Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication.
The uptake of microfluidics by the wider scientific community has been limited by the fabrication barrier created by the skills and equipment required for the production of traditional microfluidic devices. Here we present simple 3D printed microfluidic devices using an inexpensive and readily acces...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152023&type=printable |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850232516224483328 |
|---|---|
| author | Alex J L Morgan Lorena Hidalgo San Jose William D Jamieson Jennifer M Wymant Bing Song Phil Stephens David A Barrow Oliver K Castell |
| author_facet | Alex J L Morgan Lorena Hidalgo San Jose William D Jamieson Jennifer M Wymant Bing Song Phil Stephens David A Barrow Oliver K Castell |
| author_sort | Alex J L Morgan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The uptake of microfluidics by the wider scientific community has been limited by the fabrication barrier created by the skills and equipment required for the production of traditional microfluidic devices. Here we present simple 3D printed microfluidic devices using an inexpensive and readily accessible printer with commercially available printer materials. We demonstrate that previously reported limitations of transparency and fidelity have been overcome, whilst devices capable of operating at pressures in excess of 2000 kPa illustrate that leakage issues have also been resolved. The utility of the 3D printed microfluidic devices is illustrated by encapsulating dental pulp stem cells within alginate droplets; cell viability assays show the vast majority of cells remain live, and device transparency is sufficient for single cell imaging. The accessibility of these devices is further enhanced through fabrication of integrated ports and by the introduction of a Lego®-like modular system facilitating rapid prototyping whilst offering the potential for novices to build microfluidic systems from a database of microfluidic components. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b87ff56db5e4bc0bf7893d78efbefff |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b87ff56db5e4bc0bf7893d78efbefff2025-08-20T02:03:09ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01114e015202310.1371/journal.pone.0152023Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication.Alex J L MorganLorena Hidalgo San JoseWilliam D JamiesonJennifer M WymantBing SongPhil StephensDavid A BarrowOliver K CastellThe uptake of microfluidics by the wider scientific community has been limited by the fabrication barrier created by the skills and equipment required for the production of traditional microfluidic devices. Here we present simple 3D printed microfluidic devices using an inexpensive and readily accessible printer with commercially available printer materials. We demonstrate that previously reported limitations of transparency and fidelity have been overcome, whilst devices capable of operating at pressures in excess of 2000 kPa illustrate that leakage issues have also been resolved. The utility of the 3D printed microfluidic devices is illustrated by encapsulating dental pulp stem cells within alginate droplets; cell viability assays show the vast majority of cells remain live, and device transparency is sufficient for single cell imaging. The accessibility of these devices is further enhanced through fabrication of integrated ports and by the introduction of a Lego®-like modular system facilitating rapid prototyping whilst offering the potential for novices to build microfluidic systems from a database of microfluidic components.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152023&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Alex J L Morgan Lorena Hidalgo San Jose William D Jamieson Jennifer M Wymant Bing Song Phil Stephens David A Barrow Oliver K Castell Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. PLoS ONE |
| title | Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. |
| title_full | Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. |
| title_fullStr | Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. |
| title_short | Simple and Versatile 3D Printed Microfluidics Using Fused Filament Fabrication. |
| title_sort | simple and versatile 3d printed microfluidics using fused filament fabrication |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0152023&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alexjlmorgan simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT lorenahidalgosanjose simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT williamdjamieson simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT jennifermwymant simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT bingsong simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT philstephens simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT davidabarrow simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication AT oliverkcastell simpleandversatile3dprintedmicrofluidicsusingfusedfilamentfabrication |