Microvalves with different actuation methods offer great integrability and flexibility in operation of lab-on-chip devices. In this work, we demonstrate a hydrogel-based and optically controlled modular microvalve that can be easily integrated within a microfluidic device and actuated by an off-chip laser source. The microvalve is based on in-channel trapping of microgel particles, which are composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and polypyrrole nanoparticles. Upon irradiation by a near-infrared (NIR) laser, the microgel undergoes volumetric change and enables precisely localized fluid on/off switching. The response rate and the “open” duration of the microvalve can be simply controlled by adjusting the laser power and exposure time. We showed that the trapped microgel can be triggered to shrink sufficiently to open a channel within as low as ∼1–2 s; while the microgel swells to re-seal the channel within ∼6–8 s. This is so far one of the fastest optically controlled and hydrogel-based microvalves, thus permitting speedy fluidic switching applications. In this study, we successfully employed this technique to control fluidic interface between laminar flow streams within a Y-junction device. The optically triggered microvalve permits flexible and remote fluidic handling, and enables pulsatile in situ chemical treatment to cell culture in an automatic and programmed manner, which is exemplified by studies of chemotherapeutic drug induced cell apoptosis under different drug treatment strategies. We find that cisplatin induced apoptosis is significantly higher in cancer cells treated with a pulsed dose, as compared to continuous flow with a sustained dose. It is expected that our NIR-controlled valving strategy will provide a simple, versatile, and powerful alternative for liquid handling in microfluidic devices.
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