Rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips in COC

Abstract

We present a novel, cost-efficient process chain for fast tooling and small-lot replication of high-quality, multi-scale microfluidic polymer chips within less than 5 days. The fabrication chain starts with a primary master which is made by well-established cleanroom processes such as DRIE or negative SU-8 resist based surface micromachining. The formation of undercuts in the master which would complicate demolding is carefully avoided. Secondary PDMS masters or epoxy-based masters which are more suitable for common polymer replication schemes such as soft-embossing, hot-embossing or injection molding are subsequently cast from the primary masters. The polymer replica are mainly made of COC and show excellent fidelity with the conventionally micromachined master while displaying no degeneration, even after more than 200 cycles. The use of other polymers such as PMMA is also possible. The process chain further includes surface modification techniques for overall, long-term stable hydrophilic coatings and for local hydrophobic patches as well as a durable sealing based on thermal bonding.

Investigating Cellular Nanoscale with X-rays

“…In the end, we could build microfluidic chips completely made out of COC, with a total thickness of about 200 to 300 µm, depending on the channel dimension. Hence, the X-ray beam is only passing through a layer of about 100 µm, which is about 5 to 20× thinner than what was previously published [246,247]. …”

Highly efficient Suzuki cross-coupling reaction within an open channel plastic microreactor immobilized with palladium complexes

“…The COC plates and the microchips were fabricated through easily operational and inexpensive hot-embossing technique reported previously (Tsao and DeVoe 2009;Steigert et al 2007;Pu et al 2007). The inner surface of microchannel was modified by photographting (Mair et al 2006;Bedair and Oleschuk 2006;Rohr et al 2003;Samuel et al 2010).…”

Cluster size distribution of cancer cells in blood using stopped-flow centrifugation along scale-matched gaps of a radially inclined rail

“…Standard protocols for disc fabrication, polydimethylsiloxane priming, blood processing and cell culture were used and have been described elsewhere [33][34][35][36][37] . These protocols are also briefly outlined in the Supplementary Information.…”