Fabrication methods for microfluidic lab-on-chips

Abstract

Microfluidic lab-on-chips are miniaturized biosensors that integrate fluidic, electronics, thermal elements or optical apparatuses for analysing electrolytic or biochemical samples. Supplementary to their analysing capabilities, the microfluidic lab-on-chips can process, control, separate or sort fluidic samples by means of hydrodynamic manipulation, thermal gradients, electrical or optical actuation. The significance of the lab-on-chips lies on the potential of automating laboratory procedures which highly reduce the time of the laboratory tests. We review numerous fabrication methods and procedures that we have experienced by designing such devices.