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Core FacilityScientific Facility for Microfabrication and Microfluidics

Microfluidics is an emerging field and is finding use in various disciplines. Starting from understanding flow mechanisms, to the generation of synthetic cells based on droplet-based microfluidics, to complex organ-on-a-chip models.

Logo: On the left is an abstractly formed black letter M on a light blue square, next to it on a grey-blue horizontal rectangle is the name of the facility in black letters: Scientific Facility for Microfabrication and Microfluidics

At the newly established Microfluidic Core Facility (µFlu CF) at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM) at the University of Heidelberg, we aim to provide this valuable tool to every interested research group in and around the Neuenheimer Feld.

In our µFlu CF, we will support researchers from the start by giving input to the project design, to the production of microfluidic chips up to conducting the experiments in our S1 and S2 Biosafety laboratories.

Additionally, we are offering an introduction to the microfluidic work flow, starting with soft lithography to the handling and usage of the microfluidic chips. These tasks can be fulfilled at the facility either independently or under supervision.

We have several instruments in our facility, which can be used to make microfluidic structures ranging from 5µm up to 3mm with different techniques. Hereby, we are not only concentrating on the generation of PDMS-based microfluidic chips, but also on the application of nested glass capillary-based devices.

Equipment & Techniques

Equipment

  • Mask-less Aligner (Heidelberg Instruments, µMLA)
  • High-Speed Camera (Photron, FactCam Ux50)
  • Pressure-based Flow Controller (Elveflow)
  • Syringe Pumps (InfuseTek)
  • Micropuller (WPI, Pul-1000)
  • 3D Profilometer (KLA, Profil3D)

Techniques

  • Generation of differently sized (nm to µm) Water-in-Oil droplets and micrometer-sized Oil-in-Water droplets
  • Electrical Set up for droplet manipulation on chip
  • Real-Time Deformation Cytometer
  • Continuous Flow Experiments (On-chip cell sorting)

Contact

Dr. Sadaf Pashapour
Senior Scientist

Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials
Im Neuenheimer Feld 225
69120 Heidelberg

sadaf.pashapour@uni-heidelberg.de

Funding Resources

Logo: Health+Life Science Alliance in a clean black font on the right hand side. Left of the writing is a black dot, evenly surrounded by a bit smaller, dark turquoise dots, these again surrounded by smaller light turquoise dots, alltogether forming sort of a flower or snowcrystal like symbol

The Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim is supported by the State of Baden-Württemberg as part of its Innovation Campus strategy. The Innovation Campus is financed through state funds approved by the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg.