Digital microfluidic platform for ddpcr sample preparation
Blue Ocean Technologies offers a digital microfluidic platform that automates ddPCR sample preparation for food safety testing. This system integrates magnetic bead processing with droplet-based microfluidics to enhance efficiency and reduce contamination risk.
Overview
Blue Ocean Technologies introduces an innovative digital microfluidic (DMF) platform designed to automate the sample preparation process for digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) applications, specifically targeting food safety testing. This platform leverages electrical signals to manipulate microliter-scale droplets, facilitating precise and contamination-free workflows. By integrating magnetic bead processing, the system efficiently captures and concentrates samples, while minimizing reagent loss, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of ddPCR preparation.
Technical specifications
- Key features:
- Utilizes digital microfluidics to handle droplets with precision
- Integrates magnetic bead zones for effective capture and concentration
- Includes a peristaltic pump for continuous sample flow
- Automated lysis, purification, and inhibitor removal using DMF technology
- Superhydrophobic coatings prevent cross-contamination
- Capacitance feedback for reproducible droplet handling
- Software-defined workflows for easy scalability and parallelization
- Designed for high-throughput testing in food safety applications
Technology readiness level
Currently at Technology Readiness Level 5, this platform is in the validation stage. Key development phases include system integration, assay optimization, and benchmarking against commercial extraction kits. Future plans involve scaling and parallelizing the system for standardized laboratory use.
About Blue Ocean Technologies
Blue Ocean Technologies is a Toronto-based biotech startup specializing in digital microfluidics (DMF) for rapid, point-of-care diagnostics. Founded in 2022 as a spinout from the University of Toronto, the company develops automated testing systems designed for high-stakes environments, such as emergency medicine and trauma care. By utilizing AI-driven detection algorithms and compact hardware, their platform aims to deliver lab-quality results in minutes using low-cost, disposable cartridges. The company’s capabilities were further strengthened by the acquisition of Sci-Bots, an expert in microfluidic hardware and the developer of the DropBot, an open-source digital microfluidic controller used globally by academic and industrial researchers.
The company addresses the critical need for fast, bedside diagnostics to reduce the burden on centralized healthcare infrastructure. Beyond their core diagnostic development, they provide R&D consulting and custom microfluidic system design for sectors including life sciences, agriculture, and industrial applications. By offering end-to-end support—from system design and prototyping to software integration—Blue Ocean Technologies helps partners overcome R&D limitations and transition complex microfluidic concepts into market-ready products. Their approach streamlines workflows, improves experimental reproducibility, and enables real-time decision-making in clinical and remote settings.
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