Lab-on-PCB and Flow Driving: A Critical Review

Abstract

Lab-on-PCB devices have been developed for many biomedical and biochemical applications. However, much work has to be done towards commercial applications. Even so, the research on devices of this kind is rapidly increasing. The reason for this lies in the great potential of lab-on-PCB devices to provide marketable devices. This review describes the active flow driving methods for lab-on-PCB devices, while commenting on their main characteristics. Among others, the methods described are the typical external impulsion devices, that is, syringe or peristaltic pumps; pressurized microchambers for precise displacement of liquid samples; electrowetting on dielectrics; and electroosmotic and phase-change-based flow driving, to name a few. In general, there is not a perfect method because all of them have drawbacks. The main problems with regard to marketable devices are the complex fabrication processes, the integration of many materials, the sealing process, and the use of many facilities for the PCB-chips. The larger the numbers of integrated sensors and actuators in the PCB-chip, the more complex the fabrication. In addition, the flow driving-integrated devices increase that difficulty. Moreover, the biological applications are demanding. They require transparency, biocompatibility, and specific ambient conditions. All the problems have to be solved when trying to reach repetitiveness and reliability, for both the fabrication process and the working of the lab-on-PCB, including the flow driving system.

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Semi-Automatic Lab-on-PCB System for Agarose Gel Preparation and Electrophoresis for Biomedical Applications

“…Nowadays, the development of microfluidic devices using printed circuit board (PCB) substrates has been the subject of increasing research [ 1 , 2 ]. These devices are named lab-on-PCBs (LoP), and they can be considered to be a part of lab on a chip devices (LoCs).…”

“…In this respect, the device fabrication can be intended as mass production, that is, thermoplastic fabrication using hot embossing or injection molding, and the PCB can be ordered to specialised companies. These characteristics make lab-on-PCBs an attractive choice, due to their high potential for commercialisation [ 1 , 2 ].…”

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“…Nowadays, the development of microfluidic devices using printed circuit board (PCB) substrates has been the subject of increasing research [1,2]. These devices are named lab on PCBs, and they can be considered as a part of lab on a chip devices (LoCs).…”

“…In this respect, the device fabrication can be intended as a mass production, that is, the thermoplastic fabrication using hot embossing or injection molding, and the PCB can ordered to specialised companies. These characteristics make lab on PCBs an attractive choice due to their high potential of commercialization [1,2].…”