Conformable and contactless electromagnetic actuation module based on magnetoactive functional polymer film: Modeling, design, manufacturing and application in peristaltic microfluidic pump

Flexible actuations by soft curved surfaces of smart magnetoactive functional materials emerge in organic synthesis or microreactors, taking advantages of excellent biocompatibility, contactless actuation, and high responsiveness. This work proposes a conformable, contactless electromagnetic (EM) actuation module combined by flexible magnetoactive polymer film (FMPF), ideal for highly integrated actuation systems. The theoretical magneto-mechanical coupling mechanisms of the proposed module is derived for precision actuation control and device design guidance, with accuracy evaluations by both multi-physics simulations and multi-property tests. A valveless multi-chamber peristaltic micropump (mCPMP) is developed by the proposed module, whose working principle and fabrication processes are detailed. Experimental results demonstrate a flow rate of 3.55 μL/min at an excitation current of 0.175 A and maximum FMPF deformation of 0.129 mm, and the recorded flowrate can steadily distributes between [2.72, 3.5] μL/min in two-hour continuously pumping, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed system in long-term working. Besides, a microfluid actuation prototype with fully soft module body made by PDMS is displayed to further deomonstrate the feasibility of application in conformable actuation systems. The proposed EM actuation module enables fully conformable and contactless precise micro-volume liquid transportation with operational safety and cleanliness, which can facilitate intelligent, contactless fluid control for high-precision applications in targeted therapy or organ-on-a-chip systems. • Conformable/contactless microvolume chemical transduce by electromagnetic actuation • Magneto-mechanical coupling mathematical model for precise actuation control • Applied in multi-chamber peristaltic and soft body micropumps for precise microvolume transport