Expanding the capillarics toolbox: 3D-printed microfluidic phaseguides and self-coalescence modules

Abstract

Capillarics are microfluidic circuits that are assembled from individual fluidic elements, powered by surface tension forces encoded by microchannel geometry and surface chemistry, and enable instrument-free pre-programmed automation of multi-step liquid handling processes. 3D printing has recently transformed capillarics by enabling rapid and cost-effective prototyping, provided addition geometric degrees of freedom in multi-level fabrication, and facilitated new design paradigms with greater capabilities than traditional cleanroom fabrication. Despite widespread interest in 3D printing and development of custom high-resolution stereolithography printers for microfluidic applications, fluidic elements that require precise and tunable control over capillary pinning lines -- such as fluidic phaseguides and self-coalescence modules (SCMs) -- have so far only been manufactured with centralized and expensive cleanroom methods. Not only does this limit access to versatile capillaric features to only well-resourced settings, but it also slows innovation and widespread application of these fluid handling technologies. Here we expand the toolbox of 3D-printed capillarics to include phaseguides and SCMs, demonstrating their potential for precise instrument-free control over multi-step liquid handling and reagent rehydration. We employed benchtop stereolithography printers to prototype (up to 50X) scaled-up phaseguides and SCMs and integrated them into a capillaric circuit for inline reagent reconstitution, dynamic fluid control, and sequential drainage. We showcased scalable designs, customizable geometries, and robust self-coalescing flow for larger liquid volumes -- up to 50 L compared with 1.25 L in cleanroom-fabricated SCMs. This work represents a significant advance in democratizing access to microfluidics, with potential for broad applications in diagnostics, assay automation, and organ-on-chip systems.