Apr 17, 2026
FABRICATION OF PDMS MICROFLUIDIC CHIP DEVICE
- Nevena Milivojević Dimitrijević1,
- Ana Mirić1,
- Dalibor Nikolić1,
- Marko Živanović1,
- Nenad Filipović2
- 1Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia;
- 2Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, Serbia
Protocol Citation: Nevena Milivojević Dimitrijević, Ana Mirić, Dalibor Nikolić, Marko Živanović, Nenad Filipović 2026. FABRICATION OF PDMS MICROFLUIDIC CHIP DEVICE. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.j8nlkzjwdl5r/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: April 17, 2026
Last Modified: April 17, 2026
Protocol Integer ID: 315201
Keywords: fabrication of pdms microfluidic chip device, conventional microfluidic chip device fabrication technique, development process of microfluidic chip device, microfluidic chip device, pdms microfluidic chip device, biomimetic microfluidic device, microfluidic device, microfluidics production, soft lithography, approach for fabrication, 3d printing process, other biomedical device, fabrication
Abstract
Biomimetic microfluidic devices, have become a promising approach that has been applied in numerous research areas. In this protocol, we are presenting a new modified approach for fabrication of microfluidic chip devices. To produce our microfluidic devices, masked soft lithography (MSLA) method was used. Compared to conventional microfluidic chip device fabrication techniques, our approach has many advantages. As we showed in this protocol, the 3D printing process we used for microfluidics production proved to be very successful. This protocol can be used in future research to accelerate the development process of microfluidic chip devices and other biomedical devices.
Guidelines
The features of interest, such as chambers and microfluidic channels, are first designed by SolidWorks^^® Premium 2022 SP0.0 software. They are precisely delineated to reproduce the desired biological event or microenvironment under study.
Designed 3D model was exported to stereolithography (STL) file format. The STL file was then imported into the 3D printing software (CHITUBOX 64). This software was used for slicing the model and creating a series of 2D photomasks.
The designed model was transferred via USB flash drive to the 3D printer Creality LD 006, which makes a photomask. With stereolithography (UV LCD) technology, master is printed layer by layer. With this printer, the precision along the XY axis is 50 µm, while the layer height is 10 µm. Resin is radiated from below, from where UV light according to the photomask (microfluidic chip design) irradiates layer by layer features of interest. The layers are kept on the upper receiving print head.
After 3D printing, the substrate is typically rinsed with isopropyl alcohol to remove non-developed regions, and the mold is additionally irradiated in a UV chamber to complete the polymerization process. Then the mold is additionally washed with isopropyl alcohol and dried with a gentle flow of nitrogen at the end.
Replica molding is used to replicate the master. A biocompatible and optically transparent polymeric material, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is used. PDMS is obtained by mixing the pre-polymer and the cross-linker in a 10:1 ratio (w/w or v/v). PDMS elastomer is poured over the mold, degassed in vacuum chamber in order to adhere nicely to the features and remove bubbles, and cured in the oven at 70°C for minimum 4 h.
After curing, the obtained PDMS replica is gently peeled off and cut into appropriate sizes and shapes. The inlet/outlets are drilled out for tube connection.
Finally, controlled UV and ozone radiation is used for bonding the PDMS chip replica to another PDMS replica or to a standard microscopy glass slide. Flow was established using a peristaltic pump of a defined flow.
Design the features of interest, such as chambers and microfluidic channels, using SolidWorks^^® Premium 2022 SP0.0 software. Precisely delineate them to reproduce the desired biological event or microenvironment under study.
Export the designed 3D model to stereolithography (STL) file format. Import the STL file into the 3D printing software (CHITUBOX 64) for slicing the model and creating a series of 2D photomasks.
Transfer the designed model via USB flash drive to the 3D printer Creality LD 006 to make a photomask. Use stereolithography (UV LCD) technology to print the master layer by layer. The precision along the XY axis is 50 µm, and the layer height is 10 µm. Resin is radiated from below, where UV light according to the photomask irradiates layer by layer features of interest. The layers are kept on the upper receiving print head.
After 3D printing, rinse the substrate with isopropyl alcohol to remove non-developed regions. Additionally, irradiate the mold in a UV chamber to complete the polymerization process. Wash the mold again with isopropyl alcohol and dry with a gentle flow of nitrogen.
Use replica molding to replicate the master. Mix the pre-polymer and the cross-linker in a 10:1 ratio (w/w or v/v) to obtain PDMS. Pour PDMS elastomer over the mold, degas in a vacuum chamber to adhere nicely to the features and remove bubbles, and cure in the oven at 70°C for a minimum of 4 hours.
After curing, gently peel off the obtained PDMS replica and cut it into appropriate sizes and shapes. Drill out the inlet/outlets for tube connection.
Use controlled UV and ozone radiation for bonding the PDMS chip replica to another PDMS replica or to a standard microscopy glass slide. Establish flow using a peristaltic pump of a defined flow.