Easily-fabricated fluoropolymer chips for sensitive long-term absorbance measurement in droplet microfluidics

Abstract

Maintaining hydrophobic channel surfaces is critical to ensuring long term-stable flow in droplet microfluidics. This is especially important in long-term experimentation where surface coatings can deteriorate over time. Here we describe a method for micropatterning and bonding monolithic fluoropolymer flow cells from Dyneon THV that, in contrast to previously reported methods, does not require expensive equipment. We demonstrate the formation of complex microstructures, specifically long path length absorbance flow cells for probing droplets in flow, and show how they can operate over long periods by maintaining continuous droplet flow over 16 weeks.