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Low-cost, rapid-prototyping of digital microfluidics devices

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Abstract

An innovative and simple microfabrication method for digital microfluidics is presented. In this method, devices are formed from copper substrates or gold compact disks using rapid marker masking to replace photolithography. The new method is capable of forming devices with inter-electrode gaps as small as 50 μm. Saran™ wrap (polyethylene film) and commercial water repellants were used as dielectric and hydrophobic coatings, respectively, to replace commonly used and more expensive materials such as parylene-C and Teflon-AF. Devices formed by the new method enabled single- and two-plate actuation of droplets with volumes of 1–12 μL. Fabricated devices were successfully tested for droplet manipulation, merging and splitting. We anticipate that this fabrication method will bring digital microfluidics within the reach of any laboratory with minimal facilities.

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Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for financial support. M. Abdelgawad thanks the OGS program for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. ARW thanks the CRC for a Canada Research Chair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King’s College Road, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3G8

    Mohamed Abdelgawad

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3H6

    Aaron R. Wheeler

  3. Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 3G9

    Aaron R. Wheeler

  4. Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, 112 College street, M5G 1L6, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aaron R. Wheeler

Authors
  1. Mohamed Abdelgawad
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  2. Aaron R. Wheeler
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Correspondence to Aaron R. Wheeler.

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Abdelgawad, M., Wheeler, A.R. Low-cost, rapid-prototyping of digital microfluidics devices. Microfluid Nanofluid 4, 349–355 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0190-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0190-3

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