Book Reviews

Lab-on-a-Chip Technology

Keith E. Herold und Avraham Rasooly (eds.). Caister Academic Press, Hethersett, Norwich (UK).

Volume 1: Fabrication and Micro-fluidics

xiv and 410 pages. August 2009. ISBN 978-1-904455-46-2.

Part I

• Introduction to Microfluidics

• Fabricating PDMS Microfluidic Channels Using a Vinyl Sign Plotter

• Functionalized Glass Coating for PDMS Microfluidic Devices

• Fabrication of Lab-on-a-Chip Devices Using Microscale Plasma Activated Templating (çPLAT)

• Bonding Techniques for Thermoplastic Microfluidics

• Xurography: Microfluidic Prototyping with a Cutting Plotter

• Silicon and Glass Micromachining

• Flow Lithography for Fabrication of Multi-Component Biocompatible Microstructures

• Microtechnology to Fabricate Lab-on-a-Chip for Biology Applications

• Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) Polymer Molding for LOC

• Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) Technology Based Multi-Channel Lab-on-a-Chip for Enzymatic and Chemical Analysis

• Laser Micromachining

• Shrinky-Dink Microfluidics

Part II

• Simple Recipe for Electroosmotic Mixing in Microchannels

• Electrowetting-on-Dielectric (EWOD) Microfluidic Devices

• Introduction to Electrokinetic Transport in Microfluidic Systems

• Frequency and Polarity Effects of Droplet-based LOC Driven by Electrowetting

• Linear Dilution Microfluidic Devices

• Monolithic Membrane Valves and Pumps

• An Active Micromixer Based on Non-equilibrium Electrokinetics for Lab-on-a-Chip Systems

• Surface-Machined Parylene Microfluidics

• Macro-to-Micro Fluidic Interfacing

• Circullar Ferrofluid-Driven PCR Microchips

• Injection Schemes for Microchip-based Analysis Systems

Volume 2: Biomolecular Separation and Analysis

xii and 300 pages. August 2009. ISBN 978-1-904455-47-9.

Part I

• Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis in a Chip

• Liquid Chromatography in Microfluidic Chips

• Design and Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices for Flow-based Separation of Blood Cells

• Hydrophoretic Method for Continuous Blood Cell Separation

• Microchip Gel Electrophoresis of DNA with Integrated Whole-column Detection

• Microscale Blood Separation Technology

Part II

• Microfluidic Drops as Microreactors

• Optical Sectioning for Microfluidics

• Acquisition of Single Cell Data in an Optical Microscope

• Elaborating Lab-on-a-ChipS for Single-cell Transcriptome Analysis

• Integrated Circuit/Microfluidic Chips for Dielectric Manipulation

• Microchip-based PCR Amplification Systems

• Cell Viability Measurement Using a Portable Photodiode Array Chip

• A Charge-coupled Device (CCD) Based Optical Detector for Lab-on-a-Chip

• PCR Devices Using Glass Substrate

• Braille Microfluidics

• Microfluidic Devices for Single-cell Analysis

Microsystems engineering indeed represents one of the fastest developing technologies with continuously growing influence on life sciences. As a so-called “enabling technology” it provides a tremendous potential to the life science sector by placing complex and elaborate laboratory methods on miniaturized chips.

These highly efficient lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices facilitate automation of laboratory processes in a rapid and cost efficient way. In doing so, LOC systems prevent extensive binding of lab staff and the use of considerable amounts of expensive reagents. The technology even allows to arrange several distinct laboratory processes combined on a single chip. For industrial purposes LOC systems can be featured to be connectable to large-scale laboratory instruments and therefore to be fully operational for high-throughput screening (HTS).

Regarding the possible LOC applications a huge field is already covered up to now. The range of usage which can be realized today reaches from fully integrated PCR reactions with combined electrophoresis and detection systems over automated blood cell separation right up to single-cell transcriptome analysis. LOC devices are of special interest especially as easy to use and manageable biomedical lab entity for diagnostics. Hence it is obvious that biomedical lab-on-a-chip systems are very attractive even for use in countries where laboratories are not available (e.g. HIV diagnostics in third world countries). But also the biopharmaceutical industry will profit of this fast developing technology – be it for HTS of active ingredients in cell based assays or for testing of cell culture media compounds to optimize fermentation processes by manipulation of cell metabolism etc.

The reviewed books come in two volumes and provide a comprehensive view on state of the art LOC technologies and for what they are valuable. In the first instance the reader gets introduced into physical background information to microfluidics short and concisely. This excursus to microfluidics is well depicted to acquaint oneself but is also essential to understand the principle of function of LOC devices and underlying laminar flow effects. Each book is subdivided into two parts whereas fabrication techniques of LOC systems are initially presented in volume 1, ranging from basic polymers (especially PDMS) over glass to silicon platforms. Thereby directing one’s attention especially on cost effective and easy reproducible chip designs for rapid prototyping the newcomer will be encouraged for experimental fabrications of LOC in his own laboratory. The chapters will truly facilitate getting started with. But the bandwith of reviewed micro-machining methods also covers fabrications of arbitrary complex chip structures even for industrial mass production (e.g. hot embossing, injection moulding, casting).

The second part provides a deeper insight into microfluidics, i. e. how laminar flows on chips can be controlled and manipulated. Depicting diverse micropump and mixing systems right up to the control of valves and whose array the reader yet will be lead to applications of boolean logic for the design of complex LOC devices.

Volume two goes into separation of biomolecules and cells. In the course of this the focus is especially on gel electrophoresis and the separation of blood cells. The technical knowledge acquired in volume one will be deepened and enhanced by means of specific application examples. Finally the last part deals with analysis and manipulation technologies on a chip. Starting with the generation of drops as microreactors and their control the chapters in the last part provide an overview over single-cell transcriptome analysis, diverse PCR systems up to cell viability measurement.

Overall the double volume represents a comprehensive and felicitous compendium of lab-on-a-chip technologies and applications not only for the beginner going to get started development experimentally in a fast growing and innovative technology. But also the skilled specialist staying in the commercial arena might find a hugely satisfying compilation of state of the art LOC technologies and new ideas for sure. All chapters are kept in the shape of a scientific publication format and mediate future trends of specific applications, respectively, at the end.

The compilation of chapters which are written by different and numerous authors each, does not allow avoidance of redundancies nor makes it easy to combine them in a completely harmonious way – but this is not even detrimental to the work.

Complemented with a considerable number of photos and illustrations the well explained working steps (e.g. for soft lithographic fabrication) are easily comprehensible. All in all “Lab on a Chip Technology” is a very useful reading crucial for everyone who is interested in development and production of LOC devices.

Rolf G. Werner, Biberach/Riss