Three-dimensional-printing for microfluidics or the other way around?
Open Access
- 4 June 2019
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AccScience Publishing in International Journal of Bioprinting
- Vol. 5 (2), 61-73
- https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v5i2.192
Abstract
As microfluidic devices are designed to tackle more intricate tasks, the architecture of microfluidic devices becomes more complex, and more sophisticated fabrication techniques are in demand. Therefore, it is sensible to fabricate microfluidic devices by three-dimensional (3D)-printing, which is well-recognized for its unique ability to monolithically fabricate complex structures using a near-net-shape additive manufacturing process. Many 3D-printed microfluidic platforms have been demonstrated but can 3D-printed microfluidics meet the demanding requirements in today’s context, and has microfluidics truly benefited from 3D-printing? In contrast to 3D-printed microfluidics, some go the other way around and exploit microfluidics for 3D-printing. Many innovative printing strategies have been made possible with microfluidicsenabled 3D-printing, although the limitations are also largely evident. In this perspective article, we take a look at the current development in 3D-printed microfluidics and microfluidics-enabled 3D printing with a strong focus on the limitations of the two technologies. More importantly, we attempt to identify the innovations required to overcome these limitations and to develop new high-value applications that would make a scientific and social impact in the future.Keywords
This publication has 59 references indexed in Scilit:
- Configurable 3D-Printed millifluidic and microfluidic ‘lab on a chip’ reactionware devicesLab on a Chip, 2012
- Mosaic Hydrogels: One‐Step Formation of Multiscale Soft MaterialsAdvanced Materials, 2012
- Microfluidics for single cell analysisCurrent Opinion in Biotechnology, 2012
- Applications of microfluidics in chemical biologyCurrent Opinion in Chemical Biology, 2006
- The origins and the future of microfluidicsNature, 2006
- A BioMEMS Review: MEMS Technology for Physiologically Integrated DevicesProceedings of the IEEE, 2004
- BioMEMS: state-of-the-art in detection, opportunities and prospectsAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2004
- Hard and soft micromachining for BioMEMS: review of techniques and examples of applications in microfluidics and drug deliveryAdvanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2004
- Physics and Applications of Microfluidics in BiologyAnnual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 2002
- Monolithic Microfabricated Valves and Pumps by Multilayer Soft LithographyScience, 2000