Microfluidic applications encompass nanomaterials such as nano-enabled surfaces (NES) and nano-enabled membranes (NEMs). However, current production technologies do not support the mass production of complex nano-patterned surfaces, prohibiting the transfer of NES and NEMs into commercial microfluidic devices.
The project NextGenMicrofluidics addresses this challenge with a platform for production of NES and NEMs based microfluidics on large area polymer foils. This approach enables upscaling to high throughput of 1 million devices per year and more. The polymer foil technology is complemented with classic technologies of injection moulding and wafer based glass and silicon processing. These core facilities are combined with essential
backend processing steps like high resolution biomolecule printing with the worldwide first roll-to-roll microarray spotter, printing of nano-enabled inks, as well as coating and lamination processes.
These unique facilities will be combined and upgraded to a platform for testing of upscaling of microfluidic use cases from TRL4 to TRL7. The services comprise device simulation, mastering of nanostructures, nanomaterial development, material testing, rapid prototyping, device testing, nano-safety assessment and support in regulatory and standardization issues.
The platform will be opened for additional use cases from outside of the consortium, and is therefore called Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB). The operation of such use cases will form the basis for self-sufficient operation of the platform as Microfluidics Innovation Hub after the project duration of 4 years.
What is an OITB and how is NGM related to
Microfluidics Innovation Hub?
NextGenMicrofluidics is an EU H2020-funded project within the topic DT-NMPB-13 Open Innovation Test Beds for nano-enabled surfaces and membranes (IA). Open Innovation Test Beds should upgrade or develop materials facilities and make available to industry and interested parties, including SMEs, services for the design, development, testing, safety assessment, and upscaling of new nano-enabled surfaces and membranes.
The OITB NextGenMicrofluidics has created the start-up Microfluidics Innovation Hub, as the single entry point to the microfluidic technologies offered by NGM project partners (and, potentially, additional companies interested in joining MIH).