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High Throughput Microfluidic Rapid and Low Cost Prototyping Packaging Methods
Published on: December 23, 2013
Rapid prototyping of arrayed microfluidic systems in polystyrene for cell-based assays
Edmond W K Young1, Erwin Berthier, David J Guckenberger
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA.
Analytical Chemistry
|January 26, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed a streamlined polystyrene (PS) microfluidic device fabrication process, matching poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) methods in cost and time. This advance enables more robust and complex microfluidic systems for cell-based studies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Engineering
Background:
- Microfluidic cell-based systems offer precise control and high throughput for biological studies.
- Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used but has limitations hindering microfluidic platform potential.
- Polystyrene (PS) offers advantages but requires optimized fabrication methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a complete, cost-effective, and time-efficient fabrication process for polystyrene (PS) microfluidic devices.
- To develop methods for PS microfluidics that rival PDMS in robustness, complexity, and speed.
- To demonstrate the versatility of the optimized PS fabrication for cell-based applications.
Main Methods:
- Adapted lithography to create robust epoxy molds for high-temperature/pressure embossing.
- Developed a method to emboss through-holes in PS, enabling large arrays of independent systems.
- Optimized thermal bonding of PS layers for reliable large-scale microsystem integration.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated PS microfluidic devices with comparable cost and time to PDMS.
- Demonstrated a streamlined process overcoming critical bottlenecks in PS microfluidic fabrication.
- Validated the fabricated PS devices for biological function in two distinct cell-based applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed fabrication process provides a viable, high-performance alternative to PDMS for microfluidic devices.
- This streamlined PS fabrication method enhances the potential of microfluidic platforms for advanced cell-based research.
- The process is versatile and suitable for creating complex microfluidic systems for diverse biological applications.
