BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Philips juices up microfluidics

January 16, 2001 8:00 AM UTC

Philips Research, a division of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (PHG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), has developed a microfluidics technology that potentially could be used to improve microfluidic lab-on-a-chip separation technologies, as well as improving the dispensing of compounds onto arrays when combined with inkjet or piezo-electric technology.

Moving small volumes of liquids is important in a variety of applications in biotechnology, including separation of biomolecules, delivery of DNA solutions to an array, and chemical synthesis on a small scale. Numerous ways exist to move fluids, including application of pressure, and non-mechanical methods like electro-osmosis, electrophoretic and electrochemical technologies. ...