Sony Dadc Austria Ag

Stratec Consumables Gmbh

Andrew Naisby

Werner Balika

Georg Bauer

Miguel Angel Torello Arevalo

Johann Hofer

Wolfgang Reiter

Josef Kugler

Slavko Glibo

Christoph Mauracher

A plurality of polymer slides, each having a polymer part with a first polymer surface portion uncoated and a second surface portion coated with a metal. The first and second surface portions each have different surface coating properties and have respective first and second specified degrees of hydrophobicity which are different from each other. A hydrophobic small molecule is located in the polymer part of each polymer slide, and the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer are essentially inert to one another. Adjacent polymer slides are arranged in a manner that the first polymer surface of one slide faces a metal coated second surface portion of another slide. The hydrophobic small molecule evaporates from said first polymer surface portion of the polymer part of one polymer slide onto the adjacent metal coated second surface portion of another polymer slide.

Polymer slides having hydrophobic small molecules

A method of producing a polymer part comprising the following steps: (a) incorporating a hydrophobic small molecule into the polymer before, during or after manufacture of the polymer part, the hydrophobic small molecule and the polymer being essentially inert to one another; and (b) annealing the polymer part to induce migration of the hydrophobic small molecules to a surface of the polymer part to provide that surface with a specified degree of hydrophobicity defined by the combination of the polymer and the hydrophobic small molecule; is described. Polymer parts made according to the method are also described.

Method of producing a polymer part and polymer part

A method of manufacturing a device with a planar electrode structure, the method comprising: (a) forming a microfluidic channel on a substrate; (b) applying a primer layer to at least part of the microfluidic channel, (c) applying a conductive liquid to the microfluidic channel, the conductive liquid comprising electrically conductive particles dispersed in a carrier medium, the carrier medium including a solvent; (d) allowing the conductive liquid to flow throughout the microfluidic channel by capillary action to form the planar electrode structure; and (e) evaporating the solvent from the carrier medium, is described. Devices obtainable using the method and their applications are also described.

Microstructured polymer devices

A structured substrate is described which is suitable for forming and hosting a crystal array, as well as associated methods for making and using such a structured substrate. The structured substrate is made by injection molding and has on one side a combination of macro- and micro-structured features. Each macro-structured feature comprises an edge that forms a perimeter around an enclosed area containing a large number of the micro-structured features. When a droplet of a solution containing molecules of interest and a solvent is deposited onto one of the enclosed areas such that it extends somewhat beyond the perimeter, the droplet slowly dries and shrinks through evaporation of the solvent, during which the edge acts to seed crystallization of the molecules, and the micro-structured features act to direct crystal growth from the seed into the enclosed area. The crystal thus forms over the whole of the enclosed area in a shape that conforms to the perimeter. Crystals of a desired size and shape can therefore be formed.

Method and substrates for forming crystals

A microfluidic device comprising: a substrate having a microfluidic channel, an electrically conductive feature comprising an electrically conductive layer arranged on a primer layer and positioned with reference to the microfluidic channel, wherein the primer layer comprises: (i) an organic polymer selected from the group consisting of. (a) a homopolymer or copolymer including a vinyl lactam repeating unit, (b) a cellulose ether; (c) polyvinyl alcohol; and (d) unmodified or modified gelatin; and (ii) a porous particulate material, the organic polymer being dispersed in the porous particulate material, is provided. Methods for manufacturing the microfluidic devices and their use in a number of applications are also provided.

Microfluidic devices and methods of manufacture thereof

A photopolymerizable system comprises an organic-inorganic compound with a metal and an organic unit having a organic photopolymerizable subunit capable of undergoing a polymerization, a support matrix compound being polymer or capable of forming a polymer upon polymerization, and a photoinitiator system adapted to initiate the polymerization of the photopolymerizable subunits. The molecules of the organic-inorganic compound are distributed on a molecular level in the photopolymerizable system.

Growing community of inventors

Salzburg, Austria

Andrew Naisby