Programming Soft-materials in Engineered Systems: Merging Chemistry and Computation with Microfluidics

Manu Prakash, MIT

Starting from genetic blueprints, biological materials turn into complex, multi-compartmental "living" things with algorithmic precision. One fundamental difference between biological and physical materials is their inherent computational ability. On the other hand, though we have long understood that "Information representation is invariably physical", only very recently are we beginning to exploit this insight to shape, program and manipulate matter in engineered systems. In this talk, I will introduce a new paradigm in computation where bits can simultaneously transport and manipulate both materials and information, similar to how integrated circuits allow us to control the flow of electrons. I will describe an entirely new digital logic family which implements universal Boolean logic, exploiting purely hydrodynamic nonlinearities in low-Reynolds number two-phase flow, providing a droplet-level, internal and inherently digital flow control mechanism at KHz frequencies with no moving parts or off-chip components. A toolbox comprising of microfluidic circuits including AND/OR/NOT gates, flip-flops, counters, ring-oscillators and synchronizers will be introduced. These show the nonlinearity, gain, bistability, synchronization, cascadability, feedback and programmability required for scalable universal computation and control. This platform technology enables the design of sub nanoliter droplet reactors with applications in high throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry and integrated microfluidics. Several ongoing applications of this toolbox in diverse fields ranging from large-scale biological automation to digitally programmable materials will be described. A hierarchical approach combining processes for generating and manipulating digital bio-materials with capabilities of natural and unnatural bio-circuits expands the horizon of the coming era of "engineered biological systems."

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