A manufacturing approach for creating microfluidic devices used in disease modeling, diagnostics, and other lab on a chip applications.
The microfluidics market continues to expand rapidly as researchers and industry seek faster, smaller, and more cost‑effective platforms for biological testing and disease modeling. Adoption is driven by the need for lab‑on‑a‑chip systems, organ‑on‑a‑chip models, and point‑of‑care diagnostics, all of which rely on precise fluid control and reliable device fabrication. Growth is further supported by increasing demand for alternatives to traditional animal testing, regulatory encouragement for advanced preclinical models, and ongoing investment in miniaturized biomedical tools. As companies and research institutions prioritize scalable, high‑efficiency manufacturing methods, solutions that simplify microfluidic device production and enable consistent performance are becoming essential.
Emory researchers have developed a fabrication‑friendly approach that improves how microfluidic components are assembled for advanced lab‑on‑a‑chip applications. Modern microfluidic systems often require device bonds that are strong enough to handle demanding flow conditions, yet flexible enough to accommodate reusable assemblies, integrated sensing elements, or complex 3D‑printed structures. Conventional bonding methods, particularly those used with polymer‑based devices, typically require trade‑offs in strength, reversibility, and compatibility with non‑flat surfaces. This innovation enables robust, reliable bonding across a wide range of substrates, while also supporting reversible device assembly when needed for cell harvesting, cleaning, or experimental reuse. The approach is compatible with intricate geometries and supports the integration of additional device features, making it well suited for next‑generation microfluidic systems used in disease modeling, continuous‑flow studies, and other biomedical applications. The proposed invention also provides a more accessible and cost‑effective path for producing high‑performance microfluidic devices.