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Sliding walls: a new paradigm for fluidic actuation and protocol implementation in microfluidics.
Bastien Venzac1,2,3, Yang Liu1,2,3, Ivan Ferrante1,2,3
1Laboratoire Physico Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, 75005 Paris, France.
Microsystems & Nanoengineering
|September 27, 2021
Summary
This study introduces a novel microfluidic actuation method using sliding walls for precise fluid control. This low-cost, reconfigurable system enables diverse functionalities like valving, pumping, and biomolecule manipulation, ideal for resource-limited labs.
Area of Science:
- Microfluidics
- Biomolecular Engineering
- Lab-on-a-Chip Technology
Background:
- Traditional microfluidic control relies on bulky external pumps or complex integrated valves.
- Existing microfluidic valve designs often involve trade-offs between performance and fabrication complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new paradigm for microfluidic actuation using sliding walls.
- To demonstrate the versatility and ease of implementation of this reconfigurable microfluidic system.
Main Methods:
- Development of rigid or semi-rigid sliding walls for microchannel intersection.
- Actuation via hand-driven or translation stage mechanisms.
- Integration with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chip fabrication using soft lithography.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of on/off valving, switching, pumping, and reversible compartmentalization.
- Successful application in a 4D dendritic cell migration assay.
- Development of sliding walls with hydrogel membranes for biomolecule concentration, purification, and transport.
- Valves demonstrated to withstand pressures up to 30 kPa.
Conclusions:
- The sliding wall technology offers a low-cost, low-footprint solution for microfluidic control.
- This approach facilitates complex fluidic operations and is compatible with standard fabrication methods.
- The technology is suitable for developing simple, hand-driven microfluidic devices for point-of-care and laboratory applications with limited resources.
