MAKER: Nanotechnology & Microfluidics - Lab-on-a-chip

Neil Andrew Gardner

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Conference: 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Publication Date: June 24, 2017
Start Date: June 24, 2017
End Date: June 28, 2017
Conference Session: Make It!
Tagged Division: Manufacturing
Page Count: 2
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--28639
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/28639
Download Count: 432

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Neil Andrew Gardner The Ohio State University

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Abstract

MAKER: Nanotechnology & Microfluidics – Lab-on-a-chip Our First Year Engineering program has a variety of labs and exercises that run weekly throughout the semester to expose freshman engineering students to multiple engineering disciplines. One of the courses is tailored to students who are interested in disciplines such as: Chemical, Biological and Material Science Engineering involves Nanotechnology and Microfluidics, and introduces them to a lab-on-a-chip. There are two versions of this program, but they have many similarities. Both of the courses utilize a 2” diameter chip of 1/8” acrylic that has features machined into it that were custom designed by student teams. Both introduce the students to common lab and medical supplies and processes such as: rubber (nitrile) gloves, disposable syringes with plastic precision tips, Kimwipes, petri dishes, PDMS, ultrasonic cleaning machines, etc. In one of the courses the students build and calibrate an electrical circuit which is used to measure the concentration of a solution of fluorescein. This is accomplished through repeated testing using a 1000ppm solution of fluorescein to dial in the accuracy of the testing apparatus, known as a DAD. The students are then given unknown concentrations of fluorescein and use their testing circuit to try to determine the concentration. A team of 4 students gets to design the channel geometry for their lab-on-a-chip. They study the geometry features and refine their design so that the can isolate the fluorescein solution and get an accurate reading using their DAD and testing circuit. The alternate course is a little more advanced. It allows the students to use a lab-on-a-chip to study the forces and geometry required to flush a solution of yeast cells out of micro channels. The students grow the yeast solutions in the micro channels, and then later use varying heads of purified water to study how pressure and volume affect the flushing resistance of the yeast. Later in the course, students experiment with altering the ph and other factors of the solution and study the effects. The student teams design their chip channel geometry using SolidWorks CAD software. This geometry is then machined in-house using benchtop cnc vertical mills fitted with custom machining fixtures. This allows for a quick turn-around on chip generation, and allows the students to understand the entire manufacturing process. Throughout both courses, the students are exposed to: problem solving, electrical circuit design and testing, CAD, nanoscale hydraulic features, precision fluids measurement, common chemistry and biology lab practices, cnc fabrication, teamwork, collaboration and data collection and documentation.

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Gardner, N. A. (2017, June), MAKER: Nanotechnology & Microfluidics - Lab-on-a-chip Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--28639

TY - CPAPER
AB - MAKER: Nanotechnology &amp; Microfluidics – Lab-on-a-chip
Our First Year Engineering program has a variety of labs and exercises that run weekly throughout the semester to expose freshman engineering students to multiple engineering disciplines. One of the courses is tailored to students who are interested in disciplines such as: Chemical, Biological and Material Science Engineering involves Nanotechnology and Microfluidics, and introduces them to a lab-on-a-chip.
There are two versions of this program, but they have many similarities. Both of the courses utilize a 2” diameter chip of 1/8” acrylic that has features machined into it that were custom designed by student teams. Both introduce the students to common lab and medical supplies and processes such as: rubber (nitrile) gloves, disposable syringes with plastic precision tips, Kimwipes, petri dishes, PDMS, ultrasonic cleaning machines, etc.
In one of the courses the students build and calibrate an electrical circuit which is used to measure the concentration of a solution of fluorescein. This is accomplished through repeated testing using a 1000ppm solution of fluorescein to dial in the accuracy of the testing apparatus, known as a DAD. The students are then given unknown concentrations of fluorescein and use their testing circuit to try to determine the concentration. A team of 4 students gets to design the channel geometry for their lab-on-a-chip. They study the geometry features and refine their design so that the can isolate the fluorescein solution and get an accurate reading using their DAD and testing circuit.
The alternate course is a little more advanced. It allows the students to use a lab-on-a-chip to study the forces and geometry required to flush a solution of yeast cells out of micro channels. The students grow the yeast solutions in the micro channels, and then later use varying heads of purified water to study how pressure and volume affect the flushing resistance of the yeast. Later in the course, students experiment with altering the ph and other factors of the solution and study the effects.
The student teams design their chip channel geometry using SolidWorks CAD software. This geometry is then machined in-house using benchtop cnc vertical mills fitted with custom machining fixtures. This allows for a quick turn-around on chip generation, and allows the students to understand the entire manufacturing process.
Throughout both courses, the students are exposed to: problem solving, electrical circuit design and testing, CAD, nanoscale hydraulic features, precision fluids measurement, common chemistry and biology lab practices, cnc fabrication, teamwork, collaboration and data collection and documentation.

AU - Neil Andrew Gardner
CY - Columbus, Ohio
DA - 2017/06/24
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - MAKER: Nanotechnology & Microfluidics - Lab-on-a-chip
UR - https://peer.asee.org/28639
DO - 10.18260/1-2--28639
ER -