Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: Microvalve-based devices for flow-free gradient generators
doi: 10.1101/2024.12.03.626578
Figure Lengend Snippet: A : Diagram of the microfluidics device depicting the test chamber in purple, the source channel in red, the sink channel in green, and the location of barriers in yellow. The inlets and outlets of the channels can be closed with inlet/outlet-microvalves (blue), while the test chamber can be (dis)-connected (from)-to the lateral channel by barrier-microvalves (yellow). B: The Quake-Studer pneumatic microvalves consist of a bilayer PDMS device with a flexible PDMS membrane (10µm thickness) separating the layers. Increasing the pressure in the bottom channel (yellow) causes the flexible membrane to clog the upper channel (blue). The upper channel has a rounded ceiling to facilitate the obstruction process. C: Left: 2D and 3D diagrams of device with test and sink/source channels connected with perpendicular rounded channels (blue), capable of being blocked by a bottom channel (yellow). D: Left-2D and 3D diagram of device with merged test and sink/source channels and barriers made by inflatable membranes underneath and across this chamber to form barriers. Right: Bright field and fluorescence imaging of device in non-inflated (open) and inflated (close) state (scale bar 100 µm). Once inflated, the adjacent channel formed can be washed with water without disturbing the other one. E: Left - Picture of the microfluidics device of figure C filled with colored solutions (scale bar 5 mm) showing the test chamber colored (purple), the source channel (red), the sink channel (green), the channels to actuate the inlet/oulet microvalves (blue) and the barrier-microvalves (yellow). Right - Brightfield image of the fluidic channel with corresponding dimensions. Top right - same as figure D for the design from figure C. (See also Suppl. Mat. Movie 1 and Movie 2)
Article Snippet: The fluidic circuitry was fully filled with medium and connected to a microfluidic pressure control system (Fluigent, MFCS-EZ).
Techniques: Membrane, Fluorescence, Imaging