Microfluidic Reagent Delivery System By Hydrogel Dehydration Through A Porous Encapsulant

University of California System: University of California, Berkeley
posted on 10/20/2009

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Microfluidic constructs have proven to have many important
applications. Small sample sizes can be sufficient to give a large
number of laboratory results, for instance, in “lab-on-a-chip”
technologies, such as those developed by Caliper. Testing and
processing previously available only in specialized laboratories under
highly controlled conditions with expert technicians are now available
for field work using these new technologies. However, these highly
minimized fluid managing devices are typically very expensive, and so
are of limited availability to many potential applications.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley achieve patterned
Agarose micro-structures using photolithography and oxygen plasma. The
resulting Agarose micro-structures can be then rehydrated back into the
original form, if the proper conditions are maintained during
processing.
 
Related to B09-061 and B09-058 

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