Biology subjects

Bourrier, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Bourrier, D..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Selective Laser Etching technology for reconfigurable microfluidic and electrochemistry-on-chip

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is widely used in academic microfluidics due to its favorable biocompatible properties and compatibility with soft lithography. Moreover, the recent developments of reconfigurable microfluidics rely on the microfabrication of sliding elements, which are 3D objects insertable inside a microfluidic chip to provide a given function. However, the complexity of microfluidic device geometries or sliding elements remains largely limited by the traditional microfabrication methods such as, among others, on SU-8 photolithography or dry epoxy films. Such methods are suited for simple, planar "2.5D" structures with uniform depths, yet struggle to produce more advanced architectures due to material and alignment constraints. To address these limitations, we propose to investigate advanced laser-based approaches, such as Direct Laser Writing (DLW) and Selective Laser Etching (SLE), which enable the construction of high-resolution, 3D designs. We further explore the use of SLE to fabricate sliding elements that enhance chip functionality, including chamber reconfiguration and biological sample manipulation. As a proof of concept, we show that these elements can be functionalized into pH microsensors, paving the way to reusable and reconfigurable electrochemistry-on-chip.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2023

Parallel on-chip micropipettes enabling quantitative multiplexed characterization of vesicle mechanics and cell aggregates rheology

Micropipette aspiration (MPA) is one of the gold standards to quantify biological samples mechanical properties, which are crucial from the cell membrane scale to the multicellular tissue. However, relying on the manipulation of individual home-made glass pipettes, MPA suffers from low throughput and difficult automation. Here, we introduce the sliding insert micropipette aspiration (SIMPA) method, that permits parallelization and automation, thanks to the insertion of tubular pipettes, obtained by photolithography, within microfluidic channels. We show its application both at the lipid bilayer level, by probing vesicles to measure membrane bending and stretching moduli, and at the tissue level by quantifying the viscoelasticity of 3D cell aggregates. This approach opens the way to high-throughput, quantitative mechanical testing of many types of biological samples, from vesicles and individual cells to cell aggregates and explants, under dynamic physico-chemical stimuli.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2021

Scalable Batch Fabrication of Ultrathin Flexible Neural Probes using Bioresorbable Silk Layer

Flexible deep brain probes have been the focus of many research works and aims at achieving better compliance with the surrounding brain tissue while maintaining minimal rejection. Strategies have been explored to find the best way to implant a flexible probe in the brain, while maintaining its flexibility once positioned in the cortex. Here, we present a novel and versatile scalable batch fabrication approach to deliver ultra-thin and flexible penetrating neural probe consisting of a silk-parylene bilayer. The biodegradable silk layer provides a temporary and programmable stiffener to ensure ease of insertion of the ultrathin parylene-based flexible devices. The innovative and yet robust batch fabrication technology allows complete design freedom of the neural probe in terms of materials, size, shape and thickness. These results provide a novel technological solution for implanting ultra-flexible and ultrathin devices, which possesses great potential for brain research.

bioengineering↗