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. 2020 May 5;10(30):17479-17485.
doi: 10.1039/d0ra00076k.

Cost-effective smart microfluidic device with immobilized silver nanoparticles and embedded UV-light sources for synergistic water disinfection effects

Amit Prabhakar  1 , Mehul Agrawal  1 , Neha Mishra  2 , Nimisha Roy  1 , Ankur Jaiswar  1 , Amar Dhwaj  1 , Deepti Verma  3
Affiliations

Cost-effective smart microfluidic device with immobilized silver nanoparticles and embedded UV-light sources for synergistic water disinfection effects

Amit Prabhakar et al. RSC Adv. .

Abstract

A novel microfluidic-device for water disinfection via diverse physiochemical effects has been demonstrated. Firstly, a microfluidic device with embedded, multiple germicidal UV-LEDs was fabricated through the innovatively modified cost-effective soft-lithography process. Further, synthesised silver nanoparticles were immobilized within its inner microchannel surface. Disinfection results proved the synergistic bactericidal effect of coated AgNPs and coupled UV-light, while a suspension of bacterial strains, were passed through the micro-device.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to be declared.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Schematic diagram for fabrication of device: (a and b) fabricated SU-8 master (c) placement of UV LEDs over SU-8 patterned channel, (d) casting of mixture of 10 : 1 ratio of PDMS pre-polymer and curing agent and further curing this mixture at room temperature for 24 hours. (e) Peeling off the PDMS device from the SU-8 master and, further, bonding on to the glass substrate using semi-cure PDMS layer as adhesive layer. (f) Hydrophilic surface treatment of internal microchannel layer, silanisation, and further AgNPs immobilization on it.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. (a) Experimental Set-up during the treatment of internal wall of device microchannel for creating a hydrophilic surface and AgNPs immobilisation on it; as well as for the general disinfection process; the real picture of: (b) microfluidic device with embedded UV-LEDs; (c) microfluidic device, while LEDs power-supply is switched on; (d) schematic experimental set-up for determining the leaching of the immobilised Ag-NPs from the device's microchannel; (e) UV-Vis spectrum of Synthesized AgNPs and DI Water after 12 hours of its recirculation through the device.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3. Flowchart of protocol for hydrophilic surface treatment of PDMS polymer, silanisation, and further AgNPs immobilization on it.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4. 3D AFM images of AgNPs immobilized PDMS surface of the inner lining of the microfluidic channel.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5. Schematic diagram AgNPs Immobilized microfluidic device embedded with UV-LEDs, (a) top view: showing the movement of bacterial infected solution from input to output reservoir during the disinfection process; (b) cross-sectional view: showing disinfection process via AgNPs contact killing and UV light rays (from UV-LEDs) while the movement of bacterial infected solution from input to output reservoir. (c) Zoomed cross-sectional view: showing bacterial killing process inside a microchannel, via AgNPs contact killing and UV light rays.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6. Showing the disinfection efficiency of the device with UV-disinfection coupled with AgNPs disinfection principle, while the impure water with 7.20 × 107 CFU ml−1 (series-1) and 7.28 × 107 CFU ml−1 (series-2) of E. coli and B. subtilis, respectively, were passed through the microfluidic device at different flow rates.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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