Demonstration of a Transparent and Adhesive Sealing Top for Microfluidic Lab-Chip Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Microfluidics Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Open-form microfluidic devices require robust sealing methods for reliable operation.
• Traditional sealing techniques can be complex, costly, or incompatible with certain applications.
• The need for accessible, high-performance sealing solutions outside of cleanroom environments is growing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel, transparent, and adhesive film-based sealing method for open-form microfluidic devices.
• To assess the performance of a commercially available polyester film (Microseal 'B') as a sealing material.
• To demonstrate the film's suitability for various microfluidic applications, including droplet generation and fluid mixing.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the sealing quality using leak tests, fluorescence tests, and contact angle measurements.
• Evaluated the film's performance under pressure (2.7 atm) at a flow rate of 4 mL/min.
• Assessed fluorescence detection compatibility and surface wettability.

Main Results:

• The polyester film demonstrated excellent sealing strength, sustaining 2.7 atm without leaks.
• Achieved fluorescence detection compatibility with intensity-to-background ratios comparable to existing materials.
• Exhibited surface hydrophobicity comparable to other microfluidic polymers.

Conclusions:

• Microseal 'B' provides an effective, biocompatible, and high-temperature adaptable sealing solution for 3D-printed open microfluidic devices.
• The film's performance characteristics make it a promising material for lab-on-a-chip applications, particularly in droplet generation and fluid mixing.
• This out-of-cleanroom fabrication technique offers a practical and versatile approach to microfluidic device development.