Which materials can be used for making microfluidic channels?
Which materials can be used for making microfluidic channels?
A broad range of existing and new materials from silicon, glass, polymers, and paper have been demonstrated as viable compatible materials for creating advanced and low-cost microfluidic devices, with embedded micrometre-sized elements, to provide unique and often combined functionalities for microfluidic processing.
How is a microfluidic chip made?
Microfluidic chips are usually fabricated by making thin grooves or small wells on the surface of a layer, and then enclosing those features by means of a second layer to form microchannels or chambers. Channels need to be leak-proof thus the layers must be properly bonded.
What can air bubble do to microfluidic cell culture?
Flow instability: The presence of air bubbles, moving in the fluidic setup, or dilating/contracting, can cause an important flow rate instability. Compliance increase: When an air bubble is trapped somewhere in your fluidic setup, the time needed to reach pressure equilibration can increase.
What are microfluidic PCR devices?
Microfluidics have been widely used for different DNA amplification processes (PCR, qPCR, RT-PCR). Microfluidic devices allow to accelerate PCR processes, reduce reagent consumption, reach high-throughput assays and integrate pre or post-PCR assays on-chip.
What is microfluidic platform?
A microfluidic platform allows to perform a set of fluidic unit operations that are enabled by a set of fluidic elements, which are designed for easy combination with a well-defined (and low-cost) fabrication technology.
Why is PDMS used in microfluidic devices?
PDMS, as an elastomer, is known for its mold-release properties and ability to replicate features down to the nanoscale, with low shrinkage during cure (around 1%) and excellent elastic properties.
What is microfluidic channel?
The use of microfluidic channels allows patterning surfaces by restricting the flow of fluids to desired regions of a substrate. The patterning components — such as ligands, proteins, and cells — are deposited from the solution to create a pattern on the substrate.
What is microfluidic reactor?
Microfluidics reactors enables the continuous production of chemicals in small amounts while maintaining consistent quality; a common problem associated with batch production. Microfluidic systems provide a portable platform for on-site and on-demand drug production due to their small size.
How are glass microfluidic devices manufactured?
Conventional manufacturing of glass microfluidic devices is a complex, multi-step process that involves a combination of different fabrication techniques, typically photolithography, chemical/dry etching and thermal/anodic bonding.
What are the most popular etching methods for microfluidic devices?
Most popular etching methods for the fabrication of microfluidic devices are wet etching, DRIE, and RIE. Etching is often the only method available to make glass or silicon chips. It does create satisfactory channels and can be used in low-medium volume.
What are microfluidic chips used for?
A diverse repertoire of methods can be chosen to manufacture such platforms of desired size, shape, and geometry. Whether they are used alone or in combination with other devices, microfluidic chips can be employed in nanoparticle preparation, drug encapsulation, delivery, and targeting, cell analysis, diagnosis, and cell culture.
What is a cleanroom for microfluidics fabrication?
A manufacturing cleanroom does not mean it is a particle-free environment for microfluidics fabrication. Although cleanrooms do great to isolate outside dust, and remove internal particles via HEPA filters, dust and debris are constantly produced in a high rate due to the manufacturing process itself.
