Since the 1990s, Labs-on-a-Chip have been gaining popularity among researchers as an avenue to explore DNA analysis, diagnostic testing, synthetic chemistry and numerous other applications. While these LOC have helped make many important discoveries and devices possible, their downfall has always been their price. Just like any other product, each LOC goes through a number of prototype phases that refine a design and ensure repeatability of manufacturing. While some products, like electronics, have breadboards that help reduce development LOCs weren’t been afforded that same luxury – at least not until now.
To break the cost barrier of LOC designs USC researcher Krisna Bhargava designed a 3D printable LOC building block that can snap together with similar blocks to create complex lab structures on the fly. Built into a standardized 1-cubic centimeter form factor the blocks come in a number of different flavors, each of which performs a standard LOC function such as routing, mixing or analysis. To add even greater value to his creation Bhargava gave his blocks the ability to create structures in three-dimensions, adding a level of complexity to LOCs that wasn’t available in previous 2D incarnations.
In tests, Krisna’s new building blocks fared well and have already been used to rapidly prototype an inexpensive LOC to precisely mix and deliver droplets of fluids. With at least one test in the books Bhargava is excited for the future of his new building blocks.
"You pull out everything you think is going to work, you stick it together and you test it," said Bhargava. "If it doesn't work, you pull part of it out, swap out some pieces and within a day you've probably come to a final design, and then you can seal the system together and make it permanent. You have a massive productivity gain and a huge cost advantage."
Whether Bhargava’s building blocks will catalyze an explosion of LOC development is still up in the air. However one thing’s for sure, iterative approaches to complex designs are certain to surge in one USC lab.
Image Courtesy of USC