The recent development and applications of fluidic channels by 3D printing

• Published in: Journal of biomedical science Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 80
• Main Author: Zhou, Yufeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 18.10.2017; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; Analysis; Biochips; Biology; Biomedical engineering; Chemical industry; Chemical properties; Chemical synthesis; Comparative analysis; Consumption; Diagnosis; Engineering; Fabrication; Fluidic channel; Functionally gradient materials; Fused deposition modeling; Hydrogels; Integrated circuit fabrication; Lab-on-a-chip; Lithography; Microchannels; Mobile devices; Nanoparticles; Organic chemistry; Polymethyl methacrylate; Portable equipment; Reactionware; Review; Surface roughness; Three dimensional printing; Tissue engineering; United States; Lab-on-a-chip; Diagnosis; Fluidic channel; Reactionware; Tissue engineering; 3D printing
• ISSN: 1423-0127; 1021-7770; 1423-0127
• DOI: 10.1186/s12929-017-0384-2

The technology of "Lab-on-a-Chip" allows the synthesis and analysis of chemicals and biological substance within a portable or handheld device. The 3D printed structures enable precise control of various geometries. The combination of these two technologies in recent years makes a significant progress. The current approaches of 3D printing, such as stereolithography, polyjet, and fused deposition modeling, are introduced. Their manufacture specifications, such as surface roughness, resolution, replication fidelity, cost, and fabrication time, are compared with each other. Finally, novel application of 3D printed channel in biology are reviewed, including pathogenic bacteria detection using magnetic nanoparticle clusters in a helical microchannel, cell stimulation by 3D chemical gradients, perfused functional vascular channels, 3D tissue construct, organ-on-a-chip, and miniaturized fluidic "reactionware" devices for chemical syntheses. Overall, the 3D printed fluidic chip is becoming a powerful tool in the both medical and chemical industries.