Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer
Abstract Digital microfluidics (DMF) is revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostics by advancing lab-on-a-chip technology. To accelerate translation to real-life applications, it is crucial to devise rapid and low-cost methods for prototyping to test various design ideas. Here, we present one such met...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89343-z |
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| author | Babak Kamali Doust Azad Amirhossein Roozbahani Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei Amirali Valinejad Alireza Fazelian Kimia Shahmoradi Fatemeh Khatami Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir Mohammadreza Kolahdouz |
| author_facet | Babak Kamali Doust Azad Amirhossein Roozbahani Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei Amirali Valinejad Alireza Fazelian Kimia Shahmoradi Fatemeh Khatami Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir Mohammadreza Kolahdouz |
| author_sort | Babak Kamali Doust Azad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Digital microfluidics (DMF) is revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostics by advancing lab-on-a-chip technology. To accelerate translation to real-life applications, it is crucial to devise rapid and low-cost methods for prototyping to test various design ideas. Here, we present one such method using an unmodified desktop inkjet printer and inexpensive materials. Inkjet-printing eliminates the need for costly printed circuit board technology or microfabrication facilities, significantly lowering the barriers to entry for researchers in the field of DMF technology. Here, an inkjet printer is characterized to print conductive tracks of Ag-ink on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass slide substrates, delivering a maximum surface conductance of 7.69 Ω−1/cm2. Functional DMF chips are fabricated using tape, parafilm, and SU8 as dielectric and silicone oil as the hydrophobic layers, enabling actuation voltages as low as 144 VDC and 92 VAC@100 kHz for a whole-blood droplet. We detail our actuation and control circuitry, designed entirely with standard electronic modules and components. To showcase our approach, we fabricated a DMF micromixer and assessed its performance using image processing, proving the quality of the mixing. Leveraging affordable inkjet printing, our approach paves the way for highly accessible research and development in DMF-based point-of-care diagnostics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-897d0efafa2b42d69e40078d7f0d3831 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-897d0efafa2b42d69e40078d7f0d38312025-02-09T12:32:54ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-89343-zInkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printerBabak Kamali Doust Azad0Amirhossein Roozbahani1Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei2Amirali Valinejad3Alireza Fazelian4Kimia Shahmoradi5Fatemeh Khatami6Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir7Mohammadreza Kolahdouz8School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranUrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical SciencesUrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical SciencesSchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of TehranAbstract Digital microfluidics (DMF) is revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostics by advancing lab-on-a-chip technology. To accelerate translation to real-life applications, it is crucial to devise rapid and low-cost methods for prototyping to test various design ideas. Here, we present one such method using an unmodified desktop inkjet printer and inexpensive materials. Inkjet-printing eliminates the need for costly printed circuit board technology or microfabrication facilities, significantly lowering the barriers to entry for researchers in the field of DMF technology. Here, an inkjet printer is characterized to print conductive tracks of Ag-ink on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass slide substrates, delivering a maximum surface conductance of 7.69 Ω−1/cm2. Functional DMF chips are fabricated using tape, parafilm, and SU8 as dielectric and silicone oil as the hydrophobic layers, enabling actuation voltages as low as 144 VDC and 92 VAC@100 kHz for a whole-blood droplet. We detail our actuation and control circuitry, designed entirely with standard electronic modules and components. To showcase our approach, we fabricated a DMF micromixer and assessed its performance using image processing, proving the quality of the mixing. Leveraging affordable inkjet printing, our approach paves the way for highly accessible research and development in DMF-based point-of-care diagnostics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89343-zPrinted electronicsInkjet printingDigital microfluidicsLab-on-a-chipImage processingElectrowetting |
| spellingShingle | Babak Kamali Doust Azad Amirhossein Roozbahani Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei Amirali Valinejad Alireza Fazelian Kimia Shahmoradi Fatemeh Khatami Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir Mohammadreza Kolahdouz Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer Scientific Reports Printed electronics Inkjet printing Digital microfluidics Lab-on-a-chip Image processing Electrowetting |
| title | Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer |
| title_full | Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer |
| title_fullStr | Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer |
| title_short | Inkjet-printed electronics for rapid and low-cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off-the-shelf printer |
| title_sort | inkjet printed electronics for rapid and low cost prototyping of digital microfluidic devices using an off the shelf printer |
| topic | Printed electronics Inkjet printing Digital microfluidics Lab-on-a-chip Image processing Electrowetting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89343-z |
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