Micro chamber

摘要

A microfluidic device is provided including at least one chamber accessible by microfluidic channels characterized in that the surface of the channels and the chambers are patterned and comprise hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The surface energy in correspondence of the areas, i.e., the capillary force, being such that a liquid can be guided along the hydrophilic path, enter the chamber from one side, wet part of one surface of the chamber as a thin layer without touching the opposite surface of the chamber, thus avoiding to fill the volume inside the chamber in correspondence of the hydrophilic pattern until a second liquid, either sequentially or in parallel, comes to wet part of the opposite surface of the chamber and eventually touches the first liquid layer, resulting in a sudden coalescence and efficient mixing between the liquids.

主权项

1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate, a cover, at least one chamber formed between the substrate and the cover, said chamber comprising two opposite surfaces, one on the substrate and one on the cover respectively, wherein
the surface of the substrate comprises at least one hydrophilic area and at least one adjoining hydrophobic area,the surface of the cover comprises at least one hydrophilic area and at least one adjoining hydrophobic area, andthe at least one hydrophilic area on each said opposite surface of the chamber is confined within or surrounded by said adjoining hydrophobic area, and is in fluid communication with at least one lateral hydrophilic area configured for guiding liquids to the at least one chamber, and wherein said device is configured such that at least two liquids enter the at least one chamber, each wetting said hydrophilic area on one respective surface of the chamber without touching the opposite respective surface until the liquid confined to the hydrophilic area on each respective surface of the chamber coalesce and mix with each other as volume of the two liquids increases within the chamber.