Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes
Microfluidic devices (µFDs) have been explored extensively in drug screening and studying cellular processes such as migration and metastasis. However, the fabrication and implementation of microfluidic devices pose cost and logistical challenges that limit wider-spread adoption. Despite these chall...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/15/11/1348 |
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| author | Jared A. Engelken Tobias Butelmann Fabian Tribukait-Riemenschneider V. Prasad Shastri |
| author_facet | Jared A. Engelken Tobias Butelmann Fabian Tribukait-Riemenschneider V. Prasad Shastri |
| author_sort | Jared A. Engelken |
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| description | Microfluidic devices (µFDs) have been explored extensively in drug screening and studying cellular processes such as migration and metastasis. However, the fabrication and implementation of microfluidic devices pose cost and logistical challenges that limit wider-spread adoption. Despite these challenges, light-based 3D printing offers a potential alternative to device fabrication. This study reports on the development of millifluidic devices (MiFDs) for disease modeling and elucidates the methods and implications of the design, production, and testing of 3D-printed MiFDs. It further details how such millifluidic devices can be cost-efficiently and effortlessly produced. The MiFD was developed through an iterative process with analytical tests (flow tests, leak tests, cytotoxicity assays, and microscopic analyses), driving design evolution and determination of the suitability of the devices for disease modeling and cancer research. The design evolution also considered flow within tissues and replicates interstitial flow between the main flow path and the modules designed to house and support organ-mimicking cancer cell spheroids. Although the primary stereolithographic (SLA) resin used in this study showed cytotoxic potential despite its biocompatibility certifications, the MiFDs possessed essential attributes for cell culturing. In summary, SLA 3D printing enables the production of MiFDs as a cost-effective, rapid prototyping alternative to standard µFD fabrication for investigating disease-related processes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab2a8d865fc64018a658de5bd2775357 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab2a8d865fc64018a658de5bd27753572025-08-20T02:04:59ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2024-10-011511134810.3390/mi15111348Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular ProcessesJared A. Engelken0Tobias Butelmann1Fabian Tribukait-Riemenschneider2V. Prasad Shastri3Institute for Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyInstitute for Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyInstitute for Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyInstitute for Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, GermanyMicrofluidic devices (µFDs) have been explored extensively in drug screening and studying cellular processes such as migration and metastasis. However, the fabrication and implementation of microfluidic devices pose cost and logistical challenges that limit wider-spread adoption. Despite these challenges, light-based 3D printing offers a potential alternative to device fabrication. This study reports on the development of millifluidic devices (MiFDs) for disease modeling and elucidates the methods and implications of the design, production, and testing of 3D-printed MiFDs. It further details how such millifluidic devices can be cost-efficiently and effortlessly produced. The MiFD was developed through an iterative process with analytical tests (flow tests, leak tests, cytotoxicity assays, and microscopic analyses), driving design evolution and determination of the suitability of the devices for disease modeling and cancer research. The design evolution also considered flow within tissues and replicates interstitial flow between the main flow path and the modules designed to house and support organ-mimicking cancer cell spheroids. Although the primary stereolithographic (SLA) resin used in this study showed cytotoxic potential despite its biocompatibility certifications, the MiFDs possessed essential attributes for cell culturing. In summary, SLA 3D printing enables the production of MiFDs as a cost-effective, rapid prototyping alternative to standard µFD fabrication for investigating disease-related processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/15/11/13483D printingstereolithographymillifluidicscancer researchmetastasisorgan-on-a-chip |
| spellingShingle | Jared A. Engelken Tobias Butelmann Fabian Tribukait-Riemenschneider V. Prasad Shastri Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes Micromachines 3D printing stereolithography millifluidics cancer research metastasis organ-on-a-chip |
| title | Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes |
| title_full | Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes |
| title_fullStr | Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes |
| title_short | Towards a 3D-Printed Millifluidic Device for Investigating Cellular Processes |
| title_sort | towards a 3d printed millifluidic device for investigating cellular processes |
| topic | 3D printing stereolithography millifluidics cancer research metastasis organ-on-a-chip |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/15/11/1348 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jaredaengelken towardsa3dprintedmillifluidicdeviceforinvestigatingcellularprocesses AT tobiasbutelmann towardsa3dprintedmillifluidicdeviceforinvestigatingcellularprocesses AT fabiantribukaitriemenschneider towardsa3dprintedmillifluidicdeviceforinvestigatingcellularprocesses AT vprasadshastri towardsa3dprintedmillifluidicdeviceforinvestigatingcellularprocesses |