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Polymers
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Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications
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Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2022) | Viewed by 34602

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Vanessa F. Cardoso

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. CMEMS-UMinho, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
2. CF-UM-UP, Centro de Física, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Interests: microfluidics; micro and nanostructured materials; smart and functional materials; biomedicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940 Leioa, Spain
Interests: multifunctional materials; smart materials; energy storage; energy harvesting; sensors; actuators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The microfluidic field is attracting increasing attention and activity in a large variety of scientific areas, as it provides miniaturized and powerful alternative platforms for conventional analysis techniques. However, despite the initial success of the field and active academic developments, there is a strong need for new concepts, materials, and fabrication processes in order to successfully reach widespread applications. The limitations of microfluidic technologies are mainly related to materials and fabrication processes to develop and implement microfluidic platforms. Thus, the area of microfluidics has a need for novel materials, as an alternative to the commonly used silicon, glass, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), as well as innovative and cost-effective fabrication methods. The wide range of polymer properties, their typically low costs, and the development of suitable polymer microfabrication methods, including printing technologies, have attracted increasing interest in this field, as they paves the road to high-volume production of disposable microfluidic devices with tailored properties and specifications, which allows their further successful commercialization.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advances on the subject, from the development of materials to advanced processing technologies and practical applications of these polymer-based microfluidic platforms. Thus, all manuscripts reporting original research, short communications, state-of-the art reviews, and perspectives on the latest development in polymer-based materials for microfluidic applications are welcome.

We look forward to receiving contributions in such interesting and needed advancing topics.

Dr. Vanessa F. Cardoso
Prof. Senentxu Lanceros-Mendez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Polymers and polymeric materials
  • Composites and nanocomposites
  • Smart and functional properties
  • Processing and fabrication
  • Microfluidic
  • Lab-on-a-chip
  • Biomedical applications
  • Environmental applications
  • Technologically relevant applications

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3904 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Bonding of Refractive Index Matched Microfluidics for Precise Measurements of Cell Mass
by Edward R. Polanco, Justin Griffin and Thomas A. Zangle
Polymers 2021, 13(4), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13040496 - 5 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2804
Abstract
The optical properties of polymer materials used for microfluidic device fabrication can impact device performance when used for optical measurements. In particular, conventional polymer materials used for microfluidic devices have a large difference in refractive index relative to aqueous media generally used for [...] Read more.
The optical properties of polymer materials used for microfluidic device fabrication can impact device performance when used for optical measurements. In particular, conventional polymer materials used for microfluidic devices have a large difference in refractive index relative to aqueous media generally used for biomedical applications. This can create artifacts when used for microscopy-based assays. Fluorination can reduce polymer refractive index, but at the cost of reduced adhesion, creating issues with device bonding. Here, we present a novel fabrication technique for bonding microfluidic devices made of NOA1348, which is a fluorinated, UV-curable polymer with a refractive index similar to that of water, to a glass substrate. This technique is compatible with soft lithography techniques, making this approach readily integrated into existing microfabrication workflows. We also demonstrate that this material is compatible with quantitative phase imaging, which we used to validate the refractive index of the material post-fabrication. Finally, we demonstrate the use of this material with a novel image processing approach to precisely quantify the mass of cells in the microchannel without the use of cell segmentation or tracking. The novel image processing approach combined with this low refractive index material eliminates an important source of error, allowing for high-precision measurements of cell mass with a coefficient of variance of 1%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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11 pages, 4181 KiB  
Article
A Method for Simultaneous Polishing and Hydrophobization of Polycarbonate for Microfluidic Applications
by Dominika Ogończyk, Paweł Jankowski and Piotr Garstecki
Polymers 2020, 12(11), 2490; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12112490 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2712
Abstract
Here we present a new methodology for chemical polishing of microchannels in polycarbonate (PC). Tuning the time of exposition and the concentration of ammonia, the roughness arising from the micromachining process can be significantly reduced or completely removed while preserving the structure of [...] Read more.
Here we present a new methodology for chemical polishing of microchannels in polycarbonate (PC). Tuning the time of exposition and the concentration of ammonia, the roughness arising from the micromachining process can be significantly reduced or completely removed while preserving the structure of microchannels. Besides smoothing out the surface, our method modifies the wettability of the surface, rendering it hydrophobic. The method increases the optical transparency of microchannels and eliminates undesired effects in two-phase microfluidic systems, including wetting by aqueous solutions and cross-contamination between aqueous droplets that could otherwise shed satellites via pinning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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16 pages, 6252 KiB  
Article
Design and Parameter Research of Time-Harmonic Magnetic Field Sensor Based on PDMS in Microfluidic Technology
by Chenzhao Bai, Hongpeng Zhang, Chengjie Wang, Lebile Ilerioluwa Joseph, Qiang Wang, Yucai Xie and Guobin Li
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092022 - 4 Sep 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2836
Abstract
In order to improve the throughput and sensitivity of the inductive metal micro-abrasive particle detection sensor, this paper uses microfluidic detection technology to design a high-throughput abrasive particle detection sensor based on PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane). Theoretical modeling analyzes the magnetization of metal abrasive particles [...] Read more.
In order to improve the throughput and sensitivity of the inductive metal micro-abrasive particle detection sensor, this paper uses microfluidic detection technology to design a high-throughput abrasive particle detection sensor based on PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane). Theoretical modeling analyzes the magnetization of metal abrasive particles in the coil’s time-harmonic magnetic field, and uses COMSOL simulation to calculate the best performance parameters of the sensor. Through the experiment of the control variable method, the corresponding signal value is obtained and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is calculated. The SNR value and error value are calculated, and the SNR is corrected. The detection limit of the sensor is determined to be 10 μm iron particles and 60 μm copper particles. The optimal design parameters of the 3-D solenoid coil and the frequency characteristics of the sensor are obtained. Finally, through high-throughput experiments and analysis, it was found that there was a reasonable error between the actual throughput and the theoretical throughput. The design ideas suggested in this article can not only improve the sample throughput, but also ensure the detection accuracy. This provides a new idea for the development of an inductive on-line detection method of abrasive particle technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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17 pages, 2215 KiB  
Article
Comparative Nanofabrication of PLGA-Chitosan-PEG Systems Employing Microfluidics and Emulsification Solvent Evaporation Techniques
by Divesha Essa, Yahya E. Choonara, Pierre P. D. Kondiah and Viness Pillay
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1882; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091882 - 21 Aug 2020
Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5818
Abstract
Poor circulation stability and inadequate cell membrane penetration are significant impediments in the implementation of nanocarriers as delivery systems for therapeutic agents with low bioavailability. This research discusses the fabrication of a biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based nanocarrier with cationic and hydrophilic surface properties [...] Read more.
Poor circulation stability and inadequate cell membrane penetration are significant impediments in the implementation of nanocarriers as delivery systems for therapeutic agents with low bioavailability. This research discusses the fabrication of a biocompatible poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) based nanocarrier with cationic and hydrophilic surface properties provided by natural polymer chitosan and coating polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) for the entrapment of the hydrophobic drug disulfiram. The traditional emulsification solvent evaporation method was compared to a microfluidics-based method of fabrication, with the optimisation of the parameters for each method, and the PEGylation densities on the experimental nanoparticle formulations were varied. The size and surface properties of the intermediates and products were characterised and compared by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, while the thermal properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Results showed optimal particle properties with an intermediate PEG density and a positive surface charge for greater biocompatibility, with nanoparticle surface characteristics shielding physical interaction of the entrapped drug with the exterior. The formulations prepared using the microfluidic method displayed superior surface charge, entrapment and drug release properties. The final system shows potential as a component of a biocompatible nanocarrier for poorly soluble drugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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17 pages, 1975 KiB  
Article
Motion of an Elastic Capsule in a Trapezoidal Microchannel under Stokes Flow Conditions
by Abdollah Koolivand and Panagiotis Dimitrakopoulos
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051144 - 17 May 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3432
Abstract
Even though the research interest in the last decades has been mainly focused on the capsule dynamics in cylindrical or rectangular ducts, channels with asymmetric cross-sections may also be desirable especially for capsule migration and sorting. Therefore, in the present study we investigate [...] Read more.
Even though the research interest in the last decades has been mainly focused on the capsule dynamics in cylindrical or rectangular ducts, channels with asymmetric cross-sections may also be desirable especially for capsule migration and sorting. Therefore, in the present study we investigate computationally the motion of an elastic spherical capsule in an isosceles trapezoidal microchannel at low and moderate flow rates under the Stokes regime. The steady-state capsule location is quite close to the location where the single-phase velocity of the surrounding fluid is maximized. Owing to the asymmetry of the trapezoidal channel, the capsule’s steady-state shape is asymmetric while its membrane slowly tank-treads. In addition, our investigation reveals that tall trapezoidal channels with low base ratios produce significant off-center migration for large capsules compared to that for smaller capsules for a given channel length. Thus, we propose a microdevice for the sorting of artificial and physiological capsules based on their size, by utilizing tall trapezoidal microchannels with low base ratios. The proposed sorting microdevice can be readily produced via glass fabrication or as a microfluidic device via micromilling, while the required flow conditions do not cause membrane rupture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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12 pages, 3775 KiB  
Article
512-Channel Geometric Droplet-Splitting Microfluidic Device by Injection of Premixed Emulsion for Microsphere Production
by Chul Min Kim, Hye Jin Choi and Gyu Man Kim
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040776 - 1 Apr 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3924
Abstract
We present a 512-channel geometric droplet-splitting microfluidic device that involves the injection of a premixed emulsion for microsphere production. The presented microfluidic device was fabricated using conventional photolithography and polydimethylsiloxane casting. The fabricated microfluidic device consisted of 512 channels with 256 T-junctions in [...] Read more.
We present a 512-channel geometric droplet-splitting microfluidic device that involves the injection of a premixed emulsion for microsphere production. The presented microfluidic device was fabricated using conventional photolithography and polydimethylsiloxane casting. The fabricated microfluidic device consisted of 512 channels with 256 T-junctions in the last branch. Five hundred and twelve microdroplets with a narrow size distribution were produced from a single liquid droplet. The diameter and size distribution of prepared micro water droplets were 35.29 µm and 8.8% at 10 mL/h, respectively. Moreover, we attempted to prepare biocompatible microspheres for demonstrating the presented approach. The diameter and size distribution of the prepared poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres were 6.56 µm and 8.66% at 10 mL/h, respectively. To improve the monodispersity of the microspheres, we designed an additional post array part in the 512-channel geometric droplet-splitting microfluidic device. The monodispersity of the microdroplets prepared with the microfluidic device combined with the post array part exhibited a significant improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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13 pages, 2173 KiB  
Article
Facile Fabrication of Microfluidic Chips for 3D Hydrodynamic Focusing and Wet Spinning of Polymeric Fibers
by Akin Gursoy, Kamran Iranshahi, Kongchang Wei, Alexis Tello, Efe Armagan, Luciano F. Boesel, Fabien Sorin, René M. Rossi, Thijs Defraeye and Claudio Toncelli
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030633 - 10 Mar 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6252
Abstract
Microfluidic wet spinning has gained increasing interest in recent years as an alternative to conventional wet spinning by offering higher control in fiber morphology and a gateway for the development of multi-material fibers. Conventionally, microfluidic chips used to create such fibers are fabricated [...] Read more.
Microfluidic wet spinning has gained increasing interest in recent years as an alternative to conventional wet spinning by offering higher control in fiber morphology and a gateway for the development of multi-material fibers. Conventionally, microfluidic chips used to create such fibers are fabricated by soft lithography, a method that requires both time and investment in necessary cleanroom facilities. Recently, additive manufacturing techniques were investigated for rapid and cost-efficient prototyping. However, these microfluidic devices are not yet matching the resolutions and tolerances offered by soft lithography. Herein, we report a facile and rapid method using selected arrays of hypodermic needles as templates within a silicone elastomer matrix. The produced microfluidic spinnerets display co-axially aligned circular channels. By simulation and flow experiments, we prove that these devices can maintain laminar flow conditions and achieve precise 3D hydrodynamic focusing. The devices were tested with a commercial polyurethane formulation to demonstrate that fibers with desired morphologies can be produced by varying the degree of hydrodynamic focusing. Thanks to the adaptability of this concept to different microfluidic spinneret designs—as well as to its transparency, ease of fabrication, and cost-efficient procedure—this device sets the ground for transferring microfluidic wet spinning towards industrial textile settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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Review

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19 pages, 3929 KiB  
Review
Microfluidic Technology for the Production of Well-Ordered Porous Polymer Scaffolds
by Pei Zhao, Jianchun Wang, Yan Li, Xueying Wang, Chengmin Chen and Guangxia Liu
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091863 - 19 Aug 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5017
Abstract
Advances in tissue engineering (TE) have revealed that porosity architectures, such as pore shape, pore size and pore interconnectivity are the key morphological properties of scaffolds. Well-ordered porous polymer scaffolds, which have uniform pore size, regular geometric shape, high porosity and good pore [...] Read more.
Advances in tissue engineering (TE) have revealed that porosity architectures, such as pore shape, pore size and pore interconnectivity are the key morphological properties of scaffolds. Well-ordered porous polymer scaffolds, which have uniform pore size, regular geometric shape, high porosity and good pore interconnectivity, facilitate the loading and distribution of active biomolecules, as well as cell adhesion, proliferation and migration. However, these are difficult to prepare by traditional methods and the existing well-ordered porous scaffold preparation methods require expensive experimental equipment or cumbersome preparation steps. Generally, droplet-based microfluidics, which generates and manipulates discrete droplets through immiscible multiphase flows inside microchannels, has emerged as a versatile tool for generation of well-ordered porous materials. This short review details this novel method and the latest developments in well-ordered porous scaffold preparation via microfluidic technology. The pore structure and properties of microfluidic scaffolds are discussed in depth, laying the foundation for further research and application in TE. Furthermore, we outline the bottlenecks and future developments in this particular field, and a brief outlook on the future development of microfluidic technique for scaffold fabrication is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymer-Based Materials and Fabrication Processes for Microfluidic Applications)
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