Introduction to Microfluidics and Nanofluidics

How do fluids behave when confined to spaces thinner than a human hair? At the micro and nano scales, gravity becomes negligible, while surface tension, viscosity, and electrostatic forces dominate fluid behavior. Understanding these unique physical phenomena is crucial for developing next-generation medical diagnostics, lab-on-a-chip devices, and advanced chemical sensors. This text-based course guides you from the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics to the cutting-edge applications of microfluidics and nanofluidics. You will start with the foundational concepts of low Reynolds number flows, surface chemistry, and electrokinetics before exploring how these principles are applied to design modern chip-based analysis systems. What you'll learn: - Understand the governing physical laws and scaling effects that dominate fluids at the micro and nano scales - Analyze capillary forces, surface tension, and wetting phenomena in microchannels - Master the principles of electrokinetics, including electroosmotic flow and electrophoresis - Study transport phenomena, diffusion, and mixing behaviors unique to miniaturized systems - Explore modern fabrication techniques and materials, including polymer-based chips and soft lithography - Examine contemporary applications such as paper-based diagnostics, organ-on-a-chip technology, and DNA sequencing platforms This course is structured to build your knowledge step-by-step, beginning with core fluidic equations and molecular transport concepts, then transitioning into real-world engineering solutions and diagnostic device design. You will read detailed theoretical breakdowns, walk through mathematical derivations, and analyze practical engineering scenarios. This course is designed for undergraduate students, researchers, and engineers in mechanical, chemical, biomedical, or materials engineering who are new to microscale fluid transport. No prior background in microfabrication is required, though a basic understanding of introductory physics and fluid mechanics is helpful. Begin reading today to unlock the potential of fluid manipulation at the smallest scales.