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. 2019 Jan 14;10(1):189.
doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08091-z.

A micro-dispenser for long-term storage and controlled release of liquids

Amin Kazemzadeh  1 , Anders Eriksson  2 , Marc Madou  3 , Aman Russom  4
Affiliations

A micro-dispenser for long-term storage and controlled release of liquids

Amin Kazemzadeh et al. Nat Commun. .

Abstract

The success of lab-on-a-chip systems may depend on a low-cost device that incorporates on-chip storage and fluidic operations. To date many different methods have been developed that cope separately with on-chip storage and fluidic operations e.g., hydrophobic and capillary valves pneumatic pumping and blister storage packages. The blister packages seem difficult to miniaturize and none of the existing liquid handling techniques despite their variety are capable of proportional repeatable dispensing. We report here on an inexpensive robust and scalable micro-dispenser that incorporates long-term storage and aliquoting of reagents on different microfluidics platforms. It provides long-term shelf-life for different liquids enables precise dispensing on lab-on-a-disc platforms and less accurate but proportional dispensing when operated by finger pressure. Based on this technology we introduce a method for automation of blood plasma separation and multi-step bioassay procedures. This micro-dispenser intends to facilitate affordable portable diagnostic devices and accelerate the commercialization of lab-on-a-chip devices.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.K. and POIETAI L.L.C. hold commercial rights including but not only a patent pending (PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/US17/22956) to the micro-dispenser and micro-dispenser-based products. The other authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Characterization of actuation pressure for a micro-dispenser (membrane made of latex) set. a A dispenser of outer diameter D = 6.6 mm is sheathed in membranes of fixed internal diameter and different thickness, b a dispenser of outer diameter D = 6.6 mm is sheathed in membranes of fixed thickness and different internal diameters, and c a dispenser of outer diameter D = 10.1 mm is sheathed in membranes of fixed internal diameter and different thickness
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The shelf-life of micro-dispenser; the shelf-life of 7 different micro-dispensers containing an average volume of 475 μl di-water, where the flask is made of glass and the membrane of neoprene, the error bars show the standard deviation of the mean and coefficient of variation values
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Images of a rotating lab-on-a-disc with micro-dispenser insert enabling separation of blood components. a Micro-dispenser with two apertures covered with C-flex and latex membranes, b schematic of the lab-on-a-disc platform used in the experiment, c before actuation of the micro-dispenser, d dispensing blood plasma and blood cells to two different destination chambers, at different rotational frequencies due to the difference between the membrane properties of the micro-dispenser
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Micro-dispenser for integrating with lab-on-a-chip devices. a A micro-dispenser connected to a micro-structure, the scale bar is 500 μm, b actuating micro-dispenser by applying finger pressure, c applying further pressure, d stop applying pressure
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
A configuration of interlocking dispensing analyzer assembled to automate blood plasma separation in laboratories. Interlocking dispensing analyzer for blood plasma separation is constituted of a micro-dispenser made of a safe-lock Eppendorf tube that is interlocked into a larger safe-lock collection tube. a An interlocking dispensing analyzer before inserting in centrifuge machine, b after centrifugation according to the standard protocols for 20 min, c blood cells in the micro-dispenser and blood plasma in a safe-lock Eppendorf tube
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Schematic illustration of the micro-dispenser technology (two configurations). Panels (a) and (b) show the micro-dispenser components and assembly, panel (c) shows manual actuation by pressing the micro-dispenser body. Panel (d) shows the micro-dispenser inserted in a lab-on-a-disc platform, when the centrifugal pressure is lower than membrane resistance, panel (e) by increasing the spinning speed, centrifugal force stretches the membrane that allows a temporary release of liquid. The micro-dispenser size is exaggerated for clarity
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Scalability and procedure of producing a cylindrical micro-dispenser. a Drilling the outlet aperture on a predefined length of an impermeable tube, b sealing each side of the tube, c sheathe in a predefined length of an elastic membrane, d close-up view of a micro-dispenser, the scale bar is 500 μm, e examples of scalability of micro-dispensers
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
The analytical treatment of the micro-dispenser actuated by centrifugation. a Schematic of the micro-dispenser inserted in a rotating frame together with its actuation mechanism. The inset shows a section through the membrane and the tube. b The membrane un-stretched. c A tube (of outer radius R) is sheathed in the stretched membrane, providing a hermetic sealing. d At given speed, the membrane is stretched to inner radius Ri > R, and liquid is released. e Example results from simulations, showing deformed membrane and color-coded radial pressure for an opening membrane of Ri = 4.8 mm, t = 1.6 mm on a tube with R = 3.3 mm, Case 2
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