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 fluidic device includes a first circulation flow path and a second circulation flow path which circulate a solution containing a sample material, the first circulation flow path and the second circulation flow path share at least a part of the flow path, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a capture unit which captures the sample material, a detection unit which detects the sample material, a valve, and a pump is provided on the shared flow path.

Compositions and methods of the present disclosure provide for staged assembly of nucleic acid microstructures made of an array of x number of polynucleotide tiles, where each of the polynucleotide tiles is a polygon configuration and is made from a single-stranded helical polynucleotide scaffold and a plurality of single-stranded polynucleotide staple strands of y number of unique staple sequences corresponding to the selected tile configuration, the y number of unique staple sequences capable of being constant for any value of x.

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 method for manufacturing a fastening element including a step of producing a blank of the fastening element including a head and a shank connected to each other, followed by a step of forming an impression in the head, the forming step including an operation of machining the impression, carried out with a cutting member and an operation of matting a target surface of the impression carried out with a matting member.

A microstructured surface with microfeatures formed thereon and defining spaces between the microfeatures includes least one electrode of an electrode pair in the spaces, wherein electrodes of the pair are electrically connected to one another. The at least one electrode located in the space is configured to generate a gas in between the microfeatures when an electrolyte solution penetrates into the microfeatures. Importantly, the electrodes are not connected to any external power source. Because the microstructured surface is self-powered in replenishing the gas lost in a submerged condition, no additional provision to supply energy or regulate the replenishment is necessary for implementation and use.

A fluid propelling apparatus, including a plastic compound, a MEMS at least partially surrounded by the compound, and a heat sink next to the MEMS, to transfer heat away from the MEMS, wherein the heat sink is at least partly surrounded by the compound.

A microfluidic apparatus and methods for fabrication with a fluidic layer and a pattern layer of spots of concentrated reagents that are disposed in wells of a fluidic layer when the two layers are bonded together. Reagents are stored on the chip prior to use. Because reagents are confined to specific wells, contamination of the channels and other microfluidic structures of the fluidic layer are avoided. The fluidic layer also has a system of vacuum channels and at least one vacuum void to store vacuum potential for controlled micro-fluidic pumping. The top and bottom surfaces of the bonded layers are sealed. The chip can be used for point of care diagnostic assays such as quantitative testing, digital nucleic acid amplification, and biochemical testing such as immunoassays and chemistry testing.

A microfluidic device, including a matrix array of controllable shape-changing micropillars where a shape of the shape-changing micropillars is changed by a fluid.

A microfluidic device, including a substrate including a microchannel, an activation setup disposed in the microchannel, and a matrix array of controllable shape-changing micropillars connected to the activation setup. A shape of the controllable shape-changing micropillars changes based on an activation of the activation setup.