Preparation of a Flexible Microfluidic Chip Device with MMT/PEG Hydrogel Nanocomposite Molds for Nanobio-chip Applications

摘要

A thin and flexible microfluidic chip device using microstructured montmorillonite (MMT) reinforced polyethylene glycol (PEG) (MMT/PEG) nanocomposite molds has been presented to apply miniaturized nanobio- chips. Biocompatible PEG hydrogel with 1-2 wt.% of MMT was used to fabricate environmentally friendly microchip molds. In fabrication procedures, a simple UV curing process of PEG hydrogel with microstructure patterned photo-mask was used. By UV irradiation for 7 seconds at 26 mW/cm~2 , the 1-2 wt.% MMT/PEG hydrogel micro-molds were obtained and characterized by optical microscope and thermogravimetric analysis. Then the hydrogel micro-mold was used to prepare a thin and flexible microfluidic chip of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The present method is rapid and conventional to prepare a thin and flexible microfluidic chip device for nanobio-chip applications.