Rapid prototyping methods for the design and fabrication of polymeric labs-on-a-chip are on the rise,as they allow high degrees of precision and flexibility.For example,a microfluidic platform may require an optimizat...Rapid prototyping methods for the design and fabrication of polymeric labs-on-a-chip are on the rise,as they allow high degrees of precision and flexibility.For example,a microfluidic platform may require an optimization phase in which it could be necessary to continuously modify the architecture and geometry;however,this is only possible if easy,controllable fabrication methods and low-cost materials are available.In this paper,we describe the realization process of a microfluidic tool,from the computer-aided design(CAD)to the proof-of-concept application as a capture device for circulating tumor cells(CTCs).The entire platform was realized in polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA),combining femtosecond(fs)laser and micromilling fabrication technologies.The multilayer device was assembled through a facile and low-cost solvent-assisted method.A serpentine microchannel was then directly biofunctionalized by immobilizing capture probes able to distinguish cancer from non-cancer cells without labeling.The low material costs,customizable methods,and biological application of the realized platform make it a suitable model for industrial exploitation and applications at the point of care.展开更多
基金This work was supported by SMILE(a SAW-MIP Integrated device for oraL cancer Early detection)project,part of the ATTRACT program that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program(777222).
文摘Rapid prototyping methods for the design and fabrication of polymeric labs-on-a-chip are on the rise,as they allow high degrees of precision and flexibility.For example,a microfluidic platform may require an optimization phase in which it could be necessary to continuously modify the architecture and geometry;however,this is only possible if easy,controllable fabrication methods and low-cost materials are available.In this paper,we describe the realization process of a microfluidic tool,from the computer-aided design(CAD)to the proof-of-concept application as a capture device for circulating tumor cells(CTCs).The entire platform was realized in polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA),combining femtosecond(fs)laser and micromilling fabrication technologies.The multilayer device was assembled through a facile and low-cost solvent-assisted method.A serpentine microchannel was then directly biofunctionalized by immobilizing capture probes able to distinguish cancer from non-cancer cells without labeling.The low material costs,customizable methods,and biological application of the realized platform make it a suitable model for industrial exploitation and applications at the point of care.
