Issue 5, 2018

Light-responsive polymers for microfluidic applications

Abstract

While the microfluidic device itself may be small, often the equipment required to control fluidics in the chip unit is large e.g. pumps, valves and mixing units, which can severely limit practical use and functional scalability. In addition, components associated with fluidic control of the device, more specifically the valves and pumps, contribute significantly to the overall unit cost. Here we sketch the problem of a gap between high end accurate, but expensive sensor platforms, versus less accurate, but widely employable hand-held low-cost devices. Recent research has shown that the integration of light-responsive materials within microfluidic devices can provide the function of expensive fluidic components, and potentially enable sophisticated measurements to be made using much less expensive equipment. An overview of the most recent developments will be presented for valves, mixers, transport and sample handling inside microfluidic devices.

Graphical abstract: Light-responsive polymers for microfluidic applications

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
04 12 2017
Accepted
03 2 2018
First published
05 2 2018

Lab Chip, 2018,18, 699-709

Light-responsive polymers for microfluidic applications

J. ter Schiphorst, J. Saez, D. Diamond, F. Benito-Lopez and A. P. H. J. Schenning, Lab Chip, 2018, 18, 699 DOI: 10.1039/C7LC01297G

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