A rapid, straightforward, and print house compatible mass fabrication method for integrating 3D paper‐based microfluidics

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) paper-based microfluidics, which is featured with high performance and speedy determination, promise to carry out multistep sample pretreatment and orderly chemical reaction, which have been used for medical diagnosis, cell culture, environment determination, and so on with broad market prospect. However, there are some drawbacks in the existing fabrication methods for 3D paper-based microfluidics, such as, cumbersome and time-consuming device assembly; expensive and difficult process for manufacture; contamination caused by organic reagents from their fabrication process. Here, we present a simple printing-bookbinding method for mass fabricating 3D paper-based microfluidics. This approach involves two main steps: (i) wax-printing, (ii) bookbinding. We tested the delivery capability, diffusion rate, homogeneity and demonstrated the applicability of the device to chemical analysis by nitrite colorimetric assays. The described method is rapid (<30 s), cheap, easy to manipulate, and compatible with the flat stitching method that is common in a print house, making itself an ideal scheme for large-scale production of 3D paper-based microfluidics.

3D printed microfluidics for biological applications

“…Slightly similar to the LOM method for 3D printing, papers of the pattern of 2D paper based microfluidics was designed with computer-aided design software, (ii) the pattern was transferred to paper by waxprinting, (iii) the wax-printed paper was put into an oven to melt the wax. To fabrication of 3D paper-based microfluidics: (i) stacking the 2D paper-based microfluidics together according to the design of 3D paper-based microfluidics, (ii) binding the paper-based microfluidics to ensure a close contact of adjacent layers, (iii) cutting into individual devices 67 .…”

“…Fabrication of 3D paper-based microfluidics involved the following: (i) stacking the 2D paper-based microfluidics together according to the design of the 3D paper-based microfluidics, (ii) binding the paper-based microfluidics to ensure close contact of adjacent layers, and (iii) cutting into individual devices. 67 Most software for 3D printing is engineering-based, therefore it might not be as user friendly for a biologist. With the continuous improvements made in terms of both software and hardware for 3D printed microfluidics, the search for the "killer application" might become a reality.…”

Research progress on the applications of paper chips

“…The stapler binding method 110 involves stacking the paper chips together after they are made, and then binding them with a stapler, which is used daily. The advantages of this method are that it is simple to operate, does not require complex instruments, and is inexpensive.…”

Detection and extraction of heavy metal ions using paper-based analytical devices fabricated via atom stamp printing

“…The principle of making 3D μPADs was to superimpose 2D μPADs to create hydrophilic channels that can flow vertically. The traditional methods of making 3D μPADs include origami 46 , double-sided gluing 47,48 , and stapler binding 49 . Based on the vertical flow characteristics of 3D μPADs, we designed a "3 + 2" structure for a 3D extraction μPAD (Fig.…”