The expanding field of microfluidic lab on a chip technology is brought to the classroom using affordable techniques for the production of lab on a chip devices. In the hands-on session participants will learn how to make such devices using standard office equipment. The procedures can be used in science education programmes in primary or secondary schools, and even in higher education courses.
Lab on a chip devices can be used on the tabletop. A sample video of such a device produced from office lamination foil:
https://youtu.be/XwR7ft-TWFc?list=PL95349EFBE9DF2A88If the Lab on a chip devices have standard dimensions, they also can be mounted in a quite simple chip holder, allowing fluidic connections to syringes and pumps. A complete microfluidic setup can be built at limitied cost. Small scale chemistry like formation of nanoparticles and precipitations for use in the classroom can be experienced during the workshop. Using advanced, nearly professional equipment, allows numerous experiments demonstrating the essentials of microfluidics.
More information at
labochip.org and our article in J. Chem. Education (in press), published online 15 december 2017:
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00506.
Also the novel unpublished use of a digital cutting machine to produce fluidic devices from foil will be demonstrated. The handouts of the presentation will be shared after the workshop. Several video's can be viewed after clicking marks in the presentation.
