Polymeric Microfluidic Devices Fabricated Using Epoxy Resin for Chemically Demanding and Day-Long Experiments

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Microfluidics
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is common for microfluidic devices due to rapid prototyping.
• PDMS's elasticity causes deformation, limiting experimental robustness.
• PDMS permeability and absorption issues restrict its use in demanding chemical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a rapid, reproducible method for fabricating rigid, polymer-based microfluidic devices.
• Address the limitations of PDMS, including structural instability and chemical incompatibility.
• Demonstrate the suitability of epoxy resin devices for chemically and physically demanding experiments.

Main Methods:

• Optimized a high-resolution epoxy casting protocol using PDMS soft molds.
• Compared structural robustness by tracking particle velocity changes in PDMS vs. polymer channels.
• Evaluated chemical resistance by measuring hydrophobic chemical adsorption and water pervaporation.

Main Results:

• Developed a repeatable fabrication protocol for rigid polymer microfluidic devices.
• Demonstrated superior structural integrity and minimal deformation under flow compared to PDMS.
• Showcased excellent chemical resistance, preventing molecule adsorption and water loss, suitable for long experiments.

Conclusions:

• Rigid epoxy resin microfluidic devices offer a robust alternative to PDMS.
• These devices are suitable for chemically and physically demanding lab-on-chip applications.
• Enables advanced applications like HPLC, anaerobic cultures, and PCR.