Discrete elements for 3D microfluidics

Microfluidic systems are rapidly becoming commonplace tools for high-precision materials synthesis, biochemical sample preparation, and biophysical analysis. Typically, microfluidic systems are constructed in monolithic form by means of microfabrication and, increasingly, by additive techniques. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 111; no. 42; p. 15013
Main Authors: Bhargava, Krisna C, Thompson, Bryant, Malmstadt, Noah
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 21.10.2014
Subjects:
Electric Impedance
Electronics
Equipment Design
Fluorocarbons - chemistry
Ketones - chemistry
Materials Testing
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
Microfluidics - methods
Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry
3D-printed microfluidics
modular microfluidics
microfluidic circuit design
ISSN:1091-6490, 1091-6490
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:Microfluidic systems are rapidly becoming commonplace tools for high-precision materials synthesis, biochemical sample preparation, and biophysical analysis. Typically, microfluidic systems are constructed in monolithic form by means of microfabrication and, increasingly, by additive techniques. These methods restrict the design and assembly of truly complex systems by placing unnecessary emphasis on complete functional integration of operational elements in a planar environment. Here, we present a solution based on discrete elements that liberates designers to build large-scale microfluidic systems in three dimensions that are modular, diverse, and predictable by simple network analysis techniques. We develop a sample library of standardized components and connectors manufactured using stereolithography. We predict and validate the flow characteristics of these individual components to design and construct a tunable concentration gradient generator with a scalable number of parallel outputs. We show that these systems are rapidly reconfigurable by constructing three variations of a device for generating monodisperse microdroplets in two distinct size regimes and in a high-throughput mode by simple replacement of emulsifier subcircuits. Finally, we demonstrate the capability for active process monitoring by constructing an optical sensing element for detecting water droplets in a fluorocarbon stream and quantifying their size and frequency. By moving away from large-scale integration toward standardized discrete elements, we demonstrate the potential to reduce the practice of designing and assembling complex 3D microfluidic circuits to a methodology comparable to that found in the electronics industry.
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ISSN:1091-6490
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1414764111