3D-Printed Fluidic Devices for Nanoparticle Preparation and Flow-Injection Amperometry Using Integrated Prussian Blue...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing offers potential for creating custom laboratory equipment.
• Traditional methods for fabricating microfluidic devices can be expensive and time-consuming.
• Consumer-grade 3D printers present an accessible platform for rapid prototyping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the use of a consumer-grade FFF 3D printer for fabricating fluidic devices.
• To develop a low-cost system for nanoparticle preparation and electrochemical sensing.
• To evaluate the performance of 3D-printed devices for hydrogen peroxide detection.

Main Methods:

• 3D printing of fluidic devices using poly(ethylene terephthalate) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
• Integration of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) tubing and custom fittings.
• Synthesis of Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) within a Y-shaped mixing channel.
• Electrochemical detection of hydrogen peroxide using PBNP-modified electrodes in a flow-injection analysis system.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated semitransparent fluidic devices with 800 μm × 800 μm channels.
• Synthesized PBNPs efficiently within the 3D-printed Y-mixer.
• Achieved a detection limit of 100 nM for hydrogen peroxide with a linear response up to 20 μM.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of using low-cost 3D printing for electrochemical sensing applications.

Conclusions:

• Consumer-grade FFF 3D printing is a viable and cost-effective method for producing functional fluidic devices.
• The developed system is suitable for both nanoparticle synthesis and sensitive electrochemical detection.
• This approach democratizes access to custom labware for research and development.