The shortpass filter means that in a specific wavelength range, the short-wave is transmitted, and the long-wave is cut off, which plays the role of isolating the long-wave.
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3D printing ceramic micro system to promote microfluidic chip or human organ chip application
Lab-on-a-chip technology, also known as microfluidics, has revolutionized biological, chemical, and medical analysis by integrating key processes like sample preparation, reactions, separations, and detections onto a microscale chip. This automation not only streamlines these processes but also holds immense promise across various fields including biology, chemistry, and medicine. Its ability to miniaturize and integrate multiple functions has given rise to a new interdisciplinary research domain involving fields such as fluid dynamics, electronics, materials science, and mechanical engineering.
Recently, a cutting-edge technology called organs-on-a-chip has emerged, offering unprecedented insights into biological behaviors during drug discovery, disease mechanisms, and toxicity predictions. This technology has promising applications across multiple sectors.
In a significant breakthrough, researchers from the Autonomous University of Madrid, in collaboration with Lithoz, a leading ceramic 3D printing company, have developed a complex 3D printed ceramic microsystem. This microsystem is designed to enhance the development and application of both lab-on-a-chip technologies and human organ chips. The team claims this advancement represents a major leap forward in biomedical science due to the unique properties of the ceramic material.
Using Lithoz's advanced CeraFab 7500 additive manufacturing system, the ceramic material is blended with a photosensitive resin and printed layer by layer. Following the printing of the octagonal chip, the resin is removed through sintering, fusing the ceramic particles into a solid structure. This process is crucial as it ensures the chip meets the stringent sealing requirements necessary for biomedical applications, preventing leaks of living materials.
The resulting 3D printed ceramic chip demonstrates remarkable potential for biomedical applications. Unlike traditional materials like glass or plastic, ceramic offers superior strength and thermal stability. These attributes make ceramic an ideal candidate for creating durable, long-lasting microfluidic devices.
This ceramic microsystem is a one-piece design, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing maintenance requirements. Integral to its design is a porous membrane that divides different levels of cell culture chambers, functioning similarly to a transwell. The microsystem also features a network of interconnected channels supported by cantilever ceramic membranes.
The microfluidic system boasts intricate designs, high integration capabilities, compact dimensions, and exceptional detail. These 3D printed ceramic microsystems offer a more efficient and simpler alternative to conventional cell culture test devices, aiding in advancing bionic 3D cell culture research.
In China, several institutions have made notable progress in microfluidic chip research. For instance, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Technology has constructed functional organ chip systems using multidisciplinary approaches, creating miniature models of organs such as the liver, kidney, intestine, and blood-brain barrier. They’ve also developed integrated multi-organ chip systems for use in biological research, toxicity testing, and stem cell studies.
At Zhejiang University, He Yong and his team proposed a capillary-driven 3D printed microfluidic chip (μ3DPADs). This innovative chip shares similarities with existing paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (μPADs) but introduces programmable flow fields by adjusting channel depths. Their experiments confirm that these chips can effectively complement current 2D paper-based microfluidic chips, enabling simplified fluid drives while supporting complex flow controls.
Overseas, companies like Dolomite are pushing boundaries in microfluidic innovation. In 2016, Dolomite introduced the FluidicFactory, a 3D printing device capable of producing fluid-tight microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices. This revolutionary device offers fast, easy, and reliable printing at a mere $1 per chip, using FDA-approved cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) material, which is both economical and versatile.
Additionally, Optomec’s Aerosol Jet Technology enables the 3D printing of micron-scale smart structures for use in electronics and biomedicine, heralding cost-effective solutions for next-generation products.
Institutions such as the University of Connecticut are exploring 3D printing techniques to streamline the creation of organ-on-a-chip devices. Traditional methods are labor-intensive and hinder rapid iterations and designs. Leveraging 3D printing accelerates prototyping, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and expedites innovation in microfluidic research.
Bio 3D printing holds the potential to create complex 3D human tissue structures. Microfluidic systems supply essential nutrients, oxygen, and growth factors to these tissues. Future advancements could enable bio 3D printers to print microfluidic platforms and directly create customized microscopic human tissues within those platforms.
Meanwhile, the Fraunhofer Institute of Ceramic Technology and the IKTS System Research Institute in Germany have pioneered a new 3D printing technique capable of producing intricate ceramic microreactors. These reactors, containing complex microchannels and liquid connections, showcase the potential of ceramic 3D printing in creating highly specialized medical and industrial components.