ETH develops test device for microfluidics

(CONNECT) Researchers at ETH have developed a process that enables microfluidic tests in drug development to be carried out more quickly and with fewer resources. The starting point is a technology that allows up to 100,000 tiny drops to be precisely placed on a glass plate the size of a microscope slide, ETH Zurich reported in a press release. The panel is coated with a water-repellent layer that is interrupted at the up to 100,000 landing points for the droplets. The plate is placed in a shallow oil bath to stabilise the drops.

The drops are placed in a device developed by the researchers. The composition of the drops can be varied with precise control. The samples can also be microscoped in the device and cultivated over several days. In contrast to conventional processes, the ETH method produces hardly any plastic waste and uses considerably less chemicals.

ETH has patented the method and nominated the invention for the final of its Spark Award 2025. The researchers want to bring the process to market maturity via a spin-off. In addition to the device itself, software solutions will also be developed to analyse the information from the experiments. "For me, it is crucial that the system is really reliable and easy to use," research group member Claudius Dietsche is quoted as saying in the press release. ce/hs