New EWOD Platform for Freely Transporting Droplet in Double-Plates and Single-Plate Structures

In this study, a new type of dielectric wetting microfluidic operation platform combining parallel plate region and single plate region with a curved surface structure as the connection structure was developed. With the new EWOD platform, reliable droplet volume controlling can be achieve in the parallel-plate region. On the other hand, the platform has the higher degree of freedom with lab-equipment integration in single-plate region. The EWOD platform is divided into PDMS substrate top plate and ITO glass substrate EWOD chip. The PDMS top plate has a central opening surrounded by a curved structure, which is the connect structure between parallel-plate and single-plate region of EWOD platform. With the curved-structure design, "Droplet Pull-out" has been successfully achieved and been viewed as a new basic dielectric wetting technique operation for solving the biomolecule adhesion issue on top plate.