Licensing opportunity
ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, is looking to license a sealing mechanism and chip-holder that allows leak-tight assembly of micro-reactor chips to channel system microfluidic devices that are often prevented from establishing fluidic connections due to contact with air and moisture.
Metal catalysts or enzymes used for chemical and biochemical reactions are sensitive materials that can easily be degraded during and transformation when in contact with air and moisture. The technology is a “plug and play” solution that seals micro-reactors packed with sensitive material under a protective gas atmosphere and does not require the use of glove boxes.
The technology allows simultaneous penetration of the micro-reactor, containing sensitive material, and the chipholder, consisting of microfluidic connections that fit into the in- and outlets of the micro-reactor chip, into an impermeable and chemically inert sealing material, so establishing tight fluidic connections and keeping sensitive materials shielded from contact with air and moisture.
The plug and play micro-reactor system can be applied to heterogeneous catalysis, biological and biochemical settings, immobilisation of cells, proteins and enzymes and in a Lab-on-Chip system.
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