Peristaltic-pump-free microfluidic module and application

Abstract

The invention discloses a peristaltic-pump-free micro-fluidic module and an application of the peristaltic-pump-free micro-fluidic module. The microfluidic module comprises a transport layer, a microfluidic chamber and a packaging layer which are sequentially compounded on a substrate, the transport layer has a patterned wettability contrast surface, and the hydrophilic layer and the hydrophobic layer form the patterned wettability contrast surface; the patterned wettability contrast surface is located in the micro-fluidic chamber; the packaging layer is provided with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet both correspond to the hydrophilic layer. In the micro-fluidic module, the micro-fluidic cavity is used for storing liquid; and the transportation layer can realize peristaltic pump-free liquid transportation. Under the condition that an external peristaltic pump is not needed, the micro-fluidic module disclosed by the invention can realize spontaneous and efficient transportation of liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a peristaltic pump-free microfluidic module and its application, belonging to the technical field of microfluidics. Background Art

[0002] Due to characteristics such as small sampling volume, rapid sampling, and easy size reduction, microfluidic technology has received extensive attention in the field of point-of-care testing. However, traditional microfluidic modules usually require the use of external bulky pumping systems to ensure normal function, thus reducing the mobility of the device in actual use. Therefore, in order to improve the practicality of the microfluidic module, a peristaltic pump-free microfluidic module is needed to achieve the spontaneous and efficient transportation of liquids by the microfluidic module without external driving devices such as peristaltic pumps. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a peristaltic pump-free microfluidic module, the transport layer of which has a patterned wettability contrast surface, capable of achieving the spontaneous and efficient transportation of liquids without external driving devices such as peristaltic pumps.

[0004] The microfluidic module provided by the present invention includes a transport layer, a microfluidic chamber, and a packaging layer that are sequentially laminated on a substrate;

[0005] The transport layer has a patterned wettability contrast surface, and the hydrophilic layer and the hydrophobic layer form the patterned wettability contrast surface;

[0006] The patterned wettability contrast surface is located inside the microfluidic chamber;

[0007] A fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are provided on the packaging layer, and both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet correspond to the hydrophilic layer.

[0008] Preferably, the substrate, the microfluidic chamber, and the packaging layer are all made of PET film, which has the advantage of low cost.

[0009] Preferably, the microfluidic chamber is obtained by cutting the PET film, and the two sides of the PET film are coated with glue to cooperate with the packaging layer and the substrate;

[0010] The packaging layer is obtained by cutting the PET film (fluid inlet and fluid outlet).

[0011] In the microfluidic module of the present invention, the hydrophilic layer is preferably formed by O2 plasma treatment;

[0012] The hydrophobic layer is formed by a hydrophobic coating solution;

[0013] Among them, the hydrophobic coating solution is a mixed aqueous solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane and n-hexane. Among them, the volume ratio of octadecyltrichlorosilane, n-hexane to water is 2451:50000:49. The preparation process is preferably as follows:

[0014] Add double-distilled water to octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), and after ultrasonic treatment, a uniform suspension is obtained. Take the uniform suspension and transfer it to a glass bottle (with a lid but not sealed); then, add n-hexane to the vial and shake it to mix. After standing, the hydrophobic coating solution is obtained.

[0015] Preferably, the preparation steps of the transport layer are as follows:

[0016] Treat the substrate with the mask A by O2 plasma, and after removing the mask A, the substrate with the hydrophilic layer is obtained;

[0017] Cast the hydrophobic coating solution onto the substrate with the mask B and the hydrophilic layer, and after drying, remove the mask B to obtain the hydrophobic layer, and then obtain the transport layer.

[0018] In the microfluidic module of the present invention, the hydrophilic layer is preferably wedge-shaped, so that the droplet transportation is faster, and the wettability contrast surface formed by the cooperation of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is rectangular.

[0019] In the microfluidic module of the present invention, the microfluidic chamber is used for storing liquid; the transport layer can achieve liquid transportation without a peristaltic pump.

[0020] Without an external peristaltic pump, the microfluidic module of the present invention can achieve spontaneous and efficient liquid transportation. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the preparation process of the encapsulation layer in the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the preparation process of the microfluidic chamber in the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the preparation process of the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of different layers and corresponding functions in the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 It is a digital photo of the flexible patch of the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6This is a digital photo of the peristaltic pump-free microfluidic module of the present invention for droplet transportation (scale: 6.5 mm; droplet: 20 mM methyl violet aqueous solution). Detailed implementation mode

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods used in the following examples are all conventional methods.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, the materials, reagents, etc. used in the following examples can all be obtained from commercial channels.

[0029] Example 1: Preparation of the microfluidic module

[0030] 1. Preparation of the encapsulation layer and the microfluidic chamber

[0031] The PET layer (1.75 cm × 0.85 cm × 50.00 μm)( Figure 1 ) and the double-sided adhesive PET layer (1.75 cm × 0.85 cm × 175.00 μm)( Figure 2 ) were respectively cut by a digital cutting machine to obtain the encapsulation layer and the microfluidic chamber.

[0032] 2. Preparation of the hydrophobic coating solution

[0033] To prepare the hydrophobic coating solution, 10.00 μL of double-distilled water was added to 0.50 mL of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), and after ultrasonic treatment for 1 hour, a homogeneous suspension was obtained. 125.00 μL of the homogeneous suspension was transferred to a 10.00 mL glass bottle (with a lid but not sealed). Then, 2.50 mL of n-hexane was added to the vial and mixed by shaking. After standing for 2 hours, the hydrophobic coating solution was obtained.

[0034] 3. Preparation of the transport layer

[0035] The PET film with a mask was treated with O2 plasma for 10 minutes. After removing the mask, the PET film with a hydrophilic layer was obtained. 12.00 μL of the hydrophobic coating solution was cast onto the PET film with a mask and a hydrophilic layer, dried under ambient conditions and the mask was removed, and the transport layer was obtained, as Figure 3 shown.

[0036] 4. Assembly of the microfluidic module

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, the microfluidic module consists of four parts, including a substrate (PET film), an encapsulation layer, a microfluidic chamber and a transport layer (including a hydrophobic layer and a hydrophilic layer). The four are assembled together to construct the microfluidic module.

[0038] As Figure 4The following shows the schematic diagram of different layers and corresponding functions in the microfluidic module of the present invention. Among them, the encapsulation layer is used for encapsulating the microfluidic module; the microfluidic chamber is used for storing liquids; the transport layer is for realizing peristaltic pump-free liquid transport, and the PET film acts as a substrate. Figure 5 Digital photo of the flexible patch of the microfluidic module of the present invention (scale: 3 mm).

[0039] Example 2. Transport performance of the microfluidic module

[0040] To test the liquid transport performance of the microfluidic module of the present invention, an aqueous solution containing a dye (20 mM methyl violet) was used to test the microfluidic module of the present invention.

[0041] As Figure 6 shown, when the liquid droplet on the tip of the pipette tip that has already dripped contacts the hydrophilic region of the inlet of the microfluidic module, the liquid will spontaneously flow along the transport layer towards the outlet, and the transport time / filling time is ~0.85 s. This shows that the microfluidic module of the present invention can achieve efficient peristaltic pump-free spontaneous transport of liquids.

Claims

1. A microfluidic module, comprising a transport layer, a microfluidic chamber, and a packaging layer that are successively laminated on a substrate; The transport layer has a patterned wettability contrast surface, and a hydrophilic layer and a hydrophobic layer form the patterned wettability contrast surface; The patterned wettability contrast surface is located within the microfluidic chamber; A fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are provided on the packaging layer, and both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet correspond to the hydrophilic layer.

2. The microfluidic module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The substrate, the microfluidic chamber, and the packaging layer are all made of PET film.

3. The microfluidic module according to claim 2, characterized in that: The microfluidic chamber is obtained by cutting the PET film.

4. The microfluidic module according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The hydrophilic layer is formed by O2 plasma treatment.

5. The microfluidic module according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that: The hydrophobic layer is formed by a hydrophobic coating solution.

6. The microfluidic module according to claim 5, wherein: The hydrophobic coating solution is an aqueous mixture of octadecyltrichlorosilane and n-hexane.

7. The microfluidic module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The preparation steps of the transport layer are as follows: The substrate with mask A is treated with O2 plasma, and after removing mask A, the substrate with the hydrophilic layer is obtained; The hydrophobic coating solution is cast onto the substrate with mask B and the hydrophilic layer, and after drying, mask B is removed to obtain the hydrophobic layer, and thus the transport layer is obtained.

8. The microfluidic module according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that: The hydrophilic layer is wedge-shaped, and the wettability contrast surface formed by the cooperation of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is rectangular.

9. The application of the microfluidic module according to any one of claims 1-8 in microfluidic detection; The microfluidic module transports fluids.

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