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We report on the implementation of a microstructure comprising an array of micropillars to create a thin and stable film of nematic liquid crystal (LC), 5CB: 4 -pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl, and the use of the microsystem for the colorimetric detection of vapor analytes. The microstructure uses capillary force generated by an array of cylindrical micropillars to steadily support a 22 μm thin film of LC, and overcomes susceptibility to gravity and shock. The feasibility of using the microsystem for gas phase detection is demonstrated by using dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) gas to change the orientation of the LC and hence modulate the intensity of light transmitted through a crossed pair of polarizing films. The microstructure potentially offers a simple and portable solution to toxic gas detection.

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We demonstrate a chemical and biological sensing mechanism in microfluidics that transduces chemical and biological signals to electrical signals with large intrinsic amplification without need for complex electronics. The sensing mechanism involves a dissolvable membrane separating a liquid sample chamber from an interdigitated electrode. Dissolution of the membrane (here, a disulfide cross-linked poly(acrylamide) hydrogel) in the presence of a specific target (here, a reducing agent-dithiothreitol) allows the target solution to flow into contact with the electrode. The liquid movement displaces the air dielectric with a liquid, leading to a change (open circuit to approximately 1 kOmega) in the resistance between the electrodes. Thus, a biochemical event is transduced into an electrical signal via fluid movement. The concentration of the target is estimated by monitoring the difference in dissolution times of two juxtaposed sensing membranes having different dissolution characteristics. No dc power is consumed by the sensor until detection of the target. A range of targets could be sensed by defining membranes specific to the target. This sensing mechanism might find applications in sensing targets such as toxins, which exhibit enzymatic activity.

A microfluidic system to sense chemical and biological analytes using membranes dissolvable by the analyte is demonstrated. The scheme to detect the dissolution of the membrane is based on the difference in optical absorption of the membrane and the fluidic sample being assayed. The presence of the analyte in the sample chemically cleaves the membrane and causes the sample to flow into the membrane area. This causes a change in the optical absorption of the path between the light source and detector. A device comprising the microfluidic channels and the membrane is microfabricated using liquid-phase photopolymerization. A light emitting diode (LED) and a detector with an integrated amplifier are positioned and aligned on either side of the device. The state of the membrane is continuously monitored after introducing the sample. The temporal dissolution characteristics of the membrane are extracted in terms of the output voltage of the detector as a function of time. This is used to determine the concentration of the analyte. The absorption spectra of the membrane and fluidic sample are studied to determine the optimal wavelength that provides the maximum difference in absorbance between the membrane and the sample. In this work, the dissolution of a poly(acrylamide) hydrogel membrane in the presence of a reducing agent (dithiothreitol-DTT) is used as a model system. For this system, with 1 M DTT, complete membrane dissolution occurred after 65 min.