Dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic systems and their applications

Abstract

The present invention provides a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system and its application, comprising: a microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation and a chip control unit which are sequentially connected in communication, wherein the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation comprises a driving layer, a deformation execution layer, a diaphragm layer and an outer shell layer which are sequentially arranged from bottom to top, wherein the diaphragm layer and the outer shell layer are spaced apart to form a working space, and a manipulated microfluid is placed in the working space, and a stimulation source unit on the driving layer stimulates the deformation execution layer to generate a stimulation response deformation to drive the diaphragm layer to produce a surface shape / morphology change, locally change the size of the working space, and induce capillary force to realize the self-driven movement and dynamic deformation of the microfluid, so that the user can customize the functions of different areas on the chip according to actual experimental needs to meet the control requirements of the microfluid in different scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of microfluidics, and in particular relates to a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system and its application. Background Art

[0002] Precise control of batch trace liquid movement has broad industrial application prospects, such as biopharmaceuticals, cell culture, biochemical testing, microfluidic systems and other fields, which can liberate researchers from heavy experimental operations and greatly improve efficiency. At present, there are three main implementations of relatively mature microfluidic systems for processing discrete phase microfluids: 1. Microfluidic systems based on the principle of electrowetting; 2. Microfluidic systems based on acoustic wave drive; 3. Microfluidic systems based on magnetic field guidance. However, in actual production and use, these methods have different problems. For microfluidic systems based on the principle of electrowetting: During the transmission of microfluidics, the charging and discharging process on the surface of the droplets may cause electrical degradation and destroy the experimental samples; for microfluidic systems based on acoustic wave drive: The manufacturing of the microfluidic platform is complex and the miniaturization of a single drive unit is difficult, making it difficult to achieve large-scale microfluidic processing; for microfluidic systems based on acoustic wave drive: ferromagnetic particles must be added to the droplets to be manipulated, which may contaminate the droplets to be manipulated in some cases.

[0003] In addition, in order to complete some combined operations such as stirring, mixing and splitting of droplets, it is necessary to rely on external frame structures or other equipment, and dynamic multiplexing of the same position cannot be achieved. Therefore, the reconfiguration capability of the microfluidic chip is low. For different experiments, corresponding microfluidic chips need to be designed.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new microfluidic platforms that can drive microfluidic motion with minimal impact on the microfluidics while achieving a high degree of reconfigurability. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system and its application, which utilizes a micro-actuator array to control the local change of the size of the working space in the microfluidic chip through deformation, thereby inducing capillary forces to achieve self-driven motion and dynamic deformation of trace liquids. Users can customize the functions of different areas on the chip according to actual experimental needs to meet the control requirements of microfluidics in different scenarios.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system, comprising: a microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation and a chip control unit that are sequentially connected in communication, wherein the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation comprises a driving layer, a deformation execution layer, a diaphragm layer and an outer shell layer that are sequentially arranged from bottom to top, wherein the diaphragm layer and the outer shell layer are spaced apart to form a working space, the manipulated microfluid is placed in the working space, the diaphragm layer is bonded to the deformation execution layer by chemical or physical methods, the driving layer is an addressable stimulus source array, the deformation execution layer is an actuator array, the stimulus source unit on the driving layer stimulates the deformation execution layer to undergo stimulus response deformation to drive the diaphragm layer to produce surface shape / morphology changes, locally change the size of the working space, and induce capillary force to realize self-driven movement and dynamic deformation of the microfluid.

[0007] In some embodiments, a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system includes a microfluidic monitoring feedback unit and / or a programmed control unit connected to a chip control unit. The microfluidic monitoring feedback unit and / or the programmed control unit are connected to the chip control unit. The microfluidic monitoring feedback unit monitors the state of the microfluidic in the working space, and the programmed control unit controls the chip control unit.

[0008] In some embodiments, the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation, the chip control unit, the microfluidic monitoring feedback unit and the programmed control unit are connected by wires for controlling signal transmission and energy supply.

[0009] In some embodiments, the stimulation source array on the driving layer can be patterned and locally driven under the control of the chip control unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, there is a gap of 0-2000 μm between the shell layer and the diaphragm layer to form a working space.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outer shell layer is a functionalized light-transmitting flat plate.

[0012] In some embodiments, the deformation execution layer is prepared from a stimulus-responsive deformation material, and the stimulus-responsive deformation material used includes but is not limited to hydrogels, liquid crystal polymers, dielectric elastomers, magnetic fluids, piezoelectric materials, supramolecular materials, liquid-gas phase transition materials, electromagnetic motor structures, and other materials or devices that produce changes in length, volume, or bending angle under external physical or chemical stimulation. Preferably, the deformation execution layer is prepared from a liquid crystal polymer material that is deformed in response to a stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, the stimulus-responsive deformation polymer material is a liquid crystal elastomer material obtained by enol click reaction, Michael addition reaction, or free radical polymerization, and the liquid crystal elastomer material is a liquid crystal polymer material.

[0013] In some embodiments, the actuators in the deformation execution layer may be composed entirely of stimulus-responsive deformation materials, or partially of stimulus-responsive deformation materials, such as a binary structure, half of which is composed of stimulus-responsive deformation materials, and the other half is composed of non-stimulus-responsive deformation materials. The non-stimulus-responsive deformation materials may be various polymers, ceramics, metals, glasses, inorganic substances, etc. The height of the non-stimulus-responsive deformation materials is 0-200 mm, and the diameter is 0.0001-50 mm, where 0 mm represents an actuator array made entirely of stimulus-responsive deformation materials.

[0014] In some embodiments, the actuator array is provided with a plurality of independently controlled actuators, and the actuators of the deformation execution layer have an absolute value of deformation rate (ε=|(L0-L) / L0|) in the range of 0-80% during shortening deformation in the height / length direction, an absolute value of deformation rate (ε=|(L0-L) / L0|) in the range of 0-500% during elongation deformation, and a bending angle in the range of 0-90° during bending deformation.

[0015] In some embodiments, the stimulus-responsive deformable material of the actuator in the deformation execution layer has a diameter of 0.0001mm-50mm, a height of 0.0001-50mm, a spacing between adjacent actuators of 0.0001mm-50mm, and the lattice shape of the actuator array can be a square, rectangle, triangle or other irregular shape; the shape of each micro-flexible actuator in the actuator array can be a cylinder, tetrahedron, cuboid, spindle and other regular or irregular polyhedrons.

[0016] Preferably, the lattice shape of the actuators in the deformation execution layer is square and the form is cylindrical.

[0017] In some embodiments, one side of the plane on both sides of the workspace is a dynamically reconfigurable surface or both sides are dynamically reconfigurable surfaces; when one side of the plane on both sides of the workspace is a dynamically reconfigurable surface, the dynamically reconfigurable surface is a diaphragm layer, and the other plane is a metal material, an inorganic non-metallic material, a polymer material or a composite material.

[0018] Preferably, the outer shell layer is made of a light-transmitting rigid material such as glass, organic glass (PMMA), etc.

[0019] In some embodiments, the working space is filled with a dispersion and protection medium for the manipulated fluid. The dispersion and protection medium for the manipulated fluid can be an inert gas such as nitrogen and argon, or air, or a liquid such as electronic fluoride liquid and silicone oil.

[0020] In some embodiments, the microfluidic monitoring and feedback unit selects a non-contact method such as a vision-based camera to monitor and feedback the microfluidic operations in the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation; it can also be a sensing method using a sensing electrode array or sensor array integrated on the surface or inside the diaphragm layer and the outer shell layer to monitor and feedback the microfluidic operations in the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation.

[0021] The microfluidic monitoring feedback unit feeds back the motion state of the microfluid in the working space to the programmable control unit, so that the user can control the surface topology of the microfluidic chip in real time through the programmable control unit.

[0022] In some embodiments, an addressable stimulation source array serving as a driving layer is communicatively connected with a chip control unit and a programmed control unit. Under the programmed control of the programmed control unit and the chip control unit, the stimulation source of the driving layer generates a dynamic patterned stimulation and drives an actuator array serving as a deformation execution layer to generate a dynamic patterned deformation. The stimulation response deformation of the actuator array induces local, patterned morphology / shape changes on the surface of the diaphragm layer, locally changes the size of the working space of the microfluidic in the chip, induces capillary forces to realize self-driven motion and dynamic deformation of trace liquids, and can perform multiple microfluidic operations in parallel and dynamically.

[0023] In some embodiments, the driving layer is composed of an addressable controllable stimulation source, and a driving layer based on a digital patterned light projection technology of Digital Light Processing (DLP) or (Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an electrode array driving layer prepared based on Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) or semiconductor micro-nano processing technology, or other driving layers that can achieve local, patterned stimulation control, or one or a combination of light display technologies based on OLED and LED arrays can be selected. In a preferred embodiment, the driving layer selects an electrode array driving layer prepared based on Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) or semiconductor micro-nano processing technology. In another preferred example, the driving layer of the addressable controllable stimulation source is an electrode array driving layer prepared based on Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) or semiconductor micro-nano processing technology.

[0024] The addressable control stimulus source described in this scheme is selected from one or more of light, electricity, temperature, humidity, and chemical stimulation. When the driving layer uses light as the stimulus source, by adjusting the light intensity, spot area size, and light source distribution of the light source; when using electricity as the stimulus source, by adjusting the electric field strength and distribution of the power source; when temperature is the stimulus source, by adjusting the temperature and distribution of the temperature source; when humidity is the stimulus source, by adjusting the humidity size and distribution area; when using a chemical stimulus source, by adjusting the concentration and distribution of the chemical stimulus source, the real-time dynamic control of the deformation amount of each actuator in the micro-flexible actuator array is achieved, thereby controlling the deformation of the diaphragm layer, the patterning of the execution layer, and the local topological morphology / shape change.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, the patternable, locally driven driving layer is an addressable controllable stimulus source which is electrical stimulus.

[0026] In some embodiments, the array of stimulation sources of the driving layer is laid on a substrate to form a patternable, locally driven substrate. In some embodiments, the chip based on surface topological deformation can be prepared on a flat or non-flat substrate with curvature, and correspondingly, the patternable, locally driven substrate can be a flat or non-flat substrate with curvature. In other words, the array of stimulation sources of the driving layer is laid on a flat or non-flat substrate with curvature.

[0027] It should be noted that the actuator of the deformation execution layer can be selected as a rigid actuator of a very small motor array, electromagnetic array or piezoelectric material array. Such rigid actuators can also achieve deformation or displacement under electrical stimulation. In a preferred embodiment, the stimulation source of the driving layer stimulates the stimulus-responsive polymer material of the micro-flexible actuator array to deform through thermal stimulation, and Joule heat is generated by passing current through the driving layer. The Joule heat stimulates the responsive polymer material, and the deformation state of the stimulus-responsive polymer material of the deformation execution layer is controlled by changing the size and time of the current passed.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment, when the microfluid is a hydrophilic microfluid or a hydrophobic microfluid, the dynamically reconfigurable surface is modified with a hydrophobic coating, and correspondingly, the surface of the diaphragm layer is modified with a hydrophobic coating.

[0029] In another preferred embodiment, when the microfluid is a hydrophobic microfluid, a surfactant is doped into the microfluid.

[0030] In some embodiments, the volume of the microfluidic is in the range of 0.1 pL-10 mL.

[0031] In some embodiments, the system is suitable for microfluidic operations of various types of liquids, including silicone oil, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, water, isopropanol, toluene, pentane, octane, cyclohexanone, ethyl ether, propylene oxide, methyl butyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, acetonitrile, pyridine, gas-liquid fluids, emulsions, gas-solid fluids, gasoline, biochemical liquids, saline solutions, electronic fluoride liquids, and mixtures of the above liquids.

[0032] In some embodiments, since the surface morphology of the diaphragm layer of the microfluidic chip based on the surface topological deformation can undergo local topological deformation, the same area of ​​the working space of the microfluidic chip based on the surface topological deformation can implement dynamic switching between multiple microfluidic operations such as transmission, stirring, splitting, fusion, oscillation, and extrusion deformation, thereby realizing dynamic reconstruction of the functional area; and the microfluidic operation of any area can be dynamically changed in real time. In addition, through the patterned surface shape / morphology changes, different positions can operate simultaneously to achieve parallel control.

[0033] In some embodiments, the chip control unit controls each stimulus source unit on the driving layer of the chip based on surface topological deformation through a switch chip, and each switch chip is controlled by a microcontroller of the programmed control unit through a communication protocol.

[0034] In some embodiments, the chip control unit is controlled by a programmable control unit through a control protocol, and ultimately each stimulus source unit on the driving layer is controlled by a program on the programmable control unit.

[0035] In another preferred embodiment, the communication protocol is the SPI protocol.

[0036] In another preferred embodiment, the communication protocol is a USB protocol.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment, the programmed control unit is implemented by a computer and a control program.

[0038] Secondly, the present scheme provides an application method of a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system, including: placing the microfluidic in a working space, the chip control unit controlling each stimulus source unit on the driving layer of the chip based on the surface topological deformation, the driving layer stimulating the chip deformation execution layer to make a stimulus response deformation, the stimulus response deformation of the deformation execution layer drives the diaphragm layer to produce a surface topological morphology, and the driving direction and driving speed of the microfluidic are adjusted in real time by controlling the position and time of the reconstruction point where the topological change of the diaphragm layer occurs.

[0039] In some embodiments, the microfluidic monitoring feedback unit and / or the programmed control unit are connected to the chip control unit. At this time, the microfluidic monitoring feedback unit obtains the state of the microfluid in the working space and sends a feedback signal to the chip control unit and / or the programmed control unit. The programmed control unit is connected to and controls the chip control unit.

[0040] In some embodiments, multiple microfluidic operations are performed in parallel in different working areas of the working space of the microfluidic chip, and the microfluidic operation of any working area is dynamically changed in real time.

[0041] In some embodiments, by changing the surface shape / morphology patterned within the microfluidic chip, operations can be performed simultaneously at different locations to achieve parallel manipulation.

[0042] In some embodiments, the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation can be placed horizontally for microfluidic operations, or placed on a non-horizontal surface for microfluidic operations, and can even overcome the influence of gravity and still perform microfluidic operations when placed vertically.

[0043] In some embodiments, the control method is to dynamically and real-time adjust the driving direction and driving speed by controlling the position and time of the reconstruction point where the topological change occurs in the diaphragm layer which is a dynamically reconfigurable surface. The angular range of the driving direction that can be achieved in the workspace plane is 0-360°, and the range of the driving speed is 0-1m / s.

[0044] In some embodiments, the control method is to adjust the frequency of the periodic deformation by controlling the time of the reconstruction point at which the topological change of the diaphragm layer as the dynamically reconfigurable surface occurs, and the frequency range is 0-500 Hz.

[0045] Compared with the prior art, this technical solution has the following characteristics and beneficial effects:

[0046] The present invention designs a microfluidic chip and application based on dynamically reconfigurable surface deformation to drive microfluid motion. The micro-actuator array can be used to locally change the size of the microfluid workspace in the chip through deformation, induce capillary force to achieve self-driven motion and dynamic deformation of trace liquid, and can perform multiple microfluid operations in parallel and dynamically. Through the patterned deformation of the micro-actuator array, multiple microfluid parallel operations (transmission, merging, mixing, splitting, oscillation, extrusion deformation) can be achieved, and the microfluid operation of any area in the chip can be dynamically changed in real time. The chip microfluid operation feedback can be monitored in real time through the microfluid detection feedback unit to form a closed-loop automatic control. In addition, this microfluidic chip can be placed horizontally for microfluid operation, and can also be placed in a non-horizontal plane for microfluid operation, and can even overcome the influence of gravity, and can still perform microfluid operation when placed vertically. This new concept of microfluidic technology has great application value in the fields of micro-reaction systems, digital cell culture, chip laboratories, and unmanned laboratories in space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system.

[0048] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the microfluidic chip.

[0049] Figure 3 Shown is the driving of microfluidic linear motion while changing the local topology of a dynamically reconfigurable surface.

[0050] Figure 4 Shown is the driving of microfluidic merging upon changing the local topology of a dynamically reconfigurable surface.

[0051] Figure 5 Demonstrated driving of microfluidic mixing and stirring while changing the local topology of a dynamically reconfigurable surface.

[0052] Figure 6 Shown is the actuation of microfluidic splitting upon changing the local topology of a dynamically reconfigurable surface.

[0053] Figure 7 Dynamic reconstruction of functional areas is shown through patterned surface shape / morphology changes.

[0054] Figure 8 It is shown that microfluidics can be subjected to periodic external force stimulation while changing the local topology of a dynamically reconfigurable surface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0056] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of the present invention, the orientation or position relationship indicated by the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc. are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0057] It is to be understood that the term "one" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element may be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the element may be multiple, and the term "one" should not be understood as a limitation on the quantity.

[0058] After extensive and in-depth research, the inventors have designed a microfluidic system based on a dynamically reconfigurable deformable surface drive. The system consists of four parts: a microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation, a chip control unit, a microfluidic monitoring feedback unit, and a programmed control unit. The invention mainly discloses a microfluidic chip based on a dynamically reconfigurable surface deformation to drive microfluidic motion. The micro-actuator array can be used to partially change the size of the microfluidic working space in the chip through deformation, induce capillary force to achieve self-driven motion and dynamic deformation of trace liquids, and can perform multiple microfluidic operations in parallel and dynamically. Through the patterned deformation of the micro-actuator array, multiple microfluidic parallel operations (transmission, merging, mixing, splitting, oscillation, extrusion deformation) can be achieved, and the microfluidic operation of any area in the chip can be dynamically changed in real time. The chip microfluidic operation feedback can be monitored in real time through the microfluid detection feedback unit to form a closed-loop automatic control. In addition, this microfluidic chip can be placed horizontally for microfluidic operation, and can also be placed in a non-horizontal plane for microfluidic operation, and can even overcome the influence of gravity, and can still perform microfluidic operation when placed vertically. This new concept of microfluidic technology has great application value in the fields of micro-reaction systems, digital cell culture, chip laboratories, unmanned space laboratories, etc. On this basis, the inventors completed the present invention.

[0059] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with specific examples. It should be understood that these examples are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention. The electronic components, signal converters, and data communication protocols used in the following preparation examples can be adjusted accordingly according to specific design requirements and array scales; the experimental methods and parameters for which specific conditions are not specified in the following examples are usually based on conventional conditions, conditions and parameters required for specific implementation applications, or conditions recommended by the manufacturer. Unless otherwise specified, percentages and parts are calculated by weight.

[0060] In the present invention, an icon similar to “↑” is used to indicate an enabled micro-actuator unit.

[0061] The microfluidic platform based on the dynamically reconfigurable surface of the present invention mainly includes preparing the dynamically reconfigurable surface and combining it with a control system to prepare a programmed microfluidic platform. The specific preparation process is described in the following preparation examples 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively:

[0062] Preparation Example 1 Preparation of a patternable, locally driven driving layer

[0063] The stimulation source array is designed by PCB design software with 14 and 20 rows and columns and a resistor array with a row and column spacing of 1.2 mm. The specification of each resistor is a 1000Ω 0201 package chip resistor. One pole of each resistor is led out separately and connected to the chip control unit through the FPC / FFC connector and the FPC / FFC cable; the other pole is connected to the control system in the same line. The production of the PCB board is handed over to the PCB manufacturer.

[0064] Preparation Example 2 Preparation of microfluidic chip

[0065] According to the molar ratio of RM257:DODT=1.67:1, DODT:PETMP is 3:1, the mass ratio of graphene is 1.5%, and the monomer ratio of carbon-carbon double bond and thiol group is 1:1, the monomers are mixed and dissolved in toluene, and after ultrasonic dispersion for 10 minutes, 0.5wt% DPA as a catalyst and 6wt% XYS-4522 as a surfactant are added to the mixed solution, heated to 80℃ and shaken to dissolve, and the precursor solution is placed in a mold and placed in a vacuum dryer The mold was filled with the precursor solution by vacuuming for 10-15 seconds. The liquid crystal elastomer microcolumn array with a diameter of 0.6 mm and a height of 1.2 mm was prepared by the template method at 50°C for 1 hour. The number of rows and columns of the array was 14 and 20, and the row and column spacing was 1.2 mm. The mold was then taken out, transferred to a glass slide, and excess liquid crystal elastomer was cut off for use. The pre-crosslinking time was 3 hours in total. Another glass slide was used to press the liquid crystal elastomer microcolumns with a spacing of 0.75 mm to complete the secondary crosslinking. The curing time of the secondary crosslinking was 48 hours.

[0066] The addressable resistor array driving layer obtained in Preparation Example 1 was bonded with UV glue and silicone rubber adhesive to sequentially assemble a liquid crystal elastomer microcolumn array, an epoxy resin microcolumn array (2 mm in height, 0.6 mm in diameter) and a PDMS diaphragm layer (50 μm) to obtain a microfluidic chip.

[0067] Preparation Example 3 Preparation of chip control unit

[0068] According to the scale of the driving layer involved in Preparation Example 1, the design principle of the chip control unit is to provide 14*20, a total of 280 electronic switches. Here, 18 MC33996 low-side switch chips are used to provide 280 OUTPUT interfaces to independently control 280 chip resistors on the addressable stimulus source array. The 18 electronic switches are divided into two parts and controlled by two signal converters BUSADAPTOR through the SPI communication protocol.

[0069] The entire switch chip is installed on a designed PCB board and leads to 280 OUTPUT interfaces. The production of the PCB board is handed over to a PCB manufacturer.

[0070] Preparation Example 4 Fabrication of a dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system

[0071] The microfluidic chip and chip control unit obtained in Preparation Examples 2 and 3 are connected with FPC / FFC cables, and then the chip control unit and the programmed control unit (a computer is used in this preparation example) are connected via USB for data communication. The power supply of the entire system comes from an external DC regulated power supply.

[0072] Example 1 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system controls microfluidic motion

[0073] The dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system prepared in Preparation 2 is placed on a horizontal table. A droplet is placed on the membrane layer, and a glass sheet is covered on top as a shell layer to form a working space. The interval between the glass sheet and the membrane layer is 150 μm, and the DC regulated power supply voltage is 23 V. The membrane layer on one side of the droplet is controlled by a programmable control unit to undergo topological changes, and the direction of this change is along the straight line set by the program.

[0074] Result: In the working space where the droplet is located, an asymmetric topological change is generated. Under the action of capillary force, the droplet is driven to move in the direction of the topological change. In this embodiment, the droplet moves in a straight line. The movement process is as follows: Figure 3 shown.

[0075] Example 2 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system controls microfluidic merging

[0076] The experiment of Example 1 was repeated, except that two water droplets were placed at different positions on the diaphragm layer, and the diaphragm layer on one side of each droplet was controlled by a program to undergo a topological change, and the position of the topological change was oriented to point in the direction of the other droplet.

[0077] The results show that the two droplets move towards each other and converge together. Figure 4 shown.

[0078] Example 3 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system controls microfluid mixing and stirring

[0079] The experiment of Example 1 was repeated, except that the position of the droplet topology change was a cyclic change between the center of the droplet, the right side of the droplet, the center of the droplet, and the left side of the droplet. At the same time, in order to observe the changes in the flow field inside the droplet, PS microspheres were added to facilitate observation.

[0080] The results show that the droplets change the internal flow field during the movement, stirring the PS microspheres to achieve the effect of liquid mixing and stirring. Figure 5 shown.

[0081] Example 4 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system controls microfluidic splitting

[0082] The experiment of Example 1 is repeated, except that the topological change at the center of the original droplet is maintained until the droplet splits, during which time a local topological change is generated from one side of the droplet and gradually moves away from the original droplet over time until the original droplet is split into two droplets.

[0083] The experiment found that the original droplet is fixed at the original position and pulls out another droplet from the original position until the droplet breaks to form a droplet. The movement process is as follows Figure 6 shown.

[0084] Example 5 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system parallel manipulation of microfluids and dynamic functional area reconstruction

[0085] The experiment of Example 1 is repeated, except that the function area position configuration 1 is customized by the programmatic control unit, and the function area configuration 2 is customized again at the end position of the previous task.

[0086] The experiment found that after completing the tasks of droplet movement, merging, splitting, stirring and oscillating in configuration 1, the droplet position can be left unchanged and the tasks of droplet movement, merging, splitting, stirring and oscillating in configuration 2 can be completed directly at the original position. The movement process is as follows: Figure 7 shown.

[0087] Example 6 Dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system controls microfluid to be subjected to periodic external force and deform

[0088] The experiment of Example 1 was repeated, except that the location of the droplet topology change was the center of the droplet, and the time for maintaining the topology change was adjusted according to the required frequency.

[0089] The results show that the droplets are subjected to external forces and squeezed and deformed during periodic topological changes. Figure 8 shown.

[0090] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned optimal implementation mode. Anyone can derive other various forms of products under the inspiration of the present invention. However, no matter what changes are made in the shape or structure, all technical solutions that are the same or similar to those of the present application fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system, characterized in that: include: A microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation and a chip control unit that are sequentially connected in communication, wherein the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation includes a driving layer, a deformation execution layer, a diaphragm layer and a shell layer that are sequentially arranged from bottom to top, wherein the diaphragm layer and the shell layer are spaced apart to form a working space, the manipulated microfluid is placed in the working space, the diaphragm layer is bonded to the deformation execution layer by chemical or physical methods, the driving layer is an addressable stimulus source array, the deformation execution layer is an actuator array, the chip control unit controls the stimulus source unit on the driving layer to stimulate the deformation execution layer to undergo stimulus response deformation to drive the diaphragm layer to produce surface morphology changes, locally change the size of the working space, induce capillary force to achieve self-driven movement and dynamic deformation of the microfluid, wherein the deformation The execution layer is prepared from a stimulus-responsive deformable material that produces changes in length, volume or bending angle under external physical or chemical stimulation. The addressable controllable stimulus source is selected from one or more of light, electricity, temperature, humidity, and chemical stimulation. The actuator of the deformation execution layer has an absolute value range of deformation rate of 0-80% during shortening deformation in the height / length direction, an absolute value range of deformation rate of 0-500% during elongation deformation, and a bending angle range of 0-90° during bending deformation. The surface morphology of the diaphragm layer of the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation undergoes local topological deformation, and dynamic switching between multiple microfluidic operations of transmission, stirring, splitting, fusion, oscillation, and extrusion deformation is implemented in the same area of ​​the working space of the microfluidic chip based on surface topological deformation.

2. The dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: There is a distance of 150-2000µm between the outer shell layer and the diaphragm layer, and the working space is filled with the dispersion and protection medium of the manipulated microfluid.

3. The dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: One side of the plane on both sides of the workspace is a dynamically reconfigurable surface or both sides are dynamically reconfigurable surfaces. When one side of the plane on both sides of the workspace is a dynamically reconfigurable surface, the dynamically reconfigurable surface is a diaphragm layer, and the other plane is a metal material, an inorganic non-metallic material, a polymer material or a composite material.

4. The dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microfluidic monitoring feedback unit and / or the programmed control unit are connected to the chip control unit. The microfluidic monitoring feedback unit monitors the state of the microfluid in the working space, and the programmed control unit controls the chip control unit.

5. The dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microfluid is silicone oil, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, water, isopropanol, toluene, pentane, octane, cyclohexanone, ethyl ether, propylene oxide, methyl butyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, acetonitrile, pyridine, gas-liquid fluid, emulsion, gas-solid fluid, gasoline, biochemical liquid, salt solution, electronic fluoride liquid and a mixed fluid of the above substances.

6. The dynamically reconfigurable, programmable microfluidic system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The volume range of the microfluid is 0.1 pL-10 mL.

7. An application method of a dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system, for controlling microfluids in the dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The microfluidic is placed in a working space, and the chip control unit controls each stimulus source unit on the driving layer of the chip based on the deformation of the surface topology. The driving layer stimulates the chip deformation execution layer to make a stimulus response deformation. The stimulus response deformation of the deformation execution layer drives the diaphragm layer to produce a surface topology. The driving direction and driving speed of the microfluidic are adjusted in real time by controlling the position and time of the reconstruction point where the topology change of the diaphragm layer occurs.

8. The method for applying the dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system according to claim 7, characterized in that: The angle range of the driving direction realized in the workspace plane is 0-360°, and the range of the driving speed is 0-1m / s.

9. The method for applying the dynamically reconfigurable and programmable microfluidic system according to claim 7, characterized in that: By performing multiple microfluidic operations in parallel in different working areas of the working space of the microfluidic chip, the microfluidic operations in any working area can be dynamically changed in real time.

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