Tailormade Microfluidic Devices Through Photochemical Surface Modification

✍ Scribed by J. D. Jeyaprakash S. Samuel; Thilo Brenner; Oswald Prucker; Markus Grumann; Jens Ducree; Roland Zengerle; Jürgen Rühe

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2010
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 525 KB
• Volume: 211
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1022-1352
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.200900501

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A new pathway for the generation of polymer‐based microfluidic devices with tailor‐made surface chemistry is described. A simple photochemical process is used to covalently bind polymer molecules to the surfaces of microchannels fabricated by hot embossing. The substrates for the embossing process have the format of a compact disk (CD). CDs from polymethylmethacrylate and polyethylene‐co‐norbornene were chosen due to their good optical properties. Thin films of polymers containing photoactive benzophenone units were deposited onto the surface of the thus generated devices. These films were subsequently irradiated with UV light leading to the surface‐attachment of ultrathin polymer networks. In contrast to their unmodified peers, the obtained, modified microfluidic channels coated with hydrophilic, photoattached layers can be filled in a straightforward manner with water by capillary forces. Channels coated by thin films of poly(ethyloxazoline) show complete resistance to non‐specific protein binding. Generation of hydrophobic patches inside the modified microfluidic channels using benzophenone‐containing fluoropolymers allows the generation of passive microfluidic valves to direct fluid motion in these CD‐based devices.

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