A Lab-on-chip system (LOC) is a device that integrates and down-scales one or several laboratory functions on a single micro-chip. LOCs deal with the handling of extremely small fluid volumes (microfluidics) down to sub-nano liters, and have channel dimensions in the regime from 1 millimeter to 100 nanometer.

The general goal of the course is, that you with a physics approach to the subject matter, will be able to understand the mode of operation of some chosen lab-on-a-chip systems. Moreover, it is the goal that you will be able to numerically model and design lab-on-a-chip systems.

• Use numerical simulations of microfluidic systems to design and model systems for separation and mixing.
• Use Henry's law to deal with the air bubble problem in microfluidic systems.
• Exploit capillary forces in microfluidic systems to design channels for capillary filling and capillary stops.
• Exploit electrochemical reations in saline solutions and phenomena such as Helmholtz double layers to draft lumped element electric circuit models for the electrodes.
• Expoloit the theory of ion diffusion in a liquid for design of electrochemical micro electrodes.
• Use numerical simulation methods on electrohydrodynamic phenomena like electroosmosis, electrophoresis, and dielectrophoresis in lab-on-a-chip systems.
• Set up mathematical models for chosen aspects of biophysical phenomena, such as osmolarity and the Nernst equation, ion channels, electroporation and exocytosis.
• Use equivalent circuit models for estimation of liquid transport in lab-on-chip systems.
• Choose the most appropriate experimental methods, such as pumping principles for experiments with lab-on-chip-systems.

Based on particularly chosen lab-on-a-chip systems (e.g. for manipulation of cells and separation of biomolecules) and numerical simulation you will gain a deep understanding of the physics behind lab-on-a-chip systems and learn how to design new systems with an engineering approach. In the first part of the course, you will learn about the relevant basic techniques. In the final part of the course, you will produce a report, based on a literature study or a given problem, which will also be the starting point of the final examination.

Henrik Bruus, ”Theoretical Microfluidics”, Oxford, and lecture notes

This course will give you a pratical experience with methods used for the design, the modeling, and the use of lab-on-chip systems. Moreover, you will get acquainted with the activities on DTU Nanotech involving lab-on-a-chip systems. Finally, the course will give you a good starting point for subsequent M.Sc. thesis work involving lab-on-a-chip systems

Please contact the teacher for information on whether this course gives the student the opportunity to prepare a project that may participate in DTU´s Study Conference on sustainability, climate technology, and the environment (GRØN DYST). More information http://www.groendyst.dtu.dk/kursustilmelding.aspx