Microfluidic chip for generating various types of flows and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip comprising: an injection unit; a recovery unit; and a mixing unit including a mixing channel connecting the injection unit and the recovery unit. Specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic chip capable of more efficiently mixing two or more reagents in a mixing unit having a short length by generating various types of flows in the mixing unit, and a manufacturing method thereof.

Description

Microfluidic chip generating various types of flow and method for manufacturing the same

[0001] The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip comprising an injection unit, a recovery unit, and a mixing unit including a mixing channel connecting the injection unit and the recovery unit. Specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic chip capable of generating various types of flow in the mixing unit, thereby more efficiently mixing two or more reagents in a short mixing unit, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

[0003] Microfluidics technology is a fundamental and core technology that forms the basis for the commercialization of micro-total analysis systems (μ-TAS) and lab-on-a-chip. It is a microfluidic control technology that uniformly mixes substances by inducing an instantaneous natural diffusion reaction of 0.001 to 0.1 seconds in a very small space.

[0004] Microfluidics technology has applications in various fields such as medicine, biotechnology, and the environment. In particular, it has received much attention in the fields of high-purity pharmaceutical synthesis and the recent manufacturing of mRNA vaccines for novel coronavirus infections. It is expected to be expanded to gene- and cell-based antiviral and anticancer vaccines, as well as personalized precision medicine in the future.

[0005] As a specific example, research is actively underway to manufacture and analyze lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) or liposomes by supplying reagents to a lab-on-a-chip or micro-integrated analysis system. The process of manufacturing LNPs or liposomes involves mixing two or more reagents.

[0006] A microfluidic chip has a mixing section for mixing two or more reagents. A channel for mixing reagents is formed in the mixing section of the microfluidic chip. However, since the size of the channel for mixing reagents is very small and has a low Reynolds number, the reagents flow in a laminar flow within the channel.

[0007] Unlike turbulent flow, laminar flow degrades fluid mixing performance. Even simply repeating the flow direction in a micro-mixing channel can result in poor mixing of reagents. Therefore, to address this issue, the micro-mixing channel must be lengthened.

[0008] However, as the length of the micro mixing channel increases, not only is it difficult to quickly recover the mixed reagent, which is the target, but there is also a problem that the amount of reagent that remains in the micro mixing channel and cannot be recovered increases.

[0009] In this regard, the inventor of the present invention has developed a microfluidic chip that quickly recovers mixed reagents by solving the problems of existing microfluidic chips, thereby completing the present invention.

[0010]

[0011] (Prior art literature)

[0012] (Patent Document)

[0013] (Patent Document 0001) Korean Publication No. 10-2019-0043725

[0014]

[0015] The present invention aims to provide a microfluidic chip including an injection unit (100); a recovery unit (400); and a mixing unit (200) including a mixing channel (300) connecting the injection unit (100) and the recovery unit (400).

[0016] Specifically, the mixing channel (300) includes an inlet channel (310), a composite mixing unit (320), and a recovery channel (350); the composite mixing unit (320) includes a first channel (321), a second channel (323), and a third channel (325); the third channel connects the first channel and the second channel (323); the longitudinal direction of the first channel and the longitudinal direction of the third channel are not parallel to each other; the longitudinal directions of the first channel and the third channel and the longitudinal direction of the second channel are not parallel to each other; and the first channel includes a first filler, and the second channel includes a second filler.

[0017]

[0018] The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip comprising an injection unit (100); a recovery unit (400); and a mixing unit (200) including a mixing channel (300) connecting the injection unit (100) and the recovery unit (400).

[0019] The above mixing channel (300) includes an inlet channel (310), a composite mixing unit (320), and a recovery channel (350).

[0020] The above composite mixing unit (320) includes a first channel (321); a second channel (323); and a third channel (325).

[0021] The above third channel connects the first channel and the second channel (323),

[0022] The longitudinal direction of the first channel and the longitudinal direction of the third channel are not parallel to each other, and the longitudinal directions of the first and third channels and the longitudinal direction of the second channel are not parallel to each other.

[0023] The first channel includes a first filler, and the second channel includes a second filler.

[0024] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the inlet channel includes a mixed reagent transport channel (313), the mixed reagent transport channel is connected to the first channel, and the longitudinal direction of the mixed reagent transport channel and the longitudinal direction of the first channel may not be parallel to each other.

[0025] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the first channel and the longitudinal direction of the third channel may be perpendicular to each other.

[0026] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the third channel and the longitudinal direction of the second channel may be perpendicular to each other.

[0027] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the longitudinal direction of the mixed reagent transport channel and the longitudinal direction of the first channel may be perpendicular to each other.

[0028] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the first channel and the second channel may be arranged opposite to each other.

[0029] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel may be smaller than the flow cross-sectional areas of the first channel and the second channel.

[0030] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the mixed reagent transport channel may be smaller than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first channel.

[0031] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the length (L1) of the first channel or the second channel may be greater than the width (W1).

[0032] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the first filler or the second filler may be installed in multiple numbers in the longitudinal direction of the first channel or the second channel.

[0033] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the composite mixing units may be arranged in series in multiples, but are not limited thereto. For example, they may be arranged diagonally.

[0034] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, adjacent composite mixing units can be connected to each other through the fourth channel (340).

[0035] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the fourth channel may be smaller than the flow cross-sectional areas of the first channel and the second channel.

[0036] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the last composite mixing unit among the plurality of composite mixing units can be connected to a recovery unit (400) through a recovery channel (350).

[0037] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the first channel, the third channel, and the second channel are ' ' may have shapes, but is not limited to them.

[0038] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the injection unit includes a first injection chamber (111) and a second injection chamber (112) capable of injecting different reagents, respectively, and the first injection chamber and the second injection chamber can be connected to a first injection resistance channel (113) and a second injection resistance channel (114), respectively.

[0039] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, an injection chamber and an injection resistance channel may be additionally included.

[0040] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the recovery unit may include a recovery chamber (411) and a discharge chamber (412).

[0041] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention, the recovery chamber and the discharge chamber can be connected to a recovery resistance channel (413) and a discharge resistance channel (414), respectively.

[0042] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a microfluidic chip including an injection unit (100); a recovery unit (400); and a mixing unit (200) including a mixing channel (300) connecting the injection unit (100) and the recovery unit (400).

[0043] a) A component manufacturing step in which the injection part, mixing part, and recovery part are each manufactured using separate molds;

[0044] b) an alignment step of aligning the injection unit and the recovery unit at a combined position on the mixing unit; and

[0045] c) It may include a joining step of pressing and joining the injection unit and the recovery unit aligned on the mixing unit.

[0046]

[0047] The microfluidic chip of the present invention has a mixing channel (300) formed in a mixing section (200), and the mixing channel is sequentially connected to a first channel (321), a third channel (325), and a second channel (323). ' It includes a composite mixing unit (320) having a structure of a shape, and the first channel and the second channel each include one or more first fillers and second fillers (322, 324).

[0048] Therefore, the structure of the microfluidic chip of the present invention causes changes in direction, expansion, contraction, branching, and confluence of flow when two or more different reagents pass through the mixing channel, thereby allowing for more effective mixing of the reagents. The microfluidic chip of the present invention has the advantage of being able to more efficiently mix two or more different reagents injected into the composite mixing unit formed in the mixing section in a short mixing length.

[0049] In addition, the microfluidic chip of the present invention has the advantage of being easy to manufacture, since the mixing channel including the composite mixing unit is formed in a simple structure at the bottom of the mixing section substrate (210), and if necessary, the composite mixing unit (320) can be added in series in multiple numbers to form the required mixing channel (300).

[0050] The microfluidic chip of the present invention can configure the channel resistance to be the same through the injection resistance channel (113, 114). Therefore, depending on the material injected into the microchannel, the physical properties of the fluids injected into the multiple inlets may be different. In such a case, if the resistance of the injection resistance channel is made the same, the variables caused by the different injection resistance can be reduced. In addition, if the resistance of the injection resistance channel is higher than the resistance of the mixing section, it has the effect of preventing backflow and bubbling when the injection ratio between the fluids is different or when one fluid is introduced into the channel first.

[0051] The channel of the microfluidic chip according to the present invention, particularly the channel formed in the mixing channel (300), has the advantage of being able to process with a high aspect ratio of depth and width of about 4, so that the entire processing width of the channel pattern is the same and the depth is processed deep to increase processability and significantly reduce the defect rate during injection molding, while maximizing the mixing efficiency through the anisotropic mechanism of shrinkage and branch expansion due to the structure of the channel.

[0052] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the detailed description of the present invention or the composition of the invention described in the claims.

[0053]

[0054] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention.

[0055] Figure 2a is an exploded view of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention, showing a configuration including an injection unit and a recovery unit on the upper side and a mixing unit on the lower side.

[0056] Figure 2b is an exploded view of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention, showing a configuration including an injection unit, a mixing unit, and a recovery unit all on the upper plate.

[0057] Figure 3 is a plan view of a mixing section (200) formed in the microfluidic chip of the present invention.

[0058] Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram showing changes in the flow and flow cross-sectional area occurring in the mixing channel (300) of the mixing unit (200) of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 5 is a simulation drawing of reagent mixing in a mixing section of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention.

[0060] Figure 6 is a photograph of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention.

[0061]

[0062] The present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is therefore not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0063] Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected (connected, contacted, joined)" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected," but also cases where it is "indirectly connected" with another part in between. Furthermore, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0064] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention, FIGS. 2a and 2b are exploded views of one embodiment of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a mixing channel (300) formed in a mixing unit (200) of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a flow occurring in a mixing unit (200) of a microfluidic chip according to the present invention.

[0065] The microfluidic chip of the present invention includes an injection unit (100); a mixing unit (200); and a recovery unit (400), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0066] The injection unit (100) includes first and second injection chambers (111, 112) capable of injecting two different reagents, respectively. In this case, if it is necessary to mix three or more reagents, a third and fourth injection chambers (not shown) may be additionally included.

[0067] The first and second injection chambers (111, 112) may be connected to first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114), which provide resistance for pressure head control, respectively, if necessary. To enable the first and second injection chambers (111, 112) to be coupled to the mixing unit (200), the injection unit (100) may include an injection unit body (110).

[0068] The first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114) may be formed at the lower portion of the injection body (110), but are not limited thereto. In the case of a microfluidic chip that does not include the injection body (110), the first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114) may be formed in the mixing portion (200) described later. The first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114) may have different properties of a plurality of fluids injected into the microchannel, and considering this, the resistance of the channels may be designed to be the same or may be designed by appropriately adjusting them according to the properties. Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a microfluidic chip designed to have the same resistance of the first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114).

[0069] The above injection unit body (110) can be in direct contact with the upper surface of the mixing unit (200). An injection unit auxiliary substrate (120) can be formed to prevent the first and second injection chambers (111, 112) and the first and second injection resistance channels (113, 114) from being exposed to the lower portion of the injection unit body (110).

[0070] At this time, since the injection unit auxiliary substrate (120) is installed on the upper part of the mixing unit (200), first and second injection communication holes (123, 124) that connect the first and second injection chambers (111, 112) and the mixing channel (300) formed in the mixing unit (200) can be formed in the injection unit auxiliary substrate (120).

[0071] Two or more different reagents supplied to the injection unit (100) are mixed in the mixing unit (200), and the mixed reagents can be recovered in the recovery unit (400).

[0072] As illustrated in Fig. 2a, the recovery unit (400) includes a recovery chamber (411) for extracting mixed reagents corresponding to the target object. In addition, the recovery unit (400) includes a discharge chamber (412) for discharging mixtures that do not correspond to the target object. For example, if the mixed reagents that are initially recovered among the mixed reagents that have passed through the mixing unit (200) do not correspond to the target object, they can be collected and processed in the discharge chamber (412), thereby preventing the mixed reagents that do not correspond to the target object from being extracted into the recovery chamber (411).

[0073] The above recovery chamber (411) and discharge chamber (412) can be connected to a recovery resistance channel (413) and a discharge resistance channel (414), respectively, which provide resistance for pressure head control.

[0074] In order for the recovery chamber (411) and the discharge chamber (412) to be coupled to the recovery unit (400), the recovery unit (400) may include a separate recovery unit body (410). In this case, the recovery resistance channel (413) and the discharge resistance channel (414) may be formed at the lower portion of the recovery unit body (410), but are not limited thereto. In the case of a microfluidic chip that does not include the recovery unit body (410), the recovery resistance channel (413) and the discharge resistance channel (414) may be formed in the mixing unit (200).

[0075] The above recovery unit body (410) may be formed to directly contact the upper surface of the mixing unit (200). To prevent the recovery chamber (411), the recovery resistance channel (413), and the discharge chamber (412) and the discharge resistance channel (414) from being exposed at the lower portion of the recovery unit body (410), a recovery unit auxiliary substrate (420) may be formed.

[0076] Since the above recovery unit auxiliary substrate (420) is installed on the upper part of the mixing unit (200), a recovery communication hole (425) connecting the recovery chamber (411) and the mixing channel (300) formed in the mixing unit (200) can be formed in the recovery unit auxiliary substrate (420).

[0077] The mixing unit (200) is configured to mix two or more different reagents supplied to the injection unit (100) and is formed between the injection unit (100) and the recovery unit (400). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mixing unit (200) includes a mixing unit substrate (210) in which a mixing channel (300) is formed.

[0078] On one side of the mixing substrate (210), first and second injection holes (213, 214) configured to communicate with the first and second injection chambers (111, 112), respectively, are formed, and on the other side of the mixing substrate (210), a recovery hole (215) configured to communicate with the recovery chamber (411) is formed.

[0079] The above mixing channel (300) corresponds to a configuration for mixing two or more different reagents injected through the first and second injection holes (213, 214). In the case where three or more different reagents are injected, additional injection chambers and injection holes, such as third and fourth injection chambers and third and fourth injection holes, may be formed to enable mixing of three or more reagents. In one embodiment, the present invention will be described with a focus on a case where two types of reagents are injected.

[0080] The above mixing channel (300) is configured to communicate between the first and second injection holes (213, 214) and the recovery hole (215) formed to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the mixing unit substrate (210). The mixing channel (300) includes an inlet channel (310) formed sequentially; one or more composite mixing units (320); and a recovery channel (350).

[0081] In the present invention, “longitudinal direction” means the direction in which the fluid moves.

[0082] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the inflow channel (310) includes a first reagent transport channel (311), a second reagent transport channel (312), and a mixed reagent transport channel (313).

[0083] The first reagent transport channel (311) is a channel that transports the first reagent to be injected by being connected to the first injection hole (213), and the second reagent transport channel (312) is a channel that transports the second reagent to be injected by being connected to the second injection hole (214).

[0084] The above mixed reagent transport channel (313) is a single channel formed by connecting the first and second reagent transport channels (311, 312). The above mixed reagent transport channel (313) is a channel where the first and second reagents transported along the first and second reagent transport channels (311, 312) first meet.

[0085] At this time, since the reagents transported along the mixed reagent transport channel (313) as well as the first and second reagent transport channels (311, 312) exhibit laminar flow, the first and second reagents transported together in the mixed reagent transport channel (313) may not be uniformly mixed with each other but may be transported in a state of contacting each other and forming layers. The first and second reagents transported along the mixed reagent transport channel (313) may be mixed with each other in the composite mixing unit (320).

[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the composite mixing unit (320) includes a first channel (321); one or more first fillers (322) formed inside the first channel (321); a second channel (323); one or more second fillers (324) formed inside the second channel (323); and a third channel (325) connecting the first and second channels (321, 323) to each other.

[0087] The above composite mixing unit (320) may be formed as one or more, and preferably, multiple composite mixing units (320) may be formed in series. At this time, the first channel (321) in the first composite mixing unit (320) is connected to the mixing reagent transport channel (313).

[0088] At this time, the longitudinal direction of the mixed reagent transport channel (313) and the longitudinal direction of the first channel (321) may be formed so as not to be parallel. That is, it is preferable that the mixed reagent transport channel (313) and the first channel (321) be formed in a non-parallel direction so that the flow of the mixed reagent transport channel (313) is changed in the direction of the first channel (321) to generate a larger flow.

[0089] In one embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the first channel (321) and the longitudinal direction of the mixed reagent transport channel (313) may be formed in a direction perpendicular to each other, so that a large flow can occur through a change in direction.

[0090] As shown in ★ of FIG. 4, the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the mixed reagent transport channel (313) can be formed to be equal to or smaller than the sum of the flow cross-sectional areas of both branch channels of the first channel (321) in order to dramatically expand the flow cross-sectional area in the first channel (321) and change the flow velocity within the channel. In addition, by forming the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first channel (321) that the flow introduced into the first channel (321) faces larger compared to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the mixed reagent transport channel (313), the expansion flow can be configured to occur simultaneously.

[0091] A first inlet (321a) is formed in the mixed reagent transport channel (313) through which the flow enters the first channel (321). Here, as shown in ★ of Fig. 4, the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow on the side of the first inlet (321a) of the first channel (321) is formed to be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the mixed reagent transport channel (313), so that when the reagent flows into the first channel (321), a change in direction and expansion flow can occur.

[0092] The first filler (322) may be formed in multiple numbers in the longitudinal direction of the first channel (321) or in a direction different from the longitudinal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, multiple first fillers (322) may be installed in the longitudinal direction of the first channel.

[0093] In addition, the first filler (322) may be formed in multiple numbers in the direction of the width (W1) of the first channel (321). At this time, since it is preferable that the length (L1) of the first channel (321) be formed longer than the width (W1) of the channel, more first fillers (322) may be formed in the direction of the length of the first channel (321).

[0094] A first outlet (321b) is formed through which the flow flows from the first channel (321) to the third channel (325). At this time, the longitudinal direction of the third channel (325) and the longitudinal direction of the first channel (321) may be formed so as not to be parallel. That is, it is preferable that the first channel (321) and the third channel (325) are formed in a non-parallel direction so that the flow of the first channel (321) is changed in the third channel (325) and a larger flow is generated.

[0095] In one embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the first channel (321) and the longitudinal direction of the third channel (325) are formed in directions perpendicular to each other, so that a large flow can occur through a change in direction.

[0096] The flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel (325) may be reduced compared to the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first outlet (321b) of the first channel (321), so that when the reagent flows from the first channel (321) to the third channel (325), a contraction flow may occur.

[0097] At this time, it is preferable that the first filler (322) is not positioned close to the first outlet (321b) to the extent that it prevents the flow cross-sectional area on the first outlet (321b) side of the first channel (321) from being formed to be larger than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel (325).

[0098] That is, the flow cross-sectional area on the side of the first outlet (321b) of the first channel (321) is formed to be larger than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel (325), so that when the reagent is discharged into the third channel (325), a change in direction and a contraction flow can occur.

[0099] The second channel (323) is connected to the first channel (321) via the third channel (325) so that the flow of the second channel (323) and the flow of the first channel (321) are directed in different directions.

[0100] A second inlet (323a) is formed through which a flow enters the second channel (323) from the third channel (325). Here, the second inlet (323a) formed in the second channel (323) is connected to the first outlet (321b) of the first channel (321) via the third channel (325). As illustrated in Fig. 4, the flow of the third channel (325) can be changed in direction in the second channel (323).

[0101] In addition, a second outlet (323b) is formed through which the flow flows from the second channel (323) to the fourth channel (330). Therefore, in a plurality of composite mixing units, the second outlet (323b) formed in the second channel (323) may be formed to face the first inlet (321a) of the first channel (321).

[0102] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second channel (323) may be arranged opposite to the first channel (321). The composite mixing unit (320) may be formed by the first channel (321), the third channel (325), and the second channel (323). ' can be connected to have a shape.

[0103] Therefore, in the above composite mixing unit (320), the reagent is introduced through the first inlet (321a) formed in the first channel (321) and discharged through the second outlet (323b) formed in the second channel (323). 'The shape of the flow can change direction, and various flows such as expansion, branching, merging, and contraction can occur.

[0104] As shown in Fig. 4, the second channel (323) is preferably formed such that the length (L2) of the second channel is longer than the width (W2) of the channel for effective mixing of reagents, similar to the first channel (321).

[0105] The length (L2) and width (W2) of the second channel (323) may be formed to be the same as the length (L1) and width (W1) of the first channel (321), but are not limited thereto.

[0106] One or more second fillers (324) can be formed inside the second channel (323), and a flow in which the reagent passing through the second channel (323) is divided and then rejoins occurs by the second fillers (324).

[0107] At this time, it is preferable that the second filler (324) is not positioned close to the second inlet (323a) so as to prevent the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the second channel (323) from being formed larger than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel (325).

[0108] That is, even if the second filler (324) is installed, the flow cross-sectional area on the second inlet (323a) side of the second channel (323) is formed to be larger than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel (325), so that direction change and expansion flow occur.

[0109] A second outlet (323b) is formed in the second channel (323). The second outlet (323b) can be connected to another composite mixing unit (320) via the fourth channel (330), and can be connected to a recovery unit (400) via a recovery channel (350) that recovers the mixed reagent corresponding to the target.

[0110] The fourth channel (330) is a channel connecting two composite mixing units (320), and similar to the third channel (325), it is preferable that the flow of the fourth channel (330) be formed so as to be redirected in the longitudinal direction of the first and second channels (321, 323).

[0111] In one embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the fourth channel (330) may be formed perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the first and second channels (321, 323).

[0112] The above recovery channel (350) is a channel connecting the last composite mixing unit (320) and the recovery unit (400), and is preferably formed to change direction in the length direction of the connected second channel (323), similar to the third and fourth channels (325, 330).

[0113] In one embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the recovery channel (350) may be formed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second channel (323).

[0114] It is preferable that the fourth channel (330) and the recovery channel (350) be formed so that the flow cross-sectional area is smaller than the flow cross-sectional area on the second outlet (323b) side of the second channel (323), similar to the third channel (325).

[0115] The above-mentioned composite mixing unit (320) enables the reagents to effectively mix two or more different reagents by generating flow such as change in direction, expansion, branching, merging, and contraction as they pass through the first channel (321), the third channel (325), and the second channel (323), thereby enabling the two or more reagents to be mixed more effectively by generating diverse and repetitive flows.

[0116] In the microfluidic chip of the present invention having the above configuration and shape, the process of mixing two or more different reagents is as follows with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0117] First, the first and second reagents are injected into the first and second injection chambers (111, 112), respectively.

[0118] The first and second reagents move along the mixing channel (300) of the mixing unit (200) and are mixed with each other.

[0119] In the inlet channel (310), the first and second reagents are transported along the first and second reagent transport channels (311, 312), respectively, and meet for the first time in the mixed reagent transport channel (313).

[0120] At this time, since the first and second reagents are transported in the form of laminar flow, the reagents may not be uniformly mixed in the mixed reagent transport channel 313) but may be transported in a state of forming first and second reagent layers.

[0121] Reagents are introduced into the composite mixing unit (320) along the mixed reagent transport channel (313), and various types of flow are generated, thereby producing a reagent mixture.

[0122] When reagents are introduced from the mixed reagent transport channel (313) into the first channel (321) of the composite mixing unit (320), reagent mixing occurs due to the occurrence of direction change and expansion flow.

[0123] In addition, branching and confluence flows are generated through one or more first fillers (322), thereby achieving reagent mixing. Since direction changes, expansion and contraction flows occur simultaneously in the branching and confluence flows, reagent mixing can be achieved more smoothly.

[0124] When the reagent is discharged from the first channel (321) to the third channel (325), a change in direction and a contraction flow occur, resulting in reagent mixing, and when the reagent is introduced from the third channel (325) to the second channel (323), a change in direction and an expansion flow occur, resulting in additional reagent mixing.

[0125] When passing through the second filler (324), the same reagent mixing occurs as when passing through the first filler (322).

[0126] The reagent is moved from the second channel (323) to the fourth channel (330) and then to the next composite mixing unit (320). At this time, when the reagent is discharged from the second channel (323) to the fourth channel (330), a change in direction and a contraction flow occur.

[0127] When the reagent passes through the composite mixing unit (320), the reagent passes through the first channel (321), the third channel (325), and the second channel (323) sequentially, ' Since the direction of the shape changes and various flows such as direction changes, expansion, branching, merging, and contraction flows are repeatedly generated in each part of the composite mixing unit to mix the sample, the sample can be mixed more effectively in the short mixing length of the mixing part of the microfluidic chip.

[0128] Fig. 5 shows the results of a reagent mixing simulation in the microfluidic chip mixing unit (200) of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the mixing channel (300) of the present invention can uniformly mix two different types of reagents in a short mixing length in which about three composite mixing units (320) are formed in series, but is not limited thereto. That is, the mixing channel of the present invention can include one or two composite mixing units, and can be designed to have a short mixing length through this.

[0129] That is, the microfluidic chip of the present invention can more effectively mix reagents in a short mixing length through a mixing channel (300) equipped with one or more complex mixing units (320) of a simple structure configured to allow various flows to occur.

[0130]

[0131] (Explanation of symbols)

[0132] 10: Microfluidic chip

[0133] 100: Injection

[0134] 110: Injection body

[0135] 111: First injection chamber 112: Second injection chamber

[0136] 113: First injection resistance channel 114: Second injection resistance channel

[0137] 120: Injection auxiliary board

[0138] 123: First injection hole 124: Second injection hole

[0139] 200: Mixed section

[0140] 210: Mixed substrate

[0141] 213: First injection hole 214: Second injection hole

[0142] 215: Recovery Hall

[0143] 220: Lower substrate

[0144] 300: Mixed Channel

[0145] 310: Inflow channel

[0146] 311: First reagent transfer channel 312: Second reagent transfer channel

[0147] 313: Mixed reagent transport channel

[0148] 320: Composite Mixing Unit

[0149] 321: Channel 1

[0150] 321a: First inlet 321b: First outlet

[0151] 322: First Filler

[0152] 323: Channel 2

[0153] 323a: Second inlet 323b: Second outlet

[0154] 324: Second Filler

[0155] 325: Third Channel

[0156] 330: Channel 4

[0157] 350: Recovery Channel

[0158] 400: Recovery Department

[0159] 410: Recovery body

[0160] 411: Recovery chamber 412: Discharge chamber

[0161] 413: Recovery resistance channel 414: Discharge resistance channel

[0162] 420: Recovery unit auxiliary board 425: Recovery communication hole

[0163] L1: Length of the first channel

[0164] W1: Width of the first channel

[0165] L2: Length of the second channel

[0166] W2: Width of the second channel

Claims

1. In a microfluidic chip including an injection part (100); a recovery part (400); and a mixing part (200) including a mixing channel (300) connecting the injection part (100) and the recovery part (400), The above mixing channel (300) includes an inlet channel (310), a composite mixing unit (320), and a recovery channel (350). The above composite mixing unit (320) includes a first channel (321); a second channel (323); and a third channel (325). The above third channel connects the first channel and the second channel (323), The longitudinal direction of the first channel and the longitudinal direction of the third channel are not parallel to each other, The longitudinal direction of the above and third channels and the longitudinal direction of the second channel are not parallel to each other, The first channel comprises a first filler, A microfluidic chip wherein the second channel includes a second filler.

2. In paragraph 1, The above inlet channel includes a mixed reagent transport channel (313), The above mixed reagent transport channel is connected to the first channel, A microfluidic chip, wherein the longitudinal direction of the constant mixing reagent transport channel and the longitudinal direction of the first channel are not parallel to each other.

3. A microfluidic chip in the first paragraph, wherein the longitudinal direction of the first channel and the longitudinal direction of the third channel are perpendicular to each other.

4. A microfluidic chip in accordance with claim 1, wherein the longitudinal direction of the third channel and the longitudinal direction of the second channel are perpendicular to each other.

5. A microfluidic chip in the first paragraph, wherein the longitudinal direction of the mixed reagent transport channel and the longitudinal direction of the first channel are perpendicular to each other.

6. A microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the first channel and the second channel are arranged opposite to each other.

7. A microfluidic chip in the first paragraph, wherein the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the third channel is smaller than the flow cross-sectional areas of the first channel and the second channel.

8. A microfluidic chip in the second paragraph, wherein the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the mixed reagent transport channel is smaller than the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the first channel.

9. A microfluidic chip in the first paragraph, wherein the length (L1) of the first channel or the second channel is greater than the width (W1).

10. A microfluidic chip, wherein in the first paragraph, the first filler or the second filler is installed in multiple numbers in the longitudinal direction of the first channel or the second channel.

11. A microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the composite mixing units are arranged in series in multiple numbers.

12. A microfluidic chip in claim 11, wherein adjacent composite mixing units are connected to each other through a fourth channel (340).

13. A microfluidic chip in claim 12, wherein the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the fourth channel is smaller than the flow cross-sectional areas of the first channel and the second channel.

14. A microfluidic chip in claim 11, wherein the last composite mixing unit among the plurality of composite mixing units is connected to a recovery unit (400) through a recovery channel (350).

15. In the first paragraph, the first channel, the third channel, and the second channel are ' ' A microfluidic chip having a shape.

16. In the first paragraph, the injection unit includes a first injection chamber (111) and a second injection chamber (112) capable of injecting different reagents, respectively. A microfluidic chip, wherein the first injection chamber and the second injection chamber are connected to the first injection resistance channel (113) and the second injection resistance channel (114), respectively.

17. A microfluidic chip according to claim 16, which may additionally include an injection chamber and an injection resistance channel.

18. A microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the recovery unit includes a recovery chamber (411) and a discharge chamber (412).

19. A microfluidic chip in claim 18, wherein the recovery chamber and the discharge chamber are connected to a recovery resistance channel (413) and a discharge resistance channel (414), respectively.

20. A method for manufacturing a microfluidic chip including an injection unit (100); a recovery unit (400); and a mixing unit (200) including a mixing channel (300) connecting the injection unit (100) and the recovery unit (400), a) A component manufacturing step in which the injection part, mixing part, and recovery part are each manufactured using separate molds; b) an alignment step for aligning the injection unit and the recovery unit at the combined position on the mixing unit; and c) A method for manufacturing a microfluidic chip, comprising a joining step of pressurizing and joining the injection unit and the recovery unit aligned on the mixing unit.

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