

The last two weeks we made good progress with exploring the possibilites of the new OpenDrop V2.1 design. The feedback amplifier to detect the postion of the droplets seems to work. And also a test with moving droplets in the vertical was successful. For more details see here:

http://www.gaudi.ch/OpenDrop/?cat=7

Welcome to all of our followers. OpenDrop is an open source project and we welcome collaborators. We are part of a bigger Digital Biology Ecosystem. So deviates, addition and new platforms are welcome.

Here we need you help: The OpenDrop uses a hydrophobic foil to move the droplets. The electrowetting effect used depends strongly on the thickness of the foil. We use Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) foil, a fluorine-based plastic with a thickness of 12 um (0.012 mm / 0.0005 inch). Thinner is better! -> Who can find a supplier or other source where to get thinner ETFE foil (like 6um, 0.006 mm / 0.00025 inch)?

Please leave you suggestion in the comments. Thanks!