美國麻省理工學(xué)院的研究人員發(fā)明了在微流芯片上用氣泡引導(dǎo)液體流動(dòng)的技術(shù),。根據(jù)這項(xiàng)技術(shù),,氣泡可以引導(dǎo)液體流動(dòng),,如同計(jì)算機(jī)的比特一樣,。該項(xiàng)技術(shù)有望為疾病診斷和藥物研發(fā)提供一個(gè)重要手段。這一研究結(jié)果發(fā)表在近期出版的《科學(xué)》雜志上,。
微流系統(tǒng)主要用于將細(xì)胞,、蛋白質(zhì)或者其他分子進(jìn)行混合,以便研究人員以很小的樣本量進(jìn)行高通量的研究,,迅速發(fā)現(xiàn)細(xì)菌和病毒,。但是如何將液體從一個(gè)地方引導(dǎo)到另一個(gè)地方一直是一個(gè)難題。
據(jù)麻省理工學(xué)院物理學(xué)研究生Manu Prakash介紹,,他們將所有控制芯片內(nèi)部液體活動(dòng)的因素設(shè)計(jì)在芯片之外,,因此這種芯片能夠保持簡單的結(jié)構(gòu)和極小的尺寸。
Prakash及其導(dǎo)師Neil Gershenfeld將氣泡注入特殊形狀的微流管道中,,一個(gè)氣泡的存在就代表一個(gè)比特,,或者說是1,而一個(gè)氣泡的缺失就代表著0,。在某些設(shè)計(jì)中,,一個(gè)管道中的氣泡可以影響附近管道氣泡的流動(dòng)方向,正如在計(jì)算機(jī)芯片上一股電流可以開合另一股電流一樣,。而在另外一些設(shè)計(jì)中,,兩個(gè)來自不同方向的氣泡可以合并為一個(gè)。
目前這種氣泡技術(shù)可以完成計(jì)算機(jī)的各種基本操作,,在美國物理學(xué)會(huì)的年會(huì)上,,Prakash介紹了他們小組最新的研究進(jìn)展,包括一個(gè)可以存儲(chǔ)100個(gè)氣泡的簡單存儲(chǔ)系統(tǒng),。
部分英文原文:
Science 9 February 2007:
Vol. 315. no. 5813, pp. 832 - 835
DOI: 10.1126/science.1136907
Microfluidic Bubble Logic
Manu Prakash* and Neil Gershenfeld
Abstract
We demonstrate universal computation in an all-fluidic two-phase microfluidic system. Nonlinearity is introduced into an otherwise linear, reversible, low–Reynolds number flow via bubble-to-bubble hydrodynamic interactions. A bubble traveling in a channel represents a bit, providing us with the capability to simultaneously transport materials and perform logical control operations. We demonstrate bubble logic AND/OR/NOT gates, a toggle flip-flop, a ripple counter, timing restoration, a ring oscillator, and an electro–bubble modulator. These show the nonlinearity, gain, bistability, synchronization, cascadability, feedback, and programmability required for scalable universal computation. With increasing complexity in large-scale microfluidic processors, bubble logic provides an on-chip process control mechanism integrating chemistry and computation.
Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]