Intracellular calcium ([Ca]i) regulates a diverse range of cellular functions and signaling pathways. This review article aims to highlight applications of microfluidic single-cell analysis in drug discovery including drug efficacy test and drug side-effect test, based on intracellular calcium measurement.

In this paper, we present a new impedance-based method to detect viable spores by electrically detecting their germination in real time within microfluidic biochips. We used Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores as the model organism. During germination, the spores release polar and ionic chemicals, such as dipicolinic acid (DPA), calcium ions, phosphate ions, and amino acids, which correspondingly ...

We have successfully employed femtosecond laser to craft microstructures on polymeric substrate to imbed micro-mixiers. Since the laser pulse is ultra-short, the heat affected zone is not significant. Therefore the thermal melting damage is not as severe as that using continuous carbon dioxide laser. As a result, using femtosecond laser the fabrications of reproducible and defined micro-structu...

Intracellular calcium ([Ca]i) regulates a diverse range of cellular functions and signaling pathways. This review article aims to highlight applications of microfluidic single-cell analysis in drug discovery including drug efficacy test and drug side-effect test, based on intracellular calcium measurement.

Novel latching microfluidic valve structures are developed, characterized, and controlled independently using an on-chip pneumatic demultiplexer. These structures are based on pneumatic monolithic membrane valves and depend upon their normally-closed nature. Latching valves consisting of both three- and four-valve circuits are demonstrated. Vacuum or pressure pulses as short as 120 ms are adequ...

Further advances in molecular medicine and cell biology also require new electrochemical systems to detect disease biomarkers and therapeutic compounds. Microelectronic technology offers powerful circuits and systems to develop innovative and miniaturized biochips for sensing at the molecular level. However, microelectronic biochips proposed in the literature often do not show the right specifi...