TEMPE, Ariz. – A team of researchers at Arizona State University
has demonstrated the ability to move water molecules by light --
a phenomenon they believe could have widespread use in
analytical chemistry and possibly pharmaceutical research. The
discovery could have an important effect on the fledgling field
of microfluidics, said Tony Garcia, an associate professor in
the Harrington Department of Bioengineering. The use of an
ordinary beam of light to move water around without the need for
potentially damaging electric fields, air bubbles (which can
denature proteins), or moving microscopic mechanical pump parts
(which are expensive to make and difficult to repair) could
significantly aid development of microfluidic devices, which are
themselves tiny, sophisticated devices that can analyze samples.
"This discovery can speed the development of microfluidic
devices," Garcia said. "These devices could require only one
drop of blood for a battery of 20 to 30 tests, with results
provided in the time spent waiti