Environmentally responsive polymeric "intelligent" materials: the ideal components of non-mechanical valves that control flow in microfluidic systems

摘要: Miniaturization and commercialization of integrated microfluidic systems has had great success with the development a wide variety techniques in microfabrication, since they allowed their construction at low cost by following simple step-series procedures. However, one major challenges design is to achieve control flow delivery different chemical reagents. This feature especially important when using cell culture systems, labs on chip fabrication microreactors. Spatiotemporal microenvironment devices been only partially achieved incorporating actuator parts (mechanical non-mechanical) within these devices; nevertheless, recently there enormous progress due advances materials sciences, novel polymeric "intelligent" materials. These have proved be excellent candidates non-mechanical actuators form environmentally responsive valves. valves can more efficiently flows because are capable undergoing conformational changes phase transitions response local or external environmental stimuli; allowing them turn from "on" "off". In addition, very designs, easy cheap incorporate into systems. Therefore, although many reviews that focus actuators, review proceeds describe exciting characteristics, potential uses synthesis methods building blocks most recent innovative valves, last section this will composite responding than type stimulus, believed future components boost spatiotemporal controlled microenvironments.