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3D Printing of Monolithic Capillarity-Driven Microfluidic Devices for Diagnostics
Clement Achille1, Cesar Parra-Cabrera1, Ruben Dochy1
1Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy (cMACS), KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 F, Leuven, Box 2454, Belgium.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|May 10, 2021
Summary
3D-printed microfluidic devices enable rapid, low-cost diagnostics without complex equipment. This innovation simplifies multistep assays using engineered capillary flow for point-of-care testing.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Rapid diagnostic testing is crucial where laboratory access is limited.
- Current microfluidic paper-based devices face fabrication challenges for multistep protocols.
- Low-cost, disposable tests with minimal user interference are highly desired.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate 3D-printed microfluidic devices for point-of-care diagnostics.
- To overcome fabrication limitations of paper-based microfluidic devices.
- To enable multistep diagnostic assays using engineered capillary flow.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing 3D printing to fabricate microfluidic devices with engineered porous bodies.
- Implementing capillary wicking for controlled fluid transport.
- Conducting a proof-of-concept enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated a multistep enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 3D-printed devices.
- Engineered capillary wetting within printed porous structures to control assay timeline.
- 3D printing offers a scalable and cost-effective manufacturing route, obviating component assembly.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed microfluidic devices provide a viable, low-cost solution for complex point-of-care diagnostics.
- Engineered capillary flow in 3D-printed porous materials enables seamless multistep assay execution.
- This technology supports rapid design iterations and distributed manufacturing of diagnostic tools.
