Integration of polymer waveguides for optical detection in microfabricated chemical analysis systems.
TL;DR: Multimode polymer waveguides and fiber-to-waveguide couplers have been integrated with microfluidic channels by use of a single-mask-step procedure, which ensured self-alignment between the optics and the fluidics and allowed a fabrication and packaging time of only one day.
Abstract: Multimode polymer waveguides and fiber-to-waveguide couplers have been integrated with microfluidic channels by use of a single-mask-step procedure, which ensured self-alignment between the optics and the fluidics and allowed a fabrication and packaging time of only one day Three fabrication procedures for obtaining hermetically sealed channels were investigated, and the spectrally resolved propagation loss (400–900 nm) of the integrated waveguides was determined for all three procedures Two chemical absorbance cells with optical path lengths of 100 and 1000 μm were furthermore fabricated and characterized in terms of coupling loss, sensitivity, and limit of detection for measurements of the dye bromothymol blue
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TL;DR: This research presents a new class of research tools for the investigation of biochemistry and life processes using lab-on-a-chip formats for chemical sampling with high spatial resolution and the manipulation and measurement of individual molecules.
Abstract: Advances in technology have allowed chemical sampling with high spatial resolution and the manipulation and measurement of individual molecules. Adaptation of these approaches to lab-on-a-chip formats is providing a new class of research tools for the investigation of biochemistry and life processes.
682 citations
TL;DR: A detailed description of the properties of COPs, the available fabrication methods and several selected applications described in the literature can be found in this paper, where the authors also present a detailed analysis of the applications of COP materials.
Abstract: Cyclic olefin polymers (COPs) are increasingly popular as substrate material for microfluidics. This is due to their promising properties, such as high chemical resistance, low water absorption, good optical transparency in the near UV range and ease of fabrication. COPs are commercially available from a range of manufacturers under various brand names (Apel, Arton, Topas, Zeonex and Zeonor). Some of these (Apel and Topas) are made from more than one kind of monomer and therefore also known as cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs). In order to structure these materials, a wide array of fabrication methods is available. Laser ablation and micromilling are direct structuring methods suitable for fast prototyping, whilst injection moulding, hot embossing and nanoimprint lithography are replication methods more appropriate for low-cost production. Using these fabrication methods, a multitude of chemical analysis techniques have already been implemented. These include microchip electrophoresis (MCE), chromatography, solid phase extraction (SPE), isoelectric focusing (IEF) and mass spectrometry (MS). Still much additional work is needed to characterise and utilise the full potential of COP materials. This is especially true within optofluidics, where COPs are still rarely used, despite their excellent optical properties. This review presents a detailed description of the properties of COPs, the available fabrication methods and several selected applications described in the literature.
347 citations
Cites background from "Integration of polymer waveguides f..."
...Unfortunately, SU-8 has the drawbacks of high optical propagation losses in the UV region of the spectrum and high water permeability (Bilenberg et al. 2004; Mogensen et al. 2003)....
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TL;DR: The state of the art of femtosecond laser fabrication of optical waveguides and microfluidic channels, as well as their integration for high sensitivity detection of biomolecules and for cell manipulation, can be found in this article.
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the rather new field concerning the applications of femtosecond laser microstructuring of glass to optofluidics. Femtosecond lasers have recently emerged as a powerful microfabrication tool due to their unique characteristics. On the one hand, they enable to induce a permanent refractive index increase, in a micrometer-sized volume of the material, allowing single-step, three-dimensional fabrication of optical waveguides. On the other hand, femtosecond-laser irradiation of fused silica followed by chemical etching enables the manufacturing of directly buried microfluidic channels. This opens the intriguing possibility of using a single laser system for the fabrication and three-dimensional integration of optofluidic devices. This paper will review the state of the art of femtosecond laser fabrication of optical waveguides and microfluidic channels, as well as their integration for high sensitivity detection of biomolecules and for cell manipulation.
281 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a monolithic waveguide system using poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) was designed, fabricated, and characterized, and the waveguide demonstrated good confinement of light and relatively low attenuation at 0.40 dB/cm.
Abstract: A monolithic waveguide system using poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) was designed, fabricated, and characterized. The waveguide demonstrated good confinement of light and relatively low attenuation at 0.40 dB/cm. The robustness and handling properties of the completed waveguides were excellent, and the process yield exceeded 96%. The waveguide did exhibit moderate temperature and humidity sensitivity but no temporal variation, and insertion loss remained stable over extended periods of time. Applications of this waveguide system in microscale sensing are immense, judging by the frequency of use of PDMS as the substrate for microfluidic and biomedical systems. The monolithic nature of the waveguides also reduces their cost and allows integration of optical pathways into existing PDMS-based microsystems.
236 citations
Cites background from "Integration of polymer waveguides f..."
...This material presents several advantages over SU-8 as a waveguide material: a rapid and repeatable mold fabrication process, higher optical transmittance, and increased robustness [10]–[15]....
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TL;DR: This review concentrates on the latest developments of optical detection methods and mass spectrometry in conjunction with microfluidic systems and focuses on electrospray emitters as interfaces between microsystem and spectrometer.
Abstract: Microfluidic systems have become more and more important in the field of analytical chemistry. Detection methods on these microsystems are essential for the identification and quantification of chemical species that are being analyzed. This review concentrates on the latest developments of optical detection methods and mass spectrometry in conjunction with microfluidic systems. Electrochemical methods are discussed in another review in the same issue of this journal. Within the optical detection section, topics such as multiplexed detection and the use of waveguides are discussed. Within the discussion of mass spectrometry, the main focus is on electrospray emitters as interfaces between microsystem and spectrometer. Apart from optical detection and mass spectrometry, other techniques such as flame ionization and nuclear magnetic resonance are also mentioned.
234 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the book.http://www.reviewreviews.com/reviews/book-reviews-of-the-book
Abstract: Review
2,157 citations
TL;DR: This second part of the review of microfluidic system preparation will cover a number of standard operations as well as some biological applications of micro total analysis systems.
Abstract: After having reviewed some aspects of microfluidic system preparation in the first part (1), in this second part of the review we will cover a number of standard operations (namely: sample preparation, sample injection, sample manipulation, reaction, separation, and detection) as well as some biological applications of micro total analysis systems (namely: cell culture, polymerase chain reaction, DNA separation, DNA sequencing, and clinical diagnostics). As previously, we will include papers issued from different scientific journals as well as useful abstracts from three conference proceedings: MEMS, Transducers, and μTAS. In this second part, we do not include the period covered by the history section (1975-1997) from part 1 but try to cover the relevant examples of the literature published between January 1998 and March 2002. We briefly describe articles that struck us as needing special attention, while more “standard” papers are dutifully reported in groups of interest. An article might be included in more than one section, depending on the ideas developed in it.
1,541 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report on advances in polymeric waveguide technologies developed worldwide for the telecom and datacom markets, and describe in detail one such technology developed at AlliedSignal.
Abstract: We report on advances in polymeric waveguide technologies developed worldwide for the telecom and datacom markets, and we describe in detail one such technology developed at AlliedSignal. Optical polymers are versatile materials that can be readily formed into planar single-mode, multimode, and microoptical waveguide structures ranging in dimensions from under a micrometer to several hundred micrometers. These materials can be thermoplastics, thermosets, or photopolymers, and the starting formulations are typically either polymers or oligomers in solution or liquid monomers. Transmission losses in polymers can be minimized, typically by halogenation, with state-of-the-art loss values being about 0.01 dB/cm at 840 nm and about 0.1 dB/cm at 1550 nm. A number of polymers have been shown to exhibit excellent environmental stability and have demonstrated capability in a variety of demanding applications. Waveguides can be formed by direct photolithography, reactive ion etching, laser ablation, molding, or embossing. Well-developed adhesion schemes permit the use of polymers on a wide range of rigid and flexible substrates. Integrated optical devices fabricated to date include numerous passive and active elements that achieve a variety of coupling, routing, filtering, and switching functions.
694 citations
TL;DR: Few cases of microchip analysis of physiological samples or other “real‐world” matrices were found, but many of the examples presented have potential application for these samples, especially with ongoing parallel developments involving integration of sample pretreatment onto chips and the use of fluid propulsion mechanisms other than electrokinetic pumping.
Abstract: This review gives an overview of developments in the field of microchip analysis for clinical diagnostic and forensic applications. The approach chosen to review the literature is different from that in most microchip reviews to date, in that the information is presented in terms of analytes tested rather than microchip method. Analyte categories for which examples are presented include (i) drugs (quality control, seizures) and explosives residues, (ii) drugs and endogenous small molecules and ions in biofluids, (iii) proteins and peptides, and (iv) analysis of nucleic acids and oligonucleotides. Few cases of microchip analysis of physiological samples or other "real-world" matrices were found. However, many of the examples presented have potential application for these samples, especially with ongoing parallel developments involving integration of sample pretreatment onto chips and the use of fluid propulsion mechanisms other than electrokinetic pumping.
530 citations