Self-rolled-up microtubes for on-chip microfluidic DNA storage and passive electronics applications

Self-Rolled-up Membrane (S-RuM) platform based on strain-engineering is a powerful microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technique to manufacture three-dimensional curved structures made of a large variety or combination of materials on virtually any kind of substrates. The aim of this thesis is to address the key features of different on-chip passive devices and microfluidic applications of rolled-up microtubes through modification of their basic form-factors. Different functionalities can be achieved by modifying the physiochemical, electrical, optical, magnetic and mechanical properties of the S-RuM and/or by integrating other materials into the S-RuM tubular structure which in-turn helps tune the geometry and characteristics. S-RuM microtubes provides a compact microfluidic chamber that can be modified for specific applications. The chamber can be made transparent for better optical imaging, integrated with electrodes for sensing and electrokinetics or mechanically transformed to yield structures suitable for self-assembly and storage. The tubular/cylindrical nature of an S-RuM device can provide a more uniform electric field, resulting in improved sensitivity and throughput compared to some of the planar and 3D variations of microfluidic devices. The planar processing techniques used for fabricating these on-chip tubular devices are scalable to the industrial level and can virtually be fabricated on any substrates. Furthermore, the work done in this thesis demonstrates how the tuneability of the diameter and integration of metallic materials can have applications ranging from catalytic micromotors in microfluidic channels to on-chip self-assembled power inductors. The main objective of this thesis is to combine microfluidic features of rolled-up structures with an externally operated electrical circuit to control and manipulate charged particles and macromolecules like DNA molecules on-chip. Therefore, several material combinations are explored and a new concept of microfluidic integration is developed in order to establish an intricate on-chip device based on reproducible and scalable fabrication process. The thesis concludes with a demonstration of a functional on-chip ‘DNA manipulation device’. These integrated microtubes will pave the way for next generation on-chip DNA-based digital data storage devices.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Khandelwal, Apratim

Contributors dc:contributor

• Li, Xiuling
• Milenkovic, Olgica
• Leburton, Jean-Pierre
• Lyding, Joseph W

• Rolled-up Nanotechnology
• Microelectromechanical Systems
• Microtubes
• Strain-engineering
• Passive Electronics
• Microfluidic
• On-chip Integration
• Dna-based Digital Data Storage
• Lab-on-a-chip
• Electroplating
• Power Inductors
• Micromotors

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Apratim Khandelwal

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121267

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F121267