Smart Liquid Microlenses For Optical And Medical Diagnostics

A new technology has taken birth for the optical systems and the diagnostic devices. The Electrical and computer engineers from the University of Wisconsin have developed the narrative independent lenses with captivating features. Here is an abstract from the release: Incorporating hydrogels that respond to physical, chemical or biological stimuli and actuate lens function, these liquid microlenses could advance lab-on-a-chip technologies, optical imaging, medical diagnostics and bio-optical microfluidic systems. Jiang, a University of Wisconsin-Madison assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; David Beebe, a professor of biomedical engineering; Liang Dong, a postdoctoral researcher; and Abhishek Agarwal, a doctoral student, describe the technology in the Aug. 3 issue of the journal Nature. At this size – hundreds of microns up to about a millimeter – variable focal length lenses aren’t new; however, existing microlenses require external control systems to function, says Beebe. “The ability to respond in autonomous fashion to the local environment is new and unique,” he says. In a lab-on-a-chip environment, for example, a researcher might want to detect a potentially hazardous chemical or biological agent in a tiny fluid sample. Using traditional sensors on microchips is an option for this kind of work – but liquid environments often aren’t kind to the electronics, says Jiang. Fabricating lenses is a straightforward, inexpensive process that takes just a couple of hours. The real advantage, however, is their autonomous function, says Jiang. “That forms a universal platform,” he says. “We have a single structure and we can put different kinds of hydrogels in and they can be responsive to different parameters. By looking at the outputs of these lenses, I know what’s going on in that location.”