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Micromachines
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3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications
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3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "D：Materials and Processing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2019) | Viewed by 39547

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Rosanne M. Guijt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Interests: miniaturised total analysis system (µTAS); lab on a chip; microfluidics; 3D printing; functional integration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, 3D printing has developed rapidly, driven by the exponential growth in consumer demand for cost-effective, customised manufacturing options. Consumers can access 3D printing using online 3D printing services and the rapid rise in high quality consumer-grade 3D printers. 3D printing has also been adopted in scientific research for the manufacturing of customised parts and as an alternative microfabrication approach. The focus of this Special Issue is on insights and advancements of 3D printing in microfabrication, with a focus on the developments that have allowed for the fabrication of micro-and millifluidic devices to replace processes ordinarily executed on the laboratory bench. Of special interest are devices that show advanced functionality through the use of 3D design and/or material science, and advances that improved biocompatibility. In addition to the dissemination of technological breakthroughs of original work in the form of short communications and full papers, emerging investigators and pioneers are also invited to contribute commentaries, perspectives and insightful reviews on related topics.

Prof. Rosanne M. Guijt
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • Microfluidics
  • Lab on a chip
  • Functional integration
  • High resolution
  • Material science

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 5407 KiB  
Article
3D-Printed Soft Structure of Polyurethane and Magnetorheological Fluid: A Proof-of-Concept Investigation of its Stiffness Tunability
by Seong-Woo Hong, Ji-Young Yoon, Seong-Hwan Kim, Sun-Kon Lee, Yong-Rae Kim, Yu-Jin Park, Gi-Woo Kim and Seung-Bok Choi
Micromachines 2019, 10(10), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10100655 - 29 Sep 2019
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2928
Abstract
In this study, a soft structure with its stiffness tunable by an external field is proposed. The proposed soft beam structure consists of a skin structure with channels filled with a magnetorheological fluid (MRF). Two specimens of the soft structure are fabricated by [...] Read more.
In this study, a soft structure with its stiffness tunable by an external field is proposed. The proposed soft beam structure consists of a skin structure with channels filled with a magnetorheological fluid (MRF). Two specimens of the soft structure are fabricated by three-dimensional printing and fused deposition modeling. In the fabrication, a nozzle is used to obtain channels in the skin of the thermoplastic polyurethane, while another nozzle is used to fill MRF in the channels. The specimens are tested by using a universal tensile machine to evaluate the relationships between the load and deflection under two different conditions, without and with permanent magnets. It is empirically shown that the stiffness of the proposed soft structure can be altered by activating the magnetic field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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11 pages, 7349 KiB  
Article
Miniature 3D-Printed Centrifugal Pump with Non-Contact Electromagnetic Actuation
by Luca Joswig, Michael J. Vellekoop and Frieder Lucklum
Micromachines 2019, 10(10), 631; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10100631 - 21 Sep 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7035
Abstract
We present a miniature 3D-printed dynamic pump using the centrifugal operating principle. Dynamic pumps typically yield higher flow rates than displacement pumps at reasonable output pressure. Realizing smaller devices suitable for millifluidic and microfluidic applications brings challenges in terms of design, fabrication and [...] Read more.
We present a miniature 3D-printed dynamic pump using the centrifugal operating principle. Dynamic pumps typically yield higher flow rates than displacement pumps at reasonable output pressure. Realizing smaller devices suitable for millifluidic and microfluidic applications brings challenges in terms of design, fabrication and actuation. By using microstereolithography printing we have reduced the overall size to an effective pumping volume of 2.58 mL. The free-moving rotor consists of an impeller and permanent magnets embedded during the printing process, which allow for non-contact electromagnetic actuation. The pump is driven by periodically switching the current through stator coils, controlled by a custom built circuit using a Hall effect sensor. It achieves a maximum flow rate of 124 mL/min and a hydrostatic pressure of up to 2400 Pa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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7 pages, 2133 KiB  
Article
A Nontoxic Battery with 3D-Printed Housing for On-Demand Operation of Microcontrollers in Microfluidic Sensors
by Kai Sachsenheimer, Christiane Richter, Dorothea Helmer, Frederik Kotz and Bastian Ernst Rapp
Micromachines 2019, 10(9), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10090588 - 4 Sep 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3387
Abstract
Microcontrollers have a low energy consumption and are convenient tools for the operation and readout of small lab-on-a-chip devices. The operation of microcontrollers for data collection and analysis is key for measurements and statistics in field experiments. However, for portable lab-on-a-chip or point-of-care [...] Read more.
Microcontrollers have a low energy consumption and are convenient tools for the operation and readout of small lab-on-a-chip devices. The operation of microcontrollers for data collection and analysis is key for measurements and statistics in field experiments. However, for portable lab-on-a-chip or point-of-care systems in low-resource settings, the availability of energy sources is a bottleneck. Here, we present a simple, nontoxic aluminum/air redox battery with a 3D-printed housing for on-demand operation of a sensor using a microcontroller for data collection. The battery is stored in a dry state and can be manufactured conveniently using off-the-shelf components and a simple 3D printer. It can be quickly assembled and operates a microcontroller for at least one hour in continuous operation mode. We demonstrate its performance by collecting data from a capacitive sensor capable of determining the conductivity of liquid samples. Such sensors can be used for, e.g., determining the water quality or phase formation in liquid mixtures. The sensor performance in determining different conductivities of nonconductive and conductive liquids in droplets is demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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10 pages, 9313 KiB  
Article
3D Printing of Elastic Membranes for Fluidic Pumping and Demonstration of Reciprocation Inserts on the Microfluidic Disc
by Maria Bauer, Adrian Bahani, Tracy Ogata and Marc Madou
Micromachines 2019, 10(8), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10080549 - 19 Aug 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3772
Abstract
While 3D printing is increasingly used in most fields of engineering, its utilization for microfluidics has thus far been limited. To demonstrate future applications of 3D printing for microfluidic structures, we investigate the fluidic characteristics of material jetted surfaces. We also demonstrate the [...] Read more.
While 3D printing is increasingly used in most fields of engineering, its utilization for microfluidics has thus far been limited. To demonstrate future applications of 3D printing for microfluidic structures, we investigate the fluidic characteristics of material jetted surfaces. We also demonstrate the manufacture of dual-material microfluidic inserts that feature rigid and elastic elements. The fabricated parts are inserted on a microfluidic CD, enhancing design freedom and prototyping capability of over molded parts. Furthermore, printed elastic membranes are tested for fatigue during elastic-pneumatic pumping and rigid and elastic surfaces are characterized with regards to hydrophilicity and surface topography. Finally, different printed disc inserts are demonstrated for moving liquid towards the center of rotation, the mixing of liquids, and controlling burst events through channels width. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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11 pages, 1063 KiB  
Article
3D Printed Lab-on-a-Chip Platform for Chemical Stimulation and Parallel Analysis of Ion Channel Function
by Daniel Aschenbrenner, Oliver Friedrich and Daniel F. Gilbert
Micromachines 2019, 10(8), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10080548 - 19 Aug 2019
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3848
Abstract
Functional imaging has been a widely established method for the assessment of ion channel function in vitro. Conventional infrastructure used for in vitro functional analysis of ion channels is typically proprietary, non-customizable, expensive, and requires a high level of skill to use and [...] Read more.
Functional imaging has been a widely established method for the assessment of ion channel function in vitro. Conventional infrastructure used for in vitro functional analysis of ion channels is typically proprietary, non-customizable, expensive, and requires a high level of skill to use and maintain. 3D desktop printing, which is employed in the rapid prototyping field, allows for quick engineering of alternatives to conventional imaging infrastructure that are customizable, low cost, and user friendly. Here, we describe an ultra-low-cost microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device manufactured using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) for in vitro functional imaging of ion channels that can quickly and easily be reconstructed using three-dimensional (3D) desktop printing. The device is light weight (<5 g), small (20 mm × 49 mm), and extremely low cost (<EUR 1). We simulate fluidics within the printed channels and assess the suitability of the engineered chamber to generate homogeneous mixtures during solution exchange. We demonstrate the usability of the 3D printed microfluidic device in a case study using Fluo-4-loaded human embryonal kidney-derived (HEK293) cells, recombinantly expressing the capsaicin receptor, transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor type 1 (TRPV1), as a model system. In the case study, we confirm its applicability to solution exchange for chemical stimulation and parallel functional time-lapse fluorescence microscopy-based calcium imaging. We assess the suitability of ABS for culturing HEK293 cells inside the microfluidic LOC, based on qualitative analysis of microscopic transmission light images of ABS-exposed HEK293 cells and confirm the previously reported biocompatibility of ABS. To highlight the versatility of the 3D printed microfluidic device, we provide an example for multiplication of the shown concept within a 3D printed multichannel microfluidic LOC to be used, for example, in a higher throughput format for parallelized functional analysis of ion channels. While this work focusses on Ca2+ imaging with TRPV1 channels, the device may also be useful for application with other ion channel types and in vitro models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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10 pages, 3938 KiB  
Article
On the Impact of the Fabrication Method on the Performance of 3D Printed Mixers
by Mojtaba Zeraatkar, Daniel Filippini and Gianluca Percoco
Micromachines 2019, 10(5), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10050298 - 30 Apr 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3216
Abstract
A wide variety of 3D printing technologies have been used for the fabrication of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices in recent years. Despite the large number of studies having examined the use of 3D printing technologies in microfluidic devices, the effect of the fabrication method [...] Read more.
A wide variety of 3D printing technologies have been used for the fabrication of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices in recent years. Despite the large number of studies having examined the use of 3D printing technologies in microfluidic devices, the effect of the fabrication method on their performance has received little attention. In this paper, a comparison is shown between unibody-LOC micro-mixers, a particular type of monolithic design for 3D printed LOCs, fabricated in polyjet, stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modelling (FDM or FFF) platforms, paying particular attention to the inherent limitations of each fabrication platform and how these affect the performance of the manufactured devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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Review

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39 pages, 2393 KiB  
Review
3D-Printed Lab-on-a-Chip Diagnostic Systems-Developing a Safe-by-Design Manufacturing Approach
by Panagiotis Karayannis, Fotini Petrakli, Anastasia Gkika and Elias P. Koumoulos
Micromachines 2019, 10(12), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10120825 - 28 Nov 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6422
Abstract
The aim of this study is to provide a detailed strategy for Safe-by-Design (SbD) 3D-printed lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device manufacturing, using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. First, the applicability of FFF in lab-on-a-chip device development is briefly discussed. Subsequently, a methodology to categorize, identify [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to provide a detailed strategy for Safe-by-Design (SbD) 3D-printed lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device manufacturing, using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology. First, the applicability of FFF in lab-on-a-chip device development is briefly discussed. Subsequently, a methodology to categorize, identify and implement SbD measures for FFF is suggested. Furthermore, the most crucial health risks involved in FFF processes are examined, placing the focus on the examination of ultrafine particle (UFP) and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission hazards. Thus, a SbD scheme for lab-on-a-chip manufacturing is provided, while also taking into account process optimization for obtaining satisfactory printed LOC quality. This work can serve as a guideline for the effective application of FFF technology for lab-on-a-chip manufacturing through the safest applicable way, towards a continuous effort to support sustainable development of lab-on-a-chip devices through cost-effective means. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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24 pages, 1626 KiB  
Review
Three-Dimensional Printed Devices in Droplet Microfluidics
by Jia Ming Zhang, Qinglei Ji and Huiling Duan
Micromachines 2019, 10(11), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi10110754 - 4 Nov 2019
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 8261
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has become the most promising subcategory of microfluidics since it contributes numerous applications to diverse fields. However, fabrication of microfluidic devices for droplet formation, manipulation and applications is usually complicated and expensive. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) provides an exciting alternative to conventional [...] Read more.
Droplet microfluidics has become the most promising subcategory of microfluidics since it contributes numerous applications to diverse fields. However, fabrication of microfluidic devices for droplet formation, manipulation and applications is usually complicated and expensive. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) provides an exciting alternative to conventional techniques by simplifying the process and reducing the cost of fabrication. Complex and novel structures can be achieved via 3DP in a simple and rapid manner, enabling droplet microfluidics accessible to more extensive users. In this article, we review and discuss current development, opportunities and challenges of applications of 3DP to droplet microfluidics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices and Its Applications)
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