Biomaterials are defined as non-viable materials whose functions strives to interact with biological systems, this makes biomaterials suitable for medical devices and applications. Biomaterials biological properties must be thoroughly investigated and evaluated in order to be approved for clinical usage. In vitro studies are used to characterize the materials biological properties, if promising results are achieved in vitro, in vivo studies may be performed to ensure that the material can interact with living animal models in the intended way. However, for a biomaterial such as calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite there is a gap between results observed in vitro and in vivo studies. Microfluidic systems have been highlighted as a possible evaluation model to achieve reliable results for in vitro studies. The aim of this thesis was to compare and evaluate a biomaterial- on-a-chip, i.e., a biomaterial integrated in a dynamic microfluidic system, with a traditional static in vitro system in the regards of drug release and protein adsorption. Two chemically identical calcium-deficient hydroxyapatites but with different topographies were integrated in the microfluidic system and manufactured as discs for static evaluation. Results from drug release and protein adsorption studies showed different behaviours for dynamic and static control, which is significant since it indicates that the outcome of the characterization correlates to the evaluation model used.

In this dissertation, microfluidic systems that integrate antibody-based sample preparation methods with electrophoretic separation are developed to analyze multiple biomarkers in a point-of-care setting. To form an affinity column, both monolith materials and wall-coated channels were explored. I successfully demonstrated that monolith columns can be prepared in microfluidic devices via photopolymerization. The selectivity of monolith columns was improved by immobilizing antibodies on the surface. These affinity columns can selectively enrich target analytes and reduce the signal of contaminant proteins up to 25,000 fold after immunoaffinity extraction. These results clearly demonstrate that microchip affinity monoliths can selectively concentrate and purify target analytes through specific antibody-antigen interactions. These monolith columns operated well for simple systems such as buffered solution, but suffered from clogging with real biological samples such as human serum. Therefore, I developed new affinity columns using a wall coating protocol. To form the affinity columns, a thin film of a reactive polymer was UV polymerized in a microchannel. Antibodies were attached by reaction between the polymer epoxy groups and antibody amine groups. All steps, including loading, washing, and elution for affinity extraction, as well as capillary electrophoresis analysis, were achieved simply via applying voltages to reservoirs on the microdevice. By adding reservoirs containing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) standard into the same device, a quantitative method, either standard addition or calibration curve, can also be performed on-chip. These polymer microdevices have been applied in determining AFP levels in spiked serum samples, and the results are comparable with the values measured using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. These microchips have also been adapted for detection of multiple biomarkers by immobilizing different antibodies on the affinity column. Four kinds of antibodies were attached to microchip columns, and the amounts of immobilized antibodies were characterized. The fluorescence signals of all four protein antigens were in the same range after rinsing, indicating that the derivatization reaction had little bias toward any of the four antibodies. With spiked human blood serum samples, four proteins in the ng/mL range were simultaneously quantified using both calibration curves and standard addition. In general, the calibration curve and standard addition results were close to the known spiked concentrations. These results indicate that my integrated microdevices can selectively retain and analyze targeted compounds in clinical samples. Moreover, my platform is generalizable and applicable for the simultaneous quantification of multiple biomarkers in complex matrices.

Microfluidic systems are being used in more and more areas and the demand for such systems is growing every day. To meet such high volume market needs, a cheap and rapid method for sealing these microfluidic platforms which is viable for mass manufacture is highly desirable. In this work low frequency induction heating (LFIH) is introduced as the potential basis of a cost-effective, rapid production method for polymer microfluidic device sealing. Thin metal layers or structured metal features are introduced between the device s substrates and heated inductively. The surrounding material melts and forms a bond when cooling. During the bonding process it is important to effectively manage the heat dissipation to prevent distortion of the microfluidic platform. The size of the heat affected zone (HAZ), and the area melted, must be controlled to avoid blockage of the microfluidic channels or altering the channels wall characteristics. The effects of susceptor shape and area, bonding pressure, heating time, etc, on the heating rate have been investigated to provide a basis for process optimisation and design rules. It was found that the maximum temperature is proportional to the square of the susceptor area and that round shaped susceptors heat most efficiently. As a result of the investigations higher bonding pressure was identified as increasing bond strength and allowing the reduction of heating time and thus the reduction of melt zone width. The use of heating pulses instead of continuous heating also reduced the dimensions of melt zones while maintaining good bond strength. The size of the HAZ was found to be negligible. An analytical model, which can be used to predict the heating rate, was derived. In validating the model by numeric models and experiments it was found that it cannot be used to calculate exact temperatures but it does correctly describe the effect of different heating parameters. Over the temperature range needed to bond polymer substrates, cooling effects were found not to have a significant impact on the heating rate. The two susceptor concepts using thin metal layers (metal-plastic bonds) or structured metal features (plastic-plastic bonds) were tested and compared. While the metal-plastic bonds turned out to be too weak to be useful, the bonds formed using structured susceptors showed good strength and high leakage pressure. Based on the knowledge gained during the investigations a microfluidic device was designed. Different samples were manufactured and tested. During the tests minor leaks were observed but it was found that this was mainly due to debris which occurred during laser machining of the channels. It was concluded that induction bonding can be used to seal plastic microfluidic devices. The following guidelines can be drawn up for the design of susceptors and process optimisation: Materials with low resistivity perform better; For very thin susceptors the effect of permeability on the heating rate is negligible; The cross-sectional area of the susceptor should be as large as possible to reduce resistance; The thickness of the susceptor should be of similar dimensions to the penetration depth or smaller to increase homogeneity of heat dissipation; The shape of the susceptor should follow the shape of the inductor coil, or vice-versa, to increase homogeneity of heat dissipation; The susceptor should form a closed circuit; Higher bonding pressure leads to stronger bonds and allows reduced heating times; Pulsed heating performs better than continuous heating in terms of limited melt area and good bond strength. The drawbacks of the technique are explained as well: introducing additional materials leads to additional process steps. Also the structuring and placement of the susceptor was identified to be problematic. In this project the structured susceptor was placed manually but that is not feasible for mass manufacture. To be able to use the technique efficiently a concept of manufacturing the susceptor has to be found to allow precise alignment of complex designs.

A primeira etapa do projeto foi realizar testes para usinagem controlada e otimizada de vidro ótico de borosilicato (BK7) por laser de femtossegundos. Parâmetros como energia, pulsos sobrepostos e a variação da posição focal foram investigados para controle da taxa de remoção do material e extensão da cratera ablacionada. Especial atenção foi dada à condição física e topográfica da superfície resultante da usinagem para torná-la menos rugosa e evitar a retenção de reagentes que possam contaminar e alterar as reações pretendidas. Microcanais, microválvulas, microbombas, misturadores, microrreatores, aquecedores e outros componentes foram desenvolvidos para compor sistemas microfluídicos. Os microcanais construídos sobre a superfície de vidro BK7 vedados por uma lâmina de polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS) são a base dos sistemas microfluídicos. O controle de fluxo de reagentes é feito por miniválvulas pneumáticas controladas por um microcontrolador Arduino através de uma plataforma Labview. Este trabalho mostra os componentes desenvolvidos e dois sistemas microfluídicos criados. O primeiro contém um circuito capaz de replicar ensaios imunoenzimáticos (ELISA) com um custo muito menor de insumos. O segundo é um sistema para a produção de nanocristais fluorescentes de NaYF4 especialmente utilizados como marcadores em imagens de sistemas biológicos. / The first stage of the project was to perform tests for controlled and optimized machining of borosilicate optical glass (BK7) by femtosecond laser. Parameters such as energy, number of overlapped pulses, and the focal position variation were investigated for a better extraction of material. Microchannels, microvalves, micropumps, mixers, reactors, heaters and other components were developed to compose applied microfluidic systems. Microchannels built on the surface of BK7 glass sealed by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet form the basis of the microfluidic circuits. The reagents flow control is done by pneumatic mini-valves controlled by an Arduino microcontroller through a Labview platform. This work shows the components developed and two microfluidic systems created. The first contains a microfluidic circuit capable of replicating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a much lower cost of materials. The second has a microfluidic circuit for the production of NaYF4 fluorescent nanocrystals specially used as markers in images of biologic systems.

A primeira etapa do projeto foi realizar testes para usinagem controlada e otimizada de vidro ótico de borosilicato (BK7) por laser de femtossegundos. Parâmetros como energia, pulsos sobrepostos e a variação da posição focal foram investigados para controle da taxa de remoção do material e extensão da cratera ablacionada. Especial atenção foi dada à condição física e topográfica da superfície resultante da usinagem para torná-la menos rugosa e evitar a retenção de reagentes que possam contaminar e alterar as reações pretendidas. Microcanais, microválvulas, microbombas, misturadores, microrreatores, aquecedores e outros componentes foram desenvolvidos para compor sistemas microfluídicos. Os microcanais construídos sobre a superfície de vidro BK7 vedados por uma lâmina de polidimetilsiloxano (PDMS) são a base dos sistemas microfluídicos. O controle de fluxo de reagentes é feito por miniválvulas pneumáticas controladas por um microcontrolador Arduino através de uma plataforma Labview. Este trabalho mostra os componentes desenvolvidos e dois sistemas microfluídicos criados. O primeiro contém um circuito capaz de replicar ensaios imunoenzimáticos (ELISA) com um custo muito menor de insumos. O segundo é um sistema para a produção de nanocristais fluorescentes de NaYF4 especialmente utilizados como marcadores em imagens de sistemas biológicos. / The first stage of the project was to perform tests for controlled and optimized machining of borosilicate optical glass (BK7) by femtosecond laser. Parameters such as energy, number of overlapped pulses, and the focal position variation were investigated for a better extraction of material. Microchannels, microvalves, micropumps, mixers, reactors, heaters and other components were developed to compose applied microfluidic systems. Microchannels built on the surface of BK7 glass sealed by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet form the basis of the microfluidic circuits. The reagents flow control is done by pneumatic mini-valves controlled by an Arduino microcontroller through a Labview platform. This work shows the components developed and two microfluidic systems created. The first contains a microfluidic circuit capable of replicating enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a much lower cost of materials. The second has a microfluidic circuit for the production of NaYF4 fluorescent nanocrystals specially used as markers in images of biologic systems.

Smart hydrogels are useful elements in microfluidic systems because they respond to environmental stimuli and are capable of storing reagents. We present here a concept of using hydrogels (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) as an interface between continuous and discontinuous microfluidics. Their swelling and shrinking capabilities allow them to act as storage elements for reagents absorbed in the swelling process. When the swollen hydrogel collapses in an oil-filled channel, the incorporated water and molecules are expelled from the hydrogel and form a water reservoir. Water-in-oil droplets can be released from the reservoir generating different sized droplets depending on the flow regime at various oil flow rates (dispensing functionality). Different hydrogel sizes and microfluidic structures are discussed in terms of their storage and droplet formation capabilities. The time behaviour of the hydrogel element is investigated by dynamic swelling experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations. By precise temperature control, the device acts as an active droplet generator and converts continuous to discontinuous flows.

Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um sistema microfluídico, contendo, como componente principal, um reator enzimático constituído de um microcanal fabricado em substrato de poli(metacrilato de metila) e um sistema amperométrico como detector. Para a construção de microcanais foi utilizando equipamento de usinagem a laser de CO2 para escavar os microcanais, que a seguir foram selados termicamente. A superfície interna desse microcanal foi submetida à modificação química com poli(etilenoimina), que se mostrou eficiente para posterior imobilização da enzima glicose oxidase, utilizando glutaraldeído como agente de ligação covalente cruzada, gerando assim um microrreator para determinação amperométrica de glicose. O peróxido de hidrogênio gerado na reação enzimática foi detectado em uma célula eletroquímica em fluxo, localizada externamente ao reator, com eletrodo de platina como eletrodo de trabalho. Uma bomba peristáltica programável foi empregada para promover a injeção de amostra, utilizando tubulação de pequeno diâmetro (0,3 mm), permitindo alcançar reprodutibilidade para a injeção de pequenos volumes, tipicamente da ordem de 5 microlitros de solução. O sistema proposto foi utilizado para a determinação amperométrica diferencial de glicose presente em amostras de refrigerantes, apresentando boa repetibilidade (DPR = 1,72%, n = 50), limite de detecção apreciável (1,40 x10-6 mol L-1), elevada frequência de amostragem (345 amostras h-1) e relativa estabilidade a longo prazo (420 determinações em mais de 20 dias com perda de atividade menor que 50%). As análises realizadas com o sistema proposto neste estudo levaram a resultados concordantes com os obtidos pelo método espectrofotométrico clássico, utilizado para análise de glicose em fluídos biológicos. / This work describes the development of a microfluidic system having as a main component an enzymatic reactor constituted by a microchannel assembled in poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate, connected to an amperometric detector. To manufacture the microchannels, a CO2 laser ablation machine was utilized to engrave the channels, which in sequence were thermally sealed. The internal surfaces of the microchannels were chemically modified with poly(ethyleneimine) which showed good effectiveness for the immobilization of glucose oxidase enzymes using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent, producing in this way a microreactor effective for the amperometric detection of glucose. The hydrogen peroxide generated in the enzymatic reaction was detected in the electrochemical flow cell, localized outside of the reactor, using platinum as the working electrode. A programmable peristaltic pump was utilized to inject the samples, utilizing tubes with small diameter (0.3 mm), allowing attain reproducibility even for injections of small volumes, in the order of 5 microliters of solution. The proposed system was applied for differential amperometric determination of glucose content in soft drinks, showing good repeatability (DPR = 1.72%, n = 50) low detection limit (1,40 x10-6 mol L-1), high sample frequency (345 samples h-1) and relatively good stability for long term (420 determinations along more than 20 days, with a decrease of activity lower than 50%). The analysis performed with the system proposed in this study lead to results which agree with those obtained by the classical spectrophotometric method, utilized to analyze glucose in biological fluids.

Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um sistema microfluídico, contendo, como componente principal, um reator enzimático constituído de um microcanal fabricado em substrato de poli(metacrilato de metila) e um sistema amperométrico como detector. Para a construção de microcanais foi utilizando equipamento de usinagem a laser de CO2 para escavar os microcanais, que a seguir foram selados termicamente. A superfície interna desse microcanal foi submetida à modificação química com poli(etilenoimina), que se mostrou eficiente para posterior imobilização da enzima glicose oxidase, utilizando glutaraldeído como agente de ligação covalente cruzada, gerando assim um microrreator para determinação amperométrica de glicose. O peróxido de hidrogênio gerado na reação enzimática foi detectado em uma célula eletroquímica em fluxo, localizada externamente ao reator, com eletrodo de platina como eletrodo de trabalho. Uma bomba peristáltica programável foi empregada para promover a injeção de amostra, utilizando tubulação de pequeno diâmetro (0,3 mm), permitindo alcançar reprodutibilidade para a injeção de pequenos volumes, tipicamente da ordem de 5 microlitros de solução. O sistema proposto foi utilizado para a determinação amperométrica diferencial de glicose presente em amostras de refrigerantes, apresentando boa repetibilidade (DPR = 1,72%, n = 50), limite de detecção apreciável (1,40 x10-6 mol L-1), elevada frequência de amostragem (345 amostras h-1) e relativa estabilidade a longo prazo (420 determinações em mais de 20 dias com perda de atividade menor que 50%). As análises realizadas com o sistema proposto neste estudo levaram a resultados concordantes com os obtidos pelo método espectrofotométrico clássico, utilizado para análise de glicose em fluídos biológicos. / This work describes the development of a microfluidic system having as a main component an enzymatic reactor constituted by a microchannel assembled in poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate, connected to an amperometric detector. To manufacture the microchannels, a CO2 laser ablation machine was utilized to engrave the channels, which in sequence were thermally sealed. The internal surfaces of the microchannels were chemically modified with poly(ethyleneimine) which showed good effectiveness for the immobilization of glucose oxidase enzymes using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent, producing in this way a microreactor effective for the amperometric detection of glucose. The hydrogen peroxide generated in the enzymatic reaction was detected in the electrochemical flow cell, localized outside of the reactor, using platinum as the working electrode. A programmable peristaltic pump was utilized to inject the samples, utilizing tubes with small diameter (0.3 mm), allowing attain reproducibility even for injections of small volumes, in the order of 5 microliters of solution. The proposed system was applied for differential amperometric determination of glucose content in soft drinks, showing good repeatability (DPR = 1.72%, n = 50) low detection limit (1,40 x10-6 mol L-1), high sample frequency (345 samples h-1) and relatively good stability for long term (420 determinations along more than 20 days, with a decrease of activity lower than 50%). The analysis performed with the system proposed in this study lead to results which agree with those obtained by the classical spectrophotometric method, utilized to analyze glucose in biological fluids.

Tato diplomová práce se zabývá popisem principů kultivace embryonálních fibroblastových buněk myší (3T3), lidských endoteliálních buněk odebraných z pupečníkové žily (HUVEC) a epiteliálních buněk vaječníku čínského křečka (CHO) v mikrofluidních systémech simulujících kapiláry. Byly provedeny literární rešerše v oblasti realizací experimentu “Scratch Wound Healing Assay” v mikrofluidních systémech s použitím fibroblastů a endotheliálních buněk. V práci jsou dále popsány principy konfokální a fluorescenční mikroskopie a metody zpracování obrazů pro sledování buněčné migrace. Experimentální nastavení pro mikrofluidní realizaci “Scratch Wound Healing Assay” s použitím trypsinu – EDTA pro vytvoření rýhy, a konfokálního mikroskopu Leica TCS SP8 X pro následující snímání pořízených dat bylo navrženo a otestováno s dostatečným počtem opakování. Vhodný algoritmus pro analýzu buněčné migrace byl napsán v programovacím prostředí Matlab. Závěrem této práce je diskuze získaných výsledků.

Smart hydrogels are useful elements in microfluidic systems because they respond to environmental stimuli and are capable of storing reagents. We present here a concept of using hydrogels (poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)) as an interface between continuous and discontinuous microfluidics. Their swelling and shrinking capabilities allow them to act as storage elements for reagents absorbed in the swelling process. When the swollen hydrogel collapses in an oil-filled channel, the incorporated water and molecules are expelled from the hydrogel and form a water reservoir. Water-in-oil droplets can be released from the reservoir generating different sized droplets depending on the flow regime at various oil flow rates (dispensing functionality). Different hydrogel sizes and microfluidic structures are discussed in terms of their storage and droplet formation capabilities. The time behaviour of the hydrogel element is investigated by dynamic swelling experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations. By precise temperature control, the device acts as an active droplet generator and converts continuous to discontinuous flows.