Rapid Production of PDMS Microdevices for Electrodriven Separations and Microfluidics by 3D-Printed Scaffold Removal

Abstract

In our work, we produced PDMS-based microfluidic devices by mechanical removal of 3D-printed scaffolds inserted in PDMS. Two setups leading to the fabrication of monolithic PDMS-based microdevices and bonded (or stamped) PDMS-based microdevices were designed. In the monolithic devices, the 3D-printed scaffolds were fully inserted in the PDMS and then carefully removed. The bonded devices were produced by forming imprints of the 3D-printed scaffolds in PDMS, followed by bonding the PDMS parts to glass slides. All these microfluidic devices were then successfully employed in three proof-of-concept applications: capture of magnetic microparticles, formation of droplets, and isotachophoresis separation of model organic dyes.

Finger-Actuated Micropump of Constant Flow Rate without Backflow

“…The ratio of Sylgard 184 base to curing agent is 10:1 [114]. The mixture is manually stirred with a glass rod, and degassing is carried out in a desiccator under vacuum to eliminate the potential of the bubbles from the mixing process in order to reduce microchannel structure defects [116,117]. Basically, they can be cured overnight at room temperature [118], or 60 • C for 2 h [114], or 80 • C for 50 min [119].…”