Priscilla Delgado
BME PhD Defense Presentation

Date: 2025-12-03
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location / Meeting Link: HSRB II N600; Link: https://emory.zoom.us/j/96358220843

Committee Members:
David Myers, PhD (Advisor); Andres Garcia, PhD; Wilbur Lam, PhD; Nicholas Au Yong, MD PhD; Albert Folch, PhD


Title: Advancing Microfluidic System Innovation Through Novel Bonding and Accessible Manufacturing for Complex Feature Integration

Abstract:
Microfluidics are a highly interdisciplinary field often requiring mastery of many fields ranging from biology, chemistry, and engineering. As a result, it has many applications within biotechnology such as therapeutic identification to wearable technologies. Microfluidics have predominantly been manufactured using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft lithography and plasma treatment to bond the PDMS channels to a glass floor substrate. While PDMS-glass bonding is highly reliable, it relies on high infrastructure for implementation. As the applications for microfluidics grows, it is necessary to seek alternative bonding methods for integration of complex features such as pre-functionalized surfaces and electrodes to further drive innovation. Bespoke solutions with elegant integration have been created, however, come at a cost of accessibility and barriers of specialized training to implement them. Ultimately, making it difficult for others to implement microfluidics within their own research. In an effort to bridge the gap between accessibility and complex functionality of microfluidics, this work aims to investigate approachable methods of bonding microfluidics for broad applications. This is explored through 1) upstream approaches to integrate pre-mixing preparation of fluids to existing solutions, 2) integration of sticker-based microfluidics into classroom curriculum for early exposure to microfluidic manufacturing principles, and 3) downstream approaches that can be applied to analysis of biofluids through integration of sensors. Together these efforts highlight a path toward microfluidic systems that are not only functionally sophisticated, but also accessible enough to enable broader adoption across diverse research and educational environments.