Electroactive β-PVDF polymer as fluidic acoustic mixer for lab-on-a-chip applications

Abstract

This study aims to the incorporation and validation of the use of a piezoelectric polymer Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride) in its beta-phase, beta-PVDF, in a fully-integrated disposable lab-on-a-chip for point-of-care testing and monitoring of biochemical parameters in biological fluids. With the deposition of the polymer underneath the microfluidics structures, acoustic microagitation can be obtained through electrical actuation, which leads to the enhancement of mixing and reaction time without moving parts.