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Self-powered catalytic microfluidic platforms for fluid delivery

Year: 2017

Journal: Colloid Surf. A-Physicochem. Eng. Asp., Volume 532, NOV 5, page 257–262

Authors: Zizzari, A.; Bianco, M.; del Mercato, L. L.; Carraro, M.; Bonchio, M.; Frigion, M.; Montagna, F.; Gigli, G.; Violae, I.; Arima, V.

Organizations: Cluster in Bioimaging (cod. QZYCUM0, "Aiuti a sostegno dei cluster tecnologici regionali ", Bando Regione Puglia) [399]; University of Padova (PRAT) [University of Padova (PRAT 2015 prot. CPDA158234]

The realization of microfluidic platforms with liquid pumping and fluid transport independent on external power sources is the goal of a major part of research in the lab-on-chip (LOC) field. Autonomous pumping, indeed, has a strong impact on the cost, usability and portability of LOCs. In this context, power-free pumping is exploited herein by the use of chemically-responsive flexible thin membranes (TMs) as tool to push liquids inside the microchannels of a LOC platform. The assembled device consists of a closed poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) micro-chamber in which H2O2 dismutation occurs by an artificial catalase (ACat) system, evolving oxygen and generating a pressure gradient. This pressure is then used to push a liquid contained within an upper chamber and inject it into a tailored microfluidic channel. The two chambers are overlapped and separated by a PDMS TM, whose flexibility allows the conversion of the chemical energy into mechanical forces. Thanks to the finetuning of the reaction conditions by modulating the ACat catalyst and/ or reagents concentrations, a precise control over the injection time and forces of the liquid can be achieved.