title: Customisable 3D printed microfluidics for integrated analysis and optimisation.
abstract: The formation of smart Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices featuring integrated sensing optics is currently hindered by convoluted and expensive manufacturing procedures. In this work, a series of 3D-printed LOC devices were designed and manufactured via stereolithography (SL) in a matter of hours. The spectroscopic performance of a variety of optical fibre combinations were tested, and the optimum path length for performing Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy determined. The information gained in these trials was then used in a reaction optimisation for the formation of carvone semicarbazone. The production of high resolution surface channels (100-500 μm) means that these devices were capable of handling a wide range of concentrations (9 μM-38 mM), and are ideally suited to both analyte detection and process optimisation. This ability to tailor the chip design and its integrated features as a direct result of the reaction being assessed, at such a low time and cost penalty greatly increases the user's ability to optimise both their device and reaction. As a result of the information gained in this investigation, we are able to report the first instance of a 3D-printed LOC device with fully integrated, in-line monitoring capabilities via the use of embedded optical fibres capable of performing UV-vis spectroscopy directly inside micro channels.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK. t.monaghan@lboro.ac.uk.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Monaghan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK. s.d.christie@lboro.ac.uk.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK. t.monaghan@lboro.ac.uk.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Friel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, UK. s.d.christie@lboro.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S D R
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Christie