3D printed microfluidic devices for separations of biomolecules

Description:
3D printing has enabled innovations in the creation of miniaturized devices with applications in chemical analysis. To address significant limitations from conventional 3D printing methods that typically create features with millifluidic dimensions, we have recently developed a novel 3D printing platform that readily makes microfluidic structures with three-dimensional layouts [1-2]. We utilize these 3D printed microfluidic systems in a range of separation science applications. One area of emphasis has been the analysis of peptide and protein biomarkers found in a prospective mother’s blood serum that are indicative of risk for a preterm birth (PTB). Our microfluidic analysis approach entails an immunoaffinity extraction step [3], followed by solid-phase extraction and on-chip labeling [4]. We then carry out microchip electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection in the integrated 3D printed microfluidic system [5]. Our current focus is on combining the immunoaffinity and solid-phase extraction processes on-chip, and further connecting them with microchip electrophoresis to quantify PTB biomarkers in case and control blood samples. We are also broadening the application of this platform to analyze for nucleic acid molecules linked to pathogens. These 3D printed microfluidic systems have strong potential to facilitate important advances in the field of biomolecular separation science.

Acknowledgement
We thank the US National Institutes of Health (R01 EB027096 and R15 GM123405) for financial support.

References
[1] Gong, H., et al. Lab Chip 17, 2899-2909 (2017).
[2] Sanchez Noriega, J.L., et al. Nat. Comm. 12, 5509 (2021).
[3] Almughamsi, H.M., et al. Analyst 147, 734-743 (2022).
[4] Bickham, A.V., et al. Anal. Chem. 92, 12322-12329 (2020).
[5] Esene, J.E., et al. Microchim. Acta 189, 204 (2022).

Speaker: Adam Woolley - Brigham Young University