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Rapid prototyping of thermoset polyester microfluidic devices
Gina S Fiorini1, Robert M Lorenz, Jason S Kuo
1Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1700, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|August 17, 2004
Summary
This study introduces a rapid fabrication method for thermoset polyester (TPE) microfluidic devices. Oxygen plasma treatment significantly enhances electroosmotic flow (EOF) for improved microfluidic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Microfluidic systems offer miniaturized platforms for various applications.
- Thermoset polyesters (TPE) present a promising material for microfluidic device fabrication due to their properties.
- Efficient fabrication methods and surface modifications are crucial for optimizing microfluidic device performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple and rapid fabrication procedure for thermoset polyester (TPE) microfluidic systems.
- To characterize the surface properties and performance of TPE microfluidic devices.
- To demonstrate the utility of TPE microfluidic devices in chemical separations.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of TPE microfluidic chips via casting on SU-8 patterned silicon masters.
- Curing using combined UV light and heat with appropriate initiators.
- Surface characterization using contact angle measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
- Oxygen plasma treatment for surface modification.
- Electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements in native and treated TPE channels.
- Demonstration of amino acid separation using plasma-treated TPE microchannels.
Main Results:
- TPE microfluidic devices fabricated in under 3 hours, reproducing micrometer-scale features.
- Oxygen plasma treatment increased surface hydrophilicity and oxygen-containing functional groups.
- Plasma treatment doubled the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in TPE microchannels, with stable enhancement for 5 days.
- Successful separation of fluorescein-tagged amino acids achieved in plasma-treated TPE microchannels.
- TPE devices exhibit high transparency (up to 90%) in the visible light spectrum and good solvent compatibility (except chlorinated solvents).
Conclusions:
- The presented method provides a fast and effective route for fabricating TPE microfluidic systems.
- Oxygen plasma treatment is a viable strategy to enhance EOF in TPE microchannels, enabling improved separation performance.
- TPE microfluidic devices are suitable for applications requiring optical transparency and compatibility with a range of chemical conditions.