Fabrication and testing of novel blood separation devices based on microchannel bend structures

Abstract

Most clinical chemistry tests are performed on cell-free serum or plasma. Therefore micro assay devices for blood tests require integrated on-chip microfluidics for separation of plasma or serum from blood. Polymers are ideally suited for these applications due to their material properties and their applicability for high volume production. These requirements are achieved by a new on-chip blood separation technique based on microchannel bend structures and a rapid processing technology for micro assay devices using injection molding or hot embossing. Different prototype polymer chips with channel dimensions down to 20 μm and aspect ratios of 4 have been fabricated by injection molding and hot embossing. The inserts for the molding tools were fabricated by an UV-LIGA technology. The separation efficiency of these chips has been tested with human blood samples. The results show different separation efficiencies up to 100 % for blood cells and plasma depending on microchannel geometry as well as cell concentration. As compared to present microfluidic devices for the separation of blood cells like filters, membranes or filtration by diffusion the microchannel bend is an integrated on-chip blood separation method. It combines the advantages of rapid separation times and a simple geometry that leads to cost-effective high volume production using injection molding.