Biopolymer optofluidic device and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneeTufts University
InventorsFiorenzo Omenetto, David L. Kaplan, Brian Lawrence, Mark Cronin-Golomb
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing a biopolymer optofluidic device including providing a biopolymer, processing the biopolymer to yield a biopolymer matrix solution, providing a substrate, casting the biopolymer matrix solution on the substrate, embedding a channel mold in the biopolymer matrix solution, drying the biopolymer matrix solution to solidify biopolymer optofluidic device, and extracting the embedded channel mold to provide a fluidic channel in the solidified biopolymer optofluidic device. In accordance with another aspect, an optofluidic device is provided that is made of a biopolymer and that has a channel therein for conveying fluid.
Claims11
A device made of a solidified silk fibroin matrix, comprising:
- at least one fluidic channel therein;
- an embedded organic material;
- and
- at least one optical feature,
- wherein the silk fibroin is from at least one of silkworm silk, spider silk, genetically engineered silk, synthetic silk, or combinations thereof,
- wherein the device is characterized in that when a fluid flows through the at least one fluidic channel, it interacts with the embedded organic material to alter at least one local optical property of the solidified silk fibroin matrix such that the device is biologically and optically active, and
- wherein the at least one local optical property is selected from the group consisting of diffractive property, refractive property, transmissive property, and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.