1. Ice matrix in reconfigurable microfluidic systems
- Author
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Anthony Turner, Sergey A. Piletsky, Alessandra Bossi, Elena V. Piletska, Igor Meglinski, and M Vareijka
- Subjects
Zone melting ,Materials science ,micro-fluidic ,ice ,micro and-electromechanical systems ,solid liquid transition ,Microfluidics ,Nanotechnology ,Micro fluidic ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Biocompatible material ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Matrix (chemical analysis) ,Continuous scanning ,Instrumentation ,Infrared laser beam - Abstract
Microfluidic devices find many applications in biotechnologies. Here, we introduce a flexible and biocompatible microfluidic ice-based platform with tunable parameters and configuration of microfluidic patterns that can be changed multiple times during experiments. Freezing and melting of cavities, channels and complex relief structures created and maintained in the bulk of ice by continuous scanning of an infrared laser beam are used as a valve action in microfluidic systems. We demonstrate that pre-concentration of samples and transport of ions and dyes through the open channels created can be achieved in ice microfluidic patterns by IR laser-assisted zone melting. The proposed approach can be useful for performing separation and sensing processes in flexible reconfigurable microfluidic devices.
- Published
- 2013
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