Rolled-Up Microsystems

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The RUM consortium will develop a novel micro-technology approach, based on the self-rolling of thin polymeric films, that will result in an extensive micro-engineering process with a high degree of dimensional and morphological control.The research will be based upon a theoretical prediction of the rolling process for non-trivial geometries and morphologies, as well as for each of the relevant processing steps, and a correlation of the predictions with experimental findings.The RUM consortium will combine self-rolling with functional and metal ink-jetting including subsequent galvano-forming to achieve unique inner-tube decoration with micro-devices. The process development will be focused on novel applications that are enabled by this new approach, and will demonstrate the high potential of the technology.The basis application will be an extensive and when required optically transparent lab-on-a-chip infrastructure that lies on top of rather than embedded in the carrier substrate. The above-surface micro-fluidic networks will be augmented by cell-biological functions requiring smooth non- rectangular micro-tubes and patterned chemical decoration of the inner tube surfaces. Through the use of 2 photon polymerisation, unique 3D herringbone-like chaotic flow mixer structures will be formed which should yield a new fluid dynamic understanding and higher degree of fluidic mixing that currently possible in micromixers.The micro-fluidic channels will contain unique and precisely formed Alderman-Grant nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) detector structures within the tubes, and connected to passives and micro-coaxial cables, that will enable high resolution NMR spectrum (MRS) and imaging (MRI) capabilities whilst at the same time performing microfluidic-based cell-proliferation studies. The RUM consortium will also develop structures with which to connect the fluidic and radiofrequency devices to the outside world.Taken together, we aim to demonstrate unprecedented precision and parallelization of this novel lab-on-a-chip functionality, and if successful, aim to open up brand new areas of investigation.