可交換式模組化微流元件之設計與應用

Abstract

模組化微流元件的製作大多以微機電系統(MEMS)為主。而MEMS大多有製程複雜和耗時的問題。本研究所設計的可交換式模組化微流元件，利用CNC加工製作的模具，以二甲基矽氧烷(PDMS)翻模而成。相較於MEMS而言，本研究容易做出3D半球型的元件，製程簡單不需多層堆疊，縮短製作的時間。 藉由元件上一體成形的連接器設計，可根據不同的用途，讓每個元件任意組裝成微流道系統。元件分為兩大類：功能元件和連通元件。功能元件有大小幫浦、薄膜單向閥門、渦流式混合器、儲存槽、加熱區。連通元件則有直管、T型管、十字管、L型管和高度管。其特點是模組化設計、可任意組裝、操作方便。 本研究以兩種應用來證實此模組化微流元件在流體實驗的可行性，並皆以手壓幫浦代替注射幫浦為驅動源。一種是奈米金的合成，將四氯金酸與檸檬酸鈉分別置入兩個儲存槽，注入以渦流式混合器為主的微流系統，並於出口收集溶液。合成時間總共11分鐘。以穿透式電子顯微鏡(TEM)檢測出粒徑約7.31±2.34nm，用紫外光/可見光吸收光譜儀檢測其吸收光譜，表面電漿共振波峰為523nm。 第二種應用則是藉由毛細管熱對流聚合酶連鎖反應(CCPCR)的方式檢測Hepatitis B Virus (HBV122bp)。將試劑分別置入兩個儲存槽，混合後導入插著玻璃毛細管的加熱區上，經由40分鐘成功檢測初始濃度為105 copies/μl 的HBV 122-base pair DNA片段。 藉由這些應用，可以得出本研究模組化的設計具有相當大的潛力。相信這樣的設計易吸引台灣多數一般初等及中等教育的學生。對於學生而言，製作與操作的難度不高，學習的過程就有如遊戲一樣，從小打下熱流的基石。

The new swappable fluidic module (SFM) is proposed in this research. We designed and fabricated selected modular fluidic components including two types. The functional components consist of the finger-driven electricity-free pumps, one-way valve, vortex mixer, reservoir and heating block, whereas the straight tube, T-type tube, cross tube, corner tube and height tube can be categorized into the auxiliary components. They can be readily swapped and integrated into a variety of modular devices for quick assembly of a fully-portable, disposable fluidic system. In practice, an integrated SFM utilizes finger-driven electricity-free pumps to deliver the fluids. Using the swirling mechanism, the vortex mixer can rapidly mix two liquids in a one-shot mixing event. We then demonstrated the successful usage of this SFM for microfluidic applications such as synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and nucleic acid amplification from Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) with capillary convective polymerase chain reaction (CCPCR). The CCPCR results demonstrated the successful amplification of DNA sequences in 40 min from HBV 122 bp at the DNA concentration of 105 copies/μl. The TEM analysis and surface plasmon bands centered at λ= 523 nm revealed the apparent production of gold nanoparticles in 11 min with a mean diameter of 7.31±2.34 nm. As compared to the conventional microfluidic devices, the LEGOR-like SFMs can be readily swapped and integrated into a variety of modular devices for quick assembly and replacement of certain components to realize a fully-portable, disposable fluidic system, implying great potential for diverse bio-chemical applications.