Website: http://www.microfluidics.uvic.ca/sinton.html

Research involves

Studying micro- and nano-scale transport phenomena—mechanisms by which particles or quantities move from one place to another—and their application in integrated devices.

Research relevance

Understanding fluid transport on the small scale to advance biomedical diagnostics and energy applications.

"Plumbing" advances biomedical diagnostics and energy applications

Major advancements in biomedical diagnostics and energy applications are possible through research into fluid transport at small scales.

Such research on the micro- and nano-scale can be thought of as "small-scale plumbing." It promises major advances in the development of integrated devices for disease diagnosis. Many infectious diseases, including cardiovascular conditions and cancer, require quantitative detection of multiple biomarkers to determine a particular illness state.

Highly integrated, small-scale fluidic systems with flowing liquid or gas offer a promising approach for multiplexed biomedical detection in a laboratory, clinic or point-of-care setting. Such devices have the potential to accelerate research and drug development, improve health-care delivery and distribute advanced medical technologies in developing regions.

Dr. David Sinton, Canada Research Chair in Integrated Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, finds that many diagnostic processes can be developed by incorporating microfluidic channels with nanofluidic elements such as membranes or nanophotonic biosensors. This requires the study and application of micro- and nano-scale transport phenomena—mechanisms by which particles or quantities move from one place to another.

This research, leading to an increased understanding of transport on the small scale, opens avenues for biomedical diagnostic technologies as well as energy systems. In the energy field, Sinton's work can be applied to developing microfluidic fuel cells and advancing the study of flow in porous media.