Optimized fabrication protocols of microfluidic devices for X-ray analysis

Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted A polyimide microfluidic device was developed for X-ray scattering measurements.A simple lamination process was used to fabricate microfluidic devices.Optimized fabricated microfeatures allow reducing the X-ray scattering background.The cell can be used for studying chemical reactions and for biological analysis. Microfluidics combined with X-ray scattering techniques allows probing conformational changes or assembly processes of biological materials. Our aim was to develop a highly X-ray transparent microfluidic cell for detecting small variations of X-ray scattering involved in such processes. We describe the fabrication of a polyimide microfluidic device based on a simple, reliable and inexpensive lamination process. The implemented microstructured features result in windows with optimized X-ray transmission. The microfluidic device was characterized by X-ray microbeam scattering at the ID13 beamline of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.