MICROFLUIDIC CHIP AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR
20220226813 ยท 2022-07-21
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B01L2200/12
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2200/16
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L3/50273
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2300/0864
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2200/0684
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2300/0867
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2400/0457
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2300/161
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L2200/0621
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B01L3/502746
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
Abstract
Disclosed are a microfluidic chip (1000) and a manufacturing method therefor. The microfluidic chip comprises a substrate (100) and a detection area (2) located on the substrate (100), the substrate (100) is provided with a first liquid storage groove (11) and a second liquid storage groove (12), the first liquid storage groove (11) and the second liquid storage groove (12) are in liquid communication with the detection area (2), the first liquid storage groove (11) is provided with a first opening (51) for liquid to flow out, and the second liquid storage groove (12) is provided with a second opening (52) for liquid to flow out; and when the microfluidic chip (1000) is used for sample detection, along with rotation of the microfluidic chip (1000), a rear end of the liquid flowing out of the first liquid storage groove (11) reaches the detection area (2) earlier than a front end of the liquid flowing out of the second liquid storage groove (12).
Claims
1. A microfluidic chip, comprising a substrate and a detection area located on the substrate, wherein the substrate is provided with a first liquid storage tank and a second liquid storage tank, the first liquid storage tank and the second liquid storage tank are respectively in liquid communication with the detection area, the first liquid storage tank is provided with a first opening for flowing out of a liquid, and the second liquid storage tank is provided with a second opening for flowing out of a liquid; when the microfluidic chip is used for sample detection, the rear end of the liquid flowing out of the first liquid tank reaches the detection area earlier than the front end of the liquid flowing out of the second liquid storage tank.
2. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the opening directions of the first opening and the second opening are opposite; or the opening directions of the first opening and the second opening are substantially the same, but when the liquid flows out of the first liquid storage tank, the liquid will not flow out of the second liquid storage tank.
3. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, further comprising a waste liquid tank, wherein the detection area is in communication with the waste liquid tank.
4. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid storage tank is in communication with the detection area through a first flow channel and a third flow channel, the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the detection area through a second flow channel and a third flow channel, and the detection area is in communication with the waste liquid tank through a fourth flow channel and a fifth flow channel; and the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel are located on one side of the substrate, and the third flow channel, the fourth flow channel and the detection flow channel are located on the other side of the substrate.
5. The microfluidic chip according to claim 4, wherein the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel are exactly opposite to those of the third flow channel and the fourth flow channel
6. The microfluidic chip according to claim 5, wherein the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel are hydrophobic flow channels; and the third flow channel, the fourth flow channel and the detection flow channel are hydrophilic flow channels.
7. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, further comprising an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate which water-tightly cover two sides of the substrate respectively; wherein at least the part of one cover plate in contact with the substrate is hydrophobic, and at least the part of the other cover plate in contact with the substrate is hydrophilic.
8. The microfluidic chip according to claim 4, wherein the first flow channel and the second flow channel are connected with the third flow channel via through holes, and the fourth flow channel is connected with the fifth flow channel through a through hole.
9. The microfluidic chip according to claim 1, wherein the detection area comprises a detection element therein.
10. The microfluidic chip according to claim 9, wherein the detection element is selected from an electrochemical sensor or an optical test paper.
11. A manufacturing method of a microfluidic chip, comprising the following steps: (1) obtaining a substrate, and forming a first liquid storage tank, a second liquid storage tank, a detection area, a waste liquid tank and flow channels on the substrate; (2) disposing a detection element in the detection area; (3) adding a reagent to the first liquid storage tank; and (4) sealing the first liquid storage tank, the second liquid storage tank, the detection area, the waste liquid tank and the flow channels with a cover plate.
12. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the first liquid storage tank is in communication with the detection area through a first flow channel and a third flow channel, the second liquid storage tank is in communication with the detection area through a second flow channel and a third flow channel, and the detection area is in communication with the waste liquid tank through a fourth flow channel and a fifth flow channel; and the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel are located on one side of the substrate, and the third flow channel, the fourth flow channel and the detection flow channel are located on the other side of the substrate.
13. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein the first flow channel is in communication with the third flow channel through a first through hole, and the second flow channel in communication with the third flow channel through a second through hole.
14. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel are subjected to hydrophobic treatment; and the third flow channel, the fourth flow channel and the detection area are subjected to hydrophilic treatment.
15. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein the cover plate covering the first liquid storage tank, the second liquid storage tank and the waste liquid tank is provided with air vents.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0082] In the following detailed description, the reference text attached to legends is a part here, which is described by way of exemplifying particularly specific solutions that the present invention may implement. We do not exclude that the present invention can also implement other specific solutions and change the structure of the present invention without departing from the use scope of the present invention.
[0083] The microfluidic detection chip 1000 as shown in
[0084] The liquid storage tanks, the detection area and the waste liquid tank are communicated through flow channels, so as to form a complete flow path that a reagent and a sample to be detected sequentially flow out of the liquid storage tanks, flow through the detection area and are stored in the waste liquid tank. The upper cover plate 200 and the lower cover plate 300 are water-tightly adhered to the front and back sides of the substrate respectively, so that the liquid storage tanks, the waste liquid tank and the flow channels are sealed in the substrate.
[0085] In the present invention, through different positions and directions of openings on the chip through which the liquids in the first liquid storage tank 11 and the second liquid storage tank 12 flow out, and through gravity of the liquids themselves, liquids in the first liquid storage tank 11 and the second liquid storage tank 12 flow into the detection area 2 in sequence, and the detection function of this chip is achieved. Specifically, the opening direction of the first liquid storage tank is caused to be downward, so that the liquid in the first liquid storage tank flows out of the first liquid storage tank under the action of its own gravity, and continues flowing into the detection area under the action of gravity. The opening direction of the second liquid storage tank is also caused to be downward, so that the liquid in the second liquid storage tank flows out of the second liquid storage tank under the action of its own gravity, and continues flowing into the detection area under the action of gravity.
[0086] As shown in
[0087] As shown in
[0088] The detection area 2 is provided with a detection flow channel 21 and a signal acquisition channel 22, which pass through the front and back sides of the substrate. The entire electrode sensor is adhered to the detection area on the back side of the substrate, so that the detection area on the back side of the substrate is sealed up, and the detection site of the electrode sensor is exposed in the detection flow channel 21, and the electrode pins of the sensor are exposed in the signal acquisition channel 22. The third flow channel 44 and the fourth flow channel 45 are connected to the front and rear ends of the detection flow channel respectively, and are located on the front side of the substrate together. The first flow channel 41, the second flow channel 42, the fifth flow channel 43 and the waste liquid tank 3 are disposed on the back side of the substrate. After the hydrophobic lower cover plate is water-tightly adhered to the back side of the substrate, the first flow channel, the second flow channel, the fifth flow channel and the waste liquid tank form a closed pipeline or cavity, and the surface of the formed pipeline and cavity is a hydrophobic surface. When the upper cover plate with a hydrophilic surface is water-tightly adhered to the front side of the substrate, the third flow channel, the fourth flow channel and the detection flow channel form a closed pipeline. At this time, the hydrophobicity of the detection flow channel pipeline is weaker than that of the pipeline formed by the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel to which the lower cover plate is adhered. The difference in hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of surfaces of different areas is used to control the flow rate of a liquid such as blood in different areas and adjust the diffusion performance of the fluid.
[0089] When the upper cover plate with a hydrophilic surface is water-tightly adhered to the front side of the substrate, the blood sample flows in the detection flow channel and comes into contact with the hydrophilic surface, which effectively adjusts the diffusion performance of the fluid in this area. For example, under the hydrophilic interaction, the blood sample is more conducive to completely covering the electrode area of the sensor in the flow channel during the fluid flow, and even if there are a plurality of detection sites with different surface tensions in the channel, the blood also can diffuse more sufficiently, thus avoiding the generation of bubbles and ensuring the accuracy of detection. If the detection flow channel is completely hydrophobic, when the blood sample flows in this flow channel, some areas of the sensor electrode may have different surface tensions and thus be bypassed by the blood to form bubbles, which affects the accuracy of detection.
[0090] The first flow channel, the second flow channel and the fifth flow channel have strong hydrophobicity (relative to the hydrophobicity of the detection flow channel). Through the hydrophobic treatment, the diffusion performance of a fluid in the areas such as the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the third flow channel is adjusted, for example, in these areas, the diffusion rate of the fluid becomes slow, which prevents the generation of bubbles during the flow.
[0091] The first flow channel 41 and the second flow channel 42 of the microfluidic detection chip on the back side of the substrate 100 are respectively connected to the third flow channel 44 on the front side of the substrate via through holes.
[0092] In one solution, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are in communication with the third flow channel 44 by sharing one through hole. However, due to small hole diameters of the flow channels, if there is only one through hole, the liquid in the first liquid storage tank that flows through the through hole first will form a liquid film on the wall of the through hole, which may affect the controllability of subsequent liquid (such as liquid in the second liquid storage tank) when the liquid flows through the through hole, for example, the through hole generates a hydrophilic effect after the first fluid infiltration, and loses the ability to control the flow rate of the fluid, so that it is very easy to generate bubbles. It is also possible that the liquid in the first liquid storage tank that flows through the through hole first forms a liquid film at the through hole and blocks the through hole, which prevents the liquid in the second liquid storage tank from flowing past the through hole to reach the detection area.
[0093] In the solutions as shown in
[0094] The first flow channel and the second flow channel are located on the same plane, but are not on the same plane as the third flow channel and the detection flow channel, and the first flow channel and the second flow channel are connected with the third flow channel respectively through their respective through holes. Compared with the fact that the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the third flow channel are disposed on the same plane (as shown in
[0095] As shown in
[0096] In a preferred design, there's a certain distance between the first through hole and the second through hole, for example, the distance between the two is greater than 2 mm This ensures that when the liquid in the first storage tank flows past the detection flow channel, the liquid will not flow to the second through hole in the opposite direction. In one design, based on the fact that the first flow channel and the second flow channel are located on the same plane and are not on the same plane as the third flow channel and the detection flow channel, the first flow channel and the second flow channel are connected with the third flow channel respectively through the first through hole and the second flow channel, and the liquid in the first flow channel first flows into the third flow channel and the detection flow channel through the first through hole. In an optimized design, the first through hole is located downstream of the second through hole (liquid flow direction), and the hole diameter of the first through hole located downstream is smaller than the hole diameter of the second through hole located upstream of the first through hole, and when the second liquid flows through the first through hole, a liquid film is formed at the through hole as the first hole diameter is small. On the one hand, this design prevents the second liquid from flowing out of the third flow channel from the first through hole to enter the first flow channel. On the other hand, the second through hole has a large opening, which can accelerate the speed that the second liquid flows into the third flow channel and speed up the detection process.
[0097] In some embodiments, the first flow channel and the second flow channel on the substrate have an opening width of 0.2-0.8 mm and a depth of 0.2-0.6 mm, and the waste liquid tank has an opening width of 0.2-3 mm More specifically, the substrate has a thickness of 0.4 to 5 mm, the first flow channel and the second flow channel on the substrate have an opening width of 0.4 mm and a depth of 0.3 mm, and the waste liquid tank has an opening width of 1.5 mm and a depth of 0.2-0.6 mm The microfluidic detection chip described in the present invention can be used to complete the automatic transfer of multiple fluids without additional power equipment in terms of fluid driving.
[0098] In some designs, the flow channel may not run through the substrate. In some other design solutions, the flow channel may run through the substrate.
[0099] The microfluidic detection chip as shown in
[0100] In this embodiment, the upper cover plate is provided with a first air vent 110 at the position of the first liquid storage tank, provided with a second air vent 120 at the position of the second liquid storage tank, and provided with a third air vent 310 at the position of the waste liquid tank. Moreover, the air vent holes are sealed with sealing members. After the sealing members are removed, the detection reagent in the first liquid storage tank is injected into the first liquid storage tank through the first vent hole, and the detection sample is injected into the second liquid storage tank through the second air vent. During the detection operation, gas in a pipeline is removed from the chip through the third air vent.
[0101] The specific operation is as shown in
[0102] The microfluidic detection chip and specific operation steps are as shown in
[0103] When the chip is in the position in
[0104] The microfluidic detection chip as shown in
[0105] The microfluidic detection chip as shown in
[0106] On the substrate of another microfluidic detection chip, the first liquid storage tank, the second liquid storage tank, the first flow channel, the second flow channel, the detection flow channel, the third flow channel and the waste liquid tank are all disposed on the front side of the substrate, and both the first flow channel and the second flow channel are in communication with the detection flow channel. By rotating the chip, the liquids in the liquid storage tanks flow out in sequence under the action of their own gravity and flow in the flow paths.
[0107] Taking the chip in
[0108] Step 1, a hydrophobic material is selected as the substrate, and flow channels, liquid storage tanks, a detection flow channel, a signal acquisition channel, a waste liquid tank, through holes and other structures are formed on the substrate by chemical etching, physical engraving, hot pressing or injection molding.
[0109] Step 2: an electrode sensor is obtained and is adhered at the detection flow channel on the lower surface of the substrate to allow the electrode of the sensor to be located in the detection flow channel, and the lower surface of the detection flow channel is water-tightly sealed at the same time. In the meantime, electrode pins of the sensor are located in the signal acquisition channel of the detection area.
[0110] Step 3: a hydrophobic lower cover plate is obtained (or the surface of the lower cover plate in contact with the back side of the substrate, which is treated with a hydrophobic material, is hydrophobic); and the lower cover plate is water-tightly adhered to the back side of the substrate.
[0111] Step 4: a hydrophilic upper cover plate is obtained (or the surface of the upper cover plate in contact with the front side of the substrate, which is treated with a hydrophilic material, is hydrophilic). The upper cover plate is water-tightly adhered to the front side of the substrate. The detection reagent is injected into the first liquid storage tank through the first air vent of the upper cover plate, and then a small hole is sealed with a sealing member. A microfluidic detection chip that can be used for detection is obtained.
[0112] In another embodiment, if the upper cover plate is not provided with the first air vent, in the above step 4, the calibration solution as the detection reagent is injected into the first liquid storage tank, and then the hydrophilic upper cover sheet or the upper cover plate of which the surface in contact with the front side of the substrate is subjected to hydrophilic treatment is water-tightly adhered to the front side of the substrate, thereby sealing the detection reagent in the first liquid storage tank. In the detection procedure, when the liquid in the first liquid storage tank needs to flow out of the first storage tank, a small hole is formed on the upper cover plate above the first storage tank to allow air to enter the first liquid storage tank, but the liquid will not flow out of the first storage tank through the small hole and the chip.
[0113] The method for sample detection using the microfluidic chip of the present invention includes the following steps:
[0114] Step 1, the microfluidic detection chip described in the present invention is obtained.
[0115] Step 2, a blood sample to be detected is injected into the second liquid storage tank through the second air vent on the second liquid storage tank on the upper cover plate.
[0116] Step 3, the detection chip is vertically fixed in an instrument and controls the fluid flow direction depending on rotation of the chip driven by components in the instrument. When the chip is in the position in
[0117] Step 4, when the chip is rotated from the position in
[0118] Step 5, the chip is rotated from the position in
[0119] Step 6, the chip continues to be rotated to the position in 7-4, the detection reagent has flowed out of the detection flow channel to enter the waste liquid tank, and the blood sample to be detected in the second liquid storage tank flows out of the liquid storage tank and flows into the detection flow channel 21 on the front side of the substrate through the second flow channel 42 and the second through hole 62 on the back side of the substrate, the sample staying in the detection flow channel reacts with the sensor, and at this time, the instrument collects the signal of the sample to be detected through the pins of the sensor. Thus, the detection result is obtained.
[0120] The detection method in the detection area described in the present invention may be a biosensor with an electrode, or an optical detection method such as turbidimetry, fluorescence method, chemiluminescence method and scattering method, or other detection methods.
[0121] The microfluidic detection chip described in the present invention can perform quantitative, semi-quantitative or qualitative detection. For example, one or more test papers (either blank test papers, or test papers with pre-added reagents) are fixed in the detection area. After the detection reagent or sample flows past the detection flow channel to come into contact with the test papers, the reagent reacts with the sample to generate color change, and then the detection result can be obtained through instrument or human observation.