Green Low-cost User-friendly Elastomeric (GLUE) Microfluidics

Micro total analysis systems (µTAS) are highly attractive across numerous fields including science, engineering and medicine due to their portability, low power use and efficient sample and reagent consumption. Development of fully-functional microfluidic devices is based on iterative design and testing of multiple prototype microdevices, and the use of hazardous conventional microfabrication methods makes this iterative process resource-intensive and prohibitive for many users worldwide. Rapid prototyping techniques can alleviate these issues, enabling accelerated development of microfluidic structures at reduced costs, making this technology available to a broader user base, from classrooms to researchers in laboratories with limited resources. Here, we present a Green, Low-cost, User-friendly and Elastomeric (GLUE) rapid-prototyping method to fabricate custom master molds for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based microfluidic devices, using an application of water-soluble poly(vinyl) acetate (PVAc) glue. T...