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Perhaps there is a way to use the common laser or inkjet printers, to print very fine lines of hydrophobic channels for microfluidics applications.
Would make for easier experimentation of different microfluidic designs
low tech microfluidics
http://science-prac...tech-microfluidics/
Other methods: 1. Wax on paper. 2. paper strips. 3. Scored plastic tape [mofosyne, Dec 22 2015]
Microfluidics
https://en.wikipedi.../wiki/Microfluidics
[mofosyne, Dec 22 2015]
Hack: Young Professor Makes Lab-on-a-Chip with Shrinky Dink and Toaster Oven
http://www.wired.co...12/macgyver-scienc/
Shrinky Dinks? I wonder if you can print on em with laser printer. [mofosyne, Dec 22 2015]
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Annotation:
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I think it depends on what you mean by "fine" - your
resolution on a standard printer would be maybe 50-
100µm. |
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There are certainly ways to "print" patterns of
hydrophobic/hydrophilic coatings - this is usually
done using photolithography with a
photoactivateable (or photocleavable) reagent. |
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"At small scales (channel diameters of around 100
nanometers to several hundred micrometers) some
interesting and sometimes unintuitive properties appear."
---
wikipedia |
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Seems like the laser printer would just skirt along this
definition. Being that 50-100um wide channel, would still
be pretty small (and within the hundred micrometers
range). |
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Obviously not practical for nanofluidics... unless we could
print on a shrinkable substrate? |
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Yes, there are certainly plenty of µflu devices with
100µm or larger features. |
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However, photomask printing down to a resolution
of
a few microns on polyester film is very cheap; or
you
can get chrome-on-glass printing down to 1 micron
resolution. And, given the number of devices you
can fit on a sheet, it's not a big expense. But then
of
course you're doing photolithography rather than
direct printing of features. |
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Coincidentally, my old PhD supervisor tells me he's
come up with a way to make µflu devices very
cheaply and very quickly. I'm going to see him
mid-January so, if you remember, ask me then and
I'll tell you what he's up to. |
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[Max] That sounds a bit mean, saying you will spill even before you know the status of the information. Can't you keep secrets? |
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It seems to me that this would still need to come in a home kit containing hydrophobic ink, paper substitute and reagents for the specific experiment needed to be run. (+ printer software) |
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What is this? A cocktails for ants? |
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Perforated paper that tears up to stamp sized lickable cocktails. |
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//That sounds a bit mean, saying you will spill even
before you know the status of the information. Can't
you keep secrets? // Naturally, if it's unpatented
and unpublished, my lips are sealed. But I got the
impression it's already been through patenting. |
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All good then. Sounds like you just the man for the Ad campaign. |
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[update] I'm just back from seeing my old PhD
supervisor, who has indeed found a way to make
microfluidic devices which is fantastically fast,
cheap, simple and flexible. |
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However, he doesn't yet have patents filed, so you'll
just have to wait a little longer... |
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