Dolomite Increases Microfluidic Chip Functionality

Royston, UK (13 February 2009) – Dolomite, world leader in microfluidic design and manufacture has significantly increased its offering with the ability to integrate metal electrodes into its range of glass and polymer microfluidic chips. A wide variety of geometries can be created such as interdigitated electrodes, heaters and temperature sensors. Applications include impedance detection and temperature control in microreactors and generation of electrical fields for dielectrophoresis. With its excellent chemical- and heat-resistant properties, platinum is most frequently used as an electrode material.

Normally between 50nm and 1µm thick, a wide range of metals can be deposited onto the microfluidic glass or polymer chips, including gold, copper, titanium and chrome. Metal feature size can be as small as 2 µm. Furthermore, metal layers can also be deposited on the inside surface of the micro-channels. Applications requiring this type of deposition include optical flow cells where the metal layer acts as an optical light guide or mirror to reflect the light beam, and in catalytic reaction chips where the metal surface can be used to promote chemical reactions.

“With this metal electrode integration, we are able to offer our customers a different kind of microfluidic chip, expanding the range of applications for which microfluidics can be used”, said Mike Hawes, Dolomite’s Head of Marketing. He continued, “With a truly extensive range of standard or customised microfluidic components, Dolomite has positioned itself as an industry leader equipped to meet the needs of any company seeking to reap the benefits of microfluidic technology”.

Along with Dolomite’s advanced capabilities in integrated metal electrodes for microfluidic chips, Dolomite also provide microfluidic devices and instruments in areas such as point of care systems, drug delivery and a wide range of biotech applications.

The Dolomite Centre Limited

Dolomite is a global leader in the design and manufacture of microfluidics devices. With offices in the UK, US and Japan and distributors throughout the rest of the world, its clients range from universities developing leading-edge analytical equipment, to manufacturers of chemical, life sciences and clinical diagnostics systems.

Excellent microfabrication facilities that include cleanrooms, precision glass processing facilities and applications laboratories were established with £2m in funding from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Micro and Nano Technology (MNT) Manufacturing Initiative. Dolomite’s expertise includes top quality engineering and scientific staff with strong backgrounds across the broad range of disciplines required for success in bringing microfluidics applications to the market, including chemistry, biotechnology, control system development, electronics, physics and instrument design and supply.