Lab-on-a-Foil: microfluidics on thin and flexible films
This critical review is motivated by an increasing interest of the microfluidics community in developing complete Lab-on-a-Chip solutions based on thin and flexible films (Lab-on-a-Foil). Those implementations benefit from a broad range of fabrication methods that are partly adopted from well-establ...
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| Published in | Lab on a chip Vol. 1; no. 11; pp. 1365 - 1386 |
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| Main Authors | , , , , , |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
England
01.01.2010
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| Subjects | |
| Online Access | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This critical review is motivated by an increasing interest of the microfluidics community in developing complete Lab-on-a-Chip solutions based on thin and flexible films (Lab-on-a-Foil). Those implementations benefit from a broad range of fabrication methods that are partly adopted from well-established macroscale processes or are completely new and promising. In addition, thin and flexible foils enable various features like low thermal resistance for efficient thermocycling or integration of easily deformable chambers paving the way for new means of on-chip reagent storage or fluid transport. From an economical perspective, Lab-on-a-Foil systems are characterised by low material consumption and often low-cost materials which are attractive for cost-effective high-volume fabrication of self-contained disposable chips. The first part of this review focuses on available materials, fabrication processes and approaches for integration of microfluidic functions including liquid control and transport as well as storage and release of reagents. In the second part, an analysis of the state of Lab-on-a-Foil applications is provided with a special focus on nucleic acid analysis, immunoassays, cell-based assays and home care testing. We conclude that the Lab-on-a-Foil approach is very versatile and significantly expands the toolbox for the development of Lab-on-a-Chip solutions.
This critical review is motivated by an increasing interest of the microfluidics community in developing complete Lab-on-a-Chip solutions based on thin and flexible foils (Lab-on-a-Foil). |
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| Bibliography: | Dr Felix von Stetten received his PhD in microbiology from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, in 1999. He spent three years in the diagnostic industry and was involved in the development of methods for sample preparation, Real-Time PCR and DNA-arrays. He joined the Zengerle group at IMTEK, University of Freiburg, where he did research in the fields of biofuel cells and Lab-on-a-Chip. Today he heads the joint research division Lab-on-a-Chip of IMTEK and HSG-IMIT. Prof. Dr Roland Zengerle received his PhD from the "Universität der Bundeswehr München" in 1994. Since 1999 he has been full professor at the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He is also director at the Institut für Mikro- und Informationstechnik of the Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft (HSG-IMIT), vice director at the Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (bioss) and European editor of "Microfluidics and Nanofluidics". Dr Zengerle's research is focused on microfluidics and nanofluidics. Prof. Dr Holger Reinecke received his PhD from the Technical University of Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany, in 1990. He had a 15 year industrial experience at microParts GmbH as director (procura) of the divisions of microproduction, microfluidics and microoptics. Since 2004/05, he has been full professor at IMTEK and director of the Institut für Mikro- und Informationstechnik of the Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft (HSG-IMIT). His research is focussed on production orientated micromachining, polymer processing and MEMS integrated power supplies. in vitro diagnostic applications. Maximilian Focke received his diploma in industrial engineering from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, in 2005. His diploma thesis is on processing of highly filled compounds for metal injection moulding. After a stopover as process engineer at Robert Bosch GmbH, he joined the Zengerle group as a PhD candidate in the laboratory for MEMS applications at the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 2006/07. His research is focused on microthermoforming and microfluidic implementation of Dr Claas Müller received his PhD from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in 1994 where he did research on LIGA technology. In 1996, he became an academic senior councillor in the Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg, Germany. Today he heads the technology division of the Laboratory for Process Technology. His research is dedicated to the fields of ultra-precision machining, ultrasonic embossing, nanoimprint technology, electrical discharge machining of ceramics and micrometrology. Dominique Kosse received his diploma in micromechatronics from the University of Dresden, Germany, in 2008. In his diploma thesis he did research on valving based on soluble and swelling polymers for microfluidic reactor cells. In 2008/09 he joined the Zengerle group as a PhD candidate in the laboratory for MEMS applications at the University of Freiburg, Germany. His research is focused on processing of foil-based microfluidic devices. ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1 |
| ISSN: | 1473-0197 1473-0189 |
| DOI: | 10.1039/c001195a |