Micro-Fluid Dynamics and Lab-on-a-Chip
Research focused on transport phenomena in microchannel networks and the development of LOC technology for biomedical applications.
About the Laboratory
The research interests of the Bilkent University Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Research Group (BU-MLRG) are based on fundamental and experimental investigations regarding transport phenomena in microchannel networks and the development of LOC (Lab-on-a-chip) technology for biomedical, biological, and chemical applications.
Research Topics and Activities
Since the 1970s, the trend toward miniaturization of electronic components, combined with the development of advanced micro and nano-scale fabrication techniques since the 1980s, has led to the widespread utilization of micrometer and nanometer-sized devices across various fields. Consequently, the field of microfluidics, which deals with fluid flow phenomena at the microscale, has emerged as an exciting and rich area of research. A fundamental understanding of fluid, thermal, and mass transport at the microscale is absolutely crucial for the design and process control of microfluidic systems.
Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) Applications
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are microfluidic platforms capable of integrating complex chemical processing and analysis systems onto a single chip only millimeters or centimeters in size, while interacting seamlessly with electronic and optical sensing systems. The ultimate goal of LOC technology is to design devices that can perform the same analytical tasks as quickly and accurately as room-sized or benchtop systems, but carry out in-situ testing and sensing at a fraction of the fabrication and operational costs. Such devices are in high demand across life sciences, space exploration, the defense industry, atmospheric sciences, and pharmaceutical research.