Rapid assembly of multilayer microfluidic structures via 3D-printed transfer molding and bonding

摘要

A 3D printing technique for fabricating multilayered microfluidic devices promises to overcome the limitations of conventional fabrication. Advances in microfluidic technology are proving invaluable for disease diagnosis, DNA analysis, and drug discovery, but lithography-based device construction is time-consuming, reliant on costly infrastructure, and restricted to rectangular features. To address these limitations, Casey Glick at the University of California, Berkeley, United States, and his colleagues developed a versatile 3D printed transfer molding technique enabling them to mold flexible polymers into arbitrary configurations, such as thin membranes and controllable microvalves. They also rapidly assembled multiple layers into a single device; by using custom alignment marks and 3D printed stamps, they selectively applied adhesives without clogging the hair-width microfluidic channels. The team's work paves the way for the cheap and speedy manufacture of sophisticated multilayer microfluidic systems.