The present invention relates to a method for producing a microfluidic device, in particular, a sol-gel method for producing a microfluidic device in hybrid silica glass. The invention also relates to a microfluidic device obtainable by the method as described above and to microfluidic device in hybrid silica glass comprising at least one microchannel having a depth of at least 1 μm, preferably between 1 μm and 1 mm, and more preferably between 10 and 100 μm.

An example digital microfluidics device includes a device body having a primary substrate defining a planar primary substrate surface; a plurality of droplet processing components having respective component substrates overmolded in the primary substrate in a coplanar arrangement with the primary substrate surface; and an electrical interface carried on the primary substrate surface, the electrical interface defining a planar droplet manipulation surface and carrying a set of droplet manipulation electrodes adjacent to the droplet manipulation surface; the electrical interface configured to interconnect the droplet manipulation electrodes and at least a portion of the droplet processing components.

Method for producing a microfluidic device, the method comprising a step of producing a master mould, the master mould comprising a first support member and a second support member, the second support member comprising a substrate and microstructures, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the step of producing the master mould comprising the following sub-steps:—producing the second support member by forming the microstructures on the first surface of the substrate;—3D printing the first support member using a 3D printer, with a printing resin, the dimensions of the first support member being coordinated with the dimensions of the substrate in order to hold the substrate;—inserting the substrate of the second support member into the first support member.

The present invention relates to a microstructure including a biocompatible polymer or an adhesive and to a method for manufacturing the same. The present inventors optimized the aspect ratio according to the type of each microstructure, thereby ensuring the optimal tip angle and the diameter range for skin penetration. Especially, the B-type to D-type microstructures of the present invention minimize the penetration resistance due to skin elasticity at the time of skin attachment, thereby increasing the penetration rate of the structures (60% or higher) and the absorption rate of useful ingredients into the skin. In addition, the D-type microstructure of the present invention maximizes the mechanical strength of the structure by applying a triple structure, and thus can easily penetrate the skin. When the plurality of microstructures are arranged in a hexagonal arrangement type, a uniform pressure can be transmitted to the whole microstructures on the skin.

Large bioreactors based on microfluidic technology, and methods of manufacturing the same, are provided, The big microbioreactor can include a chip or substrate having the microfluidic channels thereon, and the chip can be manufactured by forming a master mold, forming a male mold from a photopolymer plate using replica molding with the Fmold, and transferring features of the male to a polymer material.

A preparation method of a bionic adhesive material with a tip-expanded microstructural array includes the following steps: machining through-holes on a metal sheet; modifying morphology of a through-hole by electroplating, using the metal sheet in step 1 as an electroplating cathode, and arranging the electroplating cathode and an electroplating anode in parallel to prepare a hyperboloid-like through-hole array assembly, fitting a lower surface of the hyperboloid-like through-hole array assembly tightly to an upper surface of a substrate assembly to prepare a through-hole assembly of a mold; and filling the mold assembly with a polymer, curing, and demolding to obtain the adhesive material with the tip-expanded microstructural array.

In a general aspect, an apparatus can include a substrate and a post disposed on the substrate. The post can include a plurality of nanotubes and extend substantially vertically from the substrate. The post can have an aspect ratio of a height of the post to a diameter of the post of greater than or equal to 25:1.

The disclosure relates to microchemical (or microfluidic) apparatus as well as related methods for making the same. The methods generally include partial sintering of sintering powder (e.g., binderless or otherwise free-flowing sintering powder) that encloses a fugitive phase material having a shape corresponding to a desired cavity structure in the formed apparatus. Partial sintering removes the fugitive phase and produces a porous compact, which can then be machined if desired and then further fully sintered to form the final apparatus. The process can produce apparatus with small, controllable cavities shaped as desired for various microchemical or microfluidic unit operations, with a generally smooth interior cavity finish, and with materials (e.g., ceramics) able to withstand harsh environments for such unit operations.

Method of manufacturing a micromechanical component intended to cooperate with another micromechanical component, the method comprising the steps of providing a substrate, forming a mould on said substrate, said mould defining sidewalls arranged to delimit said micromechanical component, providing particles on at least said sidewalls, depositing a metal in said mould so as to form said micromechanical component, and liberating said micromechanical component from said mould and removing said particles.

Laminated microfluidic structures and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. In some instances, a laminated microfluidic structure is provided which includes a distended region having a sipper port at the bottom and an internal channel that fluidically connects the sipper port to a location outside of the distended region. Thermoforming and/or injection molding techniques for manufacturing such laminated microfluidic structures are provided. In other instances, a laminated microfluidic structure may be co-molded with a polymeric material to produce an integrated laminated microfluidic structure and housing.