Abstract
We present a simple procedure to create smooth-sided, transparent polymer-based microfluidic devices by presegmentation with hydrophobized glass slides. We study the hypothesis that the smooth side planes permit rapid multiangle imaging of microfluidic systems in contrast to the turbid side planes that result from cutting the polymer. We compare the compatibility of the entire approach with the conventional widefield microscopy, confocal and 2-photon microscopy, as well as three-dimensional (3D) rendering and discuss limitations and potential applications.
Highlights
Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an indispensable tool in today’s laboratory-on-a-chip research and microfluidics in general, largely because of its easy molding, biocompatibility, and rapid-prototyping at low cost, and especially its transparency.[1−3] Often, cast PDMS devices are cut and subsequently bonded to glass or PDMS parts to make microscopecompatible devices for microfluidic studies.[4−6]While this is a rapid and convenient route, cutting the edges of PDMS generates turbid areas that scatter the light, inhibiting microscopic imaging through this angle
By using polished, hydrophobized glass slides, inserted into the PDMS prior to curing, we can generate clear sided walls that can be used for rapid multiangle imaging of microfluidic devices across perpendicular planes, e.g., the x−y-plane and the x−z-plane
The enhancement was caused by reflection at the air−PDMS interface and complete transmission at the PDMS−PDMS interface between the two device halves
Summary
Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an indispensable tool in today’s laboratory-on-a-chip research and microfluidics in general, largely because of its easy molding, biocompatibility, and rapid-prototyping at low cost, and especially its transparency.[1−3] Often, cast PDMS devices are cut and subsequently bonded to glass or PDMS parts to make microscopecompatible devices for microfluidic studies.[4−6] While this is a rapid and convenient route, cutting the edges of PDMS generates turbid areas that scatter the light, inhibiting microscopic imaging through this angle. Light field measurement[9] and polarized multiangle total internal reflection fluorescence (MA-TIRF) achieved live cell imaging below the lateral resolution limit but only at a frequency of one image every 2 s.13 In contrast to these methods, which employ only two sides (top and bottom) of their sample for multiangle imaging, we have devised a method that will generate devices with four optically clear sides (top, bottom, front, and back) through which imaging can take place. By using polished, hydrophobized glass slides, inserted into the PDMS prior to curing, we can generate clear sided walls that can be used for rapid multiangle imaging of microfluidic devices across perpendicular planes, e.g., the x−y-plane and the x−z-plane
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