3D printed microfluidics

• Design and build the quality control and certification infrastructure for the emerging glocal food system. 

• Build a network around bio-chemical sensing. 

The ultimate goal is to put in place a modular lab-on-a-chip sensor technology/platform for testing and certification, based on an open standard that remains to be defined. This system can be integrated with peer-to-peer markets for distribution of agricultural products and food.    

Applications 

• Toxicity and quality testing, certification (food and others)

• Soil characterization 

• Water quality testing

We are building an ecosystem of  and independent hardware hackers to work on lab-on-a-chip for bio-chemical detection. 

SENSORICA Montreal in-house development

• Microfabrication, open document

• Silver coating, open document 

• Fluid level sensor - micron scale, open video

Short-term goals

• Articulate a vision for the future of the food system, its infrastructure, quality control system   

• Translate the vision and actual needs into technical requirements, brake it down into individual projects that can be distributed to different research labs based on their specialization.    

• Build a network of research labs for bio-chemical sensing and lab-on-a-chip technology. 

Long-term goals

• Design (or adopt/adapt an existing one) a standard for quality control and certification for the future food system.

• Design a modular lab-on-a-chip -based quality testing and certification platform. 

• Design and build individual quality test modules suited for specific applications, start with high value applications.     

Milestones

• Write the vision document

• Build a network and get a collaboration grant for innovation and tech transfer.  

Background

We used a B9Creator 3D printer and a soft polymer Spot-E elastic. We made 4 iterations of a simple design (see them on 3DWarehouse, and Thingiverse). The main goal is to estimate the potential of 3D printers in lab-on-a-chip prototyping. The channels are only 200 microns wide and 100 microns deep. 

Usually, microfluidic devices are made of PDMS with a glass cover on top. The PDMS is patterned using a master silicon wafer, which itself is patterned using VERY expensive techniques (chemical etching, laser and ion beam ablation, etc.), requiring clean rooms and highly skilled individuals. A one-step 3D printing method for prototyping would dramatically reduce the development costs and time. For example, we had 4 iterations of the same design within only 2 hours, based on feedback from water-based fluid propagation tests as seen in the video below.  

Problems with this first trial: some linkage outside of the channel due to surface imperfections. We are now trying thermal post-treatment, chemical post-treatment, and new mechanical designs with better seals.  

We believe that 3D printing has the potential to bring lab-on-a-chip in everyone's garage or to a fab lab near you.

NOTE: we are also launching a project for a micro 3D printer, contact us to know more or to get involved. 

Communication channels

• Messaging: Discord, Forum. 

• Social media: Sensorica Facebook page

Coordination tools

• Shared calendar