Hyunwoo Bang et al 2006 J. Micromech. Microeng. 16 708 doi:10.1088/0960-1317/16/4/006
Hyunwoo Bang1, Won Gu Lee1, Junha Park2, Hoyoung Yun1, Joonmo Lee1, Seok Chung2, Keunchang Cho2, Chanil Chung2, Dong-Chul Han1 and Jun Keun Chang2,3
Show affiliationsThis paper presents a new sealing method for soft polymer (elastomer) microchips. A robust and reversible sealing method, which allows various materials to be bonded and sealed tightly with each other even in aqueous solutions, is developed. A poly (dimethylsiloxane) microchip system, which can actively generate bonding and sealing forces by itself, is invented. By inducing negative pressure into additional closed areas, an instant sucking disc is made. This disc is used to tighten up the conformal contact of soft polymers. Other functionalities of active sealing such as making reusable microchips, patterning cells and performing cellular assays in a single dish have also been examined and will be discussed hereunder. This technique gives a robust and universal solution for microchip sealing issues by sealing soft polymers with diverse materials under various conditions. Active sealing will simplify numerous assays in lab-on-a-chip industry and will open a new era for cellular microchip assays.
Soft matter, liquids and polymers
Issue 4 (April 2006)
Received 27 December 2005, in final form 6 February 2006
Published 6 March 2006
Hyunwoo Bang et al 2006 J. Micromech. Microeng. 16 708
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