Microfluidic chips with optically transparent glue coating and a method of manufacturing microfluidic chips with optically transparent glue coating for a microfluidic device
Inventors
PATEL, Tej • REVILLA, Ryan • D'OOGE, MATTHEW
Assignees
Publication Number
US-9180652-B2
Publication Date
2015-11-10
Expiration Date
2033-09-16
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Abstract
A microfluidic chip for a microfluidic system includes a PDMS substrate having a first thickness, at least one microfluidic pathway in the substrate, a coating along the microfluidic pathway, and a glass layer having a second thickness on the substrate and above the microfluidic pathway, wherein the coating contains an optically transparent material, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The coating includes cyanoacrylates, an UV curable epoxy adhesive, a gel epoxy or epoxy under trade name of EPO-TEK OG175, MasterBond EP30LV-1 or Locite 0151.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing microfluidic chips with a coating designed to reduce fluid diffusion within micro-channels, and to microfluidic chips manufactured using this method. These microfluidic chips include a polymer substrate with etched microfluidic pathways, a coating applied along the pathways, and a glass layer bonded above the substrate, where the coating is an optically transparent material such as cyanoacrylates, UV curable epoxy adhesives, or specified epoxies like EPO-TEK OG175, MasterBond EP30LV-1, or Locite 0151.
The substrate, typically made of PDMS, has a greater thickness than the glass layer, and the coating seals surface pores on the substrate to reduce fluid diffusion through the PDMS. The coating is applied carefully so as not to fill or block the micro-channels, and the channels may be formed deeper or wider to account for the coating thickness. Heating elements and temperature sensors can be integrated on the glass layer to provide real-time thermal control and enable independently temperature-controlled zones for the chip.
The core problem addressed by the invention is the inherent porosity and high permeability of PDMS substrates used in microfluidic chips, which allows diffusion and loss of fluid samples, particularly problematic in continuous flow microfluidic systems where real-time analysis and manipulation of fluid samples are performed. The coating reduces diffusion or unaccounted loss of fluid samples in the micro-channels, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of microfluidic analyses.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims covering the microfluidic device structure, the device with an optically transparent coating, and the method of manufacturing the device.
Microfluidic device with cyanoacrylate coating
A microfluidic device comprising a substrate with a first thickness and etched microfluidic channels coated along the channels with cyanoacrylates that seal the channels without filling them or acting as adhesive, and a glass layer with a second thickness smaller than the substrate above the channels.
Microfluidic device with optically transparent coating
A microfluidic device comprising a substrate with a first thickness and etched microfluidic channels coated along the channels with an optically transparent material that seals the channels without filling them or acting as adhesive, and a glass layer with a second thickness smaller than the substrate above the channels.
Method of manufacturing microfluidic device with optically transparent coating
A method including etching a substrate of first thickness to form microfluidic channels, coating the substrate along the channels with an optically transparent material that seals but does not fill the channels, and bonding a glass layer with a smaller second thickness above the channels; the coating not used as adhesive in the channels.
The claims establish inventive features pertaining to the composition and application of coatings within etched microfluidic pathways on a polymer substrate with a specific layering structure with glass, as well as the manufacturing steps to achieve this arrangement, focusing on maintaining channel integrity and reducing fluid diffusion.
Stated Advantages
The coating reduces fluid diffusion and unaccounted loss of fluid samples within the micro-channels of PDMS substrates in microfluidic chips.
The microfluidic chip enables real-time analysis by preventing fluid loss in continuous flow microfluidic systems.
The coating is optically transparent, allowing optical monitoring of the fluid within the micro-channels.
The temperature-resistant coating allows integration with heaters and temperature sensors for independently temperature-controlled zones.
Documented Applications
The microfluidic chips manufactured using the described method can be used to perform real-time analysis, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.
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