Reversible Crosslinking of Polymer/Metal-Ion Complexes for a Microfluidic Switch
Hojun Lee, Soon-Bo Kang, Hyunjae Yoo, Hae-Ryung Lee, Jeong‐Yun Sun
Abstract
led to the rapid realization of gel characteristics. The results here provide strategies for process engineering, ultimately to determine the phase-transition rates. In addition, a microfluidic switch was successfully operated based on a better understanding of the reversible crosslinking of the chitosan hydrogel. Rapid gelation was required to close the channel, and a quick switchover was achieved by a dissolution enhancement strategy. As a result, factors that regulated the rates of gelation or dissolution were found to be useful to operate the fluidic switch.
Topics & Concepts
MicrofluidicsPolymerMetalMaterials scienceMetal ions in aqueous solutionIonChemical engineeringPolymer chemistryNanotechnologyPolymer scienceChemistryComposite materialOrganic chemistryMetallurgyEngineeringAnalytical Chemistry and SensorsMicrofluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis ApplicationsPolymer Surface Interaction Studies