Fabrication of cellophane based microfluidic devices using laser direct-write approach
Fabrication of cellophane based microfluidic devices using laser direct-write approach
Commonly available cellophane, which is low cost and biodegradable, presents itself as a promising substrate for creating microfluidic devices. In this work, we report a simple and rapid laser direct-write (LDW) method for fabricating microfluidic devices in cellophane. The two-step technique involves the deposition of a light-sensitive polymer in a user-defined pattern, followed by its illumination with a continuous wave 405nm laser to cure and define the fluidic device. This method enables the creation of robust and impermeable structures that contain the flow of liquids within the flow channels and allow both pump-free, and pump-driven fluidic transport. As use-case examples, we have successfully demonstrated diffusive-mixing and colorimetric detection of nitrite and microorganisms using laser-patterned cellophane-based devices. The LDW approach provides a simple and cost-effective option for rapid prototyping and mass-manufacturing of affordable microfluidic devices, which are ideally desired for point-of-care testing within resource-constraint settings.
Laser Direct-Write (LDW), Microfluidics, Point of Care, Biosensors, Lab on Chip, Diagnostics
Ali, Ahsan
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Peter, Kessiya T.
1393f246-04ff-46dd-aa35-73008ea593bf
Galanis, Panagiotis
4457b788-deef-4293-ab39-76f501b9529d
Saeed, Kordo
87cb67e5-71e8-4759-bf23-2ea00ebd8b39
Dushianthan, Ahilanandan
013692a2-cf26-4278-80bd-9d8fcdb17751
Sivaraman, Gopalan Krishnan
308ebfc2-f6e7-43f2-893f-952c1772285f
Sones, Collin
9de9d8ee-d394-46a5-80b7-e341c0eed0a8
18 January 2026
Ali, Ahsan
60b01a70-c947-4527-a942-9126af541be0
Peter, Kessiya T.
1393f246-04ff-46dd-aa35-73008ea593bf
Galanis, Panagiotis
4457b788-deef-4293-ab39-76f501b9529d
Saeed, Kordo
87cb67e5-71e8-4759-bf23-2ea00ebd8b39
Dushianthan, Ahilanandan
013692a2-cf26-4278-80bd-9d8fcdb17751
Sivaraman, Gopalan Krishnan
308ebfc2-f6e7-43f2-893f-952c1772285f
Sones, Collin
9de9d8ee-d394-46a5-80b7-e341c0eed0a8
Ali, Ahsan, Peter, Kessiya T., Galanis, Panagiotis, Saeed, Kordo, Dushianthan, Ahilanandan, Sivaraman, Gopalan Krishnan and Sones, Collin
(2026)
Fabrication of cellophane based microfluidic devices using laser direct-write approach.
In Photonics West.
SPIE..
(doi:10.1117/12.3078724).
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Commonly available cellophane, which is low cost and biodegradable, presents itself as a promising substrate for creating microfluidic devices. In this work, we report a simple and rapid laser direct-write (LDW) method for fabricating microfluidic devices in cellophane. The two-step technique involves the deposition of a light-sensitive polymer in a user-defined pattern, followed by its illumination with a continuous wave 405nm laser to cure and define the fluidic device. This method enables the creation of robust and impermeable structures that contain the flow of liquids within the flow channels and allow both pump-free, and pump-driven fluidic transport. As use-case examples, we have successfully demonstrated diffusive-mixing and colorimetric detection of nitrite and microorganisms using laser-patterned cellophane-based devices. The LDW approach provides a simple and cost-effective option for rapid prototyping and mass-manufacturing of affordable microfluidic devices, which are ideally desired for point-of-care testing within resource-constraint settings.
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Published date: 18 January 2026
Keywords:
Laser Direct-Write (LDW), Microfluidics, Point of Care, Biosensors, Lab on Chip, Diagnostics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 509781
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/509781
PURE UUID: aaec93e4-e2c0-4503-a7b0-ee9438efc23a
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Date deposited: 04 Mar 2026 17:55
Last modified: 10 Mar 2026 03:13
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Contributors
Author:
Ahsan Ali
Author:
Kessiya T. Peter
Author:
Panagiotis Galanis
Author:
Kordo Saeed
Author:
Ahilanandan Dushianthan
Author:
Gopalan Krishnan Sivaraman
Author:
Collin Sones
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