1. Integrated optofluidic-microfluidic twin channels: toward diverse application of lab-on-a-chip systems
- Author
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Hong Xia, Yu-De Yu, Tong Jiang, Katsuhiko Ariga, Yong-Lai Zhang, Qi-Dai Chen, Wei Guan, Chao Lv, Ying-Shuai Wang, Hong-Bo Sun, Zhen-Nan Tian, and Yun-Lu Sun
- Subjects
Optics and Photonics ,Materials science ,Microfluidics ,Nanotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,Biosensing Techniques ,010402 general chemistry ,Bioinformatics ,01 natural sciences ,Optofluidics ,Article ,law.invention ,law ,Lab-On-A-Chip Devices ,Miniaturization ,Microlens ,Multidisciplinary ,Lasers ,Hydrogels ,Lab-on-a-chip ,Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Chip ,0104 chemical sciences ,Femtosecond ,Photolithography ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Optofluidics, which integrates microfluidics and micro-optical components, is crucial for optical sensing, fluorescence analysis and cell detection. However, the realization of an integrated system from optofluidic manipulation and a microfluidic channel is often hampered by the lack of a universal substrate for achieving monolithic integration. In this study, we report on an integrated optofluidic-microfluidic twin channels chip fabricated by one-time exposure photolithography, in which the twin microchannels on both surfaces of the substrate were exactly aligned in the vertical direction. The twin microchannels can be controlled independently, meaning that fluids could flow through both microchannels simultaneously without interfering with each other. As representative examples, a tunable hydrogel microlens was integrated into the optofluidic channel by femtosecond laser direct writing, which responds to the salt solution concentration and could be used to detect the microstructure at different depths. The integration of such optofluidic and microfluidic channels provides an opportunity to apply optofluidic detection practically and may lead to great promise for the integration and miniaturization of Lab-on-a-Chip systems.
- Published
- 2016
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