Development of a flexible microfluidic system integrating magnetic micro-actuators for trapping biological species

Abstract

A flexible microfluidic system embedding microelectromagnets has been designed, modeled and fabricated by using a photosensitive resin as structural material. The fabrication process involves the integration of micro-coils in a multilayer SU-8 microfluidic system by combining standard electroplating and dry films lamination. This technique offers numerous advantages in terms of integration, biocompatibility and chemical resistance. Various designs of micro-coils, including spiral, square or serpentine wires, have been simulated and experimentally tested. It has been established that thermal dissipation in micro-coils depends strongly on the number of turns and current density but remains compatible with biological applications. Real-time experimentations show that these micro-actuators are efficient in trapping magnetic micro-beads without any external field source or a permanent magnet and highlight that the size of microfluidic channels has been adequately designed for optimal trapping. Moreover, we trap magnetic beads in less than 2 s and release them instantaneously into the micro-channel. The actuation solely relies on electric fields, which are easier to control than standard magneto-fluidic modules.

Photocurable Polymer Nanocomposites for Magnetic, Optical, and Biological Applications

“…To expand the functionality of polymeric materials, composites of polymer and magnetic nanoparticles (MNs) have been studied intensely over several decades. Particularly, magnetic property has gained much interest because it can be used in many different magnetically transparent environments, including air, vacuum, water, electrolyte, and even solid substrates [28], [29]. In addition, magnetic materials can be remotely controlled without any physical connections [30].…”

RF MEMS continuous reversible variable inductor based on a microfluidic network

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A dielectrophoretic continuous flow sorter using integrated microelectrodes coupled to a channel constriction

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