From microdroplets to microfluidics: Selective emulsion separation in microfluidic devices. Fidalgo, Whyte, Bratton, Kaminski, Abell, & Huck Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 47(11):2042-2045, 1, 2008.
From microdroplets to microfluidics: Selective emulsion separation in microfluidic devices [pdf]Paper  From microdroplets to microfluidics: Selective emulsion separation in microfluidic devices [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   
In this paper we present a technology that bridges the fields of microdroplets and continuous-flow microfluidics by extracting on-chip the contents of microdroplets and incorporating them into a continuous stream. The extraction is achieved through electrocoalescence: droplets are forced to coalesce with an aqueous stream by application of an electric field across the channel. The extraction is controlled through the voltage applied at microfabricated electrodes on each side of the channel and can be performed in a continuous or discrete fashion. The discrete collection of droplets can be controlled by an external electrical signal related to the contents of the droplets. As a proof of principle, we have implemented a fluorescence intensity based detection system to control the collection of the droplets, resulting in a device capable of selectively incorporating the contents of droplets of interest to a continuous microfluidic stream.

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