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Color-switching hydrogels as integrated microfluidic pressure sensors
Lucie Ducloué1, Md Anamul Haque2,3, Martyna Goral1
1Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, UMR 7636, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France.
Scientific Reports
|March 16, 2024
Summary
This study introduces an optofluidic pressure sensor using a color-changing hydrogel for precise, non-invasive microfluidic pressure measurements. The novel sensor offers high resolution and flexibility for various fluid applications.
Area of Science:
- Optofluidics
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Accurate pressure measurement is crucial for microfluidic systems.
- Existing methods face challenges in resolution, invasiveness, and ease of use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a fully integrated, multiplexed optofluidic pressure sensor.
- To enable local, non-invasive pressure measurements in microfluidic channels without altering flow geometry.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a soft mechano-actuated hydrogel that changes color with pressure.
- Integrated the hydrogel within a membrane-separated sensing unit, optically accessible through PDMS.
- Employed color imaging for contact-free pressure determination.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated local pressure measurements with a resolution of approximately 10 mbar for pressures as low as 20 mbar.
- Achieved tunable sensitivity and pressure range by modifying hydrogel mechanical properties.
- Showcased the potential for 2D pressure and deformation mapping due to fast response and spatial resolution.
Conclusions:
- The developed optofluidic sensor provides a direct, easy, and contact-free method for microfluidic pressure monitoring.
- This technology offers a versatile solution for flow control and fluid characterization in microfluidic devices.
- The sensor's design allows for unrestricted use with diverse fluid types.
