Abstract: Provided are a centrifugal force-based microfluidic device for separating and amplifying a nucleic acid of a target cell and a microfluidic system including the same. The microfluidic device includes a rotary platform; a target cell nucleic acid extraction unit; and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) unit wherein in a microfluidic structure arranged in the platform and connected to the target cell nucleic acid extraction unit.

Abstract: Provided are an optical detection apparatus, a microfluidic system including the same, and an optical detection method. The optical detection apparatus including: at least one light emission unit which emits light of a predetermined wavelength band; at least one light receiving unit which is disposed such that the light receiving unit receives the light emitted from the light emission unit and generates an electrical signal according to the intensity of the light received, wherein the number of light receiving units is the same as the number of light emission units; a rotation operating unit which rotates a disk-type microfluidic apparatus comprising at least one detection chamber in which a sample is to be loaded such that the detection chamber is disposed in a light pathway between the light emission unit and the light receiving unit; and a processor which measures a property of the sample contained in the detection chamber using the electrical signal generated by the light receiving unit.

Abstract: Provided is a biochemical analyzer in which a microfluidic biochemical assay may be performed. The analyzer includes: a microfluidic device loading space including a microfluidic device supporting unit detachably supporting a microfluidic device including an energy application region in which an energy is applied; an energy source loading space including an energy source applying the energy to the radiation application region; and an isolation wall isolating the microfluidic device loading space and the energy source loading space to prevent heat transfer between the microfluidic device loading space and the energy source loading space and including a window through which the energy can be transmitted. A method of controlling an internal temperature of the biochemical analyzer is also provided.

Abstract: A droplet printing apparatus using capillary electric charge concentration includes a reservoir which contains a solution, a capillary nozzle comprising a back-end part and a front-end part disposed substantially opposite the back-end part, a target member spaced apart from the front-end part of the capillary nozzle at a predetermined distance, and a voltage supplier which supplies a voltage to the solution, wherein the back-end part is immersed in the solution and transmits the solution to the front-end part.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic valve, a method of manufacturing the microfluidic valve, and a microfluidic device that employs the microfluidic valve. The microfluidic valve includes a platform that includes two substrates combined facing each other; a channel having a first depth allowing a fluid to flow between the two substrates; a valve gap that is disposed on at least a region of the channel and has a second depth which is smaller than the first depth; and a valve plug that is disposed to fill the valve gap and is formed of a valve material made by mixing a phase change material, which is solid at room temperature, with a plurality of exothermic particles that emit an amount of heat sufficient to melt the phase change material by absorbing electromagnetic waves.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for purification of nucleic acids of cells or viruses are provided. The nucleic acid purification apparatus includes: a cell lysis capillary having a sample inlet through which samples and magnetic beads are introduced; a vibrator attached to the capillary and mixing the samples and the magnetic beads in the capillary; a laser generator attached to the capillary and supplying a laser to the capillary; and a magnetic force generator attached to the capillary and fixing the magnetic beads to a capillary wall. According to the method and apparatus, PCR yield can be increased since PCR inhibitors can be readily removed by means of a phase separation in a capillary. The use of an electromagnet ensures the removal of the PCR inhibitors. In addition, since cell lysis and DNA purification process can be simultaneously performed, LOC steps can be reduced.

Abstract: A microfluidic apparatus having a substrate including a channel through which a fluid is conveyed, a fluid container in which at least one kind of fluid is accommodated and which is disposed on the substrate so as to allow the fluid to flow toward the channel, and a fluid flow controller which controls a flow of the fluid toward the channel from the fluid container.

Abstract: Provided is a rotatable microfluidic device for conducting simultaneously two or more assays. The device includes a platform which can be rotated, a first unit which is disposed at one portion of the platform and detects a target material from a sample using surface on which a capture probe selectively binds to the target material is attached, and a second unit which is disposed at another portion of the platform and detects a target material included in the sample by a different reaction from the reaction conducted in the first unit.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device and microfluidic system with the device. The microfluidic device includes a substrate; a channel formed in the substrate and in which a fluid can move; a valve controlling flow of a fluid flowing along the channel and including a phase transition material which can be melted by energy such as electromagnetic wave energy; and a lens disposed on the substrate and adjusting an irradiating region of the valve, onto which the energy is applied.

Abstract: An optical detection apparatus and method using a phase sensitive detection method for a disk-type microfluidic device are provided. The optical detection apparatus includes: a rotation driving unit stopping rotation of the microfluidic device when a detection area of the disk-type microfluidic device reaches a predetermined position; at least one light source turned on and off at a corresponding frequency to emit light to the detection area held at the predetermined position; an optical sensor disposed to face the detection area and generating an electrical signal according to intensity of incident light; and a signal processing unit receiving the electrical signal generated by the optical sensor and outputting only a signal having a same frequency as an on/off frequency of one of the at least one light source.

Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal force based microfluidic system including: a microfluidic device including a rotatable platform and an optical path formed to extend horizontally in a straight line from a circumference of the platform; a motor rotating so as to control the microfluidic device; a light emitting unit emitting light towards the microfluidic device; a light receiving unit detecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit; and a controller determining a home position to be the position of the microfluidic device at a point of time when the light emitted from the light emitting unit is detected by the light receiving unit, wherein the light emitted from the light emitting unit passes through the optical path to be incident on the light receiving unit only when the microfluidic device is located in a predetermined position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for purification of nucleic acids of cells or viruses are provided. The nucleic acid purification apparatus includes: a cell lysis capillary having a sample inlet through which samples and magnetic beads are introduced; a vibrator attached to the capillary and mixing the samples and the magnetic beads in the capillary; a laser generator attached to the capillary and supplying a laser to the capillary; and a magnetic force generator attached to the capillary and fixing the magnetic beads to a capillary wall. According to the method and apparatus, PCR yield can be increased since PCR inhibitors can be readily removed by means of a phase separation in a capillary. The use of an electromagnet ensures the removal of the PCR inhibitors. In addition, since cell lysis and DNA purification process can be simultaneously performed, LOC steps can be reduced.

Abstract: Provided are a pump unit and a centrifugal microfluidic system including the pump unit. The pump unit includes a gas generating agent. The gas generating agent includes a plurality of heating particles generating heat by absorbing energy and one of a sublimation material, azide, and azo compound mixed with the heating particles. When energy is supplied to the gas generating agent, the gas generating agent generates gas due to heat emitted from the heating particles to increase an air pressure around the gas generation agent so that the fluid is moved by the increased air pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for ejecting droplets using charge concentration and liquid bridge breakup. The droplet ejection apparatus includes a reservoir storing a liquid; a capillary nozzle having a lower end submerged in the liquid stored in the reservoir and an upper end exposed outside the surface of the liquid, the capillary nozzle transferring the liquid to the upper end using capillary force; a potentiostat for applying a voltage to the liquid; a substrate mount on which a substrate is disposed to face the upper end of the capillary nozzle; and a distance adjusting unit for reciprocatingly moving the substrate between first and second positions with respect to the capillary nozzle, wherein the first position denotes a position where a distance between the upper end of the capillary nozzle and the surface of the substrate is less than a effective distance.

Abstract: A spotting device for manufacturing a DNA microarray and a spotting method using the same are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid disruption of cells or viruses using beads and a laser are provided. According to the method and apparatus for rapid disruption of cells or viruses using beads and a laser, cell lysis within 40 seconds is possible, the apparatus can be miniaturized using a laser diode, a DNA purification step can be directly performed after a disruption of cells or viruses, and a solution containing DNA can be transferred to a subsequent step after cell debris and beads to which inhibitors of a subsequent reaction are attached are removed with an electromagnet. In addition, by means of the cell lysis chip, an evaporation problem is solved, vibrations can be efficiently transferred to cells through magnetic beads, a microfluidics problem on a rough surface is solved by hydrophobically treating the inner surface of the chip, and the cell lysis chip can be applied to LOC.

Abstract: Provided are a centrifugal force based microfluidic device which can automatically perform a dilution operation and a microfluidic system including the same. The centrifugal force based microfluidic device for dilution includes a rotatable disk type platform, a mixing chamber disposed on the platform; a buffer solution storage disposed on a portion of the platform which is closer to a center of the platform than the mixing chamber, connected to the mixing chamber through a channel to supply a predetermined amount of buffer solution to the mixing chamber at least one time, and a plurality of diluted solution chambers which are disposed on a portion of the platform which is farther from the center of the platform than the mixing chamber, are each connected to the mixing chamber through flow paths extended from a middle exit corresponding to a predetermined water level, and sequentially receiving a solution which is serially diluted in the mixing chamber at least one time.

Abstract: A cell lysis device for lysing cells or viruses, comprising a cell lysis tube having a sample inlet; a pump connected to the cell lysis tube for transferring a sample into the tube; a sealing unit for reversibly sealing a specific region of the tube; and a laser source for generating a laser is provide. Further, a method of lysing cells or viruses using the cell lysis device is provide. The method comprises introducing a sample containing cells or viruses and optionally magnetic beads to the cell lysis tube through the sample inlet; transferring the sample to a specific region in the cell lysis tube by means of the pump; temporarily sealing the region of the cell lysis tube where the sample is placed with the sealing unit; irradiating the sample with the laser; removing the sealing unit from the cell lysis tube; and discharging the sample from the cell lysis tube by means of the pump.

Abstract: A magnetic microparticle-packing unit using centrifugal force, a microfluidic device including the same, and an immunoassay method using the microfluidic device are provided. The magnetic microparticle-packing unit includes a rotary body controllably rotating; a microfluidic channel which includes a curved portion in which the microfluidic channel first extends away from the rotation center of the rotary body and then turns toward the rotation center of the rotary body.

Abstract: Provided is a method of disrupting cells comprising adding gold nanorods to a solution containing cells and irradiating the gold nanorods with a laser to disrupt the cells. A method and an apparatus for continuously disrupting cells and amplifying nucleic acids in a single microchamber are also provided, wherein the method comprises introducing a solution containing cells and gold nanorods into a microchamber, irradiating a laser onto the gold nanorods to disrupt the cells, and amplifying a nucleic acid from the disrupted cells in the microchamber.