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The purpose of this paper is to focus on the technology and performance of the miniature microfluidic module for urea determination. The presented module was made using low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC). It shows the possibility for the integration of the bioreceptor layers with structures that have been fabricated using modern microelectronic technology.

The presented microfluidic module was fabricated using LTCC technology. The possibility for the fabrication of an enzymatic microreactor in a multilayer ceramic substrate, made of CeramTec glass ceramic (GC) material systems with an integrated thick-film heater, is studied. Different configurations of the LTCC/heater materials (gold, silvers and palladium-silver) are taken into account. The performance of the LTCC-based microfluidic module with the integrated heater and immobilized enzyme was examined experimentally.

A compatible material for the heater embedded in the CeramTec GC-based structures was found. The preliminary measurements made for the test solution containing various concentrations of urea have shown stability (for seven days of operation) and a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (above 3 pH units) for the microreactor’s output signal.

The presented research is a preliminary work which is focused on the fabrication of the LTCC-based microfluidic module, with an integrated heater and immobilized enzyme for urea determination. The device was positively tested using a model reaction of the hydrolysis of urea. However, urea concentration in real (biological) fluid should also be measured.

The development of the LTCC-based microfluidic module for urea determination provides opportunity for the construction of a lab-on-chip, or μTAS-type system, for fast medical diagnoses and the continuous monitoring of various biochemical parameters, e.g. for estimating the effectiveness of hemodialysis.

This paper shows the design, fabrication and performance of the novel microfluidic module for urea determination, made with LTCC technology.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on development and electrical characterization of miniature ion-selective electrode (ISE) for application in micro total analysis system or lab-on-chip devices. The presented ISE is made using low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC). It shows possibility of integration chemically sensitive layers with structures fabricated using modern microelectronic technology.

The presented ISEs were fabricated using LTCC microelectronic technology. The possibility of ISE fabrication on multilayer ceramic substrate made of two different LTCC material systems (CeramTec GC, Du Pont 951) with deposited thick-film silver pad is studied. Different configurations of LTCC/silver pad (surface, embedded) are taken into account. Electrical performance of all LTCC-based structures with integrated ISE was examined experimentally.

The preliminary measurements made for ammonium ions have shown good repeatability and linear response with slope of about 30-35 mV/dec. Moreover, no significant impact of the LTCC material system and silver pad configuration on fabricated ISEs’ electrical properties was noticed.

The presented research is a preliminary work. The authors focused on ISE fabrication on LTCC substrates without any microfluidic structures. Therefore, further research work will be needed to evolve ion-selective membrane deposition inside microfluidic structures made in LTCC substrates.

Development of the LTCC-based ISE makes the fabrication of detection units for integrated microfluidic systems possible. These devices can find practical applications in analytical diagnosis and continuous monitoring of various biochemical parameters.

This paper shows design, fabrication and performance of the novel ISE fabrication using LTCC technology.