Optimized SU-8 Processing for Low-Cost Microstructures Fabrication without Cleanroom Facilities

Pinto, Vânia C.; Sousa, Paulo J.; Cardoso, V. F.; Minas, Graça

doi:10.3390/mi5030738

Cited by 99 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Low cost approaches to produce photolithography masks have been reported in the literature, 17,18 mainly by the use of overhead transparency. Although such transparent sheets are inexpensive, the high resolution laser printer is not and the minimum resolution is $10 lm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid mask prototyping for microfluidics

et al. 2016

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With the rise of microfluidics for the past decade, there has come an ever more pressing need for a low-cost and rapid prototyping technology, especially for research and education purposes. In this article, we report a rapid prototyping process of chromed masks for various microfluidic applications. The process takes place out of a clean room, uses a commercially available video-projector, and can be completed in less than half an hour. We quantify the ranges of fields of view and of resolutions accessible through this video-projection system and report the fabrication of critical microfluidic components (junctions, straight channels, and curved channels). To exemplify the process, three common devices are produced using this method: a droplet generation device, a gradient generation device, and a neuro-engineering oriented device. The neuro-engineering oriented device is a compartmentalized microfluidic chip, and therefore, required the production and the precise alignment of two different masks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid mask prototyping for microfluidics

et al. 2016

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“…More detail about the fabrication technique can be found elsewhere [7,8]. Figure 1 shows the main dimensions of the microfluidic device used in this study.…”

Section: Microchannel Fabrication and Geometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparative Study of Image Processing Methods for the Assessment of the Red Blood Cells Deformability in a Microfluidic Device

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Red blood cells (RBCs) deformability is a high relevant mechanical property, whose variations are associated with some diseases, such as diabetes and malaria. Therefore, the present study aims to compare different image processing methods for assessing the RBCs deformability in a continuous flow, measured in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel composed by 15 lm spacing inner pillars. The images were acquired with a high speed camera and analyzed with ImageJ software for tracking and measuring the RBCs deformation index (DI). Additionally, to understand the performance of the software, it was performed a comparison between different image processing tools provided by ImageJ and the best methods for the deformation measurements were selected, considering the measured RBCs number and their DIs. The results show that those image methods significantly affect the number of measured RBCs and their DIs and, therefore, the studies focused on the deformability measurements need to take into account the effect of the image processing methods for avoiding loss of relevant information in the images.

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“…SU-8 is commonly used as a mold for microstructures fabrication, since it is compatible with ultraviolet (UV) photolithography and does not imply expensive masks. It is typically processed through spin coating techniques, and presents good mechanical properties, good chemical resistance and a very good biocompatibility [39][40][41]. PDMS is a polymer widely used in microstructures due, mainly, to its low cost processing techniques [29].…”

Section: Acoustic Transmission In the Interfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%