The development of new microfabrication techniques is attracting more and more interest because of the increasing demand for three-dimensional tools with features of biocompatibility, flexibility and low-costs in the lab-on-chip field. Photolithographic techniques involving the molding of organic polymers, like SU-8, allow for short fabrication times and simplicity in devices prototyping. In this paper we used LOR and SU-8 resists in combination within an innovative lithographic approach. LOR resist was employed not as a typical sacrificial layer for the production of free-standing structures but as a three-dimensional solid resist, which can be patterned and embedded in a SU-8 monolith. After dissolution it can form cavities to provide a final multilevel structure. A detailed description of the optimization process required to obtain the final structure and to overcome issues related to the employ of LOR is reported. In the end, a network of working interconnected multilevel microchannels, useful for biological applications, has been realized through a new, cheap and time-saving method.
Titolo: | Fabrication of interconnected multilevel channels in a monolithic SU-8 structure using a LOR sacrificial layer |
Autori: | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2016 |
Rivista: | |
Abstract: | The development of new microfabrication techniques is attracting more and more interest because of the increasing demand for three-dimensional tools with features of biocompatibility, flexibility and low-costs in the lab-on-chip field. Photolithographic techniques involving the molding of organic polymers, like SU-8, allow for short fabrication times and simplicity in devices prototyping. In this paper we used LOR and SU-8 resists in combination within an innovative lithographic approach. LOR resist was employed not as a typical sacrificial layer for the production of free-standing structures but as a three-dimensional solid resist, which can be patterned and embedded in a SU-8 monolith. After dissolution it can form cavities to provide a final multilevel structure. A detailed description of the optimization process required to obtain the final structure and to overcome issues related to the employ of LOR is reported. In the end, a network of working interconnected multilevel microchannels, useful for biological applications, has been realized through a new, cheap and time-saving method. |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11587/407694 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | Articolo pubblicato su Rivista |