We present a miniaturized, inexpensive, and user-friendly microfluidic platform to support biological applications. The system integrates a mini-incubator providing controlled environmental conditions and housing a microfluidic device for long-term cell culture experiments. The incubator is designed to be compatible with standard inverted optical microscopes and Raman spectrometers, allowing for the non-invasive imaging and spectroscopic analysis of cell cultures in vitro. The microfluidic device, which reproduces a dynamic environment, was optimized to sustain a passive, gravity-driven flow of medium, eliminating the need for an external pumping system and reducing mechanical stress on the cells. The platform was tested using Raman analysis and adherent tumoral cells to assess proliferation prior and subsequent to hydrogen peroxide treatment for oxidative stress induction. The results demonstrated a successful adhesion of cells onto the substrate and their proliferation. Furthermore, the platform is suitable for carrying out optical monitoring of cultures and Raman analysis. In fact, it was possible to discriminate spectra deriving from control and hydrogen peroxide-treated cells in terms of DNA backbone and cellular membrane modification effects provoked by reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity. The 800–1100 cm⁻¹ band highlights the destructive effects of ROS on the DNA backbone’s structure, as its rupture modifies its vibration; moreover, unpaired nucleotides are increased in treated sample, as shown in the 1154–1185 cm⁻¹ band. Protein synthesis deterioration, led by DNA structure damage, is highlighted in the 1257–1341 cm⁻¹, 1440–1450 cm⁻¹, and 1640–1670 cm⁻¹ bands. Furthermore, membrane damage is emphasized in changes in the 1270, 1301, and 1738 cm⁻¹ frequencies, as phospholipid synthesis is accelerated in an attempt to compensate for the membrane damage brought about by the ROS attack. This study highlights the potential use of this platform as an alternative to conventional culturing and analysis procedures, considering that cell culturing, optical imaging, and Raman spectroscopy can be performed simultaneously on living cells with minimal cellular stress and without the need for labeling or fixation.

Passive microvalves enable autonomous operation of microfluidic devices by allowing time-controlled fluid delivery without external actuation. Here, we report a simple, low-cost, single-use passive microvalve based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for time-programmed fluid delivery. The valve operates through dissolution of a solidified PVA plug formed inside poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchannels after evaporation of the solvent phase. The valve dissolves when exposed to an aqueous medium, enabling fluid flow. The valve opening time was experimentally characterized as a function of the injected liquid volume using three PVA formulations and three microchannel cross-sections fabricated in PMMA. Experimental results showed a non-linear dependence of the opening time on the injected volume, as well as the influence of PVA formulation, channel geometry, and temperature. In addition, a demonstrative multi-valve device showed sequential valve opening with delays up to 7 h. The proposed approach enables simple and autonomous timed fluid release using inexpensive materials and straightforward fabrication processes, representing a promising strategy for low-cost microfluidic applications.