Multilayered Manufacturing Method for Microfluidic Systems Using Low-Cost, Resin-Based 3D Printing

The present work addresses a method, based on multilamination, for the fabrication of microfluidic devices or analytical microsystems using only commercially available 3D printers and photocurable resins. The created devices were used for the colorimetric measurement of copper ions in aqueous solutions, yielding results comparable to traditional cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) systems but with a significant cost reduction. The microfluidic platforms showed stability and functionality over a twelve-week testing period. This study highlights the potential of 3D printing as a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective alternative for the fabrication of customized microfluidic devices, promoting its use in research with limited resources.