Post Bonding Modification of Microfluidic Channel Materials for the Manufacture of Bioanalytical Devices

Abstract

There has been increased interest in the use of negative-tone photoresist materials as structural components in microfluidic devices. However, the traditional steps used to seal a microchannel (heat, pressure, etc.) may be incompatible with biomolecular components often used in the development of bioanalytical devices. In this work, we have demonstrated a technique for post bonding functionalization of the photoresist SU-8 using thin polymer films. First, a photoactive initiator is conjugated on the SU-8 surface using a hydrogen abstraction technique. The now photoactive surface is then brought in contact with various monomeric species, with UV light used to induce a surface initiated polymerization reaction. Wettability of the normally hydrophobic SU-8 material was markedly enhanced by grafting hydrogels comprised of either 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) monomer or macromonomers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The static water contact angle of freshly prepared SU-8 was reduced from 78° to 35° using grafted pHEMA hydrogels, and further reduced to 8° using PEG-rich hydrogels. Surface bound hydrogel layers containing the enzyme glucose oxidase were prepared to evaluate the applicability of the technique to integration of biomolecular components. In addition, incorporation of analyte-sensitive fluorophore layers was also investigated.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Second Department

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Third Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords and Phrases

Analyte-Sensitive Fluorophore Layers; Bioanalytical Devices; Bonding; Hydrogen Abstraction Technique; Microfluidic Channel Materials; Monomeric Species; PHEMA Hydrogels; Photoresist Materials; Polymerization

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2007

Link to Full Text

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