Deposition Control of a FDM 3D Printer Based Direct Writing System for Hydrogel Molding in Microfluidic Devices Fabrication

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Boyle ◽  
Kristi Petersen ◽  
Karen Chang Yan
Keyword(s):  
Electrospun Fiber ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Material System ◽  
Direct Writing ◽  
Integrated Method ◽  
Volume Rate ◽  
Wax Printing

Microfabrication-free methods such as wax printing and hydrogel molding have been developed in recent years for fabricating microfluidic devices to enable the applications of microfluidic devices to a broader range. A process has been developed to fabricate electrospun fiber embedded microfluidic devices by integrating hydrogel molding (HGM) and electrospinning (ES), and the feasibility of this integrated method has been demonstrated through our initial study. In particular, agarose gels with various concentrations have been used to generate the channel molds inside PDMS. Recently, a 3D printer kit based on Fuse-deposition method (FDM) was modified to directly deposit hydrogel mold. The current study focuses on how to control the dispensing rate and the extruder motion of the 3D printer for this application. The paper presents a characterization process for determining optimal work ranges in terms of dispensing rate and the moving rate of the x-y table. Specifically, for a given hydrogel material and needle gauge, consistent dispensing volume rate was determined via varying the flow rate of syringe pump and analyzing recorded images. The ranges of the moving rate of the x-y table and the extrusion rate were then determined to generate the previous determined volume rate based on the experimental measurements. As the printer kit is controlled via open source software, the developed method will be applicable to characterization of depositing different material system.

Printability of Hydrogels for Hydrogel Molding Based Microfluidic Device Fabrication

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Vicente ◽  
Zachary McCreery ◽  
Karen Chang Yan
Keyword(s):  
Electrospun Fiber ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Device Fabrication ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Agarose Gel ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Integrated Method ◽  
Alternative Material ◽  
Printed Patterns

Abstract Microfabrication-free methods have been developed in recent years for fabricating microfluidic devices to enable the applications of microfluidic devices to a broader range. Our group has been working on developing a process for fabricating electrospun fiber embedded microfluidic devices by integrating hydrogel molding (HGM) and electrospinning (ES), and the feasibility of this integrated method has been demonstrated through our initial study. Recently, we have modified an extrusion based 3D printer kit to deposit hydrogels and form microchannels. Agarose has been used for our previous studies owning to its temperature dependent gelation. In this study, we examined the feasibility of using gelatin gel as an alternative material for hydrogel molding. Gel materials with various concentrations were examined via printability assessments; and optimal gel materials were identified. Upon completion of pattern printing, the samples were then encapsulated in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cured; formed microchannels were then characterized via micrographic image analysis. The results show that three gels, 2% w/v agarose gel, 7.5% w/v gelatin gel, and a mixture of 2% w/v agarose gel and 7.5% w/v gelatin gel (1:1 ratio), yield consistent printed patterns and form consistent microchannels subsequently.

Effects of Process Parameters on Direct Deposition Hydrogel Molding for the Fabrication Microfluidic Devices

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Chang Yan ◽  
John Sperduto ◽  
Christopher Civitello ◽  
Alison McCarthy ◽  
Aren Moy
Keyword(s):  
Process Parameters ◽  
Electrospun Fiber ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Direct Writing ◽  
Channel Diameter ◽  
Curing Conditions ◽  
Direct Deposition ◽  
Method Effects ◽  
And Control

Advantages of microfluidic devices include miniaturization, easy of integration, small reagent consumption etc., and have led to the wide applications in biomedical field. Fabrication of microfluidic devices is commonly done through microfabrication methods; microfabication-free/using rapid prototyping methods have also been developed in recent years to enable applications of microfluidic devices to a broader range. Our recent study has demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating electrospun fiber embedded microfluidic devices by integrating hydrogel molding and electrospinning (ES) through a multi-layer construction process. This paper focuses on examining how process parameters affect microchannel formation in microfluidic devices fabricated using direct-deposition hydrogel molding (dHGM). PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) was chosen as the base-material of the device, and Agarose hydrogel was used to generate the mold channels. A direct writing system was used to deposit the hydrogel mold. We examined three parameters affecting the dHGM based microchannel formation: hydrogel composition, curing conditions, and deposition method. Effects of these parameters were characterized in terms of ease-of-handling, consistent channel formation, and control of channel diameter.

Preliminary Study of Alginates Extracted from Brown Algae (Sargassum sp.) Available in Madura Island as Composite Based Hydrogel Materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 964 ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amaliya Rasyida ◽  
Thalyta Rizkha Pradipta ◽  
Sigit Tri Wicaksono ◽  
Vania Mitha Pratiwi ◽  
Yeny Widya Rakhmawati
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Alginate ◽  
Brown Algae ◽  
Extraction Process ◽  
Composition Analysis ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
X Ray ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Preliminary Study

Utilization of brown algae especially in Madura, where it’s close to Surabaya, only limited for food. This become a reference for developing and increasing the potential of this algae by extracting one of the ingredients, namely alginate. This paper deals with the characterization of sodium alginate extracted from sargassum sp. using modified-purified calcium routes. The extracted sodium alginate will be further used as composite hydrogel materials and compared with commercial sodium alginate. Hereafter, the synthesized composite is expected to be bio-ink for 3d printer. Chemical composition analysis were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorosense (XRF) followed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to identify the functional group of composite and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, viscosity bath is performed to compare the viscosity of extracted and commercial one. The result shows that modified-purified calcium routes in the extraction process of sodium alginate is desirable for improving their properties. Interestingly enough, with the goal of using it as bio-ink in 3d printed fabrication, the synthesized composite shows viscosity, 300 cSt, which meets the criteria for bio-ink in 3d printer.

Multi-Layer Construction Process for Fabricating Electrospun Fiber Embedded Microfluidic Devices

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Chang Yan ◽  
John Sperduto ◽  
Michael Rossini ◽  
Michael Sebok
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Electrospun Fiber ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Construction Process ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Device Optimization ◽  
Specialized Equipment ◽  
Microfabrication Techniques

Microfluidic devices are widely used in biomedical applications owing to their inherent advantages. Microfabrication techniques are common methods for fabricating microfluidic devices, which require specialized equipment. This paper presents a multi-layer construction process for producing microfluidic devices via integrating two accessible fabrication techniques — hydrogel molding, a microfabrication-free method, and electrospinning (ES). The formed microchannels were examined via analyzing micrographs. Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the method and potential for incorporating complex channels and device optimization.

Investigation and Characterization of Clay Mixture Feedstock for Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tawaddod Alkindi ◽  
Mozah Alyammahi ◽  
Rahmat Agung Susantyoko
Keyword(s):  
Cost Efficiency ◽  
Ceramic Materials ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Mixing Processes ◽  
Ceramic Components ◽  
Computer Controlled ◽  
Continuous Material ◽  
Printing Speed

Abstract The extrusion-based AM technique has been recently employed for rapid ceramic components fabrication due to scalability and cost-efficiency. This paper investigated aspects of the extrusion technique to print ceramic materials. Specifically, we assessed and developed a process recipe of the formulations (the composition of water and ethanol-based clay mixtures) and mixing processes. Different clay paste formulations were prepared by varying clay, water, ethanol ratios. The viscosity of clay paste was measured using a DV3T Viscometer. Afterward, the produced clay paste was used as a feedstock for WASP Delta 60100 3D printer for computer-controlled extrusion deposition. We evaluated the quality of the clay paste based on (i) pumpability, (ii) printability, and (iii) buildability. Pressure and flow rate were monitored to assess the pumpability. The nozzle was monitored for continuous material extrusion to assess printability. The maximum layer-without-collapse height was monitored to assess the buildability. This study correlated the mixture composition and process parameters, to the viscosity of the mixture, at the same printing speed. We found that 85 wt% clay, 5 wt% water, 10 wt% ethanol paste formulation, with the viscosity of 828000 cP, 202400 cP, 40400 cP at 1, 5, and 50 rpm, respectively, demonstrates good pumpability, as well as best printability and buildability.

scholarly journals Dual Sacrificial Molding: Fabricating 3D Microchannels with Overhang and Helical Features

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Goh ◽  
Michinao Hashimoto
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
High Impact ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Deposition Modeling ◽  
Indispensable Tool ◽  
Single Material

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) has become an indispensable tool for 3D printing of molds used for sacrificial molding to fabricate microfluidic devices. The freedom of design of a mold is, however, restricted to the capabilities of the 3D printer and associated materials. Although FDM has been used to create a sacrificial mold made with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to produce 3D microchannels, microchannels with free-hanging geometries are still difficult to achieve. Herein, dual sacrificial molding was devised to fabricate microchannels with overhang or helical features in PDMS using two complementary materials. The method uses an FDM 3D printer equipped with two extruders and filaments made of high- impact polystyrene (HIPS) and PVA. HIPS was initially removed in limonene to reveal the PVA mold harboring the design of microchannels. The PVA mold was embedded in PDMS and subsequently removed in water to create microchannels with 3D geometries such as dual helices and multilayer pyramidal networks. The complementary pairing of the HIPS and PVA filaments during printing facilitated the support of suspended features of the PVA mold. The PVA mold was robust and retained the original design after the exposure to limonene. The resilience of the technique demonstrated here allows us to create microchannels with geometries not attainable with sacrificial molding with a mold printed with a single material.

Characterization of Microfluidic Devices Using Microparticles

2015 ◽  
pp. 404-413
Author(s):  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Jian Zhou ◽  
Nivedita Nivedita ◽  
Ian Papautsky
Keyword(s):  
Microfluidic Devices
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