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Less is More: Oligomer extraction and hydrothermal annealing increase PDMS bonding forces for new microfluidics assembly and for biological studies

View ORCID ProfileL. J. Millet, A. Jain, View ORCID ProfileM. U. Gillette
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/150953
L. J. Millet
aDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, and the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
b Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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A. Jain
aDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, and the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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M. U. Gillette
aDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, and the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
c Neuroscience Program, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Abstract

Key determinants in the emergence of complex cellular morphologies and functions are cues in the micro-environment. Primary among these is the presence of neighboring cells as networks form. Therefore, for high-resolution analysis, it is crucial to develop micro-environments that permit exquisite control of network formation. This is especially true in cell science, tissue engineering, and clinical biology. We introduce a new approach for assembling polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic environments that enhances cell network formation and analyses. We report that the combined processes of PDMS solvent-extraction (E-PDMS) and hydrothermal annealing create unique conditions that produce high-strength bonds between E-PDMS and glass – properties not associated with conventional PDMS. Extraction followed by hydrothermal annealing removes unbound oligomers, promotes polymer cross-linking, facilitates covalent bond formation with glass, and retains the highest biocompatibility. Our extraction protocol accelerates oligomer removal from 5 to 2 days. Resulting microfluidic platforms are uniquely suited for cell-network studies owing to high bond strengths, effectively corralling cellular extensions and eliminating harmful oligomers. We demonstrate simple, simultaneous actuation of multiple microfluidic domains for invoking ATP- and glutamate-induced Ca2+ signaling in glial-cell networks. These low-cost, simple E-PMDS modifications and flow manipulations further enable microfluidic technologies for cell-signaling and network studies as well as novel applications.

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Posted June 16, 2017.
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Less is More: Oligomer extraction and hydrothermal annealing increase PDMS bonding forces for new microfluidics assembly and for biological studies
L. J. Millet, A. Jain, M. U. Gillette
bioRxiv 150953; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/150953
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Less is More: Oligomer extraction and hydrothermal annealing increase PDMS bonding forces for new microfluidics assembly and for biological studies
L. J. Millet, A. Jain, M. U. Gillette
bioRxiv 150953; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/150953

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