title: Benchtop fabrication of microfluidic systems based on curable polymers with improved solvent compatibility.
abstract: This paper describes a general scheme to fabricate microchannels from curable polymers on a laboratory benchtop. Using the scheme described here, benchtop fabrication of SU-8 microfluidic systems was demonstrated for the first time, and their compatibility with organic solvents was demonstrated. The fabrication process has three major stages: 1) transferring patterns of microchannels to polymer films by molding, 2) releasing the patterned film and creating inlets and outlets for fluids, and 3) sealing two films together to create a closed channel system. Addition of a PDMS slab supporting the polymer film provided structural integrity during and after fabrication, allowing manipulation of the polymer films without fracturing or deformation. SU-8 channels fabricated according to this scheme exhibited solvent compatibility against continuous exposure to acetone and ethylacetate, which are incompatible with native PDMS. Using the SU-8 channels, continuous generation of droplets of ethylacetate, and templated synthesis of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles, both with stable size, were demonstrated continuously over 24 h, and at intervals over 75 days.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. michinao@mit.edu
authors.forename: Michinao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kohane
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C013830:baysilon