Chemicofunctional Membrane for Integrated Chemical Processes on a Microchip

Abstract

Here we report a design and synthesis of a chemically functional polymer membrane by an interfacial polycondensation reaction and multilayer flow inside a microchannel. Single and parallel dual-membrane structures are successfully prepared by using organic/aqueous two-layer flow and organic/aqueous/organic three-layer flow inside the microchannel followed by an interfacial polycondensation reaction. By using the inner-channel membrane, permeation of ammonia species through the inner-channel membrane is successfully achieved. Furthermore, horseradish peroxidase is immobilized on one side of the membrane surface to integrate the chemical transform function onto the inner-channel membrane. Here substrate permeation through the membrane and subsequent chemical transformation at the membrane surface are realized. The polymer membrane prepared inside the microchannel has an important role in ensuring stable contact of different phases such as gas/liquid or liquid/ liquid and the permeation of chemical species through the membrane. Furthermore, membrane surface modification chemistry allows chemical transformation of permeated chemical species. These methods are expected to lead to development of complicated and sophisticated chemical systems involving membrane permeation and chemical reactions.

A Peristaltic Pump Integrated on a 100% Glass Microchip Using Computer Controlled Piezoelectric Actuators

“…This flow rate is compared with the flow rates used in integrated chemical systems for several practical applications on glass microchips [17,41,42] In these reports, the typical flow rates used for cell cultures in microchips are on the order of 0.1 µL/min; that used for analyses and syntheses in microchips is approximately 1 µL/min. Thus, the pump demonstrated can be used for some of these applications.…”

“…A number of applications such as optical detection, organic synthesis [17] gas analysis systems [18], adhesive cell patterning and culturing [19], biomolecule separations [20][21][22], and biological analysis systems [23] have been developed which were difficult to realize using traditional polymer microchips. However, glass is very rigid.…”

Microfluidic enzymatic reactors for proteome research

“…Numerous micro enzyme-reactors have been developed because they are superior in reducing the reaction time and use minimal amount of reagents. Therefore, these immobilized microfluidic enzyme reactors have also increasingly applied in biosensors [13], and organic or enzymatic synthesis [14][15][16].…”

Fast Screening Techniques for Neurotoxigenic Substances and Other Toxicants and Pollutants Based on Thermal Lensing and Microfluidic Chips

“…A number of new applications in biomedical research are also very likely, and have already been predicted for a single blood-cell surface antigen. 89 Recent advances in chemi-functional membranes on microchips, 90 pressure-driven flow control systems 91 and bio-microactuators, 92 could be utilized for the development of novel methods based on TLM detection in microfluidic systems. The availability of adequate lasers, however, remains to be one of the major obstacles for more widespread applications of TLS and TLM.…”