Advanced 3D Printed Microfluidics and Microsystems

Dear Colleagues,

Critical disadvantages of conventional microfabrication methods include their inability to create true 3D structures, their high costs and the time required for new methods to tackle these problems, especially for prototyping and design validation. The advanced manufacturing process of 3D printing is the most promising alternative method to produce 2D and 3D microfluidic devices, and microsystems in general. In many ways, state-of-the-art 3D printing of microdevices is at the testing phase, that is, the phase of proving its relevance to micromanufacturing, similar to the period of maturing soft lithography of polymers almost twenty years ago. With presently popular 3D printing methods such as Streolithography (SLA), PolyJet (PJ) and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), large microfluidic to millifluidic devices can be 3D-printed with feature sizes greater than 200 μm. Passive parts (e.g., channels and reservoirs) and active parts (e.g., valves and pumps) can both be printed using 3D printing for many applications. However, 3D printing of microfluidic feature sizes less than 100 μm is very challenging and requires novel approaches and designs to overcome limitations. Printing of microfeatures of size less than 50 μm can be achieved by Digital Light Processing (DLP)-based SLA or Two-Photon Direct Laser Writing (DLW), but printing speed and volume are compromised. The continuous liquid interface printing (CLIP) method, which is a relatively new SLA-based technique, also needs further investigation. This Special Issue, Advanced 3D-Printed Microfluidics and Microsystems, aims to address some of these challenges and encourage further research in developing 3D printing methods for producing microfluidics and microsystems. This Special Issue will showcase research papers, and review articles that focus on the following:

(1) novel materials to increase the resolution and productivity of conventional 3D printing methods;
(2) improved 3D printing methods to create multifunctional and microfeature-sized products;
(3) unconventional 3D printing methods as alternatives with advantages in terms of material selection and microfluidic applications;
(4) bleeding-edge engineering that utilizes conventional 3D printing methods to create high-functioning microdevices;
(5) application of 3D-printed microfluidics and microsystems for various applications from biological to chemical to physical sciences.

Prof. Dr. Muthukumaran Packirisamy
Dr. Mohsen Habibi
Guest Editors

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