Low-cost lab-on-chip systems with integrated micropumps

For a lab-on-chip (LoC) platform for point-of-care (PoC) use the controlled transport of liquids like the sample and chemicals like buffers is essential. Thus, on-chip microfluidic actuators are desired, which are small in size, inexpensive, easy to integrate but on the other hand able to generate large displacements. Despite of being easy to integrate, the electrochemical generation of gas bubbles from a liquid fulfils these requirements.

However, the integration of a liquid (e.g. water) can be critical for mass fabrication and may also cause problems concerning long-term stability.

Thus, a hydrogel is used as electrolyte, which combines the electrolytic and gas generating properties of water based electrolytes with a good processibility by screen printing or stencil printing. It is available at very low cost and nontoxic.

Figure 1 shows the principle of an electrolysis pump with hydrogel. A chamber which contains the hydrogel is contacted by two electrodes. Applying a voltage over the electrodes causes a gas generation by the electrolysis of water. The gas pressure is used to directly drive a fluid.

Figure 2 and 3 show the CAD model and the fabricated device of a fully integrated lab-on-chip system. Out of the Center for Microtechnologies the BiFlow Systems GmbH has been founded working on the commercialization of the cartridge.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Data sheets

Contact

Dr. Jörg Nestler
E-Mail: joerg.nestler@…