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Young OM, Xu X, Sarker S, Sochol RD. Direct laser writing-enabled 3D printing strategies for microfluidic applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2371-2396. [PMID: 38576361 PMCID: PMC11060139 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00743j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, additive manufacturing-or "three-dimensional (3D) printing"-has attracted increasing attention in the Lab on a Chip community as a pathway to achieve sophisticated system architectures that are difficult or infeasible to fabricate via conventional means. One particularly promising 3D manufacturing technology is "direct laser writing (DLW)", which leverages two-photon (or multi-photon) polymerization (2PP) phenomena to enable high geometric versatility, print speeds, and precision at length scales down to the 100 nm range. Although researchers have demonstrated the potential of using DLW for microfluidic applications ranging from organ on a chip and drug delivery to micro/nanoparticle processing and soft microrobotics, such scenarios present unique challenges for DLW. Specifically, microfluidic systems typically require macro-to-micro fluidic interfaces (e.g., inlet and outlet ports) to facilitate fluidic loading, control, and retrieval operations; however, DLW-based 3D printing relies on a micron-to-submicron-sized 2PP volume element (i.e., "voxel") that is poorly suited for manufacturing these larger-scale fluidic interfaces. In this Tutorial Review, we highlight and discuss the four most prominent strategies that researchers have developed to circumvent this trade-off and realize macro-to-micro interfaces for DLW-enabled microfluidic components and systems. In addition, we consider the possibility that-with the advent of next-generation commercial DLW printers equipped with new dynamic voxel tuning, print field, and laser power capabilities-the overall utility of DLW strategies for Lab on a Chip fields may soon expand dramatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Young
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Sunandita Sarker
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ryan D Sochol
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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2
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Li B, Liao C, Cai Z, Zhou J, Zhao C, Jing L, Wang J, Xiong C, Xu L, Wang Y, Wang Y. Femtosecond laser 3D printed micro objective lens for ultrathin fiber endoscope. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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3
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Maia JM, Amorim VA, Viveiros D, Marques PVS. Femtosecond laser micromachining of an optofluidics-based monolithic whispering-gallery mode resonator coupled to a suspended waveguide. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9128. [PMID: 33911152 PMCID: PMC8080832 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A monolithic lab-on-a-chip fabricated by femtosecond laser micromachining capable of label-free biosensing is reported. The device is entirely made of fused silica, and consists of a microdisk resonator integrated inside a microfluidic channel. Whispering gallery modes are excited by the evanescent field of a circular suspended waveguide, also incorporated within the channel. Thermal annealing is performed to decrease the surface roughness of the microstructures to a nanometric scale, thereby reducing intrinsic losses and maximizing the Q-factor. Further, thermally-induced morphing is used to position, with submicrometric precision, the suspended waveguide tangent to the microresonator to enhance the spatial overlap between the evanescent field of both optical modes. With this fabrication method and geometry, the alignment between the waveguide and the resonator is robust and guaranteed at all instances. A maximum sensitivity of 121.5 nm/RIU was obtained at a refractive index of 1.363, whereas near the refractive index range of water-based solutions the sensitivity is 40 nm/RIU. A high Q-factor of 105 is kept throughout the entire measurement range.
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Affiliation(s)
- João M Maia
- CAP - Centre for Applied Photonics, INESC TEC, 4150-179, Porto, Portugal.
- Departament of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Vítor A Amorim
- CAP - Centre for Applied Photonics, INESC TEC, 4150-179, Porto, Portugal
- Departament of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Duarte Viveiros
- CAP - Centre for Applied Photonics, INESC TEC, 4150-179, Porto, Portugal
- Departament of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - P V S Marques
- CAP - Centre for Applied Photonics, INESC TEC, 4150-179, Porto, Portugal
- Departament of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
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4
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Xiong C, Zhou J, Liao C, Zhu M, Wang Y, Liu S, Li C, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Gan Z, Venturelli L, Kasas S, Zhang X, Dietler G, Wang Y. Fiber-Tip Polymer Microcantilever for Fast and Highly Sensitive Hydrogen Measurement. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:33163-33172. [PMID: 32496752 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c06179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen as an antioxidant gas has been widely used in the medical and biological fields for preventing cancer or treating inflammation. However, controlling the hydrogen concentration is crucial for practical use due to its explosive property when its volume concentration in air reaches the explosive limit (4%). In this work, a polymer-based microcantilever (μ-cantilever) hydrogen sensor located at the end of a fiber tip is proposed to detect the hydrogen concentration in medical and biological applications. The proposed sensor was developed using femtosecond laser-induced two-photon polymerization (TPP) to print the polymer μ-cantilever and magnetron sputtering to coat a palladium (Pd) film on the upper surface of the μ-cantilever. Such a device exhibits a high sensitivity, roughly -2 nm %-1 when the hydrogen concentration rises from 0% to 4.5% (v/v) and a short response time, around 13.5 s at 4% (v/v), making it suitable for medical and environmental applications. In addition to providing an ultracompact optical solution for fast and highly sensitive hydrogen measurement, the polymer μ-cantilever fiber sensor can be used for diverse medical and biological sensing applications by replacing Pd with other functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Xiong
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jiangtao Zhou
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, IPHYS, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Changrui Liao
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Meng Zhu
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Shen Liu
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Chi Li
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yunfang Zhang
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Zongsong Gan
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (WNLO), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Leonardo Venturelli
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, IPHYS, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandor Kasas
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, IPHYS, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Xuming Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Giovanni Dietler
- Laboratory of Physics of Living Matter, IPHYS, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yiping Wang
- Guangdong and Hong Kong Joint Research Centre for Optical Fiber Sensors, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of the Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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Zhang C, Zhang J, Chen R, Li J, Wang C, Cao R, Zhang J, Ye H, Zhai H, Sugioka K. Rapid fabrication of high-resolution multi-scale microfluidic devices based on the scanning of patterned femtosecond laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:3929-3932. [PMID: 32667321 DOI: 10.1364/ol.397078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Femtosecond-laser-induced two-photon polymerization has distinct advantages in micro-nanofabrication due to its intrinsic three-dimensional processing capability and high precision with sub-100 nanometer fabrication resolution. However, the high resolution causes a drawback in fabricating large-scale structures due to unacceptably long processing times. To solve this problem, we applied the patterned focus as the basic element for scanning processing. Theoretically, the relationship between patterned-focus scanning parameters and the uniformity of scanned light field was analyzed and optimized. Experimentally, we quantitatively investigated the relationship between the microstructure surface quality and the parameters of patterned-focus scanning. Based on above, we put forward a hybrid method that combines the femtosecond laser patterned exposure with direct-writing fabrication to rapidly fabricate large-scale microfluidic devices for various practical applications.
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Abstract
The microfluidics field is at a critical crossroads. The vast majority of microfluidic devices are presently manufactured using micromolding processes that work very well for a reduced set of biocompatible materials, but the time, cost, and design constraints of micromolding hinder the commercialization of many devices. As a result, the dissemination of microfluidic technology-and its impact on society-is in jeopardy. Digital manufacturing (DM) refers to a family of computer-centered processes that integrate digital three-dimensional (3D) designs, automated (additive or subtractive) fabrication, and device testing in order to increase fabrication efficiency. Importantly, DM enables the inexpensive realization of 3D designs that are impossible or very difficult to mold. The adoption of DM by microfluidic engineers has been slow, likely due to concerns over the resolution of the printers and the biocompatibility of the resins. In this article, we review and discuss the various printer types, resolution, biocompatibility issues, DM microfluidic designs, and the bright future ahead for this promising, fertile field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Naderi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;
| | - Nirveek Bhattacharjee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;
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7
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Xu B, Ji S, Pan D, Hu W, Zhu S, Hu Y, Li J, Wu D, Chu J, Sugioka K. Hybrid femtosecond laser fabrication of a size-tunable microtrap chip with a high-trapping retention rate. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:1071-1074. [PMID: 32108772 DOI: 10.1364/ol.386095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this Letter, we propose a new (to the best of our knowledge), promising concept of a hybrid femtosecond (fs) laser processing method composed of single-point scanning and holographic light modulation fabrication for manufacturing a tunable-size microtrap chip. The hybrid method not only ensures key microfluidic device precision but also greatly improves the fabrication speed. By using a new asymmetry-bracket-shaped microtrap design with a mechanical strain stretching method, real-time size-tunable trapping is obtained, and a 100% particle trapping retention is realized, ignoring the flow fluctuation. Finally, the microtrap array is successfully applied to trap single yeast cells and hold them for $\sim{10}\;{\rm h}$∼10h without escaping.
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8
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Alsharhan AT, Acevedo R, Warren R, Sochol RD. 3D microfluidics via cyclic olefin polymer-based in situ direct laser writing. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2799-2810. [PMID: 31334525 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00542k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In situ direct laser writing (isDLW) strategies that facilitate the printing of three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured components directly inside of, and fully sealed to, enclosed microchannels are uniquely suited for manufacturing geometrically complex microfluidic technologies. Recent efforts have demonstrated the benefits of using micromolding and bonding protocols for isDLW; however, the reliance on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) leads to limited fluidic sealing (e.g., operational pressures <50-75 kPa) and poor compatibility with standard organic solvent-based developers. To bypass these issues, here we explore the use of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) as an enabling microchannel material for isDLW by investigating three fundamental classes of microfluidic systems corresponding to increasing degrees of sophistication: (i) "2.5D" functionally static fluidic barriers (10-100 μm in height), which supported uncompromised structure-to-channel sealing under applied input pressures of up to 500 kPa; (ii) 3D static interwoven microvessel-inspired structures (inner diameters < 10 μm) that exhibited effective isolation of distinct fluorescently labelled microfluidic flow streams; and (iii) 3D dynamically actuated microfluidic transistors, which comprised bellowed sealing elements (wall thickness = 500 nm) that could be actively deformed via an applied gate pressure to fully obstruct source-to-drain fluid flow. In combination, these results suggest that COP-based isDLW offers a promising pathway to wide-ranging fluidic applications that demand significant architectural versatility at submicron scales with invariable sealing integrity, such as for biomimetic organ-on-a-chip systems and integrated microfluidic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah T Alsharhan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Ruben Acevedo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Roseanne Warren
- Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ryan D Sochol
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA and Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA and Robert E. Fischell Institute of Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA and Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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9
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Bohne S, Heymann M, Chapman HN, Trieu HK, Bajt S. 3D printed nozzles on a silicon fluidic chip. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2019; 90:035108. [PMID: 30927802 DOI: 10.1063/1.5080428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Serial femtosecond crystallography is a new method for protein structure determination utilizing intense and destructive X-ray pulses generated by free-electron lasers. The approach requires the means to deliver hydrated protein crystals to a focused X-ray beam and replenish them at the repetition rate of the pulses. A liquid-jet sample delivery system where a gas dynamic virtual nozzle is printed directly on a silicon-glass microfluidic chip using a 2-photon-polymerization 3D printing process is implemented. This allows for rapid prototyping and high-precision production of nozzles to suit the characteristics of a particular sample and opens up the possibility for high-throughput and versatile sample delivery systems that can integrate microfluidic components for sample detection, characterisation, or control. With the hybrid system described here, stable liquid jets with diameters between 1.5 µm at liquid flow rate of 1.5 µl/min and more than 20 µm at liquid flow rate of 100 µl/min under atmospheric and vacuum conditions are generated. The combination of 2D lithography with direct 3D printing may streamline the integration of free-form-features and also facilitate scale-up production of such integrated microfluidic devices that may be useful in many other applications such as flow cytometry and optofluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Bohne
- Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Str. 42, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Heymann
- Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Henry N Chapman
- Center for Free Electron Laser Science, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hoc Khiem Trieu
- Hamburg University of Technology, Eissendorfer Str. 42, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Saša Bajt
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, Building 99, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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10
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Lamont AC, Alsharhan AT, Sochol RD. Geometric Determinants of In-Situ Direct Laser Writing. Sci Rep 2019; 9:394. [PMID: 30674934 PMCID: PMC6344532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36727-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct laser writing (DLW) is a three-dimensional (3D) manufacturing technology that offers significant geometric versatility at submicron length scales. Although these characteristics hold promise for fields including organ modeling and microfluidic processing, difficulties associated with facilitating the macro-to-micro interfaces required for fluid delivery have limited the utility of DLW for such applications. To overcome this issue, here we report an in-situ DLW (isDLW) strategy for creating 3D nanostructured features directly inside of—and notably, fully sealed to—sol-gel-coated elastomeric microchannels. In particular, we investigate the role of microchannel geometry (e.g., cross-sectional shape and size) in the sealing performance of isDLW-printed structures. Experiments revealed that increasing the outward tapering of microchannel sidewalls improved fluidic sealing integrity for channel heights ranging from 10 μm to 100 μm, which suggests that conventional microchannel fabrication approaches are poorly suited for isDLW. As a demonstrative example, we employed isDLW to 3D print a microfluidic helical coil spring diode and observed improved flow rectification performance at higher pressures—an indication of effective structure-to-channel sealing. We envision that the ability to readily integrate 3D nanostructured fluidic motifs with the entire luminal surface of elastomeric channels will open new avenues for emerging applications in areas such as soft microrobotics and biofluidic microsystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Lamont
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Abdullah T Alsharhan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA
| | - Ryan D Sochol
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA. .,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
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Lölsberg J, Linkhorst J, Cinar A, Jans A, Kuehne AJC, Wessling M. 3D nanofabrication inside rapid prototyped microfluidic channels showcased by wet-spinning of single micrometre fibres. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:1341-1348. [PMID: 29619449 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc01366c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics is an established multidisciplinary research domain with widespread applications in the fields of medicine, biotechnology and engineering. Conventional production methods of microfluidic chips have been limited to planar structures, preventing the exploitation of truly three-dimensional architectures for applications such as multi-phase droplet preparation or wet-phase fibre spinning. Here the challenge of nanofabrication inside a microfluidic chip is tackled for the showcase of a spider-inspired spinneret. Multiphoton lithography, an additive manufacturing method, was used to produce free-form microfluidic masters, subsequently replicated by soft lithography. Into the resulting microfluidic device, a three-dimensional spider-inspired spinneret was directly fabricated in-chip via multiphoton lithography. Applying this unprecedented fabrication strategy, the to date smallest printed spinneret nozzle is produced. This spinneret resides tightly sealed, connecting it to the macroscopic world. Its functionality is demonstrated by wet-spinning of single-digit micron fibres through a polyacrylonitrile coagulation process induced by a water sheath layer. The methodology developed here demonstrates fabrication strategies to interface complex architectures into classical microfluidic platforms. Using multiphoton lithography for in-chip fabrication adopts a high spatial resolution technology for improving geometry and thus flow control inside microfluidic chips. The showcased fabrication methodology is generic and will be applicable to multiple challenges in fluid control and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Lölsberg
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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Ning R, Zhuang Q, Lin JM. Biomaterial-Based Microfluidics for Cell Culture and Analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5394-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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13
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Xu B, Hu W, Du W, Hu Y, Zhang C, Lao Z, Ni J, Li J, Wu D, Chu J, Sugioka K. Arch-like microsorters with multi-modal and clogging-improved filtering functions by using femtosecond laser multifocal parallel microfabrication. OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 25:16739-16753. [PMID: 28789175 DOI: 10.1364/oe.25.016739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Conventional micropore membranes based size sorting have been widely applied for single-cell analysis. However, only a single filtering size can be achieved and the clogging issue cannot be completely avoided. Here, we propose a novel arch-like microsorter capable of multimodal (high-, band- and low-capture mode) sorting of particles. The target particles can pass through the front filter and are then trapped by the back filter, while the non-target particles can bypass or pass through the microsorter. This 3D arch-like microstructures are fabricated inside a microchannel by femtosecond laser parallel multifocal scanning. The designed architecture allows for particles isolation free of clogging over 20 minutes. Finally, as a proof of concept demonstration, SUM159 breast cancer cells are successfully separated from whole blood.
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Ultrafast Laser Fabrication of Functional Biochips: New Avenues for Exploring 3D Micro- and Nano-Environments. MICROMACHINES 2017. [PMCID: PMC6190139 DOI: 10.3390/mi8020040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip biological platforms have been intensively developed during the last decade since emerging technologies have offered possibilities to manufacture reliable devices with increased spatial resolution and 3D configurations. These biochips permit testing chemical reactions with nanoliter volumes, enhanced sensitivity in analysis and reduced consumption of reagents. Due to the high peak intensity that allows multiphoton absorption, ultrafast lasers can induce local modifications inside transparent materials with high precision at micro- and nanoscale. Subtractive manufacturing based on laser internal modification followed by wet chemical etching can directly fabricate 3D micro-channels in glass materials. On the other hand, additive laser manufacturing by two-photon polymerization of photoresists can grow 3D polymeric micro- and nanostructures with specific properties for biomedical use. Both transparent materials are ideal candidates for biochips that allow exploring phenomena at cellular levels while their processing with a nanoscale resolution represents an excellent opportunity to get more insights on biological aspects. We will review herein the laser fabrication of transparent microfluidic and optofluidic devices for biochip applications and will address challenges associated with their potential. In particular, integrated micro- and optofluidic systems will be presented with emphasis on the functionality for biological applications. It will be shown that ultrafast laser processing is not only an instrument that can tailor appropriate 3D environments to study living microorganisms and to improve cell detection or sorting but also a tool to fabricate appropriate biomimetic structures for complex cellular analyses. New advances open now the avenue to construct miniaturized organs of desired shapes and configurations with the goal to reproduce life processes and bypass in vivo animal or human testing.
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Waheed S, Cabot JM, Macdonald NP, Lewis T, Guijt RM, Paull B, Breadmore MC. 3D printed microfluidic devices: enablers and barriers. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1993-2013. [PMID: 27146365 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00284f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 517] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
3D printing has the potential to significantly change the field of microfluidics. The ability to fabricate a complete microfluidic device in a single step from a computer model has obvious attractions, but it is the ability to create truly three dimensional structures that will provide new microfluidic capability that is challenging, if not impossible to make with existing approaches. This critical review covers the current state of 3D printing for microfluidics, focusing on the four most frequently used printing approaches: inkjet (i3DP), stereolithography (SLA), two photon polymerisation (2PP) and extrusion printing (focusing on fused deposition modeling). It discusses current achievements and limitations, and opportunities for advancement to reach 3D printing's full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidra Waheed
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia. and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Joan M Cabot
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia. and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Niall P Macdonald
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia. and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Trevor Lewis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Rosanne M Guijt
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), Pharmacy School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Brett Paull
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia. and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
| | - Michael C Breadmore
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Sciences (ACROSS), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia. and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), School of Physical Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 7001, TAS, Australia
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Xu B, Du WQ, Li JW, Hu YL, Yang L, Zhang CC, Li GQ, Lao ZX, Ni JC, Chu JR, Wu D, Liu SL, Sugioka K. High efficiency integration of three-dimensional functional microdevices inside a microfluidic chip by using femtosecond laser multifoci parallel microfabrication. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19989. [PMID: 26818119 PMCID: PMC4730193 DOI: 10.1038/srep19989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
High efficiency fabrication and integration of three-dimension (3D) functional devices in Lab-on-a-chip systems are crucial for microfluidic applications. Here, a spatial light modulator (SLM)-based multifoci parallel femtosecond laser scanning technology was proposed to integrate microstructures inside a given 'Y' shape microchannel. The key novelty of our approach lies on rapidly integrating 3D microdevices inside a microchip for the first time, which significantly reduces the fabrication time. The high quality integration of various 2D-3D microstructures was ensured by quantitatively optimizing the experimental conditions including prebaking time, laser power and developing time. To verify the designable and versatile capability of this method for integrating functional 3D microdevices in microchannel, a series of microfilters with adjustable pore sizes from 12.2 μm to 6.7 μm were fabricated to demonstrate selective filtering of the polystyrene (PS) particles and cancer cells with different sizes. The filter can be cleaned by reversing the flow and reused for many times. This technology will advance the fabrication technique of 3D integrated microfluidic and optofluidic chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Du
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jia-Wen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yan-Lei Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Liang Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chen-Chu Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhao-Xin Lao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jin-Cheng Ni
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jia-Ru Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Dong Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Su-Ling Liu
- School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Koji Sugioka
- Laser Technology Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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18
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Cao Z, Lu C. Quantitative Detection of Nucleocytoplasmic Transport of Native Proteins in Single Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1346:239-52. [PMID: 26542726 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2987-0_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The detection of protein translocation (i.e., the movement of intracellular proteins among various subcellular compartments) conventionally relies on imaging and subcellular-fractionation-based techniques that do not generate information on a large cell population with single-cell resolution. Although special flow cytometric tools such as imaging flow cytometry may generate single-cell data on processes such as nucleocytoplasmic transport, such equipment is expensive (thus has limited accessibility) and has low throughput for examining cells due to the reliance on high-speed imaging. Here we describe a protocol for detecting translocation of native proteins using a common flow cytometer which detects fluorescence intensity without imaging. We conduct chemical release of cytosolic proteins and fluorescence immunostaining of a targeted protein. The detected fluorescence intensity is quantitatively correlated to the cytosolic/nuclear localization of the protein at the single cell level. Our technique provides a simple route for studying nucleocytoplasmic transport with single-cell resolution using common flow cytometers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenning Cao
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Chang Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Suite 235 Goodwin Hall, 635 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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19
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Wu D, Niu LG, Wu SZ, Xu J, Midorikawa K, Sugioka K. Ship-in-a-bottle femtosecond laser integration of optofluidic microlens arrays with center-pass units enabling coupling-free parallel cell counting with a 100% success rate. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:1515-23. [PMID: 25622687 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01439a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Optimal design and fabrication of novel devices for high-performance optofluidic applications is a key issue for the development of advanced lab-on-a-chip systems. Parallel cell counting with a high success rate and simple mode of operation is a challenging goal. Current cell-counting methods, using optical waveguides or flow cytometry, typically require a precise coupling of the probe light and involve complex operations. In the present paper, a novel multifunctional cell counting microdevice is designed. It uses a center-pass optofluidic microlens array (MLA) consisting of seven microlenses and an M-shaped confining wall with 9 μm-diameter apertures. The device can be fabricated in a three-dimensional microchannel by ship-in-a-bottle femtosecond laser integration based on two-photon polymerization with optimized experimental parameters. Each microlens produces approximately the same intensity at the focal positions (within ±5%) under white-light illumination, while the confining wall restricts 6∼8 μm-width cells to passing through the edges of two adjacent microlenses because the aperture opens toward their centers. The device demonstrates coupling-free parallel cell counting with a 100% success rate by monitoring the optical intensity variations at each spot. As a result, this method features both easy operation and high performance. Furthermore, the confining wall can filter deformed cells having 15 μm width.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wu
- Laser Technology Laboratory, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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20
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Sugioka K, Xu J, Wu D, Hanada Y, Wang Z, Cheng Y, Midorikawa K. Femtosecond laser 3D micromachining: a powerful tool for the fabrication of microfluidic, optofluidic, and electrofluidic devices based on glass. LAB ON A CHIP 2014; 14:3447-58. [PMID: 25012238 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc00548a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Femtosecond lasers have unique characteristics of ultrashort pulse width and extremely high peak intensity; however, one of the most important features of femtosecond laser processing is that strong absorption can be induced only at the focus position inside transparent materials due to nonlinear multiphoton absorption. This exclusive feature makes it possible to directly fabricate three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic devices in glass microchips by two methods: 3D internal modification using direct femtosecond laser writing followed by chemical wet etching (femtosecond laser-assisted etching, FLAE) and direct ablation of glass in water (water-assisted femtosecond laser drilling, WAFLD). Direct femtosecond laser writing also enables the integration of micromechanical, microelectronic, and microoptical components into the 3D microfluidic devices without stacking or bonding substrates. This paper gives a comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art femtosecond laser 3D micromachining for the fabrication of microfluidic, optofluidic, and electrofluidic devices. A new strategy (hybrid femtosecond laser processing) is also presented, in which FLAE is combined with femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization to realize a new type of biochip termed the ship-in-a-bottle biochip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Sugioka
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
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21
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Xu BB, Wang L, Ma ZC, Zhang R, Chen QD, Lv C, Han B, Xiao XZ, Zhang XL, Zhang YL, Ueno K, Misawa H, Sun HB. Surface-plasmon-mediated programmable optical nanofabrication of an oriented silver nanoplate. ACS NANO 2014; 8:6682-6692. [PMID: 24896225 DOI: 10.1021/nn5029345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report polarized femtosecond laser-light-mediated growth and programmable assembly of photoreduced silver nanoparticles into triply hierarchical micropatterns. Formation of erected arrays of nanoplates with a thickness as small as λ/27 (λ, the writing laser wavelength) level is demonstrated. The growth mechanism of nanoplates has been clarified: (i) the excited surface plasmons enhance the local electric field and lead to spatially selective growth of silver atoms at the opposite ends of dipoles induced on early created silver seeds; (ii) the optical attractive force overcomes electrostatic repulsion in the enhanced local electric field to assemble the silver nanoparticles directly. The triply hierarchical micropattern shape and location, the nanoplate orientation, and thickness are all attained in controlled fashion.
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22
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Elagli A, Laurette S, Treizebre A, Bocquet B, Froidevaux R. Diffusion based kinetic selectivity modulation of enzymatic proteolysis in a microfluidic reactor: experimental analysis and stochastic modeling. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra46005c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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24
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Zhao JH, Li CH, Lv ZH, Xu Y. Regular arrays of triangular-microstructure formed on silicon (111) surface via ultrafast laser irradiation in KOH solution. SURF INTERFACE ANAL 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/sia.5304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering; Jilin University; 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 P. R. China
| | - Chun-Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering; Jilin University; 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Hua Lv
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering; Jilin University; 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 P. R. China
| | - Ying Xu
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering; Jilin University; 2699 Qianjin Street Changchun 130012 P. R. China
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Xu BB, Zhang YL, Xia H, Dong WF, Ding H, Sun HB. Fabrication and multifunction integration of microfluidic chips by femtosecond laser direct writing. LAB ON A CHIP 2013; 13:1677-1690. [PMID: 23493958 DOI: 10.1039/c3lc50160d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In the pursuit of modern microfluidic chips with multifunction integration, micronanofabrication techniques play an increasingly important role. Despite the fact that conventional fabrication approaches such as lithography, imprinting and soft lithography have been widely used for the preparation of microfluidic chips, it is still challenging to achieve complex microfluidic chips with multifunction integration. Therefore, novel micronanofabrication approaches that could be used to achieve this end are highly desired. As a powerful 3D processing tool, femtosecond laser fabrication shows great potential to endow general microfluidic chips with multifunctional units. In this review, we briefly introduce the fundamental principles of femtosecond laser micronanofabrication. With the help of laser techniques, both the preparation and functionalization of advanced microfluidic chips are summarized. Finally, the current challenges and future perspective of this dynamic field are discussed based on our own opinion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Bin Xu
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, P R China
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26
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27
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28
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Baldacchini T, Snider S, Zadoyan R. Two-photon polymerization with variable repetition rate bursts of femtosecond laser pulses. OPTICS EXPRESS 2012; 20:29890-29899. [PMID: 23388815 DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.029890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We describe fabrication of microstructures by two-photon polymerization using bursts of femtosecond laser pulses. With the aid of an acousto-optic modulator driven by a function generator, two-photon polymerization is performed at variable burst repetition rates. We investigate how the time between the bursts of laser pulses influences the ultimate dimensions of lines written in a photosensitive resin. We observe that when using the same laser fluence, polymer lines fabricated at different burst repetition rates have different dimensions. In particular, the widths of two-photon polymerized lines become smaller with decreasing burst repetition rates. Based on the thermal properties of the resin and experimental writing conditions, we attribute this effect to localized heat accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Baldacchini
- Technology and Applications Center, Newport Corporation, 1791 Deere Avenue, Irvine, California 92606, USA
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He Y, Huang BL, Lu DX, Zhao J, Xu BB, Zhang R, Lin XF, Chen QD, Wang J, Zhang YL, Sun HB. "Overpass" at the junction of a crossed microchannel: an enabler for 3D microfluidic chips. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:3866-3869. [PMID: 22871743 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc40401j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Reported here is the design and fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) "overpass" microstructures at the junction of crossed microfluidic channels by femtosecond laser direct writing of photopolymers. The post-integrated overpass could be used for guiding different microfluids across the junction without mixing; therefore it is proposed as an enabler for achieving 3D microfluidic chips based on conventional two-dimensional (2D) microchannels. As representative examples, bi-crossed and tri-crossed microchannels have been equipped with bi-connected and tri-connected overpasses, respectively. Flow tests confirm 3D flowing capability. The integration of such overpass structures at the microchannel junction provides an opportunity to impart 3D capability to conventional 2D microchips, thus the method may hold great promise for both functionalization and miniaturization of Lab-on-a-Chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, People's Republic of China
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30
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Amato L, Gu Y, Bellini N, Eaton SM, Cerullo G, Osellame R. Integrated three-dimensional filter separates nanoscale from microscale elements in a microfluidic chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:1135-42. [PMID: 22318474 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc21116e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We report on the integration of a size-based three-dimensional filter, with micrometre-sized pores, in a commercial microfluidic chip. The filter is fabricated inside an already sealed microfluidic channel using the unique capabilities of two-photon polymerization. This direct-write technique enables integration of the filter by post-processing in a chip that has been fabricated by standard technologies. The filter is located at the intersection of two channels in order to control the amount of flow passing through the filter. Tests with a suspension of 3 μm polystyrene spheres in a Rhodamine 6G solution show that 100% of the spheres are stopped, while the fluorescent molecules are transmitted through the filter. We demonstrate operation up to a period of 25 minutes without any evidence of clogging. Preliminary validation of the device for plasma separation from whole blood is shown. Moreover, the filter can be cleaned and reused by reversing the flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Amato
- Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie-CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica-Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Xu BB, Ma ZC, Wang H, Liu XQ, Zhang YL, Zhang XL, Zhang R, Jiang HB, Sun HB. A SERS-active microfluidic device with tunable surface plasmon resonances. Electrophoresis 2011; 32:3378-84. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201100309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2011] [Revised: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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32
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Xu BB, Ma ZC, Wang L, Zhang R, Niu LG, Yang Z, Zhang YL, Zheng WH, Zhao B, Xu Y, Chen QD, Xia H, Sun HB. Localized flexible integration of high-efficiency surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) monitors into microfluidic channels. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:3347-51. [PMID: 21863148 DOI: 10.1039/c1lc20397e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report here a facile approach for flexible integration of high efficiency surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) monitors in a continuous microfluidic channel. In our work, femtosecond laser direct writing was adopted for highly localizable and controllable fabrication of the SERS monitor through a multi-photon absorption (MPA) induced photoreduction of silver salt solution. The silver substrate could be shaped into designed patterns, and could be precisely located at the desired position of the microchannel bed, giving the feasibility for real-time detection during reactions. SEM and TEM images show that the silver substrates were composed of crystallized silver nanoplates with an average thickness of 50 nm. AFM results reveal that the substrates were about 600 nm in height and the surface was very rough. As representative tests for SERS detection, p-aminothiophenol (p-ATP) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) were chosen as probing molecules for microfluidic analysis at visible light (514.5 nm) excitation, exhibiting an enhancement factor of ~10(8). In addition, the combination of the SERS substrate with the microfluidic channel allows detection of inactive analytes through in situ microfluidic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Bin Xu
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
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Ku JF, Chen QD, Zhang R, Sun HB. Whispering-gallery-mode microdisk lasers produced by femtosecond laser direct writing. OPTICS LETTERS 2011; 36:2871-2873. [PMID: 21808342 DOI: 10.1364/ol.36.002871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report in this Letter fabrication of whispering-gallery-mode microdisk lasers by femtosecond laser direct writing of dye-doped resins. Not only is well-defined disk shape upheld on an inverted cone-shaped supporter, but the disk also exhibits significant lasing actions characteristic of an abrupt increase of light output and the significant narrowing of the spectral lines when the threshold is approached. This work shows that the laser micronanofabrication technology is not only applicable to passive micro-optical components, but also it may play an important role in fabrication of active optoelectronic devices and their integrated photonic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Feng Ku
- State Key Laboratory on Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China
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