In the field of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems, the channel geometry of a microfluidic chip is often specific to perform a given protocol. The chip geometry is hence defined at the design step, before the fabrication steps (generally time consuming and expensive) and cannot be thereafter modified. This fact becomes an issue when the geometry does not fit satisfactorily to the specifications and a new batch of fabrication has to be started, to size afresh the microfluidic chip. To overcome this inconvenient we propose to develop a new generation of microfluidic chips with a programmable and reconfigurable geometry. This concept is widely based on both digital microfluidic techniques, the electrowetting on dielectrics (EWOD) and the liquid dielectrophoresis (LDEP) actuations. The first investigation is focused on the microfluidic technique LDEP. First, an electromechanical model for liquids behaviours during a EWOD or LDEP actuation is established. This model is then used as a basis for the LDEP patterns design and fabrication. The LDEP patterns are tested to identify the geometries and dielectric layers stacks which give optimized LDEP actuations. By taking into account a broad parameters range, the study shows that, within a precise setup and specific conditions, the LDEP actuations can have equal performances at the minimum, or better performances than those reported in the overall scientific literature until now. Finally, a surface functionalization protocol by polymer spots (diameter size ranging from a few microns to several dozens of microns) utilizing the LDEP technology is described. This method is likely to compete directly with the standard functionalization tools. The second investigation is dealing with the programmable and reconfigurable geometry concept, thanks to microfluidic platforms which get together both EWOD and LDEP technologies on a same component. Firstly, the microfluidic platform in a single plate configuration allows providing master molds with a programmable geometry for the PDMS microfluidic chip fabrication. The results about this promising study lead to the processing of complex channels geometries, typically used in the microfluidic field. Secondly, the more exciting results are exposed about the programmable and reconfigurable microfluidic concept, by using advantageously the paraffin material. A specific protocol which takes advantages of LDEP and EWOD liquids displacements produces a lot of various and different microfluidic chips with complex channels shapes. For both applications, a single generic microfluidic platform can generate a wide number of different geometries, which can be modified partially or totally thereafter. The obtained results open up novel and promising work prospects, which one of them are approached on the fringe of the initial purposes. The first one belongs to the continuity of the programmable and reconfigurable by suggesting a low cost technology based on flexible Kapton substrate and inkjet printing of silver nanoparticules. The second one investigates the technologies compatibility between MEMS/NEMS resonating structures and LDEP metal structures (in polysilicon) at the submicronic scale.
