Maskless microfabrication of thermosensitive gels using a microscope and application to a controlled release microchip.

Yoshida, Ryo; Omata, Kazuya; Yamaura, Kotaro; Ebata, Masaya; Tanaka, Masahiro; Takai, Madoka · Lab Chip · 2006

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Here we show a simple and convenient method to prepare micropatterned gels by the use of a microscope, without large-scale or special-order experimental setup. UV light focused by an objective lens was locally irradiated to a pre-gel solution in a microchannel. This method would be useful for preparing microgels at target positions in microchips. A controlled drug-release microchip has actually been fabricated by utilizing this local photo-irradiation method, and pulsatile drug release in response to temperature changes was demonstrated.