Development of a simple and reliable PDMS interconnect for high throughput microfluidic applications

Microfluidic interconnects act as bridges to connect microscopic channels with macroscopic environments, enabling the microfluidic device to perform its designed functions. In this study, we report a new method to prepare a reliable PDMS interconnect that is able to handle high throughput applications and can be easily incorporated into PDMS microfluidic devices. Using a regular glass plate as an assisting component, we prepare a reliable PDMS interconnect that establishes a strong connection between PDMS surface and an externally inserted stainless steel tubing coupler by using oxygen plasma and epoxy adhesives. In characterizing the resulting PDMS interconnect, we demonstrate that this new PDMS interconnect shows outstanding performances, withstanding flow pressures up to 1.8 MPa in leak-proof tests and pull-out forces up to 100 N, both of which are much higher than previously reported values for PDMS interconnects. In addition, we show that this new epoxy-assisted interconnect is free of contamination and clogging, which results in a highly reproducible fabrication process to prepare a reliable PDMS interconnects. Taken together, we believe that the outstanding performances of the new PDMS interconnect make it a promising candidate for both high throughput and multi-inlet/outlet PDMS microfluidic system applications.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye