Microfluidics R&D has been conducted in the broad field of bespoke microfluidics-enabled systems within the Microfluidics & Microengineering Research Group for fifteen years, for both external clients and our own research projects.

The Group specialises in the design and creation of systems which incorporate microfluidic and microengineered devices (in conjunction with associated microfabrication process development), and therefore employs a wide variety of electronic, optical, micro- and meso-fluidic design techniques and simulation tools. Past systems developed by the Group have been targeted at clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical, and security applications. Current areas of research concern the application of microfluidic and microengineered systems in genomics and combinatorial chemistry.

Research themes of particular note include:

• Micromixing

• Elastomer based microvalves & micropumps

• Coded microparticles for bioassays and other applications

Other areas of applied research also include:

• Fabrication techniques employing SU8 and PDMS

• Microfluidic Computational Fluid Dynamic flow modelling

• Microscale rheology

The group has rapid prototyping facilities for plastic microfluidic systems. The method, based on low-cost masking and lithographic processing of SU8 epoxy and the use of novel casting polymers allows transparent, flexible, and complex microfluidic assemblies to be produced in typically  two-three days. The technology is being used in a variety of externally funded research programmes as well as providing material for internal undergraduate and postgraduate projects.

Sponsors of previous and current projects include QinetiQ, EPSRC, DTI, Wellcome Trust, British Heart Foundation, the EU, Zeneca, Glaxo Wellcome, and numerous other commercial organisations.

Contact

Prof. Mark Tracey
Professor of Microtechnology
T: +44 (0) 1707 284168
F: +44 (0) 1707 284185
E: m.c.tracey@herts.ac.uk