title: 3D-printing of transparent bio-microfluidic devices in PEG-DA.
abstract: The vast majority of microfluidic systems are molded in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) by soft lithography due to the favorable properties of PDMS: biocompatible, elastomeric, transparent, gas-permeable, inexpensive, and copyright-free. However, PDMS molding involves tedious manual labor, which makes PDMS devices prone to assembly failures and difficult to disseminate to research and clinical settings. Furthermore, the fabrication procedures limit the 3D complexity of the devices to layered designs. Stereolithography (SL), a form of 3D-printing, has recently attracted attention as a way to customize the fabrication of biomedical devices due to its automated, assembly-free 3D fabrication, rapidly decreasing costs, and fast-improving resolution and throughput. However, existing SL resins are not biocompatible and patterning transparent resins at high resolution remains difficult. Here we report procedures for the preparation and patterning of a transparent resin based on low-MW poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (MW 250) (PEG-DA-250). The 3D-printed devices are highly transparent and cells can be cultured on PEG-DA-250 prints for several days. This biocompatible SL resin and printing process solves some of the main drawbacks of 3D-printed microfluidic devices: biocompatibility and transparency. In addition, it should also enable the production of non-microfluidic biomedical devices.
authors.affiliation: Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), E-08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urrios
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parra-Cabrera
authors.forename: Nirveek
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhattacharjee
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Suarez
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Rigat-Brugarolas
authors.forename: Umashree
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nallapatti
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samitier
authors.forename: Cole A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: DeForest
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Posas
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Garcia-Cordero
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Folch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003412:Cricetulus; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols