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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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High Throughput Microfluidic Rapid and Low Cost Prototyping Packaging Methods
Published on: December 23, 2013
Rapid and cheap prototyping of a microfluidic cell sorter
M Z Islam1, J N McMullin, Y Y Tsui
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2V4, Canada. mzislam@ualberta.ca
Summary
This study introduces a rapid, low-cost microfluidic device prototyping method using a water-jet and hot knife for channel creation. The novel technique enables efficient particle sorting, demonstrating a faster development cycle for microfluidic applications.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microfluidic device development traditionally involves a lengthy and expensive fabrication-design-fabrication loop.
- Lack of simulation-based verification before fabrication leads to extended prototyping cycles, especially when using advanced micro/nano fabrication facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel, fast, inexpensive, and reliable microfluidic device prototyping approach.
- To demonstrate a technique adaptable even without state-of-the-art microfabrication facilities.
- To validate the prototyping method by constructing and testing a functional microfluidic particle sorter.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a water-jet machine to cut microfluidic channels into a steel plate template.
- Employed a hot knife to replicate channels into a Surlyn® polymer sheet using the steel template.
- Assembled the device by bonding the Surlyn® sheet between glass slides and integrating optical fibers with UV epoxy.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated a basic microfluidic sorter using the developed prototyping technique.
- The integrated optical fiber and photodiode system detected all fluorescent latex beads passing through the observation region.
- The device demonstrated efficient particle sorting, successfully directing nearly all detected beads to the appropriate outlets.
Conclusions:
- The presented prototyping method offers a fast, cost-effective, and accessible alternative for microfluidic device development.
- This technique significantly reduces the product development cycle time and cost.
- The successful demonstration of a functional particle sorter validates the reliability and applicability of this novel approach for various microfluidic applications.
