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PMMA/PDMS valves and pumps for disposable microfluidics.
Wenhua Zhang1, Shuichao Lin, Chunming Wang
1Department of Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, and the Key Laboratory for Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Lab on a Chip
|October 14, 2009
Summary
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microvalves and micropumps offer a low-cost, easily fabricated solution for microfluidic devices. These PMMA-based components demonstrate reliable performance in DNA extraction applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is increasingly utilized in microfluidic systems due to its cost-effectiveness, optical clarity, and ease of fabrication.
- Existing microfluidic devices employ PMMA for components like micromixers and PCR reactors.
- Development of reliable and affordable pneumatic microvalves and micropumps is crucial for advancing microfluidic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, fabricate, characterize, and demonstrate the application of pneumatic microvalves and micropumps using PMMA.
- To evaluate the performance of PMMA-based valves and pumps in a microfluidic nucleic acid extraction system.
Main Methods:
- Valves and pumps fabricated by layering a PDMS membrane between PMMA fluidic and manifold wafers.
- Pneumatic control achieved via computer-regulated solenoid adjusting pressure in a displacement chamber.
- PMMA diaphragm pump constructed by connecting three valves in series.
Main Results:
- PMMA microvalves demonstrated flow rates up to 15.4 µL/s at 60 kPa and reliable sealing against 60 kPa forward pressure.
- PMMA diaphragm pumps achieved adjustable pumping rates from nL to µL/s.
- Successful application in a disposable microchip for DNA extraction from human whole blood with 25% efficiency.
Conclusions:
- PMMA-based pneumatic microvalves and micropumps are inexpensive, robust, and easily integrated into microfluidic devices.
- These components are suitable for fluidic manipulation in portable and disposable microfluidic systems.
- The developed PMMA microfluidic components show promise for automated sample preparation in point-of-care diagnostics.
