Three-dimensional Microvascular Networks for Microfluidics

D. Therriault, S. R. White, J. A. Lewis
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US

Keywords: microfluidic, fabrication, mixer

Abstract:
An alternative fabrication technique based on directed assembly was used to build three-dimensional microvascular networks. A fugitive organic ink was robotically deposited to form the scaffold of the network. Secondary infiltration followed by setting of the matrix and removal of the scaffold yields a system of cylindrical channels with defined connectivity. Within the network, square-spiral towers were isolated and used as a chaotic advection mixer. These vertical towers give rise to dramatic improvements in fluid mixing relative to simple straight and square-wave channels while significantly reducing the device planar footprint. We envision that microvascular networks will furnish an enabling platform for a wide array of potential technological applications.

NSTI Nanotech 2003 Conference Technical Program Abstract