Programmable microfluidic logic device fabricated with a shape memory polymer

Abstract

Manipulation of particles in a microfluidic system is an important research subject in biomedical engineering. However, most conventional passive techniques for particle control have difficulties in integrating other functions into microfluidic channels. A unique microfluidic valve was proposed in this study for switchable particle control by employing a shape memory polymer (SMP). A microfluidic logic device can be programmed based on deformation of the SMP microchannel constructed on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) film. Particles in a viscoelastic flow were focused at preferred equilibrium locations by the competition between inertia and elastic forces. The channel shape played an important role in determining those forces in the channel. Hydrodynamic behavior and shape recovery behavior of the SMP microchannel were modeled theoretically. It was confirmed that the particle valve prepared with the SMP implemented a programmable binary logic operation in the microfluidic channel.

Recent Advances in Microfluidic Technology for Bioanalysis and Diagnostics

“…This concept allows more than 3000 cycle operations and enables a permanent latching for more than 15 h . Furthermore, it was shown that SMP can be used to develop programmable microfluidic chips, which act as simple logic circuits …”

“…This concept allows more than 3000 cycle operations and enables a permanent latching for more than 15 h. 49 Furthermore, it was shown that SMP can be used to develop programmable microfluidic chips, which act as simple logic circuits. 50 Valves for centrifugal microfluidics were investigated as well, such as passive elastic reversible (ER) valves or active electromagnet-triggered pillar (ETP) valves. There are two different types of ER valves.…”

Gating a Single Cell: A Label-Free and Real-Time Measurement Method for Cellular Progression

“…Sylgard 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit was used for making polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) wells. First, the uncured resin was mixed homogeneously with curing agent in a 10:1 weight ratio. , Then, the mixture was degassed in vacuum (base pressure, 700 mmHg) to remove bubbles. The clear and homogeneous solutions were poured onto molds to create wells with an inside diameter of 12 mm.…”

Strain-Tunable Microfluidic Devices with Crack and Wrinkle Microvalves for Microsphere Screening and Fluidic Logic Gates

“…With paramount importance in controlling fluid flow and handling microparticles, microfluidic devices can be applied to particle/cell manipulations, pharmaceuticals, and biomedicine. − Although the active control of particles can be achieved with various approaches (e.g., acoustics, electrophoreses, optical power, and microvalves , ), microvalve systems are capable of precise control of both particles and flows. The control in terms of on/off or speed of the particle/flow in the device is often caused by the change in the geometry of microfluidic channels resulting from the phase transition of materials (e.g., hydrogel, thermoreversible gelation polymers, and shape-memory polymers). However, valves regulated by responsive materials are associated with long response times.…”