PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils
The Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SlipChip is a microfluidic platform enabling fluid manipulation without pumps or valves, simplifying operation and reducing reagent use. High-viscosity silicone oils (e.g., 5000–10,000 cSt) improve sealing but frequently block microfluidic channels, reducing usability...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/5/525 |
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| author | Rafia Inaam Marcela F. Bolontrade Shunya Okamoto Takayuki Shibata Tuhin Subhra Santra Moeto Nagai |
| author_facet | Rafia Inaam Marcela F. Bolontrade Shunya Okamoto Takayuki Shibata Tuhin Subhra Santra Moeto Nagai |
| author_sort | Rafia Inaam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SlipChip is a microfluidic platform enabling fluid manipulation without pumps or valves, simplifying operation and reducing reagent use. High-viscosity silicone oils (e.g., 5000–10,000 cSt) improve sealing but frequently block microfluidic channels, reducing usability. In contrast, low-viscosity oils (50–100 cSt) reduce blockages but may compromise sealing. This study addresses these challenges by optimizing the viscosity of silicone oil and the curing conditions of PDMS. Low-viscosity silicone oil (50 cSt) was identified as optimal, ensuring smooth slipping and reliable sealing without blockages. Curing conditions were also adjusted to balance adhesion and stiffness as follows: lower temperatures (50–60 °C) enhanced van der Waals adhesion, while higher temperatures (80 °C) increased stiffness. A mixed curing approach (80 °C for the top layer and 60 °C for the bottom layer) further improved performance. Biocompatibility testing using human osteosarcoma cells demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity with 50 cSt oil, supporting cell viability (95%) comparable to traditional multiwell plates. These findings provide practical guidelines for fabricating reliable and biocompatible SlipChips. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-baa637e30c8e4e7a94ce99cd202ca2cb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-baa637e30c8e4e7a94ce99cd202ca2cb2025-08-20T03:14:29ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-04-0116552510.3390/mi16050525PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone OilsRafia Inaam0Marcela F. Bolontrade1Shunya Okamoto2Takayuki Shibata3Tuhin Subhra Santra4Moeto Nagai5Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, JapanInstitute of Translational Medicine and Biomedical Engineering (IMTIB), CONICET, Italian Hospital University—Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1199ACL, ArgentinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, JapanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, JapanDepartment of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, JapanThe Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) SlipChip is a microfluidic platform enabling fluid manipulation without pumps or valves, simplifying operation and reducing reagent use. High-viscosity silicone oils (e.g., 5000–10,000 cSt) improve sealing but frequently block microfluidic channels, reducing usability. In contrast, low-viscosity oils (50–100 cSt) reduce blockages but may compromise sealing. This study addresses these challenges by optimizing the viscosity of silicone oil and the curing conditions of PDMS. Low-viscosity silicone oil (50 cSt) was identified as optimal, ensuring smooth slipping and reliable sealing without blockages. Curing conditions were also adjusted to balance adhesion and stiffness as follows: lower temperatures (50–60 °C) enhanced van der Waals adhesion, while higher temperatures (80 °C) increased stiffness. A mixed curing approach (80 °C for the top layer and 60 °C for the bottom layer) further improved performance. Biocompatibility testing using human osteosarcoma cells demonstrated minimal cytotoxicity with 50 cSt oil, supporting cell viability (95%) comparable to traditional multiwell plates. These findings provide practical guidelines for fabricating reliable and biocompatible SlipChips.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/5/525PDMS SlipChipsealing performancecuring temperaturesilicone oil lubricationconcentration gradientsbiocompatibility |
| spellingShingle | Rafia Inaam Marcela F. Bolontrade Shunya Okamoto Takayuki Shibata Tuhin Subhra Santra Moeto Nagai PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils Micromachines PDMS SlipChip sealing performance curing temperature silicone oil lubrication concentration gradients biocompatibility |
| title | PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils |
| title_full | PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils |
| title_fullStr | PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils |
| title_full_unstemmed | PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils |
| title_short | PDMS SlipChip: Optimizing Sealing, Slipping, and Biocompatibility Using Low-Viscosity Silicone Oils |
| title_sort | pdms slipchip optimizing sealing slipping and biocompatibility using low viscosity silicone oils |
| topic | PDMS SlipChip sealing performance curing temperature silicone oil lubrication concentration gradients biocompatibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/5/525 |
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