Microfluidic Devices

• Emma Gutleber, Chemical Engineering, University of Delaware

• Charles Dhong, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware

Microfluidic devices model the flow of liquid at the microscopic scale. It consists of a PDMS unit with a channel running through it, created from the device mold. While previously done with a milling machine, by using a laser writer to etch the channel on a silicon wafer, we were able to create a noticeably smoother channel that will allow for more accurate testing. These devices allow for the study of the flow of liquid in a wide range of applications such as drug delivery and other biomedical needs. This allows a small amount of liquid to be studied, which we did by measuring the pressure and capillary forces. Using a graphene strain sensor, we are able to study how a bubble of air travels through a straight channel, thus allowing us to analyze pressure versus capillary forces.