Comparing polyelectrolyte multilayer-coated PMMA microfluidic devices and glass microchips for electrophoretic...

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Microfluidic systems are transitioning from glass to polymer substrates for cost reduction.
• Polymer microchips require surface modifications to match the performance of glass.
• Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) offer a versatile coating approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM) as a functional coating for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic chips.
• To evaluate the performance of PEM-coated PMMA microchips compared to glass microchips.
• To present key findings in developing the PEM coating procedure for PMMA.

Main Methods:

• Layer-by-layer deposition of poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride and polystyrene sulfonate to form PEM.
• Monitoring multilayer buildup using electroosmotic flow (EOF) measurements.
• Assessing PEM stability and comparing microchip performance (EOF, dye separation) with glass and PEM-glass chips.

Main Results:

• Successful preparation and characterization of PEM coatings on PMMA microchips.
• Demonstrated stability of the PEM coating under operational conditions.
• PEM-PMMA microchips exhibited EOF and separation performance comparable, and in some cases superior, to standard glass microchips.

Conclusions:

• Polyelectrolyte multilayers provide an effective surface modification strategy for polymer microfluidic devices.
• PEM-coated PMMA microchips present a viable, cost-effective alternative to traditional glass microchips.
• The developed coating procedure enhances the functionality and applicability of polymer-based microfluidics.