title: Preparation and validation of low cost microfluidic chips using a shrinking approach.
abstract: The present paper describes the production of microfluidic chips using an approach based on shrinkable biocompatible polymers (i.e. agarose) for the production of size controlled microfluidic channels. In addition, all steps of chip production were carried out using an inexpensive approach that uses low cost chemicals and equipment. The produced chips were then validated by producing monodisperse polymeric microparticles for drug delivery and hydrogel microfibers for cell embedding.
authors.affiliation: DIBINEM-Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Focaroli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzitelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nastruzzi
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012685:Sepharose / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D012685:Sepharose