In the world of microfluidics, where controlling and monitoring the flow of liquids through channels no thicker than a human hair is critical, the development of an microfluidic pressure sensor marks an important advancement. This sensor, born from the collaborative effort of international research team employs color-switching hydrogels to provide a solution to the challenges of microfluidic pressure measurement.
“Here, we demonstrate a fully integrated multiplexed optofluidic pressure sensor, entirely decoupled from the flow path, that enables local pressure measurements along any microfluidic channel without altering its flow geometry.“, the authors explained.
Microfluidic devices have increasingly become the backbone of various applications, from biomedical research and diagnostics to chemical analysis and environmental monitoring. However, one persistent challenge has been the accurate measurement of fluid pressure within these devices without interfering with the fluid’s path or altering the channel’s geometry. Traditional methods often fall short in terms of resolution, non-invasiveness, and ease of use.
Enter the color-switching hydrogel integrated as a pressure sensor. This approach utilizes a soft, mechano-actuated hydrogel that changes color in response to pressure variations. The sensor is designed to sit adjacent to the microfluidic chip, separated by a thin membrane that transmits pressure changes without direct contact with the fluid. This setup ensures the device’s versatility across various fluids and applications, overcoming the limitations of direct fluid interaction and potential alterations to flow geometry.
A critical aspect of this sensor’s development involved calibrating its pressure-sensing capabilities. The researchers demonstrated that the microfluidic device could detect pressure changes as small as 20 mbar with a resolution of around 10 mbar. This sensitivity is achieved through the mechanical properties of the hydrogel and the sensor’s design, allowing for fine-tuning to adapt to different measurement ranges and applications.
The implications of this technology extend far beyond mere pressure measurement. The color-switching hydrogel can also create two-dimensional pressure or deformation maps, providing valuable insights into fluid dynamics within microfluidic systems. This capability opens up new avenues for research and development in fields as diverse as organ-on-chip systems, material science, and environmental monitoring.
Furthermore, the sensor’s design ensures compatibility with various types of fluids, offering a non-invasive, easy-to-integrate solution for existing microfluidic setups. This versatility, combined with the straightforward read-out process via a color camera, positions the color-switching hydrogel sensor as a transformative tool in the microfluidic toolkit.
“The use of our pressure sensor is not only limited to microfluidic applications, but it can be plugged into any fluid circuit. For less precise applications a read-out by eye can be imagined and could be useful for example by giving a warning signal above a certain pressure threshold. The spatially resolved pressure measurement opens numerous possibilities for fundamental or industrial research as local pressure measurements in turbulent or complex fluid flows, droplet generation, micro-reactors, cellular growth and deformation, organ-on-chip technology, or medical applications, but also validation of numerical models.“, the authors concluded.
Figures are reproduced from Ducloué, L., Haque, M.A., Goral, M. et al. Color-switching hydrogels as integrated microfluidic pressure sensors. Sci Rep 14, 6333 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56140-z under a CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 International license.
Read the original article: Color-switching hydrogels as integrated microfluidic pressure sensors
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