Materials Matter in Microfluidic Devices

Abstract

A number of materials, including silicon, quartz, glass, metal, and polymers, have been used to date to fabricate mi- MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 31 • FEBRUARY 2006 95 Materials Matter in Microfluidic DevicesXunli Zhang and Stephen J. Haswell AbstractAs more micro-and nanofluidic methodologies are developed for a growing number of diverse applications, it becomes increasingly apparent that the choice of substrate material can have a profound effect on the eventual performance of a device. This is due mostly to the high surface-to-volume ratio that exists within such small structures. In addition to the obvious limitations related to the choice of solvent, operating temperatures, and pressure, the method of fluidic pumping-in particular, an electrokinetics-based methodology using a combination of electro-osmotic and electrophoresis flows-can further complicate material choice. These factors, however, are only part of the problem; once chemicals or biological materials (e.g., proteins or cells) are introduced into a microfluidic system, surface characteristics will have a profound influence on the activity of such components, which will subsequently influence their performance. This article reviews the common types of materials that are currently used to fabricate microfluidic devices and considers how these materials may influence the overall performance associated with chemical and biological processing. Consideration will also be given to the selection of materials and surface modifications that can aid in exploiting the high surface properties to enhance process performance.

Polymer-Based Microfluidic Devices for Pharmacy, Biology and Tissue Engineering

“…A large number of technologies and materials, such as silicon, PMMA, glass, parylene plastics, flexible polymers and gelatin [388], are currently available for the production of microfluidic devices [389]. Glass and silicon are expensive compared to the other materials, and flexible polymers share the disadvantage of PDMS of hydrophobicity.…”

An artificial model for studying fluid dynamics in the obstructed and stented ureter

“…The CAD geometry was transferred to a 3D printer (Objet Connex350 TM , Stratasys Ltd., US) in order to fabricate a rigid male mold of the ureter model. Subsequently, the mold was fixed within a hollow cylinder and a degassed mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) precursor and curing agent (10:1 w/w, Sylgard® 184, Dow Corning Corporation, US) was poured in the cylinder and cured in the oven for 1h at 80º C [11]. The mold was then removed from the PDMS block and the final model with the imprinted ureter geometry was obtained (Fig.1b).…”

Development in Microreactor Technology for Nanoparticle Synthesis

“…[64][65][66] Polymers are inexpensive in comparison to silicon and glass. [67][68][69] They can also be as disposables in order to eliminate risks of sample contamination in many applications, such as biomedical, security. Polymer materials and their fabrication methods provide a solution to this challenge.…”