A Microwave/Microfluidics Integrated Label-Free Detection and Content Sensing System for Point-of-Care Applications

We report the development of a droplet-based microfluidic device integrated with a microwave sensor and heater for simultaneous sensing and heating of individual nanoliter-sized droplets. it is demonstrated that droplets can be heated up more than 40 degrees above room temperature within milliseconds. For sensing performance, we validated that this microwave sensor can differentiate various different materials with subtle difference in their electrical properties (electrical conductivity and/or dielectric constant) at magnitude higher throughput.