Customized PDMS (silicone) solution for scalable Microfluidic device production
We provide custom formulated silicone materials specifically designed to address the functional and manufacturing requirements of microfluidic devices used for molecular analysis and diagnostics.
Issue
Point-of-care-testing (POCT) is about to change our understanding of diagnostics as we know it today. The concept of running a diagnostic test right at the patient site at any time to generate robust results within minutes will revolutionize our healthcare system. Microfluidics is the key enabling technology, which drives this trend. Miniaturizing entire laboratories on a millimeter sized chip is challenging:
Various materials are readily available for the fabrication of microfluidic chips including traditional carbon-based thermoplastic materials like PS (polystyrene) or PC (polycarbonate). These materials are mainly used today due to their perceived manufacturability at scale, however they have limits:
Polystyrene:
Silicone, commonly referred to in academic publications as PDMS, is another material solution used for microfluidic chips, however is often misunderstood as a material that is not suitable for high volume manufacturing.
- industrialization: from research facilities to production lines
- complex high volume fabrication is involving many steps: alignment and bonding of different layers, proper sealing, incorporation of valves, membranes, chemicals...
- cost pressure due to reimbursement limits
Various materials are readily available for the fabrication of microfluidic chips including traditional carbon-based thermoplastic materials like PS (polystyrene) or PC (polycarbonate). These materials are mainly used today due to their perceived manufacturability at scale, however they have limits:
Polystyrene:
- expensive equipment required to process
- difficult thermal bonding process
- geometric design at high aspect ratio channels can collapse
- poor resistance to many solvents
- thermal bonding required which can alter geometries
Silicone, commonly referred to in academic publications as PDMS, is another material solution used for microfluidic chips, however is often misunderstood as a material that is not suitable for high volume manufacturing.