Customized Microfluidics
From your idea to a microchip
Customized Microfluidics provides support in the choice, design, and fabrication of microfluidic systems customized for your specific research needs. Our services are available to research groups at all Swedish universities, as well as national industry that will benefit from introducing microfluidic solutions to their research and development.
Our mission is to advance life science research by helping translate your idea into a microchip, from first consultation through to prototype delivery. While our focus is rooted in life science, our tools and expertise are equally well suited to microfluidic projects in chemistry, materials science, and beyond.
What we offer
- Consultation on suitable approaches, assays and devices, including available commercial options and a cost estimate. One hour with an expert is free of charge.
- Design input for your microfluidic platform
- Fabrication of microfluidic components, using tools ranging from UV lithography and etching to two-photon polymerization, covering length scales from nanometers to millimeters, in materials including glass, silicon and polymers such as PDMS, PMMA and COC. Scroll down for a full list of available equipment.
- Functionality testing before delivery, and troubleshooting of your microfluidic setups in house or on site
- Advice and training on peripheral equipment, such as pumps, needed to operate your devices
- Access to a test bed for assessing your devices with high-end pumps and a microscope
- Scientific and budgetary advice for grant applications
Do you have an idea or a question?
All projects will start with a free 1-hour consultation to discuss your project needs and whether this service is the right one for you.
Both internal and external users are welcome to get in touch with Customized Microfluidics via the form below or send us an email to discuss your idea or question.
Drop-in hours
On Tuesdays and Fridays kl. 13.00 to 14.00 we offer drop-in hours at Ångströmlaboratoriet and Zoom to discuss a potential project or get help troubleshooting an existing microfluidic platform. Availability is first come, first served.
How a project works
Case Studies
To date, Customized Microfluidics has worked with academic researchers from across 10 different Swedish universities. Scroll down to explore a number of case studies to show the range of capabilities available through our service.
Equipment
Here you can find a list of equipment used by Customized Microfluidics:
- UV lithography (including SU-8)
- Electron beam lithography (EBL)
- Two-photon polymerization printer (2PP)
- Sputtering
- Evaporators
- Oxidation furnaces
- Reactive ion etcher (RIE)
- Anodic bonder (Si/glass)
- Fusion bonder furnace (glass/glass)
- Vinyl plotter
- Dry films laminator
- Micromilling
- Laser cutter (nanoseconds laser)
- Dicing saw
- Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
- Optical profilometer
- Atomic force microscope (AFM)
A more complete list of available equipment can be found at http://lims.msl.angstrom.uu.se/
Publications
Where have we contributed?
2022
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
"Microfluidics platform for studies of peptide – polyelectrolyte interaction"
M. Wanselius, S. Searle, A. Rodler, M. Tenje, S. Abrahms´en-Alami,
P. Hansson
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121785
The ISME Journal
"Photophysiological response of Symbiodiniaceae single cells to temperature stress"
L. Xiao, S. Johansson, S. Rughöft, F. Burki, M. M. Sandin, M. Tenje and L. Behrendt
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-022-01243-6
Gels
"Responsive Hyaluronic Acid–Ethylacrylamide Microgels Fabricated Using Microfluidics Technique"
M. Wanselius, A. Rodler, S. S. Searle, S. Abrahmsén-Alami and P. Hansson
2021
RSC Advances
"Fabrication and characterisation of a silicon-borosilicate glass microfluidic device for synchrotron-based hard X-ray spectroscopy studies"
P. M. Raj, L. Barbe, M. Andersson, M. De Albuquerque Moreira, D. Haase, J. Wootton, S. Nehzati, A. E. Terry, R. J. Friel, M. Tenje and K. G. V. Sigfridsson Clauss
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05270E
Lab on a chip
"A microscopy-compatible temperature regulation system for single-cell phenotype analysis – demonstrated by thermoresponse mapping of microalgae"
M. Andersson, S. Johansson, H. Bergman, L. Xiao, L. Behrendt and M.Tenje
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01288B
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
"Sorption of Neuropsychopharmaca in Microfluidic Materials for In Vitro Studies"
T. E. Winkler and A. Herland
2020
Micromachines
"Fabrication of Silicon Microfluidic Chips for Acoustic Particle Focusing Using Direct Laser Writing"
A. Fornell, P. Söderbäck, Z. Liu, M. De Albuquerque Moreira and M. Tenje
FAQs
Who is welcome?
Our mission is to support researcher groups at all Swedish universities and national SMEs that will benefit from introducing microfluidic solutions to their research and R&D.
What costs are involved?
Our initial support and advice is free of charge for Swedish researchers. After discussion between you and the facility, and should you wish to pursue a project with us, we will be able to provide a time and cost estimate based on your needs.
How does the facility prioritize projects?
Scientific quality is always our main priority in choosing among the projects.
How long does it take until my chip is ready?
This depends on the complexity of the microsystem design and fabrication. It is our ambition that first prototype should be delivered within 1-2 months but in some cases it may take longer.
How does the facility handle IPRs?
Already at the first meeting we will discuss any IPR issues involved in the project and if you prefer, we provide a NDA.
Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you
Drop-in: Tuesdays and Fridays kl. 13:00 - 14:00. Welcome to visit us at Ångströmlaboratoriet or Zoom
Email: customizedmicrofluidics@angstrom.uu.se
Phone: +46 (0) 18 471 23 46
Postal address: Box 35, 751 03 UPPSALA, SWEDEN
Visiting address: Ångströmlaboratoriet, Regementsvägen 10, 751 20 UPPSALA, SWEDEN
