Digital microfluidics board for automated high-throughput protein characterization
Programmable digital microfluidics (DMF) chip based on electrowetting-on-dielectric technology for automated protein production and characterization. The 20×20 electrode array enables flexible droplet manipulation — mixing, splitting, and combining — with zoned temperature control, supporting cell-free protein synthesis and on-chip fluorescence analysis for high-throughput applications.
Overview
This digital microfluidics (DMF) platform manipulates tiny liquid droplets on an array of electrodes using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) technology. Droplets can be moved, mixed, split, and combined with precision under software control, without relying on fixed printed channels. The chip is being developed to automate high-throughput protein characterization workflows, including cell-free protein synthesis and biochemical evaluation.
Because droplet movement is governed by programmable software rather than physical channel geometry, the same chip can be reconfigured for a wide range of protocols and applications. This flexibility makes it well suited for producing multiple protein variants in parallel and automating complex multi-step experiments with minimal hands-on intervention.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- 20×20 electrode array provides a large, programmable workspace for droplet manipulation
- 8 ports allow addition of different reagent stocks for flexible assay design
- Python-based programming enables automated, preprogrammed droplet movement — protocols initiate with a single command
- Zoned temperature control allows different temperatures to be maintained at different regions of the chip within a single run
- On-chip fluorescence detection supports biochemical evaluation, including protein folding assessment using probes such as 1,8-ANS and bis-ANS
- Droplets can be recovered from the chip for off-chip analysis or further processing
- No printed channels means a single chip can be repurposed for multiple reaction and purification protocols
- Cell-free in vitro translation has been successfully demonstrated on the chip for protein production
Technology readiness level
The DMF chip is in an early-stage development phase, approximately TRL 3–4. Cell-free protein production has been demonstrated, and an early version has used on-chip fluorescence detection for biochemical evaluation. Ongoing efforts are focused on establishing cell-free expression protocols for multiple protein variants in parallel, developing efficient droplet movement programs, implementing on-chip folding assessment with ANS-based fluorescence probes, and engineering micro-dispensing capabilities for off-chip analysis. Further validation and engineering are required before the platform is ready for commercial deployment.
About Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a comprehensive public research university and Oregon’s land‑grant institution, with a main campus in Corvallis and a statewide footprint. Industry partners tap a statewide Extension network and county offices to pilot and scale solutions with communities and companies across Oregon. A coastal marine science campus in Newport anchors ocean research and provides access to open‑ocean wave‑energy test ranges and grid‑connected infrastructure under development nearby, enabling sea‑to‑shore prototyping. Field stations and university‑managed research forests support long‑term trials and product validation in real‑world environments. A dedicated technology transfer office and the OSU Advantage programs—including the Advantage Accelerator—streamline IP, licensing, startup formation, and industry agreements.
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