Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, (2019) 1-3

Analytical Chemistry Laboratory II

Microfluidic fabrication using PDMS as a popular material

Assolikhatul Mubarokah, Riris Putri, Ivo Silvani, Arminda Sari
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Science, University of Darussalam Gontor

A RT I C L E I N F O

A B S T R A C T

Article history: The fabrication of microfluidic device has been developed commonly for
Received --- research laboratories and used in developing countries. This device consists of
Accepted ---
the microchannel, inlets, and outlets for sample flow. Choosing the suitable
Available online -
material, e.g., glass, silicon, elastomer (PDMS), thermosets, thermoplastics, and
paper is also important for fabrication. In addition, the microfluidic fabrication
has been analyzed in commercialization because of low cost production and the
Keywords: reliable results in use. For this experiment, we have studied and discussed about
Microfluidic fabrication the microfluidic fabrication using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a material
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) because it is also flexible, deformable, inexpensive, transparent and easy to use.
Microchannel Moreover, we have determined the efficiency of device (e.g., channel leakage
with microscope). Images of microscope showed the width and depth of channel
and the leakage in microchannel. The width and depth result is shown as 487.818
± 2.865 µm and 145.013 ± 0.028 µm, respectively.

1. Introduction Plastics are two types: thermosets and thermoplastics.

Microfluidics is a science and an alternative technology
which are related to the flow of fluidics into the
microchannel. This technique is high sensitivity, high speed,
high throughput and low cost. From these reasons,
researchers have developed the microfluidic fabrication to
apply for various applications such as clinical laboratories,
chemical research, and biological research. In addition, the
inexpensive device is also suitable for developing countries.
However, the significant factor for fabrication is materials
based on the aimed application (e.g., research laboratory
and commercialization). For research laboratory, researchers
focus on the simple fabrication and the performance. On the
other hand, in commercialization, the cost of production and
the reliable results in use are the most important for
fabrication.
The first generation of microfluidic device was fabricated
from glass and silicon as inert materials. As result of their
hardness, good resistance to organic solvents, very high
thermostability, and excellent resistance to oxidizer, glass
and silicon were widely used for capillary electrophoresis
(CE), electrochemical detection, organic synthesis, PCR and
droplets formation. However, the cost of production is too
expensive and complicated to fabricate. Therefore,
researchers have studied other materials, e.g. plastics and
elastomer which are flexible, inexpensive, and easy to
fabricate.
When thermosets such as SU-8 photoresist and ployimide
are heated to become rigid molecule due to the crosslink of
polymer, they cannot be reshaped again and degraded at too
high temperature. After cured thermosets, they are high
thermostability, high optical transparency, good resistance to
the solvents and high strength. In addition, they could also
be applied for CE, organic synthesis, droplet formation,
PCR, and protein in crystallization very well. As thermosets
are expensive and too rigid, they are not appropriate to
fabricate.
Thermoplastics are poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA),
polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), and polyvinylchloride (PVC). They can
be reheated to form new shapes again and again.
Thermoplastics are widely used in industries because
they are low cost and reshaped property. However,
thermoplastics are limited for microfluidic fabrication
because of their rigidity, and poor resistance to organic
solvents (e.g., ketone and hydrocarbon). Therefore, they
could be applied for few applications such as CE, droplets
formation, and PCR.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an elastomer (e.g.,
flexible) to fabricate microfluidic devices for research
laboratories. Most researchers have chosen PDMS as the
suitable material because it is also flexible, deformable,
inexpensive, transparent and easy to use. However, the
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major problem is low dissolved PDMS in channel. Then we

organic solvents, some application is limited. have checked the
channel leakage by
Moreover, papers are the alternative injection of a red
materials which could be fabricated by dye solution into
printing technique: an ink in the cartridge was the channel
replaced with a wax solution and printed on without leaking
the filter paper to generate hydrophobic area. and spreading out
After heating, the paper consists of of the channel as
hydrophobic area (printed wax) and shown in the Fig.1.
hydrophilic area in desired channel (no
printed wax). This technique is low cost,
simple technique and fast analysis. Although these reasons
are appropriate to use in commercialization, the spread of
wax solution on the paper is also a problem to fabricate.

2. Experimental section

2.1 Reagents and materials

Silicone elastomer base and silicone elastomer curing
agent were all purchased from DOW Corning Corporation
(Midland, U.S.A.). Analytical grade iso-propanol was
purchased from RCL Labscan Limited (Thailand). Glass
slides were purchased from Sail Brand 23.

2.2 Preparation of glass slides Fig. 1. (A) Molds for pouring PDMS solution to fabricate the
At first, glass slides were washed and then were microfluidic devices. (B) Checking the channel leakage of PDMS
chip with red dye flow.
sonicated with an ultrasonicator (1510 Branson) by soaking
in deionized water for 10 min, analytical grade iso-propanol
3.2 Characterization of microchannel
for 10 min, and deionized water for 10 min, respectively.
We have measured the characterization of microchannel
After sonication about 30 min, we blew glass slides with a
with a microscope to be useful for calculate the suitable
high pressure dryer and then baked them in an oven
volume for this microchannel. Fig. 2 shows the width and
(Heraeus Vacutherm) at 75 oC for at least 60 min.
depth of microchannel. The channel width was measured by
many persons to calculate the average and standard
2.3 Preparation of PDMS
deviation as shown in the table 1 and table 2, respectively.
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used as a polymer to
The width result is shown as 487.818 ± 2.865 µm. Another
fabricate a microfluidic device. At first, 20 g of silicone
result is a channel depth as 145.013 ± 0.028 µm which was
elastomer base and 2 g of silicone elastomer curing agent
measured by one person. The width result is shown as
were mixed together and then were placed in a desiccators
487.818 ± 2.865 µm. Another result is a channel depth as
connecting pump to eliminate air bubble for 30 min.
145.013 ± 0.028 µm which was measured by one person.
2.4 Chip fabrication
Fig. 2. Images of microscope measurement: (A), (B), and (C)
Then we poured this mixture onto the prepared mold as the microchannel width and (D) as the microchannel depth
and baked it for 60 min at 180 oC. Therefore, we obtained
the chip from PDMS polymer and cut off it. After that, the
face of the microchannel and glass slides were treated by an Table 1
oxygen plasma instrument (Femto Science-Cute) with a 20 Measurement for the width of microchannel.
sccm oxygen gas (G1)-flow rate, a 0.5 torr pressure, and a 40
watt power for 1 min to bond to glass slides. After oxygen
plasma treatment, the microchannel was closed with glass person 1 2 3 Average (μm) SD
slide and then also the input and output of the microfluidic
device were punched the designed holes with a puncher to A 486.989 483.271 486.989 485.750 2.147
flow sample into the channel.
B 494.424 494.438 486.989 491.950 4.297
2.5 Checking for the microchannel leakage
C 486.989 483.271 487.003 485.754 2.151
we injected 0.5 % of red dye solution by syringe into
the channel via hole on the chip and then measured width Average 487.818 2.865
and depth of microchannel with a microscope.

3. Results Table 2
Measurement depth of microchannel.
3.1 Microfluidic fabrication with a PDMS material
Molds for microfluidic fabrication consist of input and
output for sample flow and microchannel. A flexible person 1 2 3 Average (μm) SD
and transparent device was due to the use of PDMS as
material for fabrication. After oxygen plasma treatment, the A 145.029 145.029 144.981 145.013 0.028
microchannel was bonded with the glass slide to enclose the
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4. Discussion
As we known PDMS microchip is easy fabricate and
cheap. Firstly, we also careful about dirty of glass slide and
contaminate of dust in mold template. Dust on glass slide
had effective to bonding with PDMS chip, might occur
space between glass surface and PDMS chip. Avoid this
problem by wear gloves all the time when contact microchip
and microfluidic chip was fabricated in clean room. For
punch holes of inlet and outlet should be perpendicular to
device. After achievable fabrication, test leakage of
microchannel by red dye found fit-mouth well.
Subsequently we measured width and depth of
microchannel with a microscope. Each person got own
precisions as well as consider from SD. The over view
shown everyone took little error, but the result can
acceptable and reliable value. Therefore this PDMS can use
in further work absolutely.

5. Conclusions
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as an elastomer is also
flexible, deformable, inexpensive, transparent and easy to
use; therefore, it has been used for microfluidic fabrication.
From this experiment, we have chosen PDMS as material
and checked the microchannel device with red dye flow
without leaking. After that, we have also measured the
width and depth channel with microscope as 487.818 ±
2.865 µm and 145.013 ± 0.028 µm, respectively.
Furthermore, this microfluidic method is simple and fast
analysis and can also be applied to other techniques based
on choosing materials for fabrication.

Acknowledgement
Thank you the instructor team of Lab microfluidic,
Mahidol University for explanations and training skill in
microfluidic fabrication.

References

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[2] X. Li, J. Tian, G. Garnier, W. Shen, Colloids and

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