Fabrication of truly 3D microfluidic channel using 3D-printed soluble mold

Kyunghun Kang, Sangwoo Oh, Hak Yi, Seungoh Han, Yongha Hwang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The field of complex microfluidic channels is rapidly expanding toward channels with variable cross-sections (i.e., beyond simple rounded channels with a constant diameter), as well as channels whose trajectory can be outside of a single plane. This paper introduces the use of three-dimensional (3D) printed soluble wax as cast molds for rapid fabrication of truly arbitrary microfluidic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels that are not achieved through typical soft lithography. The molds are printed directly from computer-aided design files, followed by simple dissolution using a solvent after molding PDMS, making rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices possible in hours. As part of the fabrication method, the solubility of several build materials in solvents and their effect on PDMS were investigated to remove the 3D-printed molds from inside the replicated PDMS microfluidic channels without damage. Technology limits, including surface roughness and resolution by comparing the designed channels with fabricated cylindrical channels with various diameters, are also characterized. We reproduced a 3D image of an actual human cerebral artery as cerebral artery-shaped PDMS channels with a diameter of 240 μm to prove the developed fabrication technique. It was confirmed that the fabricated vascular channels were free from any leakage by observing the fluorescence fluid fill.

Original languageEnglish
Article number014105
JournalBiomicrofluidics
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2018

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fabrication of truly 3D microfluidic channel using 3D-printed soluble mold'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this