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by Lourdes Basabe Desmonts - University of Twente
We are investigating new approaches for the generation of fluorescent chemical sensor arrays based on fluorescent monolayers on glass. Looking for the miniaturization of sensing systems for the development of miniaturized analytical assays, in our experiments we are using two products manufactured by Micronit Microfluidics, namely custom designed five-channel microfluidic chips and 140-wells glass microtiter plates, to be able to apply high throughput screening techniques for the development of new sensors. 
Minimize time effort and cost
An ideal sensor is preferentially based on simple preparation procedures and simple analysis technology to minimize time effort and cost. Integration of functional monolayers into microchannels combines the advantages of monolayer chemistry, i.e. unidirectional responding surface, fast 
response times, easy synthesis and reproducibility, with those of the microfluidic devices which allow for automation resulting in a higher reproducibility and precision on the measurements, consumption of tiny amount of reagents and less waste. The use of 140-wells glass microtiter plates allows an easy and fast fabrication and screening of libraries of different sensing systems using each well to produce a different sensor.
Why Micronit?
Special requirements for the Micronit products were that it should be possible to look at the interior of the chips and the microtiter plate wells by confocal fluorescence microscopy and commercial fluorescence scanning readers, normally used for biochip arrays. They should resist cleaning procedures with piranha solution (H2SO4:H2O2, 3:1vv) and sonication treatments. Resistance of all the products was excellent. They have not shown any damage signal over one year of continuous recycling of the products and a large number of experiments. In addition, the borosilicate glass used for the fabrication of both products did not offer any problem for the fluorescence measurements in which were involved.
Reference
Mrs Lourdes Basabe Desmonts PhD
University of Twente