Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Rapid Fabrication of Custom Microfluidic Devices for Research and Educational Applications
Published on: November 20, 2019
Biomedical microfluidic devices by using low-cost fabrication techniques: A review.
Vera Faustino1, Susana O Catarino1, Rui Lima2
1MEMS-UMinho Research Unit, Universidade do Minho, DEI, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; Transport Phenomena Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Low-cost fabrication of biomedical microfluidic devices avoids expensive cleanrooms. This review explores recent lithographic and non-lithographic techniques for creating microfluidic structures without cleanroom facilities.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microfluidics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Soft-lithography is a popular method for fabricating biomedical microfluidic devices.
- Traditional methods, like SU-8 mold fabrication, often require costly cleanroom facilities.
- There is a growing need for low-cost, accessible microfabrication techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent low-cost lithographic and non-lithographic techniques for microfluidic device fabrication.
- To focus on methods that do not require cleanroom facilities.
- To present features, limitations, and potential biomedical applications of these techniques.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of Ultraviolet (UV) exposure equipment (e.g., for Printed Circuit Board industry) as an alternative to Mask Aligners for SU-8 patterning.
- Investigation of non-lithographic techniques such as Print and Peel (PAP) methods, laserjet, solid ink, cutting plotters, and micromilling.
- Detailed examination of techniques like xurography using cutting plotters and vinyl films for master mold fabrication.
Main Results:
- Low-cost techniques utilizing UV exposure equipment offer alternatives for SU-8 mold fabrication with high aspect ratios (>20).
- Non-lithographic methods provide simple, rapid, and scalable production of microfluidic structures using readily available lab equipment.
- Various techniques demonstrate feasibility for fabricating microfluidic channels without cleanroom dependency.
Conclusions:
- Emerging low-cost microfabrication techniques significantly reduce the barrier to entry for biomedical microfluidic device development.
- These accessible methods enable wider research and industrial adoption of microfluidic technologies.
- The reviewed techniques offer promising avenues for diverse biomedical engineering applications.
