Introduction

Welcome to my website. My name is Tin Wang Wong. I am currently conducting research on microfluidics in France, and I am originally from Hong Kong. On these pages, you will find summaries of my past and ongoing research in the field of microfluidics, as well as topics that I am interested in.

In July 2025, I successfully defended my Ph.D. at the Université Grenoble Alpes (France), completing the degree in a total of three and a half years. Following this, in August 2025, I began working as a Research Engineer at the Institut de Physique de Nice in Nice, developing the Acoustofluidic Interferometric Device (AID). Starting June 2026, I will be joining the Soleil Synchrotron in Paris as a postdoctoral researcher.

Before my Ph.D., I obtained my Master’s degree in July 2018. My master’s thesis was titled “Microfluidic stereolithography for generating cell cultures with spatial order”. From October 2018 to June 2020, I worked as a microfluidics researcher at the Helmholtz Center in Munich, focusing on the development of hydrogel-based microfluidic devices.

I have experience with a range of microfluidic techniques, including acoustic microfluidics, DLD particle sorting, Microfluidic Large-Scale Integration (mLSI), and on-chip lithography. Below are detailed explanations:

Acoustic Microfluidics

During my postdoctoral research, I used piezoceramics to generate acoustic waves that focused micro-particles within microfluidic channels. In other words, the particles flow only along the center of the channel. This setup involves electrical engineering aspects, as driving piezoceramics requires sufficient voltage (over 25 V) and current. It also requires a waveform generator capable of producing MHz-level signals and an amplifier to boost the generator’s output from millivolts or a few volts up to at least 25 V. If the amplifier’s power is insufficient, particles cannot be focused.

DLD Particle Sorting

During my Ph.D., I developed DLD (Deterministic Lateral Displacement) microfluidic chips for particle sorting. Sorting means separating particles by size—larger particles move left, smaller particles move right. DLD is a passive sorting technique that does not rely on external forces or fields, such as electricity or magnetism. Although DLD was first developed in 2004 and is relatively mature, it can achieve nanometer-level sorting resolution. In my Ph.D. work at Liphy lab, I was able to fabricate DLD arrays capable of sorting 3 μm and 1 μm particles and used these arrays (together with related sister arrays) to separate fungi and bacteria.

Microfluidic Fabrication

For any microfluidics developer, fabrication technology is always critical. I am familiar with several microfluidic fabrication techniques:

  1. Photolithography in cleanrooms: I used SU-8 photoresist to create molds with micrometer-scale thicknesses, typically 50 μm in my Ph.D. work;
  2. Soft lithography: Using pre-fabricated silicon wafer molds, microfluidic channels are replicated in PDMS.;
  3. 3D printing: While less precise than silicon wafers, 3D printing allows rapid prototyping. Using Cytop dip-coating, a non-stick layer can be added, enabling soft lithography replication of channels from 3D-printed molds;
  4. Bioprinting: Channels can also be printed using Pluronic F127, followed by molding or casting. After solidification, the chip is placed at 4°C to remove the Pluronic, leaving a hollow microfluidic channel.

These are the microfluidic fabrication techniques I have used in my research.

Biological Techniques

I also have experience in cell culture and possess basic knowledge of cell cultivation techniques. I have previously cultured the HUVEC and HepG2 cell lines. In addition, I am capable of fabricating hydrogels; for example, I have prepared GelMA, a hydrogel that is polymerized using UV light.