Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors

In situ measurements are highly desirable in many microfluidic applications because they enable real-time, local monitoring of physical and chemical parameters, providing valuable insight into microscopic events and processes that occur in microfluidic devices. Unfortunately, the manufacturing of mi...

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Autores principales:	Krystian L. Wlodarczyk, William N. MacPherson, Duncan P. Hand, M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	microfluidic devices lab-on-a-chip fiber optic sensors pH sensors pressure sensors laser materials processing Chemical technology TP1-1185
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/7fd5e41dc4d3463d9d6acf7a51b95909
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:7fd5e41dc4d3463d9d6acf7a51b959092021-11-25T18:56:52ZManufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors10.3390/s212274931424-8220https://doaj.org/article/7fd5e41dc4d3463d9d6acf7a51b959092021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/22/7493https://doaj.org/toc/1424-8220In situ measurements are highly desirable in many microfluidic applications because they enable real-time, local monitoring of physical and chemical parameters, providing valuable insight into microscopic events and processes that occur in microfluidic devices. Unfortunately, the manufacturing of microfluidic devices with integrated sensors can be time-consuming, expensive, and “know-how” demanding. In this article, we describe an easy-to-implement method developed to integrate various “off-the-shelf” fiber optic sensors within microfluidic devices. To demonstrate this, we used commercial pH and pressure sensors (“pH SensorPlugs” and “FOP-MIV”, respectively), which were “reversibly” attached to a glass microfluidic device using custom 3D-printed connectors. The microfluidic device, which serves here as a demonstrator, incorporates a uniform porous structure and was manufactured using a picosecond pulsed laser. The sensors were attached to the inlet and outlet channels of the microfluidic pattern to perform simple experiments, the aim of which was to evaluate the performance of both the connectors and the sensors in a practical microfluidic environment. The bespoke connectors ensured robust and watertight connection, allowing the sensors to be safely disconnected if necessary, without damaging the microfluidic device. The pH SensorPlugs were tested with a pH 7.01 buffer solution. They measured the correct pH values with an accuracy of ±0.05 pH once sufficient contact between the injected fluid and the measuring element (optode) was established. In turn, the FOP-MIV sensors were used to measure local pressure in the inlet and outlet channels during injection and the steady flow of deionized water at different rates. These sensors were calibrated up to 140 mbar and provided pressure measurements with an uncertainty that was less than ±1.5 mbar. Readouts at a rate of 4 Hz allowed us to observe dynamic pressure changes in the device during the displacement of air by water. In the case of steady flow of water, the pressure difference between the two measuring points increased linearly with increasing flow rate, complying with Darcy’s law for incompressible fluids. These data can be used to determine the permeability of the porous structure within the device.Krystian L. WlodarczykWilliam N. MacPhersonDuncan P. HandM. Mercedes Maroto-ValerMDPI AGarticlemicrofluidic deviceslab-on-a-chipfiber optic sensorspH sensorspressure sensorslaser materials processingChemical technologyTP1-1185ENSensors, Vol 21, Iss 7493, p 7493 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	microfluidic devices lab-on-a-chip fiber optic sensors pH sensors pressure sensors laser materials processing Chemical technology TP1-1185
spellingShingle	microfluidic devices lab-on-a-chip fiber optic sensors pH sensors pressure sensors laser materials processing Chemical technology TP1-1185 Krystian L. Wlodarczyk William N. MacPherson Duncan P. Hand M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
description	In situ measurements are highly desirable in many microfluidic applications because they enable real-time, local monitoring of physical and chemical parameters, providing valuable insight into microscopic events and processes that occur in microfluidic devices. Unfortunately, the manufacturing of microfluidic devices with integrated sensors can be time-consuming, expensive, and “know-how” demanding. In this article, we describe an easy-to-implement method developed to integrate various “off-the-shelf” fiber optic sensors within microfluidic devices. To demonstrate this, we used commercial pH and pressure sensors (“pH SensorPlugs” and “FOP-MIV”, respectively), which were “reversibly” attached to a glass microfluidic device using custom 3D-printed connectors. The microfluidic device, which serves here as a demonstrator, incorporates a uniform porous structure and was manufactured using a picosecond pulsed laser. The sensors were attached to the inlet and outlet channels of the microfluidic pattern to perform simple experiments, the aim of which was to evaluate the performance of both the connectors and the sensors in a practical microfluidic environment. The bespoke connectors ensured robust and watertight connection, allowing the sensors to be safely disconnected if necessary, without damaging the microfluidic device. The pH SensorPlugs were tested with a pH 7.01 buffer solution. They measured the correct pH values with an accuracy of ±0.05 pH once sufficient contact between the injected fluid and the measuring element (optode) was established. In turn, the FOP-MIV sensors were used to measure local pressure in the inlet and outlet channels during injection and the steady flow of deionized water at different rates. These sensors were calibrated up to 140 mbar and provided pressure measurements with an uncertainty that was less than ±1.5 mbar. Readouts at a rate of 4 Hz allowed us to observe dynamic pressure changes in the device during the displacement of air by water. In the case of steady flow of water, the pressure difference between the two measuring points increased linearly with increasing flow rate, complying with Darcy’s law for incompressible fluids. These data can be used to determine the permeability of the porous structure within the device.
format	article
author	Krystian L. Wlodarczyk William N. MacPherson Duncan P. Hand M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
author_facet	Krystian L. Wlodarczyk William N. MacPherson Duncan P. Hand M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
author_sort	Krystian L. Wlodarczyk
title	Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
title_short	Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
title_full	Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
title_fullStr	Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
title_full_unstemmed	Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors
title_sort	manufacturing of microfluidic devices with interchangeable commercial fiber optic sensors
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/7fd5e41dc4d3463d9d6acf7a51b95909
work_keys_str_mv	AT krystianlwlodarczyk manufacturingofmicrofluidicdeviceswithinterchangeablecommercialfiberopticsensors AT williamnmacpherson manufacturingofmicrofluidicdeviceswithinterchangeablecommercialfiberopticsensors AT duncanphand manufacturingofmicrofluidicdeviceswithinterchangeablecommercialfiberopticsensors AT mmercedesmarotovaler manufacturingofmicrofluidicdeviceswithinterchangeablecommercialfiberopticsensors
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Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices with Interchangeable Commercial Fiber Optic Sensors

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