Portable microfluidic platform employing Young-Laplace pumping enabling flowrate controlled applications

Facile, customizable platforms are important for a variety of microfluidic applications. This work presents a platform that utilizes surface tension induced pumping based on Young-Laplace pressure. The approach allows modifiable transport of fluids across surfaces without external pumping modules. The Laplace-chip is based on a superhydrophobic coating (NeverWet (TM)) that is patterned by laser micromachining. For fast and consistent deposition of specific liquid volumes/droplets onto the Laplace-chip without the need for conventional fluid dispensing tools (e.g. pipette), a multiplexed droplet factory (MDF) was developed. The MDF is placed above the Laplace-chip and consists of cylindrial reservoirs that are filled by a pour and swipe approach. It enables the formation of hundreds of droplets (10-140 mu L, 7.3% deviation) with both position and volume control as well as the simultaneous initiation of Young-Laplace induced pumping on the Laplace-chip. Furthermore, the flowrate of Young-Laplace induced pumping is adjustable through different pattern designs and dispensed droplet volumes. The Laplace-chip and MDF is used to carry out silver nanoparticle and nanocluster synthesis, where the reagent introduction rate is critical to material properties, to demonstrate flowrate controlled application possibilities. A Laplace-chip employing different channel length is employed to carry out the reduction of Ag+ to Ag-0, using NaBH4. Low reducing agent concentrations and long pumping times (40-60 min) resulted in molecule-like silver cluster (AgNC) synthesis, while high reducing agent concentrations and short pumping times (5-20 min) led to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).

Automated summary

The research introduces a platform utilizing surface tension induced pumping and showcasing the potential for controlled pumping applications through laser micromachining for specific liquid volumes/droplets.