Issue 4, 2015

Rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices with desktop stereolithography 3D printer

Abstract

In this study, we developed a novel and facile method for fabricating paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (μPADs) with dynamic mask photo curing (DMPC), generated by a desktop stereolithography (SL) three-dimensional printer (3DP). First, we immersed the filter paper in ultraviolet (UV) resin to cover it evenly. Next, we exposed it to UV-light through a dynamic mask of the negative channel pattern. After curing, the UV-exposed regions become highly hydrophobic, creating hydrophobic barriers. Finally, we washed the uncured resin with anhydrous alcohol and fine μPADs were obtained. The resolution of the fabricated hydrophilic channels was 367 ± 20 μm, with a between-channel hydrophobic barrier of 400 ± 21 μm. To verify this method's performance, we fabricated μPADs with DMPC for quantitative analysis of nitrite ion. This new method represents a leap forward in terms of time saved. Since all hydrophobic barriers are cured at a time, the fabrication process can be completed in only two minutes, no matter how complex the patterns are. Compared to the widely used fabrication method of μPADs, wax printing, DMPC provides an alternative way to fabricate μPAD with different hydrophobic barriers materials, which provides the possibility of designing different μPADs according to the application environments.

Graphical abstract: Rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices with desktop stereolithography 3D printer

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 Oct 2014
Accepted
04 Dec 2014
First published
05 Dec 2014

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 2694-2701

Author version available

Rapid fabrication of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices with desktop stereolithography 3D printer

Y. He, W. Wu and J. Fu, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 2694 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA12165A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements