Abstract: The development of a portable and easy-to-use device for accurate and rapid measurement of critical properties of micron-sized objects is urgently needed. In this work, we investigate the development of a microflow analyzer that integrates digital microfluidics technology with optoelectronics for detecting and measuring micron-sized objects such as droplets, micro-particles and biological cells. Determination of the size and composition of fast-flowing cells often requires complex open-space optics and expensive high-speed cameras. To overcome these challenges, this work uses a microfluidic platform coupled with on-chip integrated fibre optics. The lab-scale portable device developed combines on-chip lensed and non-lensed optical fibres for precision illumination. The lensed fibre’s narrow light beam enables precise optical analysis with high sensitivity. A planar arrangement of optical fibres at various angles facilitates multi-parametric analysis from a single interrogation point. As a proof of concept, the laboratory-scale portable benchtop prototype measures scatter and fluorescence signals from micro-beads and CD4-immunostained human blood cells. The performance of MFA is also compared to the conventional Guava® easyCyte 8HT flow cytometer. Cell encapsulation method is integrated with multi-colour detection for the first time in microfluics for achieving increased functionality. Digital microfluidics is employed for the encapsulation of micro-particles and sensing of multiple fluorescences from dye droplets and individual cells by the novel use of a single laser and a single detector.

Event Details
Title: A microfluidic flow analyzer with multiplexed fluorescence sensing (PhD Viva Voce)
Date: July 11, 2026 at 03:00 PM
Venue: Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/wwo-krbk-xfu)
Speaker: Ms. Ambil Mohan (EE14D300)
Guide: Dr. Anil Prabhakar
Type: PHD seminar

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