Mao said vat photopolymerization (VPP) improves upon traditional fabrication methods and 3D printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVPP allows for the direct fabrication of highly transparent microfluidics with a much higher resolution, allowing for channels as narrow as 100 microns,\u201d he said. \u201cAn emerging method within VPP is the use of liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, which uses ultraviolet light to facilitate the photopolymer solidification process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mao disclosed the innovation to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a>, which has applied for a patent to protect the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the work should contact Parag Vasekar, OTC business development and licensing manager, physical sciences, at psvasekar@prf.org<\/a>, about track code 69871<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research about the innovation has been shared in the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n Microfluidic devices are diagnostic systems that analyze small volumes of materials rapidly and accurately. Applications include cancer cell analysis, drug screenings, environmental testing, geology, manufacturing, single-cell isolation and point-of-care diagnostics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By precisely controlling fluid flow and reaction conditions at the microliter or nanoliter scale, these devices accelerate biomedical research, improve the accuracy and speed of diagnostic tests, and enable portable testing solutions across diverse fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe traditional method to fabricate microfluidic devices is costly and time-consuming,\u201d Mao said. \u201cFabrication takes several steps and requires high-end equipment and a cleanroom environment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3D printing, which builds objects through additive layering, is faster and simpler than the traditional process to fabricate microfluidic devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFused filament fabrication is a popular 3D printing method but achieving smooth and narrow channels smaller than 500 microns wide is still a challenge,\u201d Mao said.<\/p>\n\n\n Mao said, \u201cOne key application of microfluidics is single-cell analysis, which requires the channel width to be comparable to the size of a cell. We have successfully printed a microfluidic channel that can form a single line of cancer cells when these cells flow through it. This clearly demonstrates our technology\u2019s potential in cell analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with validating the innovation by forming a single line of cancer cells, Mao and his team have fabricated complex networks of microfluidic channels that mimic the connection in the capillary. Also, they have expanded the approach to 3D printing the microfluidic devices with channels on curved surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur next development steps are bridging 3D printed microfluidic devices with conventional 2D microfluidics, which can combine the advantages of both 3D printing and 2D nanofabrication,\u201d Mao said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mao has received funding to support this research from the School of Engineering Technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a> operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university\u2019s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2024, the office reported 145 deals finalized with 224 technologies signed, 466 invention disclosures received, and 290 U.S. and international patents received. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue\u2019s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap \u2014 including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative \u2014 at https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Mao_Secondary.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Microfluidic devices and traditional fabrication<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Huachao-Mao-3D.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Validating the Purdue fabrication innovation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n