Microfluidic valves comprising nanolayered thermoresponsive polymer-grafted capillaries

Thermally regulated flow control using a thermoresponsive polymer grafted onto surfaces of capillary lumen facilitates rapid, reliable, and repeatable open-close cycles (see Figure). Hydration of the grafted polymer chains on the internal surfaces may increase the microviscosity of the hydration layers at the wall interfaces without physically occluding the lumen, producing complete and reversible on/off flow valving in microchannels under hydrostatic pressures relevant for microfluidics approaches.