Rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices with desktop stereolithography 3D printer

Abstract

In this study, we developed a novel and facile method for fabricating paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (mPADs) with dynamic mask photo curing (DMPC), generated by a desktop stereolithography (SL) three-dimensional printer (3DP). First, we immersed the filter paper in ultraviolet (UV) resin to cover it evenly. Next, we exposed it to UV-light through a dynamic mask of the negative channel pattern.After curing, the UV-exposed regions become highly hydrophobic, creating hydrophobic barriers. Finally, we washed the uncured resin with anhydrous alcohol and fine mPADs were obtained. The resolution of the fabricated hydrophilic channels was 367 AE 20 mm, with a between-channel hydrophobic barrier of 400 AE 21 mm. To verify this method's performance, we fabricated mPADs with DMPC for quantitative analysis of nitrite ion. This new method represents a leap forward in terms of time saved. Since all hydrophobic barriers are cured at a time, the fabrication process can be completed in only two minutes, no matter how complex the patterns are. Compared to the widely used fabrication method of mPADs, wax printing, DMPC provides an alternative way to fabricate mPAD with different hydrophobic barriers materials, which provides the possibility of designing different mPADs according to the application environments.

Chemical and biochemical analysis on lab-on-a-chip devices fabricated using three-dimensional printing

“…2A) [47,66,67]. It allows for automated creation of complicated 3D architectures in photoactive polymeric materials at low to medium volume throughputs.…”

Application of Microfluidic Chip Technology in Food Safety Sensing

“…Paper-based microfluidic chip is formed by infiltrating hydrophobic materials into hydrophilic paper fibers through various methods, controlling the fluid flow in hydrophilic paper fibers through the "wall" of hydrophobic materials, thus forming a paper-based microfluidic chip. Common inkjet printers [38], screen printing [39], 3D printers [40], wax printers [41] and even crayons [42] can be used to process low-cost, paper-based microfluidic chips. In the choice of paper, the common ones are Whatman series filter paper [43] or chromatographic paper [44].…”

“…Moreover, new type of printing method was used on electrodes ( Figure 3C). The main methods of using 3D printing to process microfluidic chips are stereo-lithography [40] and fused deposition modeling (FDM) [61], among which the fused deposition modeling 3D printer can be used to process low-cost 3D microfluidic chips because of its relatively low price. The fused deposition molding technique can be used to directly print PC, PLA (polylactic acid), ABS (acrylonitrile butadience styrene), and other materials to make 3D microfluidic chips [62], and can also be used to print the mold for the PDMS reverse mold [63].…”

Paper-Based Systems for Point-of-Care Biosensing

“…Using dynamic mask photo-curing, the Fu group presented a new way to design µPADs with different hydrophobic barrier materials. 23 Apart from patterning paper materials with necessary reagents and components, the Whitesides group also pioneered ways to treat paper to give it unique properties. 24 In 2014, the group introduced a method for developing a paper that is impermeable to water and organic liquids.…”