Integration of microplasma and microfluidic technologies for localised microchannel surface modification

Endre J. Szili; Sameer A. Al-Bataineh; Craig Priest; Philipp J. Gruner; Paul Ruschitzka; James W. Bradley; John Ralston; David A. Steele; Robert D. Short

doi:10.1117/12.903293

23 December 2011 Integration of microplasma and microfluidic technologies for localised microchannel surface modification

Endre J. Szili, Sameer A. Al-Bataineh, Craig Priest, Philipp J. Gruner, Paul Ruschitzka, James W. Bradley, John Ralston, David A. Steele, Robert D. Short

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8204, Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices; 82042J (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.903293
Event: SPIE Smart Nano + Micro Materials and Devices, 2011, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

In this paper we describe the spatial surface chemical modification of bonded microchannels through the integration of microplasmas into a microfluidic chip (MMC). The composite MMC comprises an array of precisely aligned electrodes surrounding the gas/fluid microchannel. Pairs of electrodes are used to locally ignite microplasmas inside the microchannel. Microplasmas, comprising geometrically confined microscopic electrically-driven gas discharges, are used to spatially functionalise the walls of the microchannels with proteins and enzymes down to scale lengths of 300 μm inside 50 μm-wide microchannels. Microchannels in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or glass were used in this study. Protein specifically adsorbed on to the regions inside the PDMS microchannel that were directly exposed to the microplasma. Glass microchannels required pre-functionalisation to enable the spatial patterning of protein. Firstly, the microchannel wall was functionalised with a protein adhesion layer, 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES), and secondly, a protein blocking agent (bovine serum albumin, BSA) was adsorbed onto APTES. The functionalised microchannel wall was then treated with an array of spatially localised microplasmas that reduced the blocking capability of the BSA in the region that had been exposed to the plasma. This enabled the functionalisation of the microchannel with an array of spatially separated protein. As an alternative we demonstrated the feasibility of depositing functional thin films inside the MMC by spatially plasma depositing acrylic acid and 1,7-octadiene within the microchannel. This new MMC technology enables the surface chemistry of microchannels to be engineered with precision, which is expected to broaden the scope of lab-on-a-chip type applications.

Citation Download Citation

Endre J. Szili, Sameer A. Al-Bataineh, Craig Priest, Philipp J. Gruner, Paul Ruschitzka, James W. Bradley, John Ralston, David A. Steele, and Robert D. Short "Integration of microplasma and microfluidic technologies for localised microchannel surface modification", Proc. SPIE 8204, Smart Nano-Micro Materials and Devices, 82042J (23 December 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.903293

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available