PDMS Microfluidic Chips: Things To Know Before Choosing
Are you thinking about selecting PDMS Microfluidic Chips? If so, you will have to know some details before choosing this chip.
Choosing a PDMS Microfluidic chip for one of your projects is a smart and informed decision. Prior to finalizing your chip choice, it is imperative that you gather some basic details about microfluidic chips and also the different options available. With expertise in handling and producing these chips, Hochuen Medical provides you with the following details:
What Is A Microfluidic Chip?
Before you gather information about PDMS Microfluidic chips, you should know what a microfluidic chip is? These chips are devices that are used in microfluidic studies. These studies use patterned or molded micro-channels. The micro-channels that form the chip are joined together to permit fluids to pass through varied channels going from one place to another. This network is associated with the external environment through outlet ports. The gasses and liquids are removed, managed or injected from the microfluidic chip with external active systems . These channels might have varied inner diameters that range from 5 to 500 µm. The network to these channels should be designed specifically for the application and the analysis that you wish to carry out. In short, microfluidic chips permit the pairing of different functions that need an entire laboratory in a single micro-sized device..
Advantages of Microfluidic Devices
Microfluidic devices like chips offer varied benefits like minimizing the time required for analysis, increasing automation capabilities and reducing reagent and sample consumption. Such devices permit applications in varied areas such as physics, chemistry, biology and medicine. The materials used for making microfluidic chips play a crucial role and present suitable properties for your application.
Materials Used in Microfluidic Devices:
Beyond the polymer materials in the PDMS Microfluidic Chip, there are other materials used for microfluidic chip creation. These materials include glass and silicon. With our focus on PDMS microfluidic chips, you will be interested in understanding why to choose this material as against other available options. Here are some reasons to consider:
Why Choose Microfluidic Chip In Polymer?
Polymer-based Microfluidic Chips were introduced several years after glass and silicon chips. PDMS is one of the vast varieties of polymer chips available. The other options include PMMA, COC, PVC, PC and PS. Among these, PDMS is the choice when it comes to fast prototyping microfluidic devices. Due to its ease of fabrication and low cost, PDMS microfluidic chips are widely used in academic applications.
The main Benefits of using PDMS in Microfluidic Chip Fabrication include the following:
Relatively affordable
By stacking multiple layers, you can create complex microfluidic designs
Biocompatibility
Non-Toxicity
Robustness
Elastomeric Properties
Optical transparency
Gas and oxygen permeability
For these reasons, PDMS microfluidic chips can be the best choice for many production processes. This is why experts like Hochuen Medical specialize in producing these chips using state-of-the-art production techniques.
Applications of PDMS Microfluidics
Microfluidics is a field that has been improving along with technology. More recently, the field is expanding its application. For instance, PDMS-based microfluidic devices are used in medical and biological applications. Amongst its competitors, PDMS microfluidic chips are often the material of choice due to their different benefits and flexibility it carries with affordability and adaptability. PDMS microfluidic chips bring flexibility, better benefits, and functionality to the products you produce.
Learn More About Hochuen’s PDMS Microfluidic Chip Fabrication Capabilities
Hochuen Medical has a long history of manufacturing and supplying the best microfluidic chips. Hochuen is one of the leading OEM manufacturers of microfluidic chips. We produce medical disposable devices for over 200 companies including Illumina, Roche, ThermoFisher, Siemens, Penumbra, Abcam, Heska, etc. We specialize in microfluidic devices and have capabilities in injection molding, die cutting, LSR, bonding (including laser welding, ultrasonic welding, heat staking, etc.), adhesives, lamination, laser machining, dry reagent handling, wet reagent blister packing, and many more.
Contact us to learn more about our contract manufacturing capabilities for microfluidic devices.
