Cryo-printed microfluidics enable rapid prototyping for optical-cell analysis

Abstract This paper highlights an innovative, low-cost rapid-prototyping method for generating microfluidic chips with extraordinary short fabrication times of only a few minutes. Microchannels and inlet/outlet ports are created by controlled deposition aqueous microdroplets on cooled surface resulting in printed ice microstructures, which turn coated UV-curable acrylic cover layer. Thawing leaves inverse imprint as microchannel structure. For exemplary case, we applied this technology creating chip cell-customized optical-cell analysis. The design includes containers cell cultivation Container shape, length, position, angle relative to the main channel were iteratively optimized cultivate analyze different types. With chip, performed physiological analyses morphologically distinct prokaryotic Corynebacterium glutamicum DM1919, eukaryotic Hansenula polymorpha RB11 MOX -GFP, phototrophic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 cells via quantitative time-lapse fluorescence microscopy. is not limited rapid prototyping complex biocompatible microfluidics. Further exploration may include printing materials other than water, substrates in-situ biofunctionalization, inclusion electrodes many applications.