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The capability to easily and inexpensively fabricate microfluidic devices with negligible dependence on specialized laboratory equipment continues to be one of the primary forces driving the widespread use of plastic -based devices . These devices are typically produced as replicas of a rigid mold or master incorporating a negative image of the desired structures . The negative image is typically constructed from either thick photoresists or etched silicon substrates using conventional photolithographic fabrication processes . While these micromachining techniques are effective in constructing masters with micron -sized features , the need to produce masters rapidly in order to design , fabricate , and test microfluidic devices , is a major challenge in microfluidic technology . In this research , we use inexpensive photosensitized copper clad circuit board substrates to produce master molds using conventional printed circuit technology . The techniques provide the benefits of parallel fabrication associated with photolithography without the need for cleanroom facilities , thereby offering a degree of speed and simplicity that allows microfluidic master molds to be constructed in approximately 30 minutes in any laboratory . These techniques are used to produce a variety of microfluidic channel networks using PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane ) and melt -processable plastic materials . |
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