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The digital code driven autonomous synthesis of ibuprofen automated in a 3D-printer-based robot
Philip J Kitson1, Stefan Glatzel1, Leroy Cronin1
1WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, The University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
|February 2, 2017
Summary
Researchers developed an automated synthesis robot using 3D printing technology to create custom reaction vessels. This system successfully synthesized ibuprofen on various scales, demonstrating a new open-source approach to chemical synthesis.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Engineering
- Robotics
- Organic Synthesis
Background:
- Traditional chemical synthesis methods can be inflexible and costly.
- Automating chemical synthesis offers potential for increased efficiency and reproducibility.
- 3D printing provides a versatile platform for creating custom laboratory equipment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an automated robotic system for chemical synthesis.
- To fabricate custom reaction vessels using 3D printing.
- To demonstrate the synthesis of ibuprofen using the automated system.
Main Methods:
- Modification of an open-source 3D printing platform to create an automated synthesis robot.
- 3D printing of polypropylene reaction vessels with varying volumes using fused deposition modeling.
- One-pot, three-step synthesis of ibuprofen within the 3D-printed reaction vessels.
- Control of the synthesis robot using custom Python software.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of 3D-printed reaction vessels (reactionware).
- Demonstrated synthesis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen.
- Scalable ibuprofen synthesis achieved by adjusting robot control software parameters.
- Proof of concept for an open-source chemical synthesis platform.
Conclusions:
- An automated synthesis robot can be constructed from an open-source 3D printer.
- 3D-printed reaction vessels are suitable for multi-step chemical synthesis.
- The developed system enables scalable and reproducible synthesis of ibuprofen.
- This work promotes an open-source model for accessible chemical synthesis automation.
