Development of a PMMA-based Droplet microfluidic device for high-throughput screening in health care applications

IF 2.5 4区工程技术 Q2 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Pub Date : 2025-06-04 DOI:10.1007/s10404-025-02816-5

Kaavya Purushothaman, Ashwin Kumar Narasimhan, S. Gnanavel

{"title":"Development of a PMMA-based Droplet microfluidic device for high-throughput screening in health care applications","authors":"Kaavya Purushothaman, Ashwin Kumar Narasimhan, S. Gnanavel","doi":"10.1007/s10404-025-02816-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The research focuses on the development of a novel, cost-effective, three-layer droplet microfluidic device fabricated using Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) engineered for high-throughput screening in healthcare applications. PMMA offered improved optical transparency, chemical resistance, low absorption, and high scalability. Here, we evolved a T-junction integrated microchannel with a squeezer mechanism for consistent monodisperse droplet generation. Device fabrication was achieved via a laser ablation technique followed by an ethanol-enhanced UV-irradiation method for strong and leak-free bonding between the PMMA layers. The surface properties of the PMMA layer revealed an increased surface energy and uniform wettability. The tensile strength of fabricated PMMA microfluidic devices demonstrated superior bonding strength and structural integrity compared to the existing fabrication methods. The device reliably generated uniform monodisperse droplets up to a 100 ml/hr flow rate, confirming its robustness and suitability for high-throughput screening. Overall, this PMMA-based Microfluidics platform offers a scalable and reliable solution for droplet generation suitable for applications such as drug delivery, single-cell analysis, and diagnostic assays.</p>","PeriodicalId":706,"journal":{"name":"Microfluidics and Nanofluidics","volume":"29 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Microfluidics and Nanofluidics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10404-025-02816-5","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

The research focuses on the development of a novel, cost-effective, three-layer droplet microfluidic device fabricated using Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) engineered for high-throughput screening in healthcare applications. PMMA offered improved optical transparency, chemical resistance, low absorption, and high scalability. Here, we evolved a T-junction integrated microchannel with a squeezer mechanism for consistent monodisperse droplet generation. Device fabrication was achieved via a laser ablation technique followed by an ethanol-enhanced UV-irradiation method for strong and leak-free bonding between the PMMA layers. The surface properties of the PMMA layer revealed an increased surface energy and uniform wettability. The tensile strength of fabricated PMMA microfluidic devices demonstrated superior bonding strength and structural integrity compared to the existing fabrication methods. The device reliably generated uniform monodisperse droplets up to a 100 ml/hr flow rate, confirming its robustness and suitability for high-throughput screening. Overall, this PMMA-based Microfluidics platform offers a scalable and reliable solution for droplet generation suitable for applications such as drug delivery, single-cell analysis, and diagnostic assays.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

基于pmma的液滴微流控装置在医疗保健中的高通量筛选应用

该研究的重点是开发一种新型的、具有成本效益的三层液滴微流控装置，该装置由聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（PMMA）制成，用于医疗保健应用中的高通量筛选。PMMA提供了改进的光学透明度，耐化学性，低吸收和高可扩展性。在这里，我们开发了一个t结集成微通道，该微通道具有挤压机制，可以产生一致的单分散液滴。器件的制造是通过激光烧蚀技术实现的，然后是乙醇增强的紫外线照射方法，在PMMA层之间建立牢固且无泄漏的键合。PMMA层的表面性能显示出表面能的增加和均匀的润湿性。与现有的制造方法相比，制备的PMMA微流控器件的抗拉强度表现出优异的结合强度和结构完整性。该装置可靠地产生均匀的单分散液滴，流速可达100 ml/hr，证实了其稳健性和高通量筛选的适用性。总体而言，这种基于pmma的微流体平台为液滴生成提供了可扩展和可靠的解决方案，适用于药物输送，单细胞分析和诊断分析等应用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 工程技术-纳米科技

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish papers in all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip science and technology. The objectives of the journal are to (1) provide an overview of the current state of the research and development in microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices, (2) improve the fundamental understanding of microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena, and (3) discuss applications of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. Topics covered in this journal include: 1.000 Fundamental principles of micro- and nanoscale phenomena like, flow, mass transport and reactions 3.000 Theoretical models and numerical simulation with experimental and/or analytical proof 4.000 Novel measurement & characterization technologies 5.000 Devices (actuators and sensors) 6.000 New unit-operations for dedicated microfluidic platforms 7.000 Lab-on-a-Chip applications 8.000 Microfabrication technologies and materials Please note, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics does not publish manuscripts studying pure microscale heat transfer since there are many journals that cover this field of research (Journal of Heat Transfer, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, etc.).