A Glass-Ultra-Thin PDMS Film-Glass Microfluidic Device for Digital PCR Application Based on Flexible Mold Peel-Off Process

The microfluidic device (MFD) with a glass-PDMS-glass (G-P-G) structure is of interest for a wide range of applications. However, G-P-G MFD fabrication with an ultra-thin PDMS film (especially thickness less than 200 mu m) is still a big challenge because the ultra-thin PDMS film is easily deformed, curled, and damaged during demolding and transferring. This study aimed to report a thickness-controllable and low-cost fabrication process of the G-P-G MFD with an ultra-thin PDMS film based on a flexible mold peel-off process. A patterned photoresist layer was deposited on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film to fabricate a flexible mold that could be demolded softly to achieve a rigid structure of the glass-PDMS film. The thickness of ultra-thin patterned PDMS could reach less than 50 mu m without damage to the PDMS film. The MFD showcased the excellent property of water evaporation inhibition (water loss < 10%) during PCR thermal cycling because of the ultra-thin PDMS film. Its low-cost fabrication process and excellent water evaporation inhibition present extremely high prospects for digital PCR application.

Automated summary

This study presents a method for thickness-controllable and low-cost fabrication of G-P-G MFD with ultra-thin PDMS film, and demonstrates the excellent water evaporation inhibition property of the device during PCR thermal cycling.