Wang, Zhenxiao, Li, Ya, Chen, Lin, Xu, Wenxia, Li, Huaixin, Tang, Tao, Li, Jin  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4672-6806, Wen, Jianmin, Shen, Yigang and Li, Jianping
2026.
Integrated liquid metal microfluidic (ILMM) platform for efficient and low-cost bio-impedance analysis.
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
466
, 140359.
10.1016/j.snb.2026.140359
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Abstract
Bio-impedance analysis, as a non-invasive, label-free, and real-time technique for cell analysis and clinical diagnosis. However, scalable deployment of high-performance microfluidic impedance platforms remains limited by costly and time-consuming microfabrication processes. Here, we present an integrated liquid metal microfluidic (ILMM) platform for rapid and low-cost bio-impedance analysis. The device is fabricated using 3D printing, preheating -assisted vacuum filling, and a poly (vinyl alcohol) sacrificial layer that enables clean peeling of embedded Bi-In-Sn microelectrodes. This strategy achieves complete liquid metal filling within 10 min and reduces the full fabrication cycle to less than 12 h, with an electrode cost below 1 USD. Structural, surface-chemical, and electrical characterizations confirm conformal electrode filling, effective sacrificial-layer removal, low impedance noise, and good batch-to-batch consistency. Finite-element simulations and experiments further demonstrate the platform's frequency response, thermal stability, and ability to distinguish dynamic water-in-oil droplets. for static detection using only 20 µL of sample, and further confirm its ability to distinguish dynamic microfluidic droplets. Finally, biocompatibility tests and 12 h impedance monitoring of Saccharomyces cerevisiae proliferation validate the platform for live-cell analysis. The ILMM platform offers a scalable, and accessible route for rapid prototyping of portable bio-impedance sensors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Engineering |
| Additional Information: | RRS policy applied. License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: Title: This article is under embargo with an end date yet to be finalised. |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0925-4005 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 6 July 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 11 June 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Jul 2026 09:30 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187595 |
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