Dissolution Guided Wetting of Microfabricated Gas-Entrapping Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfabricated devices, such as microwell arrays and microfluidic channels, often encounter issues with air bubble entrapment due to their hydrophobic nature, which hinders full surface wetting with solutions or fluids, and existing methods for removing bubbles are either temporary or require complex processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of a sacrificial residue, such as glucose or sorbitol, is applied to gas-entrapping features to facilitate dissolution-guided wetting, preventing bubble formation by dissolving the residue upon fluid introduction, thereby ensuring consistent wetting without the need for plasma treatment or vacuum processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plasma treatment is used to make the surface hydrophilic, then wetting capability is improved, but the effect is temporary and hydrophobic recovery occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-entrapping feature is pre-filled with a liquid having surface tension greater than the liquid to be introduced, before the actual use of the device. This preliminary action ensures that when the target liquid is added later, the gas-entrapping feature remains filled and prevents bubble formation, providing long-term reliable wetting without needing repeated plasma treatment.
2Reliability
If vacuum application, pressurization, centrifugation, vibration or sonication is used to remove trapped air bubbles, then bubble removal is achieved, but the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses its own structure and the properties of liquids to automatically prevent bubble entrapment. By pre-filling gas-entrapping features with high surface tension liquid, the system self-regulates to maintain proper wetting states without requiring external vacuum systems, pressurization equipment, centrifugation devices, vibration mechanisms, or sonication apparatus.
3Reliability
If low surface tension liquids are used to initially wet the surface, then wetting is achieved, but additional steps are required to exchange with water
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using low surface tension liquids that would require subsequent exchange, the invention applies the opposite approach by pre-filling with high surface tension liquid that is compatible with the intended use liquid. This preliminary anti-action prevents the need for liquid exchange steps, as the pre-filled liquid naturally maintains the desired wetting state when the target liquid is introduced.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for prolonged storage of microfabricated devices with maintained wetting capabilities, eliminating air bubbles and ensuring full surface contact with fluids, enhancing their usability in lab-on-a-chip applications.
Implementation Method 1
dissolution-guided wetting of gas-entrapping features... dissolving the residue upon fluid introduction
Implementation Method 2
ensuring consistent wetting without the need for plasma treatment or vacuum processes
Data Source
AI summary
A microfabricated device having at least one gas-entrapping feature formed therein in a configuration that entraps air bubbles upon wetting the feature with a solvent or solution is described. The device includes a sacrificial residue in contact with the gas-entrapping feature, the dissolution of which guides the wetting of the gas-entrapping feature.