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Development and Optimization of a 3D-Printed Microfluidic Device with Enhanced Transparency for Bioimaging Applications

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Conference

2024 ASEE-GSW

Location

Canyon, Texas

Publication Date

March 10, 2024

Start Date

March 10, 2024

End Date

March 12, 2024

Page Count

10

DOI

10.18260/1-2--45371

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/45371

Download Count

23

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Paper Authors

biography

Ana Sofia Aviles Vargas The University of Texas at San Antonio (Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering)

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Ana Aviles Vargas is the current President of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and has over a year of experience in a UTSA chemical engineering lab. She also served as a Research and Development Intern at Eli Lilly and Company, contributing valuable insights to the pharmaceutical industry. She is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in engineering, showcasing leadership within the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.

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biography

Gongchen Sun The University of Texas at San Antonio

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I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). I obtained my BS in Microelectronics from Peking University in 2012, PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Notre Dame in 2017, and completed a postdoc training in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. My research field is in microfluidics, electrokinetics, systems bioengineering, and innovative engineering education.

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Abstract

This project, grounded in Biomaterials and Bioinstrumentation courses within Biomedical Engineering, aims to enhance the optical transparency and resolution of microfluidic devices fabricated using low-cost digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. Prioritizing affordability and accessibility, we modified a commercially available 3D printer (Phrozen Sonic Mini 8K) by substituting the build plate with surface-treated glass slides. These slides underwent surface treatment to effectively modify their hydroxy-group-rich surface with a hydrophobic agent (3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TSMPMA)) under oxygen plasma. Additionally, the z-axis limit switch was adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the glass slide on the build plate. Our method significantly improves transparency and resolution, enabling precise segmentation of micro-scale objects from analyzed images obtained through a microscope. The enhanced optical clarity and microchannel resolution of the device can facilitate imaging and characterization of microparticles, thus paving the way for high-throughput cell sorting applications. This interdisciplinary approach integrates knowledge from core Biomedical Engineering courses, emphasizing applications in cell and bioimaging.

Aviles Vargas, A. S., & Sun, G. (2024, March), Development and Optimization of a 3D-Printed Microfluidic Device with Enhanced Transparency for Bioimaging Applications Paper presented at 2024 ASEE-GSW, Canyon, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--45371

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