Li Zhi, Tevis Ian D, Oyola-Reynoso Stephanie, Newcomb Lucas B, Halbertsma-Black Julian, Bloch Jean-Francis, Thuo Martin
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125, USA.
Materials Science and Engineering Department, Iowa State University, 2220 Hoover Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Talanta. 2015 Dec 1;145:20-8. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.05.002. Epub 2015 May 18.
Interest in low-cost analytical devices (especially for diagnostics) has recently increased; however, concomitant translation to the field has been slow, in part due to personnel and supply-chain challenges in resource-limited settings. Overcoming some of these challenges require the development of a method that takes advantage of locally available resources and/or skills. We report a Melt-and-mold fabrication (MnM Fab) approach to low-cost and simple devices that has the potential to be adapted locally since it requires a single material that is recyclable and simple skills to access multiple devices. We demonstrated this potential by fabricating entry level bio-analytical devices using an affordable low-melting metal alloy, Field's metal, with molds produced from known materials such as plastic (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)), glass, and paper. We fabricated optical gratings then 4×4 well plates using the same recycled piece of metal. We then reconfigured the well plates into rapid prototype microfluidic devices with which we demonstrated laminar flow, droplet generation, and bubble formation from T-shaped channels. We conclude that this MnM-Fab method is capable of addressing some challenges typically encountered with device translation, such as technical know-how or material supply, and that it can be applied to other devices, as needed in the field, using a single moldable material.
最近,人们对低成本分析设备(尤其是用于诊断的设备)的兴趣有所增加;然而,向该领域的同步转化一直很缓慢,部分原因是资源有限环境中的人员和供应链挑战。克服其中一些挑战需要开发一种利用当地可用资源和/或技能的方法。我们报告了一种用于低成本和简易设备的熔模制造(MnM Fab)方法,该方法有可能在当地进行调整,因为它只需要一种可回收的单一材料以及简单的技能就能制造多种设备。我们通过使用一种价格实惠的低熔点金属合金——菲尔德金属,并利用由塑料(丙烯腈 - 丁二烯 - 苯乙烯(ABS))、玻璃和纸张等已知材料制成的模具,制造入门级生物分析设备,证明了这种潜力。我们先用同一块回收金属制造了光栅,然后制造了4×4孔板。接着,我们将孔板重新配置成快速原型微流控设备,并利用这些设备展示了层流、液滴生成以及T形通道中的气泡形成。我们得出结论,这种MnM - Fab方法能够应对设备转化过程中通常遇到的一些挑战,比如技术诀窍或材料供应问题,并且可以根据该领域的需要,使用单一可模塑材料应用于其他设备。