Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microfluidic arrangement, and a microfluidic arrangement

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic arrangement, comprising:

• providing a continuous and stationary body of a first liquid in direct contact with a substrate;
• providing a second liquid in direct contact with the continuous and stationary body of the first liquid and covering the continuous and stationary body of the first liquid, such that the first liquid in the continuous and stationary body of the first liquid is in direct contact exclusively with the second liquid and the substrate;
• and
• forcing the second liquid through the first liquid in the continuous and stationary body of the first liquid and into contact with the substrate in selected regions of the substrate in order to divide the continuous and stationary body of the first liquid into a plurality of stationary sub-bodies of the first liquid that are separated from each other by the second liquid, wherein:
• the first liquid is immiscible with the second liquid;
• surface tension stably holds the plurality of stationary sub-bodies of the first liquid separated from each other by the second liquid;
• and
• the first liquid in each stationary sub-body is in direct contact with the substrate and covers a cross section of the substrate, and the second liquid completely covers the first liquid in the stationary sub-body and extends outside of the cross section covered by the first liquid to make contact with the substrate and the first liquid.