Customisable 3D printed microfluidics for integrated analysis and optimisation

• Published in: Lab on a chip 2016-01, Vol.16 (17), p.3362-3373
• Main Authors: Monaghan, T, Harding, M. J, Harris, R. A, Friel, R. J, Christie, S. D. R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Channels; Design analysis; Devices; Formations; Optical fibers; Optimization; Spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1473-0197; 1473-0189; 1473-0189
• DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00562d

The formation of smart Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices featuring integrated sensing optics is currently hindered by convoluted and expensive manufacturing procedures. In this work, a series of 3D-printed LOC devices were designed and manufactured via stereolithography (SL) in a matter of hours. The spectroscopic performance of a variety of optical fibre combinations were tested, and the optimum path length for performing Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy determined. The information gained in these trials was then used in a reaction optimisation for the formation of carvone semicarbazone. The production of high resolution surface channels (100-500 μm) means that these devices were capable of handling a wide range of concentrations (9 μM-38 mM), and are ideally suited to both analyte detection and process optimisation. This ability to tailor the chip design and its integrated features as a direct result of the reaction being assessed, at such a low time and cost penalty greatly increases the user's ability to optimise both their device and reaction. As a result of the information gained in this investigation, we are able to report the first instance of a 3D-printed LOC device with fully integrated, in-line monitoring capabilities via the use of embedded optical fibres capable of performing UV-vis spectroscopy directly inside micro channels. 3DP was used to produce a fluidic device with embedded optical fibres capable of performing UV-vis spectroscopy directly inside micro-channels.