Large-scale integrated microfluidic circuits based on intrinsically active polymers

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andreas Richter
• Subject Area: Microsystems
• Term: from 2011 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 192312245

The projects overall target is to question the fundamentals of scalable large-scale integrated circuits and, based on the new understanding, to derive a concept for microfluidic circuits that will be able to fulfill the requirements for scalability and subsequent functional diversification. This should be achieved through a combined top-down and bottom-up approach. On the one hand, the required system characteristics of an ideal system shall be defined, on the other hand, functional-technological capabilities of a platform based on intrinsically active polymers will be investigated. Matching the findings of both methods will allow to deduce a realizable concept. Two chip concepts will be addressed: (a) integrated circuits with fixed channel structures and (b) circuits with reconfigurable circuit structures. In order to establish the main features of the concept of scalable large-scale integrated circuits based on intrinsically active polymers, a fairly broad spectrum of subtasks has to be accomplished. In previous works of the research project, the material base of the active components, the main features of a scalable manufacturing technology for the fluidic circuits, feasible system and chip architectures as well as concepts for components were developed. Additionally, the opto-electro-thermic controller could be adjusted so as to be able to control microfluidic chips. Furthermore, chemical detection reactions for diagnostic investigations of blood parameters based on clinical chemistry suitable to be performed with ICs were developed. These detection reactions serve as exemplary formulation of tasks for the microfluidic circuits. During the remaining 6 month of the granted funding period, the chemical detection reactions for diagnostic investigations of blood parameters will be transformed into circuit programs and the necessary unit operations and basic circuits will be investigated. Regarding the reconfigurable platforms, tasks including system and chip architecture as well as technological-constructional developments supporting a free configuration of passive connecting structures or channel structures respectively will be performed. Aim of the requested funding period is to complete the remaining tasks of the overall goal successfully. The previously achieved status of the project is suitable to serve as foundation for future works regarding specific aspects of large-scale integrated circuits. Further tasks partly depend on the type of the circuit. Whereas a first focus of circuits with fixed channel structures will be on approaches for large-scale circuits, reconfigurable ICs will start with addressing active structures of components , concepts for basic and large-scale circuits as well as main features of IC field programming. For both types of circuits, main points of interest will be the fundamentals of a computer-based circuit design and application studies on the basis of blood chemistry.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants