Abstract
In this work, the feasibility of a novel direction for microfluidics is studied by demonstrating a set of new methods to fabricate microfluidic systems. Similarly to microfluidic paper-based analytical devices, porous materials are being used. However, alternative porous materials and different printing methods are used here to give the material the necessary pattern to act as a microfluidic system. In this work, microfluidic systems were produced by the following three separate methods: (1) by curing a porous monolithic polymer sheet into a necessary pattern with photolithography, (2) by screen printing silica gel particles with gypsum, and (3) by dispensing silica gel particles with polyvinyl acetate binder using a modified 3D printer. Different parameters of the printed chips were determined (strength of the printed material, printing accuracy, printed material height, wetting characteristics, repeatability) to evaluate whether the printed chips were suitable for use in microfluidics. All three approaches were found to be suitable, and therefore the novel approach to microfluidics was successfully demonstrated.
Highlights
Over the past 30 years, microfluidics has emerged as a promising technological solution for problems in numerous fields [1,2], including, prominently, analytical chemistry.One of the aims of this field is to develop a micro total analysis system that would enable carrying out the whole chemical analysis on a single chip (“Sample in, answer out”) [2]. this goal has been occasionally achieved in laboratory conditions [3,4,5], as of only a few microfluidic systems have gained commercial success [6,7]
All three printing methods fill the following criteria set for microfluidic systems in this article: narrow “channels” and wider material areas can be printed, sufficient strength of the printed material can be achieved and the materials can withstand wetting with water, the wetting times of the material were not prohibitively long
The following novel direction in microfluidics is introduced in this work: the printing of porous materials with predefined patterns for microfluidics
Summary
One of the aims of this field is to develop a micro total analysis system that would enable carrying out the whole chemical analysis on a single chip (“Sample in, answer out”) [2]. This goal has been occasionally achieved in laboratory conditions [3,4,5], as of only a few microfluidic systems have gained commercial success [6,7]. External devices (e.g., pumps and detectors) must often be used together with the microfluidic system to achieve the necessary functionality or analytical performance, leading to high cost [6,9].
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