A Brief Discussion on PDMS Surface Wettability Enhancement Methods for Microfluidic Applications

Lucas B. Neves, Inês Maia Gonçalves, João Ribeiro, Rui A. Lima, Rui A. Lima, Rui A. Lima, Ana Moita

2025

Abstract

This position paper examines recent advancements in surface modification techniques for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to improve its inherent hydrophobicity and enhance its application in microfluidic devices. While PDMS is valued for its transparency, biocompatibility, flexibility, stability, and non-toxicity, its hydrophobic nature limits fluid handling capabilities, which is essential for efficient microfluidic performance. Various methods, including oxygen plasma treatment, UV irradiation, and chemical Layer-by-Layer (LBL) deposition, have been explored to improve PDMS wettability. Surfactant-based modifications have shown promising results for achieving long-term hydrophilicity with straightforward application. Studies demonstrate that methods such as Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) coating and surfactant incorporation enable continuous capillary-driven flow without external pumps and improve sample purity by minimizing issues like bubble formation and cell aggregation. These advancements hold great potential of PDMS modifications to create more efficient and reliable microfluidic devices, and consequently to expand its applications in the biomedical and microfluidic fields.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Neves L., Gonçalves I., Ribeiro J., Lima R. and Moita A. (2025). A Brief Discussion on PDMS Surface Wettability Enhancement Methods for Microfluidic Applications. In Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES; ISBN 978-989-758-731-3, SciTePress, pages 171-174. DOI: 10.5220/0013233200003911

in Bibtex Style

@conference{biodevices25,
author={Lucas Neves and Inês Gonçalves and João Ribeiro and Rui Lima and Ana Moita},
title={A Brief Discussion on PDMS Surface Wettability Enhancement Methods for Microfluidic Applications},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES},
year={2025},
pages={171-174},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013233200003911},
isbn={978-989-758-731-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 18th International Joint Conference on Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies - Volume 1: BIODEVICES
TI - A Brief Discussion on PDMS Surface Wettability Enhancement Methods for Microfluidic Applications
SN - 978-989-758-731-3
AU - Neves L.
AU - Gonçalves I.
AU - Ribeiro J.
AU - Lima R.
AU - Moita A.
PY - 2025
SP - 171
EP - 174
DO - 10.5220/0013233200003911
PB - SciTePress