Chips explained
Find out which materials, formats, interfaces, and functional elements we offer for our microfluidic chips.
Microfluidic chips – General setup
Standardization is key
Our off-the-shelf microfluidic chips are available in numerous designs, tailored to meet different functional and application-specific requirements. With a wide range of materials, formats, interfaces, and functional elements to choose from, the customization possibilities are nearly limitless. This versatility enables us to offer tailored solutions for any microfluidic challenge.
While our chips come in numerous designs, they share a common structure: The chip body features the interfaces and functional elements, while the lid, typically a foil made from the same material as the chip body, securely seals the system.
In our catalog and webshop, we offer thousands of combinations of materials, formats, interfaces, and functional elements. If you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, we are happy to work with you to create a customized microfluidic solution that perfectly fits your needs.
Materials
Microfluidic devices are primarily made from transparent thermoplastic polymers, chosen for their excellent optical clarity and compatibility with mass production techniques such as injection molding. Commonly used chip materials include PMMA, COC, COP, PC, and PS. These materials are ideal for microfluidic applications, including microscope readout, due to their transparency and compatibility with various immersion oils.
For accessories such as connectors, plugs, and reservoirs, we typically use materials like TPE and PP.
Thermoplastics vary in their physical properties (e.g., melting temperatures) and chemical resistance, both of which can influence their suitability depending on the specific microfluidic design and intended chemical exposure. Therefore, material selection should be based on informed decisions regarding chemical compatibility. If there is any uncertainty, we strongly recommend performing resistance tests in advance.
For assistance with material selection or compatibility questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at inquiries@microfluidic-ChipShop.com.
PMMA
Poly(methyl methacrylate)
PMMA (various tradenames, e.g., Plexiglas®) is a thermoplastic polymer commonly used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass.
Due to its low gas permeability, PMMA is recommended for cell culture under anaerobic conditions.
PMMA is not resistant to alcohols and concentrated acids, but exhibits a comparatively good compatibility with certain oils, such as olive oil or rapeseed oil.
PMMA chips are compatible with optical microscopy, including the use of various immersion oils (e.g., Immersol 518F).
PC
Polycarbonate
PC is a thermoplastic polymer that, compared to other materials commonly used in microfluidics (such as Zeonor or Topas), is less hydrophobic. As a result, it shows an improved wetting behavior for aqueous solutions.
PC is comparatively resistant to ethanol, as well as fluorinated oils, mineral oils, and silicon oils, making it particularly well-suited for applications like droplet generation and LNP production.
PC chips are compatible with optical microscopy, including the use of various immersion oils (e.g., Immersol 518F).
PS
Polystyrene
PS is an aromatic polymer derived from the monomer styrene and is the standard material conventionally used in life sciences. Standard polystyrene is clear, hard and brittle, with a relatively low melting point.
PS offers comparably good gas and water vapor permeability, making it suitable for biological applications. Due to its biocompatibility, it is commonly used in cell culture experiments. However, PS is not resistant to alcohols.
PS chips are compatible with optical microscopy, including the use of various immersion oils (e.g., Immersol 518F).
COC
Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer COC
COC (tadename, e.g., Topas®) belongs to the class of cyclic olefin copolymers which are typically made by copolymerization of cyclic olefin and linear alkene monomers. Its low water absorption and high chemical resistance makes it an ideal material for a wide range of microfluidic applications.
Topas is comparatively resistant to ethanol, fluorinated oils and can also be used with silicon oils, making it well suited for droplet generation and LNP production. Its biocompatibility and low autofluorescence also make it a popular choice for cell culture experiments involving fluorescence-based readouts.
Topas chips are compatible with optical microscopy, including the use of various immersion oils (e.g., Immersol 518F).
COP (Zeonor)
Cyclo-Olefin Polymer
COP (tradename, e.g. Zeonor®) belongs to the class of cyclo-olefin polymers which are typically made by polymerization of cyclic olefin monomers. It is nonpolar, amorphous, and a highly durable material with a very low water absorption compared to other thermoplastics.
Thanks to its relatively high heat resistance, it is well-suited for PCR applications. Zeonor is comparatively resistant to ethanol and various polar solvents, making it a good choice for LNP production. Due to its low autofluorescence, Zeonor is well-suited for optical readouts and fluorescence-based detection methods.
Zeonor chips are compatible with optical microscopy, including the use of various immersion oils (e.g., Immersol 518F).
COP (Zeonex)
Cyclo-Olefin Polymer
COP (tradename, e.g., Zeonex®) belongs to the class of cyclo-olefin polymers which are typically made by polymerization of cyclic olefin monomers. It is nonpolar, amorphous, and a highly durable material with a very low water absorption.
Due to its relatively high heat resistance it is recommended for PCR applications. Zeonex is comparatively resistant to ethanol and a range of other polar solvents.
Zeonex chips are compatible with optical microscopy.
TPE
Thermoplastic Elastomer
We use TPE primarily for accessories like connectors and plugs. It is a rather soft material which provides a good seal of interfaces, and effectively prevents leakage. TPE is suitable for cell culture applications, as it can be easily sterilized using 70% ethanol.
PP
Polypropylene
We use PP primarily for accessories like connectors, plugs, and tanks.
It is well-suited for cell culture experiments as it can easily be sterilized with 70% ethanol.
Glass
Borosilicate & Glassomer
Glass is a transparent material characterized by low autofluorescence, as well as high thermal and chemical resistance. These properties make it suitable for a wide range of applications, including UV spectroscopy and chemical synthesis.
Our off-the-shelf glass chips are manufactured from borosilicate glass. For specialized needs, alternative materials are also available – such as the newly patented Glassomer, which combines the advantages of glass while enabling microfabrication by injection molding.
Surface modifications
Thermoplastic materials are inherently hydrophobic, typically exhibiting water contact angles greater than 80°. However, most of our off-the-shelf chips are also available in hydrophilized versions, which have undergone a surface treatment to reduce contact angles and improve wettability.
Looking for a specific surface treatment or coating? Explore our custom surface treatments and a wide range of tailored fabrication services by following the link below.
Why don’t we offer PDMS?
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a organic silicone polymer commonly used in academic microfluidic research due to its ease of prototyping and low-cost, small-scale production. However, PDMS has significant limitations that make it unsuitable for the commercial production of microfluidic devices.
One major drawback is its high non-specific absorption of small molecules, which can interfere with sensitive assays or chemical reactions. Additionally, PDMS is not compatible with industrial-scale manufacturing due to its high cost and the long cycle times of the polymerization process.
Key fluidic parameters, such as surface tension, bonding characteristics, and structural stability, differ significantly between PDMS and more industrially utilized materials like thermoplastics or glass. As a result, experiments performed in PDMS usually cannot be directly translated to commercial platforms made from these materials.
Formats
Our chips are available in a variety of standardized shapes and sizes, designed to meet common laboratory requirements. Most of our off-the-shelf chips come in standard microscope slide, double slide, or titer plate formats, ensuring compatibility with typical lab equipment.
We also offer alternative formats, such as wafers, which serve as versatile substrates for prototyping.
Looking for a custom format? We’re happy to help – just reach out to us at inquiries@microfluidic-ChipShop.com.
Microscope Slide
75.5 mm x 25.5 mm with various thicknesses
Our most common and versatile format. It can be used in many different setups. It is compact, yet big enough to be handled easily.
Double Slide
75.5 mm x 50 mm x 2 mm
The in-between solution, providing a larger area for integrated functions than the slide format but smaller than the microtiter plate format.
Microtiter Plate
85.48 mm x 127.76 mm
The standard microtiter plate format allows for integration in automated devices commonly available in laboratories.
Extended Size Platform I
95.5 mm x 16 mm x 1.5 mm
The platform for those who require a long and narrow format. Micro-structured examples for this chip are our electrophoresis chips.
Extended Size Platform II
141 mm x 16 mm x 1.5 mm
The platform for those who require a very long and narrow format.
Wafers
Various diameters and thicknesses
Our wafers provide an ideal platform for prototyping via polymer micromilling, offering a high degree of format flexibility, as they can be easily cut into various shapes and sizes to suit specific application needs. In addition, our wafers are also well suited as substrates for hot embossing.
CD Format
120 mm x 1.5 mm
For applications making use of liquid transport by centrifugal forces.
Pie-Slice Plate
60° sector of a circle, radius 75 mm, height 4 mm
A variation of the centrifugal platform is the pie-slice plate. It allows the modular assembly of different functions in different sectors of the disc. This format allows for higher fluidic volume applications than the CD format.
Diagnostic Platform (Dx)
135.68 mm x 67.04 mm
One for all – This platform enables full assay integration on a single chip, including sample preparation, reagent handling, amplification, readout, and waste management. Both the microfluidic chip and the matching instrument, ChipGenie® edition Dx, can be customized to meet your specific needs.
Handheld platform
104 x 25.5 mm
The handheld platform is a versatile point-of-care (POC) solution, ideal for easy reagent uptake and release thanks to its smart pipetting nozzle. It supports various liquid samples and readout formats, and can be easily adapted to fit your analytical assay.
This platform can be offered with a customizable cap, which can be produced in your corporate color and branded with your logo.
Interfaces
With standardized pitch for seamless automation
Mini Luer
The Mini Luer interface is our most versatile interface.
Choose from a wide range of accessories to fill, close or connect your chip.
Key features:
- Internal volume: 16.5 µl
- Inner diameter: 2.64 mm
- Height: 2.5 mm
- Pitch between two Mini Luer interfaces on a chip: 4.5 mm
Luer
The Luer interface is a versatile interface for your microfluidic chip. It is an international standard for (micro-) fluidic devices.
Choose from a wide range of accessories to fill, close or connect your chip.
Key features:
- Internal volume: 53 µl
- Inner diameter: 4.18 mm
- Height: 4 mm
- Pitch between interfaces: 9 mm
Olives
The olive interface is the most direct way to connect flexible tubing such as silicon tubing.
Key features:
- Internal volume: 2.5 µl
- Inner diameter: 1 mm
- Height: 4 mm
Through-holes
The through-hole is a standard interface featured on all glass chips and selected injection-molded chips. It allows for seamless automation, e.g. using pipetting robots.
If alternative interfaces are required, stand-alone interfaces such as olives, Luer, or Mini Luer fittings can be easily mounted onto the through-hole.
Key features:
- Internal volume: 0.6 µl
- Inner diameter: 1.4 mm
Pipetting interface
The pipetting interface makes fluid handling effortless—simply pipette directly onto the chip. Compatible with most standard pipette tips, it’s the perfect choice for custom chips designed for automated or manual workflows, including robotic filling.
Key features:
- Internal volume: 4.2 µl
- Inner diameter: 2.38 mm
- Height: 2.5 mm
Dou you want to learn more about our standard interfaces?
Watch the following videos and download our product flyer!
Functional Elements
Introducing microfluidic structures and hybrid elements
Blister
Blisters are ideal for long term storage of liquid reagents on your chip. Find more information in our blister flyer.
Channels
Channels come in different depths, widths and lengths. It is possible to create different depths within one channel. Channels can be straight or cross each other.
Chambers
Chambers come in different depths, widths and lengths. It is possible to create different depths within one chamber. Large chambers might feature further structures like wells (for example to store droplets) or pillars (to support the chip lid).
Electrodes
Electrodes allow for applying voltage to the chip, enabling you to perform electrophoresis and other voltage driven experiments on a microfluidic scale.
›Click here to watch a video presenting on-chip capillary electrophoresis
Membranes
Membranes can be integrated in the chip to filter various materials (e.g., blood, nucleic acids), or as cross-flow membranes for co-culture of different cell types within two separate culture compartments.
Mixing structures
Mixing structures can be designed for passive mixing (e. g. the 3D serpentine mixer or the herringbone mixer) or for active mixer (using tiny magnetic stir bars or finger pumps).
Sensor integration areas
Some of our chips have pre-defined areas for integration of sensors via e.g., double-sided adhesive tape.
›Click here to watch a video featuring our sensor integration chips
Waste chambers
Waste chambers on chips are a good solution when you don’t want contaminated material to leave the chip.
Weirs
Weirs can be integrated in a chip to retain cells or particles by size.
Turning valves
Turning valves multiply the possible combinations of channels and in- or outlets on your chip.
