Fast prototyping of a customized microfluidic device in a non-clean-room setting by cutting and laminating Parafilm®

Abstract

Because of the growing importance of microfluidic analytical devices in chemistry, biology, and medical applications, more and more researchers are interested in utilizing this new platform to investigate their personalized samples, targets, and systems. Taking a “do-it-yourself” approach to fabricating chips of desired shapes creates a microenvironment that provides new ways to study subjects of research interest. Obviously, a cost-effective, high-throughput microfluidic device fabrication protocol, which is readily accessible to universal laboratories, would be highly appreciated. To this aim, for the first time, Parafilm® film, a universal laboratory staple, has been shaped and laminated with transparent thin poly(ethylene terephthalate) film to build versatile two- and three-dimensional microfluidic chips. This cost-effective, high-throughput, and fast prototyping strategy could promote the adoption of microfluidic devices by researchers from different fields to investigate customized samples, targets, and systems.