Researchers from the College of Food Science at South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou have used projection micro stereolithography (PµSL) to fabricate microfluidic devices for food emulsion processing. PµSL, a micro-precision 3D printing technology from Boston Micro Fabrication (BMF), enabled the food scientists to scale-up testing while realizing benefits such as low processing costs, high efficiency, ease of cleaning, and access to a wide selection of materials.
Traditionally, microfluidic device fabrication has used manufacturing methods with high processing costs and low stability. PµSL eliminates these downsides and supports the integration of macro-structures and micro-structures. GR and HIT, the photosensitive resins that were used, also improve observation because these materials are transparent. The goal of the food scientists’ research was to measure production rates and droplet distribution in order to evaluate a co-flow system for use in microfluidic chips.
To produce the microfluidic devices, the researchers used a BMF P140 3D printer. The results demonstrated that monodisperse water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-water (W/) single emulsions could be produced in the same device with a coefficient of variation (CV) less than 3%. In addition to a single emulsion device with five parallel channels, the researchers 3D printed a device for generating a double emulsion. These droplets were produced without surface treating the device – another PµSL advantage.
To learn more about PµSL technology for micro 3D printing, contact BMF.
Interested in learning more about how micro 3D printing improves the development of microfluidics devices? Read more here.
