Multiphysics analysis and practical implementation of an ionic soft actuator-based microfluidic device toward the design of a POCT compatible active micromixer

Abstract

Electroactive-Polymers (EAPs) are one of the best soft materials with great applications in active microfluidics. Ionic ones (i-EAPs) have more promising features for being appropriate candidates to use in active microfluidic devices. Here, as a case study, we have designed and fabricated a microfluidic micromixer using an i-EAP named Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC). In microfluidics, active devices have more functionality but due to their required facilities are less effective for Point of Care Tests (POCTs). In the direction of solving this paradox, we should use some active components that they need minimum facilities. IPMC can be one of these components, hence by integrating the IPMC actuator into a microfluidic channel, a micromixer chip was designed and put to the simulation and experimental tests. The result showed that the proposed micromixer is able to mix the micro fluids properly and IPMC actuator has adequate potential to be an active component for POCT-based microfluidic chips.