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Functional hydrogel structures for autonomous flow control inside microfluidic channels

Author

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  • David J. Beebe

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Jeffrey S. Moore

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Joseph M. Bauer

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Qing Yu

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Robin H. Liu

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Chelladurai Devadoss

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Byung-Ho Jo

    (The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Hydrogels have been developed to respond to a wide variety of stimuli1,2,3,4,5,6, but their use in macroscopic systems has been hindered by slow response times (diffusion being the rate-limiting factor governing the swelling process). However, there are many natural examples of chemically driven actuation that rely on short diffusion paths to produce a rapid response7. It is therefore expected that scaling down hydrogel objects to the micrometre scale should greatly improve response times. At these scales, stimuli-responsive hydrogels could enhance the capabilities of microfluidic systems by allowing self-regulated flow control. Here we report the fabrication of active hydrogel components inside microchannels via direct photopatterning of a liquid phase. Our approach greatly simplifies system construction and assembly as the functional components are fabricated in situ, and the stimuli-responsive hydrogel components perform both sensing and actuation functions. We demonstrate significantly improved response times (less than 10 seconds) in hydrogel valves capable of autonomous control of local flow.

Suggested Citation

  • David J. Beebe & Jeffrey S. Moore & Joseph M. Bauer & Qing Yu & Robin H. Liu & Chelladurai Devadoss & Byung-Ho Jo, 2000. "Functional hydrogel structures for autonomous flow control inside microfluidic channels," Nature, Nature, vol. 404(6778), pages 588-590, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:404:y:2000:i:6778:d:10.1038_35007047
    DOI: 10.1038/35007047
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    Cited by:

    1. Sitong Li & Rui Zhang & Guanghao Zhang & Luyizheng Shuai & Wang Chang & Xiaoyu Hu & Min Zou & Xiang Zhou & Baigang An & Dong Qian & Zunfeng Liu, 2022. "Microfluidic manipulation by spiral hollow-fibre actuators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Wang, Liqiu & Zhang, Yuxiang & Cheng, Lin, 2009. "Magic microfluidic T-junctions: Valving and bubbling," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 1530-1537.

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