In this paper we present a simple and rapid method of modifying poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces with paraffin wax. PDMS that contains a layer of paraffin wax at its surface resists the absorption of hydrophobic molecules; we used fluorescence microscopy to confirm that paraffin-modified PDMS resists the absorption of rhodamine B. Furthermore, we demonstrated that microfluidic devices mad...

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is commonly used for fabricating microand nanofluidic devices due to its low cost and ease of fabrication. The major disadvantage to using PDMS for these applications is its hydrophobic properties. The current methods that enhance the hydrophilicity of elastomers used for microand nanofluidic applications are intricate and cost-inefficient. This contribution demons...

In this study, an iron oxide magnetic microparticles and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (MMPs-PDMS) composite material was employed to demonstrate a simple high-strength reversible magnetic bonding method. This paper presents the casting of opaque-view (where optical inspection through the microchannels was impossible) and clear-view (where optical inspection through the microchannel was possible) MMPs...

Thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films are frequently used in "lab on a chip" devices as flexible membranes. The common solvent used to dilute the PDMS for thin films is hexane, but hexane can swell the underlying PDMS substrate. A better solvent would be one that dissolves uncured PDMS but doesn't swell the underlying substrate. Here, we present protocols and spin curves for two alternatives t...

The use of injectable bulking agents is a feasible alternative procedure for conventional surgical therapy. In this study, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microspheres coated with polydopamine (PDA) were developed as a potential injection agent to prevent migration in vocal fold. Uniform PDMS microspheres are fabricated using a simple fluidic device and then coated with PDA. Cell attachment test ...

The conventional fabrication methods for microfluidic devices require cleanroom processes that are costly and time-consuming. We present a novel, facile, and low-cost method for rapid fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds and devices. The method consists of three main fabrication steps: female mold (FM), male mold (MM), and chip fabrication. We use a CO2 laser cutter to pattern a thi...

The flame plasma treatment studied in this thesis was able to oxidize the surface of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in a fraction of a second. It was found to be a much faster way to modify PDMS surface wettability than the current technologies. The surface wettability of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) treated with flame plasma was studied. The surface wettability was characterized by contact angle m...

This technical note presents a fabrication method and applications of three-dimensional (3D) interconnected microporous poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic devices. Based on soft lithography, the microporous PDMS microfluidic devices were fabricated by molding a mixture of PDMS pre-polymer and sugar particles in a microstructured mold. After curing and demolding, the sugar particles were...

This paper describes the compatibility of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with organic solvents; this compatibility is important in considering the potential of PDMS-based microfluidic devices in a number of applications, including that of microreactors for organic reactions. We considered three aspects of compatibility: the swelling of PDMS in a solvent, the partitioning of solutes between a sol...

Water-to-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and gas-to-PDMS sorption coefficients have been compiled for 170 gaseous and organic solutes. Both sets of sorption coefficients were analyzed using the Abraham solvation parameter model. Correlations were obtained for both "dry" headspace solid-phase microextraction and conventional "wet" PDMS coated surfaces. The derived equations correlated the experiment...