Microfluidics -- Innovations and Laser printing -- Innovations

INTRODUCTION In the late 1980s, the first microminiaturized-total chemical analysis system was pioneered by Manz et al. (1), and it presented the analytical community with the first bona fide platform [...]
We describe a technique for fabricating microfluidic devices with complex multilayer architectures using a laser printer, a C[O.sub.2] laser cutter, an office laminator and common overhead transparencies as a printable substrate via a laser print, cut and laminate (PCL) methodology. The printer toner serves three functions: (i) it defines the microfluidic architecture, which is printed on the overhead transparencies; (ii) it acts as the adhesive agent for the bonding of multiple transparency layers; and (iii) it provides, in its unmodified state, printable, hydrophobic 'valves' for fluidic flow control. By using common graphics software, e.g., corelDRAW or AutoCAD, the protocol produces microfluidic devices with a design-to-device time of ~40 min. Devices of any shape can be generated for an array of multistep assays, with colorimetric detection of molecular species ranging from small molecules to proteins. Channels with varying depths can be formed using multiple transparency layers in which a C[O.sub.2] laser is used to remove the polyester from the channel sections of the internal layers. The simplicity of the protocol, availability of the equipment and substrate and cost-effective nature of the process make microfluidic devices available to those who might benefit most from expedited, microscale chemistry.

Regenerative medicine -- Research, Tissue engineering -- Research, and Tissues

New manufacturing technologies under the banner of rapid prototyping enable the fabrication of structures dose in architecture to biological tissue. In their simplest form, these technologies allow the manufacture of scaffolds upon which cells can grow for later implantation into the body. A more exciting prospect is the printing and patterning in three dimensions of all the components that make up a tissue (cells and matrix materials) to generate structures analogous to tissues; this has been termed bioprinting. Such techniques have opened new areas of research in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. 10.1126/science.1226340