Erratum — Universal method for fabricating PDMS microfluidic device using SU8, 3D printing and soft lithography

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Charmi Chande ◽  
Nida Riaz ◽  
Andrew House ◽  
Victoria Harbour ◽  
Hathija Noor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Universal Method

scholarly journals A rapid-prototyped moulding system towards optimised scalable fabrication of elastomeric microfluidic devices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Poon ◽  
Albert Fahrenbach
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Alternative Techniques ◽  
Optimisation Techniques

3D printing and makerspace technologies are increasingly explored as alternative techniques to soft lithography for making microfluidic devices, and for their potential to segue towards scalable commercial fabrication. Here we considered the optimal application of current benchtop 3D printing for microfluidic device fabrication through the lens of lean manufacturing and present a straightforward but robust rapid prototyped moulding system that enables easy estimation of more precise quantities of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) required per device to reduce waste and importantly, making devices with better defined depths and volumes for (i) modelling gas exchange and (ii) fabrication consistency as required for quality-controlled production. We demonstrate that this low-cost moulding step can enable a 40 – 300% reduction in the amount of PDMS required for making individual devices compared to the established method of curing approximately 30 grams of PDMS prepolymer overlaid on a 4” silicon wafer master in a standard plastic petri dish. Other process optimisation techniques were also investigated and are recommended as readily implementable changes to current laboratory and foundry-level microfluidic device fabrication protocols for making devices either out of PDMS or other elastomers. Simple calculators are provided as a step towards more streamlined, software controlled and automated design-to-fabrication workflows for both custom and scalable lean manufacturing of microfluidic devices.

scholarly journals A rapid-prototyped moulding system towards optimised scalable fabrication of elastomeric microfluidic devices

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Poon ◽  
Albert Fahrenbach
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
Alternative Techniques ◽  
Optimisation Techniques

3D printing and makerspace technologies are increasingly explored as alternative techniques to soft lithography for making microfluidic devices, and for their potential to segue towards scalable commercial fabrication. Here we considered the optimal application of current benchtop 3D printing for microfluidic device fabrication through the lens of lean manufacturing and present a straightforward but robust rapid prototyped moulding system that enables easy estimation of more precise quantities of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) required per device to reduce waste and importantly, making devices with better defined depths and volumes for (i) modelling gas exchange and (ii) fabrication consistency as required for quality-controlled production. We demonstrate that this low-cost moulding step can enable a 40 – 300% reduction in the amount of PDMS required for making individual devices compared to the established method of curing approximately 30 grams of PDMS prepolymer overlaid on a 4” silicon wafer master in a standard plastic petri dish. Other process optimisation techniques were also investigated and are recommended as readily implementable changes to current laboratory and foundry-level microfluidic device fabrication protocols for making devices either out of PDMS or other elastomers. Simple calculators are provided as a step towards more streamlined, software controlled and automated design-to-fabrication workflows for both custom and scalable lean manufacturing of microfluidic devices.

scholarly journals Micropipette-Based Microfluidic Device for Monodisperse Microbubbles Generation

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 387
Author(s):  
Carlos Toshiyuki Matsumi ◽  
Wilson José da Silva ◽  
Fábio Kurt Schneider ◽  
Joaquim Miguel Maia ◽  
Rigoberto E. M. Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Internal Diameter ◽  
Medical Diagnostic ◽  
Average Size

Microbubbles have various applications including their use as carrier agents for localized delivery of genes and drugs and in medical diagnostic imagery. Various techniques are used for the production of monodisperse microbubbles including the Gyratory, the coaxial electro-hydrodynamic atomization (CEHDA), the sonication methods, and the use of microfluidic devices. Some of these techniques require safety procedures during the application of intense electric fields (e.g., CEHDA) or soft lithography equipment for the production of microfluidic devices. This study presents a hybrid manufacturing process using micropipettes and 3D printing for the construction of a T-Junction microfluidic device resulting in simple and low cost generation of monodisperse microbubbles. In this work, microbubbles with an average size of 16.6 to 57.7 μm and a polydispersity index (PDI) between 0.47% and 1.06% were generated. When the device is used at higher bubble production rate, the average diameter was 42.8 μm with increased PDI of 3.13%. In addition, a second-order polynomial characteristic curve useful to estimate micropipette internal diameter necessary to generate a desired microbubble size is presented and a linear relationship between the ratio of gaseous and liquid phases flows and the ratio of microbubble and micropipette diameters (i.e., Qg/Ql and Db/Dp) was found.

scholarly journals Rapid and Inexpensive Fabrication of Multi-Depth Microfluidic Device using High-Resolution LCD Stereolithographic 3D Printing

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mohamed ◽  
Hitendra Kumar ◽  
Zongjie Wang ◽  
Nicholas Martin ◽  
Barry Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Droplet Generator ◽  
Rapid Fabrication ◽  
Printing System

With the dramatic increment of complexity, more microfluidic devices require 3D structures, such as multi-depth and -layer channels. The traditional multi-step photolithography is time-consuming and labor-intensive and also requires precise alignment during the fabrication of microfluidic devices. Here, we present an inexpensive, single-step, and rapid fabrication method for multi-depth microfluidic devices using a high-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD) stereolithographic (SLA) three-dimensional (3D) printing system. With the pixel size down to 47.25 μm, the feature resolutions in the horizontal and vertical directions are 150 μm and 50 μm, respectively. The multi-depth molds were successfully printed at the same time and the multi-depth features were transferred properly to the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) having multi-depth channels via soft lithography. A flow-focusing droplet generator with a multi-depth channel was fabricated using the presented 3D printing method. Experimental results show that the multi-depth channel could manipulate the morphology and size of droplets, which is desired for many engineering applications. Taken together, LCD SLA 3D printing is an excellent alternative method to the multi-step photolithography for the fabrication of multi-depth microfluidic devices. Taking the advantages of its controllability, cost-effectiveness, and acceptable resolution, LCD SLA 3D printing can have a great potential to fabricate 3D microfluidic devices.

scholarly journals Advanced Fabrication Techniques of Microengineered Physiological Systems

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 730
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Puryear III ◽  
Jeong-Kee Yoon ◽  
YongTae Kim
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Injection Molding ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Precision Engineering ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Geometric Conditions ◽  
Physiological Systems ◽  
The Way

The field of organs-on-chips (OOCs) has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade. However, the current main limiting factor for further growth lies in the fabrication techniques utilized to reproducibly create multiscale and multifunctional devices. Conventional methods of photolithography and etching remain less useful to complex geometric conditions with high precision needed to manufacture the devices, while laser-induced methods have become an alternative for higher precision engineering yet remain costly. Meanwhile, soft lithography has become the foundation upon which OOCs are fabricated and newer methods including 3D printing and injection molding show great promise to innovate the way OOCs are fabricated. This review is focused on the advantages and disadvantages associated with the commonly used fabrication techniques applied to these microengineered physiological systems (MPS) and the obstacles that remain in the way of further innovation in the field.

scholarly journals Indirect fabrication of versatile 3D microfluidic device by a rotating plate combined 3D printing system

RSC Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (66) ◽  
pp. 37693-37699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Heon Ha ◽  
Dong-Hyeon Ko ◽  
Jin-oh Kim ◽  
Do Jin Im ◽  
Byoung Soo Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Chemical Resistance ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
On Demand ◽  
System P ◽  
Printing System ◽  
Sacrificial Materials ◽  
Printing Techniques ◽  
Rotating Plate

Rapid on-demand sacrificial printing techniques using suitable combinations of resin and sacrificial materials would be desirable to fabricate versatile and functional microfluidic devices with complex designs and chemical resistance.

Chemotaxis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Microfluidic Device

2012 ◽  
Vol 1498 ◽  
pp. 67-72
Author(s):  
Ruth Choa ◽  
Manav Mehta ◽  
Kangwon Lee ◽  
David Mooney
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Chemokine Gradient ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Stable Linear

ABSTRACTAdult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent an important source of cells for tissue regeneration. Control of MSC migration and homing is still unclear. The goal of this study was to identify potent chemoattractants for MSCs and characterize MSC chemotaxis using a microfluidic device as a model system and assay platform. The three chemokines compared in this study were CXCL7, CXCL12, and AMD 3100.Microfluidic devices made of polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) were fabricated by soft lithography techniques and designed to generate a stable linear chemokine gradient. Cell movements in response to the gradient were captured by timelapse photos and tracked over 24 hours. Chemokine potency was measured via several chemotaxis parameters including: velocity in the direction of interest (V), center of mass (Mend), forward migration indice (YFMI). The migratory paths of the cells were mapped onto a displacement plot and compared.The following results were measured in the direction of interest (towards higher concentrations of chemokine): For velocity, only cells exposed to CXCL12 had a statistically significant (p=.014) average velocity (V=0.19 ± 0.07 um/min) when compared to the control condition (V=0.06 ±0 .04 um/min). For the center of mass, where the displacement of cells from their starting positions were compared, again only CXCL12 (Mend= 53.9 ± 10.8 um) stimulated statistically significant (p = .013) displacement of cells compared to the control condition (Mend = 19.3 ± 16.1 um). For the forward migration index, the efficiency of cell movement was measured. Indices in both the CXCL12 (YFIM = 0.19 ± 0.08) and CXCL7 (YFIM = 0.09 ±0.03) conditions were statistically significant (p = .023 for CXCL12 and p = .035 for CXCL7) when compared with the control index (YFIM = .04 ± .02).This study demonstrated the use of microfluidic devices as a viable platform for chemotaxis studies. A stable linear chemokine gradient was maintained over a long time scale to obtain cell migration results. CXCL12 was quantitatively determined to be the most potent chemoattractant in this research; these chemoattractive properties promote its use in future developments to control MSC homing.

scholarly journals Controlling Shapes in a Coaxial Flow Focusing Microfluidic Device: Experiments and Theory

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Romen Rodriguez-Trujillo ◽  
Yu-Han Kim-Im ◽  
Aurora Hernandez-Machado
Keyword(s):  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio ◽  
Flow Focusing ◽  
Outer Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Fluorescein Solution ◽  
Elliptical Section ◽  
Additional Water ◽  
And Control

A coaxial flow focusing PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) microfluidic device has been designed and manufactured by soft lithography in order to experimentally study a miscible inner flow. We studied a coaxially focused inner flow (formed by an aqueous fluorescein solution) which was fully isolated from all microchannel surfaces by an additional water outer flow. Different flow rates were used to produce a variety of flow ratios and a 3D reconstruction of the cross-section was performed using confocal microscope images. The results showed an elliptical section of the coaxially focused inner flow that changes in shape depending on the flow rate ratio applied. We have also developed a mathematical model that allows us to predict and control the geometry of the coaxially focused inner flow.

Simple, Cost-Effective Fabrication, and Flow Dynamics Analysis of a Passive Microfluidic Mixer Using 3D Printing and Soft Lithography

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Fazlay Rubby ◽  
Mohammad Salman Parvez ◽  
Nazmul Islam
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Flow Dynamics ◽  
Exposure System ◽  
Microfluidic Mixer ◽  
Flow Characterization ◽  
Passive Micromixer ◽  
Mask Fabrication

Abstract Simple and low-cost fabrication of microfluidic devices has attracted considerable attention among researchers. The traditional soft lithography fabrication method requires expensive equipment like a UV exposure system and mask fabrication facility. In this work, an alternative and low-cost UV exposure system was introduced along with an alternative mask fabrication system. A previously reported passive microfluidic mixer was fabricated successfully using this modified soft lithography method. Challenges were presented during this modified fabrication method. Another emerging potential alternative for the fabrication of microfluidic mixers is 3D printing. It was also used in this experiment to fabricate a passive micromixer. This method is well known for rapid prototyping and the creations of complex structures. However, this method has several disadvantages like optical transparency, lower resolution fabrication, difficulties in flow characterization, etc. These problems were addressed, and the solutions were discussed in this work. Comparative analysis between 3D printing and soft lithography fabrication was presented. Flow characterization inside the 3D printed micromixer was carried out using the microparticulate image velocimetry (micro-PIV) system. It explains how the geometrical shape of the micromixer accelerates the natural diffusion process to mix the different fluid streams. Finally, a 3D numerical simulation of the passive micromixer was carried out to visualize the flow dynamics inside the micromixer. The flow pattern found from the numerical simulation and the experimental flow characterization is analogous. These observations could play an important role to design and fabricate cost-effective micromixers for lab-on-a-chip devices.

Facilitating Fluid Flow Through Carbon Nanotube Arrays Using 3D Printing

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis S. Emery ◽  
Anna Jensen ◽  
Koby Kubrin ◽  
Michael G. Schrlau
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Microfluidic Device ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Nanotube Arrays ◽  
Nanotube Array ◽  
Cnt Arrays ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Flow Through

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a novel technology whose versatility allows it to be implemented in a multitude of applications. Common fabrication techniques implemented to create microfluidic devices, such as photolithography, wet etching, etc., can often times be time consuming, costly, and make it difficult to integrate external components. 3D printing provides a quick and low-cost technique that can be used to fabricate microfluidic devices in a range of intricate geometries. External components, such as nanoporous membranes, can additionally be easily integrated with minimal impact to the component. Here in, low-cost 3D printing has been implemented to create a microfluidic device to enhance understanding of flow through carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays manufactured for gene transfection applications. CNTs are an essential component of nanofluidic research due to their unique mechanical and physical properties. CNT arrays allow for parallel processing however, they are difficult to construct and highly prone to fracture. As a means of aiding in the nanotube arrays’ resilience to fracture and facilitating its integration into fluidic systems, a 3D printed microfluidic device has been constructed around these arrays. Doing so greatly enhances the robustness of the system and additionally allows for the nanotube array to be implemented for a variety of purposes. To broaden their range of application, the devices were designed to allow for multiple isolated inlet flows to the arrays. Utilizing this multiple inlet design permits distinct fluids to enter the array disjointedly. These 3D printed devices were in turn implemented to visualize flow through nanotube arrays. The focus of this report though, is on the design and fabrication of the 3D printed devices. SEM imaging of the completed device shows that the nanotube array remains intact after the printing process and the nanotubes, even those within close proximity to the printing material, remain unobstructed. Printing on top of the nanotube arrays displayed effective adhesion to the surface thus preventing leakage at these interfaces.

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