Previous Article in Journal
A Capacitive Liquid-Phase Sensor and Its Sensing Mechanism Using Nanoporous Anodic Aluminum Oxide
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Same Day Microfluidics: From Design to Device in Under Three Hours

by
Raymond J. Arebalo
,
Augustin J. Sanchez
and
Nathan Tompkins
*
Physics Department, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomanufacturing 2025, 5(3), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/nanomanufacturing5030009 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 April 2025 / Revised: 28 May 2025 / Accepted: 20 June 2025 / Published: 27 June 2025

Abstract

Microfluidic devices are used in numerous scientific fields and research areas, but device fabrication is still a time- and resource-intensive process largely confined to the cleanroom or a similarly well-equipped laboratory. This paper presents a method to create microfluidic devices in under three hours using the silicone polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a laser cut positive master using PDMS double casting without a cleanroom or other large capital equipment. This method can be utilized by an undergraduate student with minimal training in a laboratory with a modest budget. This paper presents “Same Day Microfluidics” as a fabrication method accessible to research groups not currently fabricating their own microfluidic devices and as an option for established research groups to more quickly create prototype devices. The method is described in detail with timing, materials, and technical considerations for each step and demonstrated in the context of a Y-channel coflow device.
Keywords: microfluidics; rapid prototyping; PDMS double casting; laser ablation microfluidics; rapid prototyping; PDMS double casting; laser ablation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Arebalo, R.J.; Sanchez, A.J.; Tompkins, N. Same Day Microfluidics: From Design to Device in Under Three Hours. Nanomanufacturing 2025, 5, 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nanomanufacturing5030009

AMA Style

Arebalo RJ, Sanchez AJ, Tompkins N. Same Day Microfluidics: From Design to Device in Under Three Hours. Nanomanufacturing. 2025; 5(3):9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nanomanufacturing5030009

Chicago/Turabian Style

Arebalo, Raymond J., Augustin J. Sanchez, and Nathan Tompkins. 2025. "Same Day Microfluidics: From Design to Device in Under Three Hours" Nanomanufacturing 5, no. 3: 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nanomanufacturing5030009

APA Style

Arebalo, R. J., Sanchez, A. J., & Tompkins, N. (2025). Same Day Microfluidics: From Design to Device in Under Three Hours. Nanomanufacturing, 5(3), 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/nanomanufacturing5030009

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop