BIOPOLYMER OPTOFLUIDIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optofluidic device including providing a biopolymer, processing the biopolymer to yield a biopolymer matrix solution, providing a substrate, casting the biopolymer matrix solution on the substrate, embedding a channel mold in the biopolymer matrix solution, drying the biopolymer matrix solution to solidify biopolymer optofluidic device, and extracting the embedded channel mold to provide a fluidic channel in the solidified biopolymer optofluidic device. In accordance with another aspect, an optofluidic device is provided that is made of a biopolymer and that has a channel therein for conveying fluid.
1 . A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optofluidic device comprising:
providing a substrate;
casting a biopolymer matrix solution on said substrate, said biopolymer matrix solution including a biopolymer;
embedding a channel mold in the biopolymer matrix solution;
drying said biopolymer matrix solution to solidify a biopolymer optofluidic device; and
extracting said embedded channel mold to provide a fluidic channel in said solidified biopolymer optofluidic device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing said biopolymer; and
processing said biopolymer to yield said biopolymer matrix solution.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
annealing said solidified biopolymer optofluidic device.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said annealing of said solidified biopolymer optofluidic device is performed in at least one of a vacuum environment and a water vapor environment.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a template for an optical device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said channel mold is a glass fiber.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said biopolymer is silk.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said silk is at least one of silkworm silk, spider silk, genetically engineered silk, synthetic silk, or a combination thereof.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said biopolymer matrix solution is an aqueous silk fibroin solution having approximately 1.0 wt % to 30 wt % silk, inclusive.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said aqueous silk fibroin solution has approximately 8.0 wt % silk.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said biopolymer is selected from a group consisting of chitosan, collagen, gelatin, agarose, chitin, polyhydroxyalkanoates, pullan, starch (amylose amylopectin), cellulose, hyaluronic acid, and related biopolymers, or a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said channel mold is embedded in the biopolymer matrix solution after the biopolymer matrix solution is cast.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said channel mold is embedded in the biopolymer matrix solution by suspending said channel mold over the substrate and casting the biopolymer matrix solution around the channel mold.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further including embedding an organic material in said biopolymer optofluidic device.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further including adding an organic material into said biopolymer matrix solution.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of red blood cells, horseradish peroxidase, and phenolsulfonphthalein, or a combination thereof.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of a nucleic acid, a dye, a cell, an antibody, enzymes, for example, peroxidase, lipase, amylose, organophosphate dehydrogenase, ligases, restriction endonucleases, ribonucleases, DNA polymerases, glucose oxidase, laccase, cells, viruses, proteins, peptides, small molecules, drugs, dyes, amino acids, vitamins, antixoxidants), DNA, RNA, RNAi, lipids, nucleotides, aptamers, carbohydrates, chromophores, light emitting organic compounds such as luciferin, carotenes and light emitting inorganic compounds, chemical dyes, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, light harvesting compounds such as chlorophyll, bacteriorhodopsin, protorhodopsin, and porphyrins and related electronically active compounds, or a combination thereof.
18 . An optofluidic device made of a biopolymer and having a channel therein for conveying fluid.
19 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , wherein said optofluidic device is at least one of a lens, a microlens array, an optical grating, a pattern generator, and a beam reshaper.
20 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , wherein said optofluidic device includes a nanopatterned surface thereon.
21 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , wherein said biopolymer is silk.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein said silk is at least one of silkworm silk, spider silk, genetically engineered silk, synthetic silk, or a combination thereof.
23 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , wherein said biopolymer is selected from a group consisting of chitosan, collagen, gelatin, agarose, chitin, polyhydroxyalkanoates, pullan, starch (amylose amylopectin), cellulose, hyaluronic acid, and related biopolymers, or a combination thereof.
24 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , further comprising an embedded organic material.
25 . The biopolymer optofluidic device of claim 18 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of red blood cells, horseradish peroxidase, and phenolsulfonphthalein, or a combination thereof.
26 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said organic material is selected from a group consisting of a nucleic acid, a dye, a cell, an antibody, enzymes, for example, peroxidase, lipase, amylose, organophosphate dehydrogenase, ligases, restriction endonucleases, ribonucleases, DNA polymerases, glucose oxidase, laccase, cells, viruses, proteins, peptides, small molecules, drugs, dyes, amino acids, vitamins, antixoxidants), DNA, RNA, RNAi, lipids, nucleotides, aptamers, carbohydrates, chromophores, light emitting organic compounds such as luciferin, carotenes and light emitting inorganic compounds, chemical dyes, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, light harvesting compounds such as chlorophyll, bacteriorhodopsin, protorhodopsin, and porphyrins and related electronically active compounds, or a combination thereof.