Prototyping chips in minutes: Direct Laser Plotting (DLP) of functional microfluidic structures
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Prototyping chips in minutes Direct Laser Plotting (DLP) of functional microfluidic structures 1-s2.0-S0925400512.pdf
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ArticleKAUST Department
Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC)Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division
KAUST Grant Number
SA-C0040/UK-C0016Date
2012-04-12Online Publication Date
2012-04-12Print Publication Date
2012-06Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/303151
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We report a fast and simple prototyping method to fabricate polymer-based microfluidic chips using Direct Laser Plotting (DLP) technique, by which various functional micro-structures can be realized within minutes, in a mask-free and out-of-cleanroom fashion. A 2D Computer-Aid-Design (CAD) software was employed to layout the required micro-structures and micro-channels, a CO2 laser plotter was then used to construct the microstructures. The desired patterns can be plotted directly on PDMS substrates and bio-compatible polymer films by manipulating the strength and density of laser pulses. With the DLP technique, chip-embedded micro-electrodes, micro-mixers and 3D microfluidic chips with 5 layers, which normally require several days of work in a cleanroom facility, can be fabricated in minutes in common laboratory. This novel method can produce microfluidic channels with average feature size of 100 μm, while feature size of 50 μm or smaller is achievable by making use of the interference effect from laser impulsion. In this report, we present the optimized parameters for successful fabrication of 3D microchannels, micro-mixers and microfluidic chips for protein concentration measurements (Bovine Serum Albumine (BSA) test), and a novel procedure to pattern flexible embedding electrodes on PDMS-based microfluidic chips. DLP offers a convenient and low cost alternative to conventional microfluidic channel fabrication technique which relies on complicated and hazardous soft lithography process.Citation
Wang L, Kodzius R, Yi X, Li S, Hui YS, et al. (2012) Prototyping chips in minutes: Direct Laser Plotting (DLP) of functional microfluidic structures. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 168: 214-222. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2012.04.011.Sponsors
Award No. SA-C0040/UK-C0016, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); Hong Kong RGC grants HKUST 603608 and 604710Publisher
Elsevier BVAdditional Links
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0925400512003607ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.snb.2012.04.011
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