OSTEMER 322 Crystal Clear makes it possible to rapidly prototype complex lab-on-chip devices thanks to its two-stage cure: the liquid resin is first UV-molded into a microstructured chip layer, then thermally cured to stiffen and bond to most substrates. Filters, membranes and electrodes are easily integrated along the way — no glue, adhesives or plasma treatment needed.
1. Mixing
Mix the two components in the proportions stated on the bottles, in a light-protected container. Let the mixture stand for a few minutes so bubbles can escape.
2. Casting and UV cure
Casting is a quick way to prototype in the lab. The mixed resin can be UV-cast in, and releases from, most mold types — silicones such as PDMS, milled aluminum, or Teflon-coated silicon and SU-8 masters.
- 1Pour the mixed resin onto the mold and cover it with a release liner. We have found that 3M Scotchpak 9742 PET liner has the right surface energy to release the chip easily from the mold and make it easy to handle. Other PET liners work too.
- 2UV-cure. A standard mercury mask-aligner lamp needs about 60 seconds for a complete cure. With an LED lamp, use 365 nm and make sure it delivers at least 10 mW/cm² at 365 nm.
- 3Demold, then align the chip to its substrate. When bonding to glass, silicon or metal, make sure the surface is clean.
3. Heat cure and bond
Cure in an oven at 90–110 °C for 60–120 minutes. That is usually enough to completely cure and bond most designs a few millimetres thick.
Note: Let the device cool down to room temperature before testing it.
Properties suited to lab-on-chip
- Dual cure with dry bonding using epoxy chemistry
- Minimal absorption of small molecules
- Minimal swelling in common solvents
- Nano- to microscale replication
- Optically clear with low autofluorescence
- Mechanically stiff
Recommended for this process
Selected published articles
All research →- Double-sided microwells with a stepped through-hole membrane for high-throughput microbial assaysOSTEMER 322
- Ion concentration measurement using synthetic microfluidic papersOSTEMER 220
- Magnetic micropump embedded in contact lens for on-demand drug deliveryOSTEMER 322
- Rapid manufacturing of OSTE polymer RF-MEMS componentsOSTEMER 322
- Immunoassays on thiol-ene synthetic paper generate a superior fluorescence signalOSTEMER 220
- OSTEMER polymer as a rapid packaging of electronics and microfluidic system on PCBOSTEMER 322
- Attaining atomic resolution from in situ data collection at room temperature using counter-diffusion-based low-cost microchipsOSTEMER 322
- Single-step imprinting of femtoliter microwell arrays allows digital bioassays with attomolar limit of detectionOSTEMER 322
- Reaction injection molding and direct covalent bonding of OSTE+ polymer microfluidic devicesOSTEMER 322
- Fast and inexpensive method for the fabrication of transparent pressure-resistant microfluidic chipsOSTEMER 322
- Multi-layered, membrane-integrated microfluidics based on replica molding of a thiol–ene epoxy thermoset for organ-on-a-chip applicationsOSTEMER 322
- Rapid fabrication of OSTE+ microfluidic devices with lithographically defined hydrophobic/hydrophilic patterns and biocompatible chip sealingOSTEMER 322
- Dry adhesive bonding of nanoporous inorganic membranes to microfluidic devices using the OSTE(+) dual-cure polymerOSTEMER 322
- Exploiting nanogroove-induced cell culture anisotropy to advance in vitro brain modelsOSTEMER 322
- OSTE+ for in situ SAXS analysis with droplet microfluidic devicesOSTEMER 322