Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 27;10(1):18379. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-75489-5.
3D printed and paper-based microfluidics are promising formats for applications that require portable miniaturized fluid handling such as point-of-care testing. These two formats deployed in isolation, however, have inherent limitations that hamper their capabilities and versatility. Here, we present the convergence of 3D printed and paper formats into hybrid devices that overcome many of these limitations, while capitalizing on their respective strengths. Hybrid channels were fabricated with no specialized equipment except a commercial 3D printer. Finger-operated reservoirs and valves capable of fully-reversible dispensation and actuation were designed for intuitive operation without equipment or training. Components were then integrated into a versatile multicomponent device capable of dynamic fluid pathing. These results are an early demonstration of how 3D printed and paper microfluidics can be hybridized into versatile lab-on-chip devices.
3D 打印和纸质微流控是需要便携小型化流体处理的应用(如即时检测)的有前途的格式。然而,这两种格式单独使用时存在固有局限性,限制了它们的功能和通用性。在这里,我们将 3D 打印和纸质格式融合到混合设备中,克服了许多这些限制,同时利用了它们各自的优势。混合通道是使用商业 3D 打印机和除了特殊设备外的其他设备制造的。手指操作的储液器和阀设计用于完全可逆的分配和致动,操作直观,无需设备或培训。然后,组件被集成到一个多功能多组件设备中,能够实现动态流体路径。这些结果是 3D 打印和纸质微流控如何融合成多功能的芯片实验室设备的早期展示。