Two dimensional magnetic trap arrays for droplet control

Researchers at Stanford have invented a platform to manipulate droplets in a synchronized manner. Magnetic fields combined with patterned soft magnet arrays on a substrate, provide a clocking signal to the magnetic droplets. Synchronous microfluidics with internal fluidic control enables ultra-large scale integration for droplet control, that has never been possible before. Position control and speed adjustment can be done for hundreds or thousands of droplets simultaneously with minimal control mechanism. Through interaction between the droplets, the platform can perform logic functions similar to electronic computers including any Boolean logic. The working assays, including cells, proteins and various chemical and biological materials, can be carried within the droplets, as the ferrofluids are bio-compatible. Apart from magnetic droplets, other entities like magnetic beads or even magnetic holes can be used with this system.