Integrating Off-Chip Processes into Microfluidic Devices

SLU ID 13-014 | Durable Microfluidic Device Systems with Increased Temporal Resolution

Background

Microfluidic device (also referred to as a microchip) systems are becoming widely used analytical tools for a variety of applications. These systems have numerous advantages, one of which is the integration of multiple processes. Integrating off-chip processes to microfluidic devices includes fabricating microfluidic devices with electrodes, fluidic tubing, and other features such as, valving techniques, pipettors, discrete injections, plate readers, and offchip detectors.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed microfluidic device designs and methods for fabricating microfluidic devices having encapsulated fluidic tubing, encapsulated electrodes, and other device features. The technology makes possible the alignment of the tubing, electrodes and other device features along the same plane.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Minimizing dead volume at the fluidic interconnections

• Minimizing co‑planar misalignment of device features

• Minimizing dilution

• Minimizing analysis time

• Increasing temporal resolution

• Minimizing connection complexity

• Minimizing the fragility of devices

• Increasing the stability of fluidic interconnections

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include:

• Continuous‑flow microfluidics

• Droplet‑based microfluidics

• DNA chips and microarrays

• Molecular biology

• Clinical assays on devices

• Cell behavior and cellular biophysics

• Optics

• Fuel cells

• Biosensors and tissue engineering

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.