Microchannel Chip With Cationic Polymer Resin Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing microchannel chips, such as those used in capillary electrophoresis, face issues like deformation during manufacturing, inadequate positive electric charge on the inner wall, and insufficient accuracy in hemoglobin analysis, due to limitations in surface treatment and joining techniques.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the fixation of a cationic polymer with a quaternary onium group on resin substrates, followed by surface treatment and joining, which introduces a stable positive electric charge and reduces deformation, enabling high-accuracy separation of hemoglobin fractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional joining methods (adhesives or heat sealing) are used to manufacture microchannel chips from resin, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the microchannel may be buried/covered or deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The method applies preliminary surface treatment to the resin substrates before joining, creating a surface layer that prevents deformation during the joining process. The surface is treated with plasma or chemical agents, then a polymer coating is applied and dried to form a protective layer that maintains microchannel integrity during subsequent joining operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If the microchannel inner wall is not treated with cationic functional groups, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the charge state cannot be maintained stably
Solution Approach 1:
The method changes the chemical parameters of the microchannel inner wall by introducing cationic functional groups through surface treatment and polymer coating. This creates a stable positive charge state on the inner wall that maintains reliable electrophoresis performance while being integrated into the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If masking and removal operations are conducted separately before joining, then the charge state can be introduced, but the manufacturing process becomes arduous
Solution Approach 1:
The method merges the surface treatment, polymer coating, and joining operations into an integrated process. The polymer coating step simultaneously prepares the surface for joining and introduces the cationic functional groups, eliminating the need for separate masking and removal operations.
4Reliability
If coating liquid is repeatedly fed and the microchannel is repeatedly dried, then the cationic functional groups can be fixed, but the operations become arduous
Solution Approach 1:
The method implements continuous polymer coating and drying in a single operational sequence, maintaining the coating process without interruption. This ensures thorough fixation of cationic functional groups while minimizing manufacturing time by eliminating repeated feeding and drying cycles.
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
The method allows for the efficient introduction of positive electric charge into the microchannel inner wall, reducing deformation and improving the separation accuracy and reproducibility of hemoglobin fractions in capillary electrophoresis.
Implementation Method 1
fixing a cationic polymer having a quaternary onium group on at least one surface of each of a pair of resin substrates
Implementation Method 2
joining the resin substrates together at the surfaces on which the cationic polymer has been fixed
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a chip that includes a microchannel (10). The chip comprises: a pair of resin substrates (1,2); and a microchannel (10) formed between the pair of resin substrates (1,2), wherein a cationic polymer having a quaternary onium group is fixed on at least one surface of each of the resin substrates, and wherein the resin substrates (1,2)are joined together at the surfaces on which the cationic polymer is fixed.