Additive manufacturing methods and materials for electrokinetic systems

Fabrication of miniaturized devices is usually time-consuming, costly, and the materials commonly used limit the structures that are possible to create. The techniques most often used to make microsystems involve multiple steps, where each step takes considerable time, and if only a few systems are to be made, the price per device becomes excessive. This thesis describes how a simple syringebased 3D-printer, in combination with an appropriate choice of materials, can reduce the delay between design and prototype and simplify fabrication of microsystems. This thesis suggest two types of materials that we propose be used in combination with 3D-printing to further develop microsystems for biology and biochemistry. Analytical applications in biology and biochemistry often contain electrodes, such as in gel electrophoresis. Faradaic (electrochemical) reactions have to occur at the metal electrodes to allow electron-to-ion transduction through an electrolyte-based system to drive a current when a potential is applied to the electrodes in an electrolyte-based system. These electrochemical reactions at the electrodes, such as water electrolysis, are usually problematic when miniaturizing devices and analytical systems. An alternative to metal electrodes can be electrochemicallyactive conducting polymers, e.g. poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), which can be used to reduce electrolysis when driving a current through water-based systems. Paper 1 describes gel electrophoresis where the platinum electrodes were replaced with the conductive polymer PEDOT, without affecting the separation. Manufacturing and prototyping of microsystems can be simplified by using 3Dprinting in combination with a sacrificial material. A sacrificial template material can further simplify bottom-up manufacturing of more complicated forms such as protruding and overhanging structures. We showed in paper 2 that polyethylene glycol (PEG), in combination with a carbonate-based plasticizer, functions well as a 3D-printable sacrificial template material. PEG2000 with between 20 wt% and 30 wt% ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate has properties advantageous for 3D-printing, such as shear-thinning rheology, mechanical and chemical stability, and easy dissolution in water.