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One simple but very effective way to clean a microchip is to flush an alkaline solution through the channels. A solution of 1 M sodium hydroxide in water works well, but a lower concentration might also be sufficient. If traces of the cleaning solution...

We recommend using a high precision pumping system. Regular syringe pumps often don't work very well for droplet generators. There are several high precision pumping systems on the market that work with different pumping principles.

To name one, we'd like to mention that we have had positive experiences with the equipment Fluigent offers: https://www.fluigent.com/

This depends on many things. For example on the type of fluid that you are using. Check our flowrate instructions to find out how to start.

Decrease your flowrate. Check our flowrate instructions for a more acurate explanation.

Use our surfactant guide for advice on surfactants.

Have a look at our article about surface wetting properties.

It is possible to couple Micronit OOC devices to commercial optical readers for dissolved gases in the culture medium. This option allows for applications such as the monitoring of oxygen in the culture chamber.

Have a look at this document about imaging systems.

Always check that there’s no blockage in one of the flow paths, this can be verified by checking the amount of collected liquid in a specific time frame and compare it with the expected amount for the flow rate used.

If this isn't the case, droplet formation on the end of the tubing is the problem. Each falling droplet affects the flow a bit, resulting in changes in flow rates. Resolve this by keeping the end of the tubing in the collection reservoir submerged in liquid.

Amoyav, Benzion, and Ofra Benny "Controlled and tunable polymer particles’ production using a single microfluidic device." Applied Nanoscience (2018): 1-10. Abstract Microfluidics technology offers a new platform to control liquids under flow in small...

Lucio, Adam A., et al. "Spatiotemporal variation of endogenous cell-generated stresses within 3D multicellular spheroids." Scientific reports 7.1 (2017): 12022. Abstract Multicellular spheroids serve as an excellent platform to study tissue behavior...

Absolutely! Micronit is a key supplier for flow cells in the Next Generation Sequencing market and can manufacture flow cells competely according to your specific requirements. 

What can be customized?

• The channel shape.
• The channel height and width.
  For wet etching its important to consider that channel height and minimal channel width are related.
  {minimal channel width} = 2 * {etch depth} + {initial mask opening, typcial 5-10µm} 
  Larger aspect ratios (relation between channel depth and width) are possible using dry etching. For this, a glass/silicon combination is most common.
• Choice of material. For instance, fused silica is a good option when UV light is used. Schott D263 bio can be a good alternative for some specific fluorescent labels. 
• Surface flatness. We can provide ultra flat surfaces.

Cleaning

Resealable flowcells are produced in cleanroom facilities and clean areas to prevent physical impurities. After use, cleaning might be required to remove organic residues. Please use distinguished cleaning processes for glass slides with and without a gasket.

Glass slides with gasket:

• Can be cleaned with ethanol, isopropanol and acetone. The glass slides could be either immersed in the solvents or rinsed with them. Immersion might lead to diffusion of solvents into the gasket. Therefore, it is recommended to rinse the glass slide with the gasket thoroughly with water or buffer to remove residues.
• Only wipe with lint free tissue, otherwise the sealing might be affected negatively or completely lost.
• It is advised to not wipe the gasket as this might damage it and reduce its sealing abilities.
• Physical cleaning of the surface by either heat (with a maximum temperature of 140 °C) or oxygen plasma is possible.
• Cleaning with acids or bases has not been fully tested.

Glass slides without gasket:

• Can be cleaned with organic solvents.
• Can be gently wiped with tissue.
• Physical cleaning of the surface by either heat up to 400 °C or oxygen plasma treatment is possible.
• Alkaline solution can be used to clean the surface, e.g. 1 M sodium hydroxide in water.
• Concentrated sulfuric acids could dissolve organic material, but are extremely corrosive, therefore it is not advised to use those. Hydrochloric acid could be used for cleaning, as well as bleach.

Sterilization

Resealable flowcells are not sterilized when delivered. Please use distinguished sterilization processes for glass slides with and without a gasket.

Glass slides with gasket:

• Can be sterilized with ethanol.
• Dry heat of up to 140 °C can be applied.
• Can be autoclaved.

Glass slides without gasket:

• Can be sterilized with ethanol.
• Can be autoclaved.

The EOR chip itself are manufactured from glass an can easily withstand up to 300C. However they are supplied in a black fluidic cartridge. This cartridge can width stand up to 80C.

There’s no sealant used, two layers of glass are fusion bonded together.  

The chip can withstand easily up to 100 bar. However the external interfacing is more critical.  Our Fluidic Connect holder offers the largest pressure, up to 80 bars (maybe less at elevated temperatures). Please note that the Fluidic Connect holder is a bit more complex in use. You need a bit of feeling to apply not too much force, which might brake the chip, but sufficient to obtain sufficient sealing. It might be necessary to tighten a bit more when pressure and temperature are increased. Please remove the pressure before additional tightening.