Functional 3D Printing for Microfluidic Chips

Microfluidics enables the downscaling of biochemical applications from a lab setting to a portable format. With the field's recent switch from replica molding to 3D printing, complex geometries can be created and a diverse range of functional elements has been reported. Recent advancements in the development of 3D-printed sensors, actuators, and other valuable elements for microfluidic devices are summarized. Using movable parts, such as valves or pumps, fluid flow can be precisely controlled and directed. Sensors, in turn, allow for the detection of changes in the engineered microenvironment in real time. Additional elements, such as mixers or gradient generators, facilitate changes within the fluid itself. Together, these functional elements promote the movement of fluids and facilitate the sensing of physicochemical changes in the environment. It is predicted that the widespread adoption of 3D printing in microfluidics will ultimately allow the creation of a new generation of increasingly smart, responsive, and autonomous devices, able to sense and act upon their environment in complex ways and with reduced human intervention.