Development of a microfluidic device system using adhesive vinyl template to produce calcium alginate microbeads for microencapsulation of cells

Abstract

Microfabrication technique based on microelectronic technology is commonly used to produce microfluidic devices but this technique involves with costly and toxic chemicals. In this paper, we proposed the use of patterned adhesive vinyl template to produce a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device that was applied to generate microbeads of calcium alginate for microencapsulation of cells. In the microfluidic system, an infusion pump of high flow rate (2000 µl/min) and a commercial syringe pump were used to emulsify the continuous and disperse phases of liquids in forming the microbeads. Microbeads of calcium alginate in the range of 438 ± 38-799 ± 20 µm were successfully produced using this environmental friendly technique.