Microfluidic assembly kit based on laser-cut building blocks for education and fast prototyping

Gerber, Leah; Kim, Honesty; Riedel-Kruse, Ingmar H.

doi:10.1063/1.4935593

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The microorganisms are contained in easy-to-fabricate “sticker microfluidics” [ 33 ] ( Fig 2 E ), which uses two acrylic layers assembled with double-sided tape with an inlet and an outlet, also providing an accessible introduction to the rising technology of microfluidics. For the LudusScope we focused on E .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

LudusScope: Accessible Interactive Smartphone Microscopy for Life-Science Education

et al. 2016

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For centuries, observational microscopy has greatly facilitated biology education, but we still cannot easily and playfully interact with the microscopic world we see. We therefore developed the LudusScope, an accessible, interactive do-it-yourself smartphone microscopy platform that promotes exploratory stimulation and observation of microscopic organisms, in a design that combines the educational modalities of build, play, and inquire. The LudusScope’s touchscreen and joystick allow the selection and stimulation of phototactic microorganisms such as Euglena gracilis with light. Organismal behavior is tracked and displayed in real time, enabling open and structured game play as well as scientific inquiry via quantitative experimentation. Furthermore, we used the Scratch programming language to incorporate biophysical modeling. This platform is designed as an accessible, low-cost educational kit for easy construction and expansion. User testing with both teachers and students demonstrates the educational potential of the LudusScope, and we anticipate additional synergy with the maker movement. Transforming observational microscopy into an interactive experience will make microbiology more tangible to society, and effectively support the interdisciplinary learning required by the Next Generation Science Standards.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

LudusScope: Accessible Interactive Smartphone Microscopy for Life-Science Education

et al. 2016

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“…Second, it takes little time and labor to fabricate microfluidic chips. In addition to this study, other researchers have used these films alone or with other materials to construct interesting microfluidic chips [6,8,10,11,12,40,41]. Third.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The difficulty of accessing the equipment and materials of (soft) lithography has been partially relieved with the interesting uses of paper, craft cutter, double-sided adhesive films, nylons etc. [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. The world-to-chip [14] connectivity is one remaining issue which has to be improved to popularize the use of microfluidic devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workshop, Cost-Effective and Streamlined Fabrications of Re-Usable World-To-Chip Connectors for Handling Sample of Limited Volume and for Assembling Chip Array

Lue

Kuo

2018

Sensors

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The world-to-chip interface is an essential yet intriguing part of making and employing microfluidic devices. A user-friendly connector could be expensive or difficult to make. We fabricated two ports of microfluidic chips with easily available materials including Teflon blocks, double adhesive films, coverslips, and transparency films. By using a mini grinder, coverslips were drilled to form small holes for the fluid passages between port and chip. Except for the double adhesive films, the resultant ports are durable and re-useable. The DK1 port, contains a mini three-way switch which allows users to handle fluid by a tube-connected pump, or by a manual pipette for the sample of trace amount. The other port, the DK2 port, provides secured tube-connections. Importantly, we invented a bridge made of craft cutter-treated transparency films and double adhesive films to mediate liquid flow between DK2 port and chip. With the use of a bridge, users do not need to design new ports for new chips. Also, individual chips could be linked by a bridge to form a chip array. We successfully applied DK1 port on a microfluidic chip where green fluorescent protein was immobilized. We used DK2 port on an array of fish chips where the embryos of zebra fish developed.

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“…39,40 Overall, the design space for such artistic and playful applicationsall of which have education potential-has been explored in a number of related design projects. 36,[41][42][43][44] The vision of this line of research is to ultimately develop interactive devices equivalent to, e.g., the home computer of the 1970s, that are programmable and accessible, and thereby enable many applications in art, entertainment, and education. 35,44 Related microfluidic devices have formed the foundation for real-time interactive biological cloud labs that enable biophysics experiments at low cost and scale across the world [Fig.…”

Section: B Biology/bioengineeringmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These devices are formed from razor-or laser-cut layers of polymer sheets and/or tape, which are then stacked together. 43,[77][78][79] Channel depth is determined by the thickness of the layers and multiple layers can be stacked for thicker channels. Through this process, complicated multilayer devices like the one shown in Fig.…”

Section: Laminated Microfluidic Devicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Learning on a chip:” Microfluidics for formal and informal science education

2019

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Microfluidics is a technique for the handling of small volumes of liquids on the order of picoliters to nanoliters and has impact for miniaturized biomedical science and fundamental research. Because of its multi-and interdisciplinary nature (i.e., combining the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering), microfluidics offers much potential for educational applications, both at the university level as well as primary and secondary education. Microfluidics is also an ideal "tool" to enthuse and educate members of the general public about the interdisciplinary aspects of modern sciences, including concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects such as (bio)engineering, chemistry, and biomedical sciences. Here, we provide an overview of approaches that have been taken to make microfluidics accessible for formal and informal learning. We also point out future avenues and desired developments. At the extreme ends, we can distinguish between projects that teach how to build microfluidic devices vs projects that make various microscopic phenomena (e.g., low Reynolds number hydrodynamics, microbiology) accessible to learners and the general public. Microfluidics also enables educators to make experiments low-cost and scalable, and thereby widely accessible. Our goal for this review is to assist academic researchers working in the field of microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies as well as educators with translating research from the laboratory into the lecture hall, teaching laboratory, or public sphere.

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Microfluidic assembly kit based on laser-cut building blocks for education and fast prototyping

Cited by 15 publications

References 45 publications

LudusScope: Accessible Interactive Smartphone Microscopy for Life-Science Education

LudusScope: Accessible Interactive Smartphone Microscopy for Life-Science Education

Workshop, Cost-Effective and Streamlined Fabrications of Re-Usable World-To-Chip Connectors for Handling Sample of Limited Volume and for Assembling Chip Array

“Learning on a chip:” Microfluidics for formal and informal science education

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