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Article
Rapid prototyping of microchannels with surface patterns for fabrication of polymer fibers
RSC Advances
  • Payton J. Goodrich, Iowa State University
  • Farrokh Sharifi, Iowa State University
  • Nicole N. Hashemi, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2015
DOI
10.1039/C5RA15154F
Abstract

Microfluidic technology has provided innovative solutions to numerous problems, but the cost of designing and fabricating microfluidic channels is impeding its expansion. In this work, Shrinky-Dink thermoplastic sheets are used to create multilayered complex templates for microfluidic channels. We used inkjet and laserjet printers to raise a predetermined microchannel geometry by depositing several layers of ink for each feature consecutively. We achieved feature heights over 100 μm, which were measured and compared with surface profilometry. Templates closest to the target geometry were then used to create microfluidic devices from soft-lithography with the molds as a template. These microfluidic devices were in turn used to fabricate polymer microfibers using the microfluidic focusing approach to demonstrate the potential that this process has for microfluidic applications. Finally, an economic analysis was conducted to compare the price of common microfluidic template manufacturing methods. We showed that multilayer microchannels can be created significantly quicker and cheaper than current methods for design prototyping and point-of-care applications in the biomedical area.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article from RSC Advances 5 (2015): 71203, doi:10.1039/C5RA15154F. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Royal Society of Chemistry
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Payton J. Goodrich, Farrokh Sharifi and Nicole N. Hashemi. "Rapid prototyping of microchannels with surface patterns for fabrication of polymer fibers" RSC Advances Vol. 5 (2015) p. 71203 - 71209
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/nastaran_hashemi/20/