Fabrication and simulation of a microvalve for molecular communication control on a chip

Abstract

In recent years, microvalves have become increasingly significant in microfluidic structures. In microfluidic devices, these microvalves are crucial to controlling fluid flow. Due to their ability to precisely manipulate and adjust the fluid, these structures are more efficient in applications, particularly in medicine, drug delivery, protein analysis, microscale communication, and chemical processes. Utilizing a numerical model for the design and fabrication of a microvalve results in the development of a more optimized and efficient structure. Microvalves can be generally divided into active and passive categories. This research focuses on the design and fabrication of a pneumatic microvalve, which falls under the category of active microvalves. This structure has two distinct chambers that allow for microscale communication. The microvalve is constructed using two layers, where the upper layer controls the lower layer, which contains fluid flow through pneumatic pressure. The performance of the system was evaluated through experimental analysis. The microchannel passage remained obstructed when the flow rates were set to 0.2 ml/h and when maintaining a constant pump pressure of 15 psi. However, the fluid flow is connected even when the pressure is cut off. We believe this structure will impact diverse applications, including molecular communication.