| abstract |
A method of rehydrating a microfluidic arrangement wherein when hydrated the microfluidic arrangement comprises a first liquid on a surface of a substrate in a desired shape and a second liquid which is immiscible with the first liquid covering the first liquid, wherein the first liquid is retained in the shape by a liquid interface between the first and second liquids, the method comprising providing a dried out residue in the shape on the substrate, overlaying the residue with the second liquid and rehydrating the residue with the first liquid by passing the first liquid through the second liquid to form the microfluidic arrangement. The shape consists of an array of drops in a regularly spaced arrangement with a contact angle between each drop and the surface of the substrate being less than 50% of the advancing contact angle, or at least one liquid conduit in liquid communication with at least one liquid drop. The arrangement may be used for processing fluids or subjecting a fluid to desired conditions or reagents. Ideally the substrate is hydrophilic, the first liquid is polar, e.g. an aqueous liquid, and the second liquid is non-polar such as an oil or a fluorocarbon. |