Aerosol jet printing revolutionizes microfluidic device fabrication

SAW technologies, known for their high precision and rapid actuation, are essential to microfluidics and affect a broad spectrum of research areas. However, traditional fabrication methods are time-consuming, intricate, and necessitate costly cleanroom facilities. One novel method overcomes these constraints by utilizing aerosol jet printing to create customized devices with various materials, such as silver nanowires and graphene, significantly reducing development time.

In a study published on 01 January 2024, in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, researchers from Duke University and Virginia Tech have pioneered the integration of aerosol jet printing technology into the fabrication of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) microfluidic devices. This advancement offers a faster, more versatile, and cleanroom-free approach to developing lab-on-a-chip applications, revolutionizing fields from biology to medicine.

In this groundbreaking research, the team utilized aerosol jet printing to fabricate Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) microfluidic devices. This method is a stark contrast to conventional, cumbersome cleanroom processes. It involves depositing various conductive materials such as silver nanowires, graphene, and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) onto substrates to form interdigital transducers, crucial for generating SAWs to manipulate fluids and particles at the microscale. Remarkably, this method reduces fabrication time from around 40 hours to approximately 5 minutes per device. The team thoroughly analyzed the acoustic performance of these printed devices using a laser Doppler vibrometer, comparing them with those fabricated in cleanrooms. The results showed promising potential, with the printed devices demonstrating similar or acceptable performance levels in terms of resonant frequencies and displacement fields. This research represents a significant advancement in microfluidic device fabrication, offering a faster, more adaptable, and efficient alternative to traditional methods.

Dr. Zhenhua Tian, a co-author of the study, emphasized, "This isn't just a step forward; it's a leap into the future of microfluidic device fabrication. Our method not only simplifies the process but opens up new possibilities for device customization and rapid prototyping."

The implications of the new method are vast, offering a more accessible, faster, and cost-effective way to produce microfluidic devices. It has the potential to accelerate research and development in numerous fields, leading to quicker diagnostics, improved drug delivery systems, and enhanced biochemical analyses. Additionally, the technology's versatility suggests its adaptability to a wide range of materials and substrates, promising extensive applications across various disciplines.

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References

DOI

10.1038/s41378-023-00606-z

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41378-023-00606-z

Funding information

The National Science Foundation (CMMI-2104526, CMMI-2243771, and CMMI-2104295); The Department of Energy (DE-NE0009187); The National Institutes of Health (R01GM132603, R01GM144417, and R01GM135486). The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 2139754.

About Microsystems & Nanoengineering

Microsystems & Nanoengineering is an online-only, open access international journal devoted to publishing original research results and reviews on all aspects of Micro and Nano Electro Mechanical Systems from fundamental to applied research. The journal is published by Springer Nature in partnership with the Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, supported by the State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology.