Journal
BIOSENSORS-BASEL
Volume 12, Issue 10, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/bios12100838
Keywords
microfluidics; soft lithography; polymeric device; epoxy resin; particle compartmentalization
Funding
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) - Korea government (MSIP) [NRF-2020R1I1A3074098]
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In this study, a rapid and reproducible fabrication method for polymer-based rigid microfluidic devices using epoxy resin is developed. The polymeric devices overcome the limitations of traditional PDMS channels and demonstrate structural robustness and chemical resistance suitable for chemically or physically demanding experiments. These rigid devices facilitate lab-on-chip research and enable various applications such as high-performance liquid chromatography, bacterial culture, and polymerase chain reaction.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used material in laboratories for fabricating microfluidic devices with a rapid and reproducible prototypingability, owing to its inherent properties (e.g., flexibility, air permeability, and transparency). However, the PDMS channel is easily deformed under pressures applied to generate flows because of its elasticity, which can affect the robustness of experiments. In addition, air permeability of PDMS causes the pervaporation of water, and its porous structure absorbs oil and even small hydrophobic molecules, rendering it inappropriate for chemically demanding or day-long experiments. In this study, we develop a rapid and reproducible fabrication method for polymer-based rigid microfluidic devices, using epoxy resin that can overcome the limitations of PDMS channels, which are structurally and chemically robust. We first optimize a high-resolution fabrication protocol to achieve convenient and repeatable prototyping of polymeric devices via epoxy casting using PDMS soft molds. In addition, we compare the velocity changes in PDMS microchannels by tracking fluorescent particles in various flows (similar to 133 mu L/min) to demonstrate the structural robustness of the polymeric device. Furthermore, by comparing the adsorption of fluorescent hydrophobic chemicals and the pervaporation through channel walls, we demonstrate the excellent chemical resistance of the polymeric device and its suitability for day-long experiments. The rigid polymeric device can facilitate lab-on-chip research and enable various applications, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, anaerobic bacterial culture, and polymerase chain reaction, which require chemically or physically demanding experiments.
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