LOAC Workshop 2022

DPBM-155 Lab-on-a-chip workshop for biomedical applications (2 credits).

Biomedicum Helsinki, meeting room B401b and lab C411/C405

Registration open until 21.11.2022

Course program
  • Tue 29.11. 13-16 Introductory lectures (B401b)
  • Wed 30.11. 13-15 AutoCAD designs (B401b)
  • Thu 1.12. 9-15 Masters&casting group 1 (C411/C405)
  • Fri 2.12. 9-15 Masters&casting group 2 (C411/C405)
  • Wed 7.12. 9-12 Chip finalizations group 1 (C411/C405)
  • Wed 7.12. 13-16 Chip finalizations group 2 (C411/C405)
  • Fri 9.12.13-15 New chip batches (C411/C405)
  • 8-15.12. Chip tests in own labs, report writing
  • Tue 13.12. 9-11 Micronova visit, Tietotie 3, Espoo (Otaniemi)
  • Fri 16.12. 13-16 Course wrap up with report presentations B401b

Max 10 students can be taken to the course. If more applicants, students from DPBM and other DSHealth programs will be prioritized.

The course will give the students a theoretical overview and practical hands-on skills to design and fabricate simple microfluidic chips for biomedical applications. Course includes introductory lectures, chip designing with CAD program, wet-lab parts for mold and chip fabrication and testing. Soft lithography at the Meilahti cleanroom/lab is used to fabricate the master mold, replicate the patterns into PDMS (one type of silicone) chips, cut, clean and bond the chips to support glass slides, and make treatments and interphases. The students will then test the chips further in their own labs and prepare a written report of the work and tests, along with a short plan of chip ideas they would like to work with in future. In the end we'll have a wrap-up session where all students present their work and chips for others. An excursion to a larger Micronova cleanroom facility in Otaniemi (Espoo) will be also arranged.

This workshop focuses on hands-on work, applications and PDMS as widely used prototype material. To gain a wider theoretical understanding of microfluidics and other chip materials, we recommend to take also this Aalto University course in Otaniemi, running on Wednesdays in 11.1.-17.4.2023 CHEM-E8135 Microfluidics and BioMEMS (5 credits).

Contacts for DPBM-155 organizers&teachers:
paivi.saavalainen@helsinki.fi, pinja.elomaa@helsinki.fi