Kimoto T, Suzuki K, Fukuda T, Emoto A. An on-demand bench-top fabrication process for fluidic chips based on cross-diffusion through photopolymerization.
BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020;
14:044104. [PMID:
32699564 PMCID:
PMC7354092 DOI:
10.1063/5.0014956]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we propose a novel approach to fabricate fluidic chips. The method utilizes molecular cross-diffusion, induced by photopolymerization under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in a channel pattern, to form the channel structures. During channel structure formation, the photopolymer layer still contains many uncured molecules. Subsequently, a top substrate is attached to the channel structure under adequate pressure, and the entire chip is homogenously irradiated by UV light. Immediately thereafter, a sufficiently sealed fluidic chip is formed. Using this fabrication process, the channel pattern of a chip can be designed quickly by a computer as binary images, and practical chips can be produced on demand at a benchtop, instead of awaiting production in specialized factories.
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