What is meant by microfluidic chip?

A microfluidic chip is a device that is used in microfluidic applications. A microfluidic chip looks like an optical microscope coverslip, but has μm-thin internal channels. The microchannels are generally connected to external pumps to push nanoliters of fluid into the microchannels according to the microplate tubes. Microchannels can be as simple as parallel lines or as complex as a characteristic internet (chambers, channels) separated by thick walls, membranes or gate valves. Direct path microfluidic channels range from 1um to 1000um. microfluidic chips can be sized in the middle of ½" to 4" (~ one cm - 10 cm).

What raw materials are used to produce and manufacture microfluidic chips?

The hottest raw material pick for microfluidic chips is polydimethylsiloxane, alias polydimethylsiloxane. Channels are generally cast on the surface of PDMS sheets and sealed by laminated glass or PDMS plates. Microfluidic chips are also made of laminated glass only, in which the channels are etched and machined on the surface of the laminated glass and bonded to another piece of laminated glass. Silicon is also used in areas where electrical conductivity or heat transfer is necessary. Another raw material option for microfluidic chips is thermosetting plastics, such as polyvinyl acetate (PMMA) alias acrylic or Plexiglas sheets, and polycarbonate (PC) alias Lexan. plexiglass and Lexan are all brand names, but are generally used for PMMA and PC because of the fire. another raw material option is cyclic olefins, such as COC or COP. in order to better manufacture microfluidic chips with thermoset plastic production, channels are injection molded, extruded or heat stamped onto the surface of one tablet and later glued to another. Each raw material has advantages and disadvantages over the others.

How to use microfluidic chips?

Microfluidic chips are generally used as part of a large system software. The key is divided into three categories.

1. Laboratory chip setup

microfluidic chip cost

It is the most fashionable way to apply microfluidic chips. Microfluidic chips are used in laboratory setups for microfluidic science research where the chip is generally connected to a syringe pump using a tube. The fluid is introduced into the chip and physical, organic chemistry or experimental operations are performed. This setup can be applied according to a variety of methods. It can be used to separate some particles from others, such as tumor cells derived from basic somatic cells. It can be used for novel material generation. It can be used to shape somatic cells in the channel. It can be used to create water droplets in oil and to enrich liquids with genetic information. The use of microfluidics is enormous. In such setups, microfluidic chips are sometimes placed in a basic or inverted microscope to interrogate the pose or reflection in the channel. The chip can be placed under a laser, magnet, or piezoelectric acoustic frequency generator. For the use of human organs on the chip, the chip can be placed in a shaping box for a longer period of time. Microfluidic chips can be used in basically any laboratory where scientific research is conducted using some type of liquid.

2. Laboratory on a chip (LOAC)

A true lab-on-a-chip (LOC) or (LOAC) means that the entire pose is generated inside or around the microfluidic chip. This is also known as a small full data analysis system, uTAS. software for such a system should drive mobility based on capillary action or inline pumps. The steps are then manipulated and solved, and results are derived. Although many microfluidic chips are called LOC, none of the real LOCs have happened yet. The closest is probably the lateral flow kind of service platform, such as antigen detection during pregnancy or recently, but there is still disagreement whether the lateral flow service platform should be considered as microfluidic.

3. Integrated microfluidic chip

This type is right in the middle of the above. The microfluidic chip is generally integrated in an injection molded cartridge, cassette or module. The printer cartridge is then inserted into the detector or reading software, where most of the pushing, sensing and solving is carried out. Examples are fingertip glucose measuring instruments, or many of the newer point-of-care (POC) tests.

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