Abstract
We present a novel benchtop-based microfabrication technology: 3D printing, ink casting, micromachined lamination (3D PICLμM) for rapid prototyping of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and biological devices. The technology uses cost-effective, makerspace-type microfabrication processes, all of which are ideally suited for low resource settings, and utilizing a combination of these processes, we have demonstrated the following devices: (i) 2D microelectrode array (MEA) targeted at in vitro neural and cardiac electrophysiology, (ii) microneedle array targeted at drug delivery through a transdermal route and (iii) multi-layer microfluidic chip targeted at multiplexed assays for in vitro applications. The 3D printing process has been optimized for printing angle, temperature of the curing process and solvent polishing to address various biofunctional considerations of the three demonstrated devices. We have depicted that the 3D PICLμM process has the capability to fabricate 30 μm sized MEAs (average 1 kHz impedance of 140 kΩ with a double layer capacitance of 3 μF), robust and reliable microneedles having 30 μm radius of curvature and ~40 N mechanical fracture strength and microfluidic devices having 150 μm wide channels and 400 μm fluidic vias capable of fluid mixing and transmitted light microparticle visualization. We believe our 3D PICLμM is ideally suited for applications in areas such as electrophysiology, drug delivery, disease in a dish, organ on a chip, environmental monitoring, agricultural therapeutic delivery and genomic testing.
Highlights
IntroductionMakerspaces provide a growing alternative to clean rooms toward the fabrication of such devices as they provide low-cost access to fabrication equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, plotters, micromills, ovens, lamination press and other benchtop equipment thereby attracting a diverse community of artists, engineers, product designers and generation researchers
Microfabrication technologies for nanobiosensors, biomedical micro-electro-mechanical systems (BioMEMS) and micro-total analysis systems (MicroTAS) applications have been transitioning away from traditional cleanroom based techniques for rapid, cost effective fabrication of components that will increase access to end users of these devices: Chemists, medical and life science professionals [1].Makerspaces provide a growing alternative to clean rooms toward the fabrication of such devices as they provide low-cost access to fabrication equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, plotters, micromills, ovens, lamination press and other benchtop equipment thereby attracting a diverse community of artists, engineers, product designers and generation researchers
There are various types of 3D printers based on technologies such as stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), electronic beam melting (EBM), laminated object manufacturing (LOM) and 2-photon polymerization (2PP) [2]
Summary
Makerspaces provide a growing alternative to clean rooms toward the fabrication of such devices as they provide low-cost access to fabrication equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, plotters, micromills, ovens, lamination press and other benchtop equipment thereby attracting a diverse community of artists, engineers, product designers and generation researchers. Such a makerspace environment is attractive for biomedical devices as they provide easy access in an intimidation free environment to application developers that utilize these devices providing immense flexibility in varied materials and allowing for rapid design changes with scalable fabrication, Micromachines 2018, 9, 85; doi:10.3390/mi9020085 www.mdpi.com/journal/micromachines. Compared to most of the aforementioned reports, we have used an inexpensive, benchtop SLA based system and optimized the print processes with standard resins available in this printer for the work reported in this paper
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