A 3D‐printed modular reactor setup including temperature and pH control for the compartmentalized implementation of enzyme cascades

Abstract

In recent years, 3D printers developed rapidly from an expensive niche product used mainly by architects and designers into a versatile tool for engineers helping them to quickly realize and test new ideas. While most of the reported examples still focus on the use of 3D‐printed parts as mechanical but chemically inert tools, we developed a 3D‐printed modular reactor system which allows the fast implementation and testing of enzyme cascades. 3D printing offers several advantages in this context, as complex fluidic structures that cannot be fabricated by other methods can be generated, and the printed reactors are easily scalable in order to adjust their size to specific reaction parameters. Using a so‐called PolyJet technique, highly porous monolithic enzyme carriers were printed and directly UV‐cured from acrylate monomers, allowing simple immobilization of enzymes in a subsequent step. The enzyme immobilisates were fixed in a 3D‐printed housing with integrated fluid distributors forming a compact module to conduct a biotransformation step. Several of such modules can be connected in series to a pumping and analyzing system. A model cascade connecting two enzyme transformation modules, the first containing Glucose Oxidase and the second containing Horseradish Peroxidase, was operated using a commercial FPLC system for flow control and UV–Vis detection of the generated product. In order to adjust the temperature, a Peltier‐based tempering jacket for the enzyme transformation modules was designed. In addition, a flow‐through pH regulation module was developed, based on an electrochemical principle which allows unidirectional pH changes without the need for membranes or discharge of partial fluid streams. Except for the electrodes, also the pH regulation module was fabricated by 3D printing.

The Biomaker: an entry‐level bioprinting device for biotechnological applications

“…In biotechnological research at present, 3D printing is mainly used for the manufacturing of molds for microfluidic devices or the direct printing of the devices itself . Furthermore, 3D printing technologies are applied for tailor‐made fabrication of labware and opens simple and fast access to new scientific approaches . However, most attention is certainly paid to the upcoming field of bioprinting.…”

“…[5][6][7] Furthermore, 3D printing technologies are applied for tailor-made fabrication of labware [8][9][10] and opens simple and fast access to new scientific approaches. [11][12][13] However, most attention is certainly paid to the upcoming field of bioprinting. The concept of bioprinting is commonly defined as the construction of three-dimensional structures of biological or biocompatible materials.…”

Countercurrently Operated Reactive Extractor with an Additively Manufactured Enzyme Carrier Structure

“…Additionally, SLS approach offers high surface roughness beneficial for enzyme immobilization. 26 The difference in the surface and accuracy of one structure depending on the manufacturing technology and its material, is depicted in Figure 2. of the powder, which allows the control of thermal gradients and thus eliminates the need for support structures (preheated powder acts as support itself).…”

Enzyme Scaffolds with Hierarchically Defined Properties via 3D Jet Writing

“…The reactor was 3D-printed with VeroWhitePlus RGD835 (Stratasys, Eden Prairie, MN) as described in other publications. [36,43] Due to adsorption effects, [36] the reactor was rinsed with oNP solution for several hours to guarantee a completely saturated reactor wall. Before the start of the experiment, the reactor was rinsed with citrate buffer until oNP was no longer detectable in the outlet.…”