Microfluidic Films for Health Care Applications
Microfluidics, the science of manipulating fluids at a microscopic scale, has transformed numerous scientific and industrial fields over the past few decades. This technology involves the precise control and handling of fluids in channels with dimensions ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers, known as microchannels. Microfluidic testing has significantly advanced point-of-care testing devices, making them faster, more portable, and more cost-effective to manufacture. One of the key benefits of using microfluidic films in testing devices is hygiene. Single-use devices eliminate cross-contamination, making them ideal for medical and diagnostic applications where sterility is crucial. At ATL, we have the expertise and capability to convert microfluidic films in clean room environments.
Applications of Microfluidics
Microfluidics have applications across a wide array of healthcare fields, including:
- Medical Diagnostics: Microfluidic devices, often called lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems, can perform complex biochemical analyses on small samples, making them ideal for point-of-care testing. These devices can quickly diagnose diseases by analyzing blood, saliva, and/or urine samples.
- Chemical and Biological Research: Microfluidic platforms allow for complex and interwoven screening and analysis, enabling researchers to conduct multiple experiments simultaneously.
- Pharmaceutical Development: The technology aids drug discovery by facilitating the rapid synthesis and screening of drug candidates.
The Basics of Microfluidic Materials
Microfluidic films and adhesive materials are vital components of microfluidic devices. These films and adhesives perform various functions in microfluidic devices, from protecting samples to transporting fluids and helping with accurate detection. Microfluidic films consist of a clear polymer coated on two sides with hydrophilic technology. This technology allows the fluids to move with ease through the device. Microfluidic films are biocompatible, optically clear, and have low autofluorescence.
In microfluidic devices, adhesives bond to plates to seal sample well boundaries or to components to build the device (lab-on-a-chip, test strips). When considering adhesives for microfluidic devices, various options are available, depending on its function and application.
Single-Coated Adhesives- Single-coated adhesives feature adhesives applied to a substrate, and they can be used with or without a secondary liner. These adhesives are typically strong and conformable. Some can adhere to another component, enabling tape stacking.
- Double-Coated Adhesives
- Double-coated adhesives consist of a single substrate with adhesives on both sides, which may vary depending on the required adhesion levels. These adhesives can be constructed with either two single-coated or one double-coated liner that releases both adhesive layers.
- Transfer Adhesives
- Transfer adhesives are similar to double-coated adhesives but lack a substrate. They are made with either a two-sided release-coated liner or two single-sided liners.
ATL leverages its long-standing relationships with material suppliers to bring you the highest-quality material at the best price. For example our presence on Solventum's Premier Converter list allows us to source the best fitting materials for your microfluidic product.
ATL - Your Microfluidic Material Converting Partner
At ATL, we have the experience and capability to convert microfluidic films in clean room environments. Depending on our customers' needs, ATL can convert microfluidic films into various shapes and sizes to custom fit point-of-care testing devices. Our converting capabilities include precision rotary die cutting, kiss cutting, slitting, perforating, scoring, printing, multi-layer laminating, cold seal packaging, and island placement.
At ATL, our customers' single use medical devices are manufactured in highly efficient and well-equipped facilities. Our Quality Management System is registered to ISO 123485:2016 with class 7 and class 8 compliant clean rooms. With over three decades of converting experience, we can help medical device companies and innovative startups develop, manufacture, and launch various medical applications and disposable devices.