Microfabrication and Photolithographic Services

Creative Biolabs' microfabrication and photolithographic services provide end-to-end solutions for creating high-precision microstructures and patterned substrates essential for microfluidic, biosensing, and lab-on-a-chip applications. We support clients with reliable, high-quality manufacturing to accelerate research and product innovation.

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Fig. 1 Simplified microfluidic system. (Wei, et al., 2005)

Leveraging advanced cleanroom technologies, including soft lithography, dry/wet etching, and UV photolithography, Creative Biolabs delivers microscale features with submicron resolution and outstanding reproducibility. Our team offers customizable workflows—from design and mask layout to wafer processing and device packaging—ensuring compatibility with a wide range of materials such as silicon, glass, PDMS, and SU-8.

Core Service Offerings

We recognize that no two projects are the same, which is why our services span the entire product lifecycle, combining flexibility with industrial-grade precision.

Photolithography Patterning: Using advanced UV lithography and cleanroom-controlled processes, our team can define complex microchannel architectures, electrode arrays, and micro-optical components with feature sizes down to the submicron scale. Custom mask design and alignment services are available to meet diverse project needs.
Soft Lithography & Replica Molding: We specialize in PDMS-based soft lithography and replica molding to produce flexible, biocompatible microdevices ideal for biological assays and organ-on-chip systems.
Thin-Film Deposition & Etching: Our facility offers both physical and chemical vapor deposition (PVD/CVD) for thin-film coating, along with dry and wet etching for structural definition. These capabilities support fabrication of MEMS devices, microelectrodes, and sensor substrates requiring precise control over layer thickness, material composition, and surface morphology.
Wafer Bonding & Packaging: We provide wafer-level bonding services for microfluidic chip sealing and multilayer device construction. Integrated packaging solutions ensure robust connections, leak-free operation, and compatibility with downstream analytical systems.
Microstructure Design & Simulation: Our engineers offer CAD-based microstructure design and simulation support, enabling clients to optimize fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and material performance before fabrication.
Material Versatility & Surface Modification: Creative Biolabs works with a wide array of substrates including silicon, glass, quartz, SU-8, PMMA, and PDMS. We also provide surface modification services—such as plasma treatment, silanization, and coating—to tailor wettability, chemical resistance, and biomolecule adhesion for specific research applications.

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Streamlined Service Process

We have refined our workflow to minimize lead times while maintaining rigor, ensuring a smooth experience for every client.

Consultation & Design Review

Our team will first engage with you to understand all your specific requirements, and review all details to identify and address potential issues before the project kicks off.

Quotation & Timeline Confirmation

After the consultation, we will provide you with a detailed quotation and project timeline as soon as possible, including the time nodes for prototype fabrication, initial sample testing, and final production.

Prototype Development & Validation

After the prototype manufacturing is confirmed, we will officially start production. We track the manufacturing progress at any time and supervise whether the manufacturing process complies with quality standards.

Delivery & Post-Service Support

Finished products will be packaged and accompanied by complete quality certification documents. We also provide a post-sales service period, standing ready to help you resolve any issues you encounter.

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Key Applications

Applications	Descriptions
Microfluidic Chip Fabrication	Our microfabrication and photolithographic technologies enable the production of highly precise microfluidic channels and network structures for applications in cell analysis, droplet generation, organ-on-a-chip modeling, and point-of-care diagnostics.
Biosensor and Lab-on-a-Chip Development	Creative Biolabs supports the development of biosensor platforms that integrate photolithographically defined electrodes, microelectrodes, and reaction chambers. These miniaturized systems are ideal for real-time detection of biomolecules, metabolites, and environmental analytes, offering enhanced sensitivity and reduced sample consumption.
Biointerface and Cell Culture Platforms	By integrating microfabrication with surface modification techniques, Creative Biolabs designs biointerface platforms that mimic native tissue environments. These microstructured surfaces support controlled cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation, serving as valuable tools for stem cell research and drug screening.
Optical and Photonic Device Fabrication	We provide patterning and thin-film solutions for optical waveguides, gratings, and photonic components. The fine resolution achieved through UV and laser lithography ensures high-performance optical alignment and signal modulation for advanced imaging and sensing systems.

Client Testimonials

"We partnered with this team to develop a microfluidic chip for our diagnostic device, and their rapid prototyping service cut our R&D time by 40%. Their engineers provided invaluable design feedback."

— Dr. Elena Marquez, CTO of a medical technology startup

"We needed a small batch of MEMS sensor prototypes for testing. The team delivered them in 4 days, and the pattern precision matched our design specs perfectly. Their pre-project design check also helped avoid a minor alignment issue."

— Dr. Elena Marquez, Senior R&D Scientist

"We worked with Creative Biolabs for the development of silicon-based microelectrode arrays. Their responsiveness and professionalism made the collaboration seamless from concept to fabrication."

— Jake Bennett, Product Development Manager

"We use their lithography service for high-volume semiconductor component production. The quality control is reliableand their support team responds quickly to our process questions."

— Sophia Chen, Formulation Lead

"For our micro-optics project, we required 1μm feature sizes. They walked us through the electron-beam lithography options, delivered samples on time, and provided detailed inspection reports to verify the results."

— Mark Wilson, Operations Director

"We had a tight deadline for a medical device component. They adjusted their schedule to fit ours, maintained precision throughout production, and even followed up after delivery to check if we needed further help."

— Lisa Torres, Quality Assurance Manager

Published Data

A new biofunctionalized and micropatterned PDMS is able to promote stretching induced human myotube maturation

A study employed laser printing and additive photolithography to achieve optimal micro-patterning of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) scaffolds, creating longitudinal microgrooves that enabled well-aligned myofibers without significantly affecting their diameter. The maskless lithography technique using laser writing technology allows rapid optimization of micro-pattern geometry. Its key advantage lies in generating various grooves with different widths and heights, which helps identify optimal dimensions for achieving perfect alignment and well-differentiated muscle fibers.

Immunofluorescence of a bare PDMS membrane and micropatterns. (OA Literature) Fig. 1 Micropatterns lead to cell alignment.^{1, 2}

References

Regagnon, Theo; Raynaud, Fabrice ; Subra, Gilles. et al. "A new biofunctionalized and micropatterned PDMS is able to promote stretching induced human myotube maturation." Lab Chip 2025,25, 1586-1599 https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00911H
Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.

Created October 2025

FAQs

Q: What materials can be processed in your photolithographic services?

A: We work with a wide range of substrates such as silicon wafers, glass, quartz, polymers (PDMS, SU-8, PMMA, and polyimide), and metal-coated surfaces. Our cleanroom-based lithographic processes are optimized for high-precision pattern transfer, enabling the development of bio-compatible, transparent, or conductive surfaces suitable for biological and chemical applications.

Q: What resolution can your photolithography process achieve?

A: Our standard photolithography can achieve feature resolutions down to 1–2 µm, depending on the photoresist and exposure wavelength. For applications requiring even finer structures, we provide advanced lithography using deep UV or electron-beam patterning to ensure superior fidelity and reproducibility.

Q: What is the typical turnaround time for microfabrication projects?

A: Turnaround time depends on project complexity and fabrication steps involved. For standard single-layer photolithography or PDMS casting, the process may take 1–2 weeks. Multi-layer or multi-material systems typically require 3–4 weeks. We also accommodate expedited services for urgent research timelines.

Q: We're new to photolithography and aren't sure if our initial design is optimized for the process. Can you help review it before we begin?

A: Yes, we provide pre-project design reviews as part of our service. Our team will check your design for factors that might affect lithography results, share feedback on optimizations, and answer any questions to make sure the design works well with our process.

Q: What kind of photolithography process do you use—contact, proximity, or projection?

A: Our platform supports contact, proximity, and projection lithography depending on project specifications. Contact lithography is ideal for rapid prototyping, while projection lithography provides higher resolution and alignment precision for multi-layer structures. We recommend the best process after evaluating your design specifications and end-use applications.

Take the Next Step

Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation. We'll review your project, provide a customized solution, and share a no-obligation quote. Let's turn your innovation into reality together.

Ready to transform your preclinical research? Get a Quote Now

Partner with us to access cutting-edge cleanroom facilities, advanced photolithographic tools, and end-to-end engineering support. Contact our microfabrication experts today to discuss your design specifications, request a quotation, or explore scalable fabrication strategies tailored to your research goals.