Temperature-driven self-actuated microchamber sealing system for highly integrated microfluidic devices.

Naito, Toyohiro; Arayanarakool, Rerngchai; Le Gac, Séverine; Yasui, Takao; Kaji, Noritada; Tokeshi, Manabu; van den Berg, Albert; Baba, Yoshinobu · Lab Chip · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present here a novel microchamber sealing valve that is self-actuated by a pressure change during the temperature change in the thermal activation of reactions. Actuation of our valve requires only the use of the same heating device as employed for the reactions. A thermoplastic UV-curable polymer is used as a device material; the polymer allows realization of the temperature-driven valve actuation as well as the fabrication of multi-layered devices. The self-actuated valve achieves effective sealing of the microchamber for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) even at 90 °C, which is essential for developing highly parallel PCR array devices without the need for complicated peripherals to control the valve operation.