Flexible Microfluidics for Wearable Electronics

New fabrication technologies such as layer transfer and lamination, soft lithography, inkjet printing, and 3D printing are developed for flexible microfluidics. Flexible microfluidics is widely used, especially in wearable applications, including biosensing and motion sensing. This chapter provides information on flexible materials, fabrication technologies, and the applications of flexible microfluidics. Many materials have been developed and used in flexible microfluidics. These materials can be divided into three classes: polymer, silicone elastomer, and fabric. Each of these materials possesses inherent qualities compatible for different applications. The chapter introduces fabrication methods of traditional microfluidic devices made by polymer and silicone elastomer and the processing methods of open-surface microfluidics made by fabric. With the fast development of flexible materials and fabrication methods, the combination of fluid manipulation and flexible electronics promotes the application of functional microfluidics, e.g. wearable microfluidics for biosensing and health care.