Justin Bonanno

Bio: Justin Bonanno is an academic researcher from Motorola. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biochip & Microfluidics. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 8 publications receiving 970 citations.

Self-contained, fully integrated biochip for sample preparation, polymerase chain reaction amplification, and DNA microarray detection.

Abstract: A fully integrated biochip device that consists of microfluidic mixers, valves, pumps, channels, chambers, heaters, and DNA microarray sensors was developed to perform DNA analysis of complex biological sample solutions. Sample preparation (including magnetic bead-based cell capture, cell preconcentration and purification, and cell lysis), polymerase chain reaction, DNA hybridization, and electrochemical detection were performed in this fully automated and miniature device. Cavitation microstreaming was implemented to enhance target cell capture from whole blood samples using immunomagnetic beads and accelerate DNA hybridization reaction. Thermally actuated paraffin-based microvalves were developed to regulate flows. Electrochemical pumps and thermopneumatic pumps were integrated on the chip to provide pumping of liquid solutions. The device is completely self-contained: no external pressure sources, fluid storage, mechanical pumps, or valves are necessary for fluid manipulation, thus eliminating possibl...

Single-use, thermally actuated paraffin valves for microfluidic applications

Abstract: A new thermally actuated valving concept using paraffin as single-use valving material was developed. The paraffin undergoes a phase transition in response to changes in temperature. A variety of single-use paraffin-based microvalves, including “close–open,” “open–close–open,” “T,” and toggle designs, were demonstrated. Fluidic experiments showed that these microvalves had zero leakage and a maximum hold-up pressure of 40 psi in a “closed” position. A DNA polymerase chain reaction microdevice containing paraffin-based microvalves to enclose the sample solution in the reaction chamber during the thermal cycling was demonstrated. The paraffin-based microvalving technique has advantages over many existing active microvalve approaches, including a simple design, ease of fabrication, low cost, and ease of integration into complex microfluidic systems. Moreover, this technique is particularly attractive for single-use and disposable microfluidic devices.

Fluidic valve having a bi-phase valve element

Abstract: A fluidic valve ( 125, 300, 500, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 ) switches a state of flow of a fluid in a fluid communication channel of a fluid guiding structure ( 505 ). Heating a bi-phase valve element ( 515, 1065, 1215 ) causes a change a state of the bi-phase valve element from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state. A bi-phase valve element that clogs the fluid communication channel can be pushed into an expanded portion ( 135, 320, 520, 915, 1220 ) of the fluid communication channel by an application of pressure to the fluid while the bi-phase valve element is in the low viscosity state, unclogging the fluid communication channel. A bi-phase valve element can be pushed from a valve element source chamber ( 550, 1250 ) into the fluid communication channel by using a pumped fluid entering the source chamber at a pump inlet ( 551 ) while the bi-phase valve element is in the low viscosity state, clogging the fluid communication channel.

Plastic In-Line Chaotic Micromixer for Biological Applications

Abstract: A plastic 3D “L-shaped” serpentine micromixer is developed to enhance mixing of biological samples. Both numerical simulation and experiments show such a device has high mixing efficiency and low shear strain field.

Fully integrated microfluidic biochips for dna analysis

Abstract: Microfluidics-based biochip devices are developed to perform DNA analysis from complex biological sample solutions. Microfluidic mixers, valves, pumps, channels, chambers, heaters, and DNA microarray sensor are integrated to perform magnetic bead-based rare cell capture, cell preconcentration and purification, cell lysis, polymerase chain reaction, DNA hybridization and electrochemical detection in a single, fully automated biochip device. No external pressure sources, mechanical pumps, or valves are necessary for fluid manipulation, thus eliminating sample contamination and simplifying device operation. Pathogenic bacteria detection and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis directly from blood are demonstrated. The device with capability of on-chip sample preparation and DNA detection provides a cost-effective solution to direct sample-to-answer genetic analysis, and thus has potential impact in the fields of point-of-care genetic analysis and disease diagnosis.

Control and detection of chemical reactions in microfluidic systems

Abstract: Recent years have seen considerable progress in the development of microfabricated systems for use in the chemical and biological sciences. Much development has been driven by a need to perform rapid measurements on small sample volumes. However, at a more primary level, interest in miniaturized analytical systems has been stimulated by the fact that physical processes can be more easily controlled and harnessed when instrumental dimensions are reduced to the micrometre scale. Such systems define new operational paradigms and provide predictions about how molecular synthesis might be revolutionized in the fields of high-throughput synthesis and chemical production.

Magnetism and microfluidics

Abstract: Magnetic forces are now being utilised in an amazing variety of microfluidic applications. Magnetohydrodynamic flow has been applied to the pumping of fluids through microchannels. Magnetic materials such as ferrofluids or magnetically doped PDMS have been used as valves. Magnetic microparticles have been employed for mixing of fluid streams. Magnetic particles have also been used as solid supports for bioreactions in microchannels. Trapping and transport of single cells are being investigated and recently, advances have been made towards the detection of magnetic material on-chip. The aim of this review is to introduce and discuss the various developments within the field of magnetism and microfluidics.

Digital microfluidics: is a true lab-on-a-chip possible?

Abstract: The suitability of electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWD) microfluidics for true lab-on-a-chip applications is discussed. The wide diversity in biomedical applications can be parsed into manageable components and assembled into architecture that requires the advantages of being programmable, reconfigurable, and reusable. This capability opens the possibility of handling all of the protocols that a given laboratory application or a class of applications would require. And, it provides a path toward realizing the true lab-on-a-chip. However, this capability can only be realized with a complete set of elemental fluidic components that support all of the required fluidic operations. Architectural choices are described along with the realization of various biomedical fluidic functions implemented in on-chip electrowetting operations. The current status of this EWD toolkit is discussed. However, the question remains: which applications can be performed on a digital microfluidic platform? And, are there other advantages offered by electrowetting technology, such as the programming of different fluidic functions on a common platform (reconfigurability)? To understand the opportunities and limitations of EWD microfluidics, this paper looks at the development of lab-on-chip applications in a hierarchical approach. Diverse applications in biotechnology, for example, will serve as the basis for the requirements for electrowetting devices. These applications drive a set of biomedical fluidic functions required to perform an application, such as cell lysing, molecular separation, or analysis. In turn, each fluidic function encompasses a set of elemental operations, such as transport, mixing, or dispensing. These elemental operations are performed on an elemental set of components, such as electrode arrays, separation columns, or reservoirs. Examples of the incorporation of these principles in complex biomedical applications are described.

A review of microvalves

Abstract: This review gives a brief overview of microvalves, and focuses on the actuation mechanisms and their applications. One of the stumbling blocks for successful miniaturization and commercialization of fully integrated microfluidic systems was the development of reliable microvalves. Applications of the microvalves include flow regulation, on/off switching and sealing of liquids, gases or vacuums. Microvalves have been developed in the form of active or passive microvalves employing mechanical, non-mechanical and external systems. Even though great progress has been made during the last 20 years, there is plenty of room for further improving the performance of existing microvalves.