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A Company Dedicated to Providing Custom Microfluidic Solutions For Your Needs
Problem Statement
Microfluidics is an emerging technology with a growing number of applications including point-of-care diagnostics, cell culturing and
pharmaceutical testing via Organs-on-Chips. Despite the potential of microfluidics to improve methods and capabilities in the biomedical
field, the rate of adoption of this technology by the broader scientific community has been limited by complicated fabrication and inflexible
designs post-production.
Proposed Solution
In order to increase the accessibility of microfluidics, a modular microfluidics platform, where various Lego®-like building blocks are
connected to assemble a range of complete microfluidic devices, is being developed. The design is intended to be as intuitive as possible to
allow for potential microfluidic users to quickly understand and use our device.
Stereolithography 3D printing was used to create master molds, from which individual assembly blocks were cast using PDMS. By using
3D printing technology the cost of producing individual molds and blocks is minimized. Multiple blocks have been assembled on a Lego®
plate, with no leakage observed at the interfaces when a fluid was forced through the channels. The Lego® plate serves as a base to seal
and automatically align the network of microfluidic channels. The results demonstrate a proof-of-concept for a truly Lego®-like modular
microfluidics platform and serve as a foundation from which new and more complicated functionalities can be developed.
Design Progress
Fall quarter was primarily focused on establishing a team, obtaining funding via UROP, and establishing a design concept to make
microfluidic devices accessible, versatile, and inexpensive. Winter quarter the initial design had been established and prototyping
proceeded. During the prototyping phase issues were found with our initial design, thus alterations and changes were made accordingly. By
Spring quarter the Lego®-like modular microfluidics platform worked with minimal to no leakage. However, as interviews were conducted it
became apparent that our initial modular platform wouldn’t appeal to all potential users. Therefore a second platform was designed that
would allow for creating complete microfluidic chips using inexpensive laser cutting technology and sealing without the use of adhesives. By
the end of Spring quarter we completed our UROP presentations for both platforms and prototypes had been made leading to a nearly
finalized design.