Miniaturization of a micro-optics array for highly sensitive and parallel detection on an injection moulded lab-on-a-chip

Abstract

We developed a lab-on-a-chip system integrating miniaturized micro-optic SAF arrays within microfluidic chambers for high sensitivity and multiplexed detection of fluorescent molecules.

Optimising the supercritical angle fluorescence structures in polymer microfluidic biochips for highly sensitive pathogen detection: a case study on Escherichia coli

“…Excited fluorescent molecules positioned at a distance less than their emission wavelength to the interface of two dielectric media emit a large amount of their radiation into the higher refractive index medium [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] (Fig. 1).…”

“…Instead of using millimetre-range solid paraboloid elements, our group has developed a technique to fabricate micro cone-shaped SAF arrays on which multiplexed detection of pathogens with high sensitivity and a low volume of reagents were achieved. 8,12 The detection technique is carried out based on two portions: (i) using solid-phase PCR and (ii) fabrication of micro SAF arrays. In the fabrication step of micro SAF arrays, the size optimisation of the SAF structures, however, has not yet been conducted, which gives rise to limitations of and obstacles in this method in massive chip production for industrial applications, e.g.…”

“…From the optimised height, if the SAF structures are too high, the fluorescence observation can be disturbed by optical noise due to the increase of the surface area and hence the surface roughness at the sidewalls. 8 When the height of the SAF structure is too low, we lose the observation signal due to reaching the limit of the supercritical angle and total internal reflection. 1 In this work, we present, for the first time, both experimental and theoretical investigation on the optimisation of fabricating SAF microarrays used in hypersensitive pathogen detection.…”

Fabrication of 3D microstructure array on chip for rapid pathogen detection

“…In our previous work, we presented the fabrication of supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF) microstructures in polymer by means of injection molding with a micro-milled stamp (here referred as shim) using micro-milling method [13]. The advantage of using injection molding is two-fold: the reproducibility of structures for Lab-on-chip applications with dimensions of tens of nanometers, together with a technique that is ideal for production of large number of samples [14].…”

Tailored Chemical Surface Modifications of Different Types of Thermoplastic Materials for Microfluidic Applications

“…Formation of microstructures or chemical patterning are additional processing steps, which results in high costs. Fabrication of those spatially structured parts using transparent thermoplastics can be done in a simple molding step . The approach presented here introduces methods also for realization of chemical structures during molding.…”