(252a) Low-Cost 3D-Printed Electrokinetic Systems

Automated 3D-printing, or fabbing, of microfluidic systems is revolutionizing the development of miniaturized chemical and biological lab-on-a-chip devices. Such systems can be rapidly produced, in low volumes, by subtractive (removal of material) or additive (addition of material) processes controlled by a computer. Of these types, additive fabrication (printing) offers the opportunity to use multiple materials, including even chemical reagents and biological samples, in the systems being produced. To date, nearly all of the 3D-printed microfluidic systems published are static or passive — that is to say that they require external pumps, magnetic fields, or other equipment to make them functional — usually because the various materials required for electrodes and other active functions are difficult to incorporate into a single fabrication process.

Capitalizing on recent advancements in (2D) printed materials for organic- and bio-electronics, we demonstrate bottom-up 3D-printing of functional lab-on-a-chip devices employing conventional capillary electrophoresis. These systems contain printed electrodes and fluidic channels, and require only an external power source (which could alternatively be printed in the chip). By employing electrochemically-active conjugated polymer electrodes, we can readily print our devices straight from a syringe-based extrusion fabber, and simultaneously reduce the influence of electrolytically-generated by-products during sample transport and separation. [1]

Our intention is to build on our experience with these devices and improve the materials, methods and device structures available to make local on-demand production of point-of-care medical diagnostics possible.

1. Erlandsson, P. G.; Robinson, N. D., Electrolysis-reducing electrodes for electrokinetic devices. Electrophoresis 2011, 32, 784-790.