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Micropatterning and Assembly of 3D Microvessels

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DNA Assembly in 3D Printed Fluidics.

William G Patrick¹, Alec A K Nielsen², Steven J Keating^1,3

¹MIT Media Lab, School of Architecture and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America.

|December 31, 2015

Summary

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This summary is machine-generated.

3D-printed microfluidic devices enable affordable and rapid DNA assembly for synthetic biology. This technology democratizes access to advanced biological engineering tools by reducing costs and complexity.

Area of Science:

Synthetic Biology
Biotechnology
Bioengineering

Background:

DNA assembly is crucial for synthetic biology.
Microfluidics offer advantages but face accessibility challenges due to cost and expertise.
3D printing provides a low-cost, accessible alternative for fabricating microfluidic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate the feasibility of Golden Gate DNA assembly in 3D-printed microfluidic devices.
To develop an integrated system using 3D-printed fluidics and a custom syringe pump for automated biological protocols.
To establish a rapid prototyping and manufacturing paradigm for synthetic biology hardware.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of microfluidic devices and a syringe pump using commodity 3D printing.

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Optimization of Golden Gate DNA assembly within 3D-printed channels with volumes as low as 490 nL.

Integration of fluidic devices with a programmable 3D-printed syringe pump system.

Main Results:

Successful Golden Gate DNA assembly achieved in 3D-printed microfluidics.
Demonstrated reaction volumes down to 490 nL and channel widths of 220 microns.
Achieved low per-unit part costs ranging from $0.61 to $5.71.
Developed a functional, 3D-printed syringe pump system with software control.

Conclusions:

3D-printed microfluidics offer a cost-effective and accessible platform for synthetic biology applications like DNA assembly.
This approach significantly reduces the barriers to entry for utilizing microfluidic technologies in biological research.
The developed system enables rapid iteration and customization of hardware for synthetic biology, accelerating innovation.