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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays
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Microfluidic Chips Controlled with Elastomeric Microvalve Arrays

Published on: October 1, 2007

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Thermally-actuated microfluidic membrane valve for point-of-care applications.

Muhsincan Sesen1, Christopher J Rowlands1

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK.

Microsystems & Nanoengineering
|September 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary

A new, low-cost thermally-actuated microfluidic valve fabricated from off-the-shelf components enables portable point-of-care diagnostics. This valve, controlled by an Arduino, is ideal for lab-on-a-chip devices, offering real-time flow control.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Microfluidics
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Microfluidics enables low-volume biochemical reactions at the point-of-care.
  • Microfluidic valves are crucial for flow control, mixing, and pumping in microfluidic systems.
  • Transportable microfluidic devices require valves with minimal peripheral equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a thermally-actuated microfluidic valve fabricated using off-the-shelf components.
  • To demonstrate the valve's suitability for transportable lab-on-a-chip devices.
  • To highlight the valve's low cost and potential for scalability.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a thermally-actuated microfluidic valve using readily available components.
  • Control and operation of multiple valves using a power supply and Arduino microcontroller.
Keywords:
ChemistryEngineering

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  • Demonstration of valve function by adjusting fluid ratios in a Y-junction microfluidic chip.

    • Main Results:

    • The valve is fabricated without complex cleanroom techniques and costs less than $1 per actuator.
    • Valve operation was demonstrated for adjusting water/dye mixture ratios.
    • The valve successfully actuated microfluidic channels (500 μm × 50 μm) with minimal temperature increase (up to 5°C).
    • Fast actuation times were achieved: 2s for closing and 9s for opening.

    Conclusions:

    • The presented thermally-actuated microfluidic valve is a cost-effective and scalable solution for point-of-care diagnostics.
    • The valve facilitates the development of transportable lab-on-a-chip devices.
    • The valve's design and performance represent a significant step towards practical microfluidic analytical assays.