Electrochemical techniques for microfluidic applications.

Electrochemical principles provide key techniques to promote the construction of bio/chemical microsystems of the next generation. There is a wealth of technology for the microfabrication of bio/chemical sensors. In addition, microfluidic transport in a network of flow channels, pH regulation, and automatic switching can be realized by electrochemical principles. Since the basic components of the devices are electrode patterns, the integration of different components is easily achieved. With these techniques, bio/chemical assays that require the exchange of solutions can be conducted on a chip. Furthermore, autonomous microanalysis systems that can carry out necessary procedures are beginning to be realized. In this article, techniques developed in our group will be comprehensively introduced.