Thermally cross-linkable photo-hydrolyzable inkjet printable polymers are used to print microfluidic channels layer-by-layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, for each layer, an inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of hydrophobic polymer and cross-linking agent in a pattern lying outside a two-dimensional layout of the channels, and another inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate) PTHPMA (or another hydrophobic polymer which hydrolyzes to form a hydrophilic material), cross-linking agent, and a photoacid generator (PAG) in a pattern lying inside the two-dimensional layout of the channels. After all layers are printed, flood exposure of the entire substrate to UV radiation releases acid from the PAG which hydrolyzes PTHPMA to form hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) PMAA, thereby rendering the PTHPMA regions hydrophilic. The layers of these now-hydrophilic patterned regions together define the microfluidic channels. The cross-linking agent (e.g., triallyl isocyanurate TAIC) forms covalent cross-links between the two polymer phases.

A technique related to sorting entities is provided. An inlet is configured to receive a fluid, and an outlet is configured to exit the fluid. A nanopillar array, connected to the inlet and the outlet, is configured to allow the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet. The nanopillar array includes nanopillars arranged to separate entities by size. The nanopillars are arranged to have a gap separating one nanopillar from another nanopillar. The gap is constructed to be in a nanoscale range.

Thermally cross-linkable photo-hydrolyzable inkjet printable polymers are used to print microfluidic channels layer-by-layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, for each layer, an inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of hydrophobic polymer and cross-linking agent in a pattern lying outside a two-dimensional layout of the channels, and another inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate) PTHPMA (or another hydrophobic polymer which hydrolyzes to form a hydrophilic material), cross-linking agent, and a photoacid generator (PAG) in a pattern lying inside the two-dimensional layout of the channels. After all layers are printed, flood exposure of the entire substrate to UV radiation releases acid from the PAG which hydrolyzes PTHPMA to form hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) PMAA, thereby rendering the PTHPMA regions hydrophilic. The layers of these now-hydrophilic patterned regions together define the microfluidic channels. The cross-linking agent (e.g., triallyl isocyanurate TAIC) forms covalent cross-links between the two polymer phases.

Provided is microparticle extraction technology capable of stably extracting only a target microparticle at high speed from a sheath flow flowing through a flow path. A particle extraction apparatus includes: a first extraction unit for extracting, from a whole sample containing a target particle, an extraction sample containing the target particle without performing abort processing; and a second extraction unit for subjecting the extraction sample to abort processing and extracting only the target particle.

Described herein are embodiments of a microfluidic device configured to facilitate conceptualization of scientific principles and uses thereof.

Radial-armed thin-film bilayers are designed and fabricated from a metal and an oxide to produce grippers that interact with the yarns or fibers of the fabric and form a mechanical tangle attachment to the fabric. MEMs devices attached to the grippers enable the MEMs devices to be adhered to a flexible and/or extensible fabric. Fabrics comprise conventional textile, smart textiles, functional fibers or other smart materials. The fabrics thus incorporate wearable sensors, medical devices, and other functional MEMs for commercial, biomedical, industrial and scientific applications.

A fluid-control device comprises a stack of wafers in which flow components are provided as micro-electro-mechanical systemsMEMS. The flow components are selected from fluid-control components and/or fluid-monitor components. The fluid-control device has a first flow component that is encircled, in a main plane of the stack of wafers, by a second flow component.

A microfluidic valve comprising an adhesive tape, an outlet disposed at one end of a first microfluidic channel, an inlet disposed at one end of a second microfluidic channel, wherein the inlet and the outlet are disposed in a proximity to each other, wherein the adhesive tape covers both the outlet and the inlet. A method of operating the microfluidic valve is also disclosed.

Wettable structures that retain liquid layers are defined at surfaces of substrates. The wettable structures include grooves or ridges that are spaced apart by between 10 nm and 10 m and can be defined in substrate or in a layer formed on a surface of the substrate. In typical examples, wettable structures are defined with hydrophobic materials or at hydrophobic surfaces and produce hydrophilic surfaces.

Provided is a device for amplifying and detecting a gene. The device for amplifying and detecting the gene includes a gene amplification chip comprising channels through which a sample flows and transparent heaters provided on the gene amplification chip. The channels include a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel, and the first to third channels have a triangular loop structure, and the transparent heaters include a first transparent heater, a second transparent heater, and a third transparent heater, which are respectively provided on the first to third channels.