Projects»
micro resist technology GmbH

    

Project number
224306
founded by the EU, FR 7

Project duration
05/2008 – 04/2012

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Project objectives
The challenge during the EU project LabOnFoil with 15 partners from 8 countries is the enhancement of the tasks of Optolabcard and the development of an extreme cost efficient point of care system a “Lab-on-a-Chip” (LOC) with a sensitivity, reaction time and simplicity (easy-to-use) comparable to standard diagnostic methods and techniques. This new diagnostic system uses disposable Lab-on-a-Chips (LOCs) that carry out the complete analysis from sample preparation to qualitative and quantitative detection of raw samples. The LOC is either embedded in a flexible motherboard with the form of smartcard (Labcard) or in a Skinpatch.
The project aims the development of LOCs for four different applications using one fabrication equipment. The project will validate the developed LOCs in four fields:

Labcard for marine algae analysis by NASBA to provide information about climate change, CO2 sequestration, and toxic blooms.

Labcard for detecting of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in broiler production (slaughter houses and farms).

Labcard for monitoring biomarkers of Colorectal Cancer using a blood drop by immuno-Q-PCR detection.

Skin patch to detect cocaine consumption by professional drivers.

The main tasks are:

Microfabrication based on dry film lamination (instead of wafer level processes) and bonding technologies for the mass production of polymeric microfluidic chips subjected, embedded in a Smartcard or Skin Patch.

Development of a standard technology for the manufacture of extreme cost efficient micro systems.

Development of a commercially available usable Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC).

Development of a technology to deposit and store the reaction and detection reagents during the process steps for the manufacture of the device.

Project benefit
The tasks for micro resist technology GmbH are the development and preparation of epoxy resin based dry films on flexible, non- or transparent, chemically and thermally stable substrates in different layer thicknesses. The materials and the processes for the preparation and use of the dry films either for permanent or for non-permanent applications have to be developed. The challenges are: preparation of dry, non-sticky, stress-free, sufficient flexibilised dry films of different thicknesses with excellent film homogeneity and excellent lithographic properties, e.g. vertical side walls and no cracks. Depending on the application – permanent on foil, e.g. for the covering of the chip or non-permanent for the design of a multi layer system with lamination – the drying process has to developed and therefore the adhesion of the resist film onto the flexible substrate has to be adapted to the application. Beside the development of the materials and the dry film technology investigations to change the auto fluorescence behavior of the chip material SU-8 will be carried out.

Fig.: Pattern of a epoxy resin based resist after lamination of a prepared dry film onto a silicon substrate, film thickness= 260 µm

More information » www.labonfoil.eu «

Outlook
The future mass production of the new diagnostic components or LabCards will be guaranteed by the use of innovations in the manufacture process: technology, equipment and technique. The use of large area dry films instead of silicon wafer technology will result in a huge reduction of manufacture costs. The use of mobile Smart-Phones offers a wide range of communication interfaces. The range of different LOCs and components indicates the potential of this LOC fabrication platform for further new future applications.

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