3D-Printed Microfluidics for Hands-On Undergraduate Laboratory Experiments

• Published in: Journal of chemical education Vol. 97; no. 1; pp. 178 - 183
• Main Authors: Vangunten, Matthew T, Walker, Uriah J, Do, Han G, Knust, Kyle N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Easton American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc 14.01.2020; Division of Chemical Education, Inc; American Chemical Society
• Subjects: 3-D printers; Chemistry; College Science; Colorimetry; Computer Peripherals; Computer Uses in Education; Educational Experiments; Electrophoresis; Experiments; Fabrication; Hands on Science; Laboratories; Laboratory Experiments; Laboratory tests; Laminar flow; Laminar mixing; Lithography; Manufacturing; Microfluidics; Organic chemistry; Reagents; Science Equipment; Science Experiments; Science Instruction; Three dimensional printing; Undergraduate education; Undergraduate Study; Hands-On Learning/Manipulatives; Upper-Division Undergraduate; Analytical Chemistry; Laboratory Instruction; Acids/Bases; Second-Year Undergraduate; Electrochemistry; Electrophoresis; Interdisciplinary; Microscale Lab
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00620

We demonstrate that the simplicity of preparing functional microfluidic devices using 3D printing is well suited for undergraduate laboratories. Educational experiments utilizing non-paper-based microfluidic devices are often relegated to well-equipped, resource rich universities because traditional fabrication techniques require specialized and expensive equipment. Microfluidics prepared with stereolithography 3D printing provides a simplified and lower cost method of fabrication, while maintaining adequate resolution and performance for teaching laboratories. The applicability of stereolithography 3D-printed microfluidic devices for chemical education is demonstrated with a series of experiments utilizing colorimetric indicators to introduce laminar flow, diffusional mixing, and parabolic flow at the microscale. A microfluidic gel electrophoresis separation was also performed to demonstrate the low reagent requirements of microfluidics.