Polymer lab-on-chip systems with integrated electrochemical pumps suitable for large-scale fabrication

A low-cost, polymer-based microfluidic platform is described that not only includes passive microfluidic parts, but also pumps based on an on-chip electrochemical gas generation by electrolysis. A hydrogel is used as electrolyte material, which allows a simple fabrication process by screen printing or stencil printing. Test structures were designed and fabricated to illustrate the feasibility of the approach for batch processing. Microfluidic chips including reservoirs and channel structures were fabricated by microinjection molding and used to demonstrate the movement of liquids inside microchannels by the proposed micropumps. The channel system was furthermore functionalized by a plasma surface treatment to form hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas. For sealing of the channel system, as well as for bonding the microfluidic part to glass-like sensor parts, laser-cut adhesive tapes were applied.