RII Track-4: Fast, Mass-Manufacture-Ready Prototyping of Microfluidic Water Purification Systems

RII Track-4：微流体水净化系统的快速、可批量生产的原型设计

• 批准号: 2032482
• 负责人: Caitlin Howell
• 金额: $ 15.46万
• 依托单位: University of Maine
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-02-01 至 2024-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2032482&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RII; Track; Fast; Mass; Manufacture

Access to clean water is an urgent problem that is expected to worsen as droughts become more common and severe weather events stress the water infrastructure in the U.S. Membrane filtration is traditionally used to purify drinking water but requires electricity and can be slowed or even stopped by blockages. Alternative solutions, such as pulsed-electric-field sterilization, are available, but are expensive to manufacture. In this Track-4 EPSCoR Fellowship, the Maine-based team will collaborate with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, one of the world’s premier research institutes for microfluidics, to develop a new, low-cost method of quickly prototyping a portable, microfluidic pulsed-electric-field sterilization system that does not need an outside power source and is not prone to blockage. Importantly, in this new method of prototyping the final design can then be produced directly on industrial-scale papermaking equipment, allowing for rapid fabrication of high numbers of devices at low cost. In addition to creating an accessible solution for water filtration, the connections established between the EPSCoR jurisdiction of Maine and the technology hub of Boston through this work will provide a foundation for future projects using paper and papermaking capacity in biotechnology, increasing both inclusion and sustainability in this field.Access to clean water is a significant problem in disaster-stricken or resource-limited environments. Membrane filtration is traditionally used to remove particulates and pathogens from drinking water but requires electricity and is impeded by blockages. Alternative solutions, such as pulsed-electric-field sterilization, are available, but are impeded by high costs of prototyping and manufacturing. In this project, the PI and her student will collaborate with the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, one of the world’s premier research institutes for microfluidics, to develop a new, low-cost method of quickly prototyping a portable pulsed-electric-field sterilization system with a direct route to mass-manufacture on industrial-scale equipment. The method is based on a 3D print-direct to roll-go-roll prototyping process previously developed by the PI for use on industrial-scale papermaking equipment. With the assistance of Wyss researchers, the team will learn a broad range of microfluidic fabrication, assembly, and analysis techniques needed to apply this method to water purification. Through the project, the team will develop methods to address the problem of scalability and mass-manufacturability at cost-effective levels that are currently slowing the translation of advanced microfluidics from lab to field, and bringing these skills and knowledge back to her EPSCoR jurisdiction of Maine. Acquiring a skill set in advanced microfluidics from the experts at the Wyss Institute will allow the PI to add new depth to her ongoing research collaborations both in Maine and across the U.S. while also working to help address the critical problem of water purification.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

获得清洁水是一个紧迫的问题，随着干旱变得更加普遍，恶劣的天气事件对美国的水基础设施造成压力，预计这一问题将进一步恶化膜过滤传统上用于净化饮用水，但需要电力，并且可能会因堵塞而减慢甚至停止。 替代解决方案，例如脉冲电场灭菌，是可用的，但制造昂贵。在这个Track-4 EPSCoR奖学金中，总部位于缅因州的团队将与世界领先的微流体研究机构之一Wessel生物启发工程研究所合作，开发一种新的，低成本的快速原型制作方法便携式微流体脉冲电场灭菌系统，不需要外部电源，不易堵塞。重要的是，在这种新的原型制作方法中，最终设计可以直接在工业规模的造纸设备上生产，从而以低成本快速制造大量设备。除了为水过滤创造一个可访问的解决方案外，通过这项工作在缅因州的EPSCoR管辖区和波士顿的技术中心之间建立的联系将为未来在生物技术中使用纸张和造纸能力的项目提供基础，提高该领域的包容性和可持续性。在受灾或资源有限的环境中，获得清洁水是一个重大问题。 膜过滤传统上用于去除饮用水中的颗粒物和病原体，但需要电力，并受到堵塞的阻碍。 替代解决方案，如脉冲电场灭菌，是可用的，但受到高成本的原型和制造。在这个项目中，PI和她的学生将与世界领先的微流体研究机构之一Wessels生物启发工程研究所合作，开发一种新的，低成本的快速原型制作方法便携式脉冲电场灭菌系统，直接在工业规模的设备上进行大规模生产。该方法基于PI先前开发的用于工业规模造纸设备的3D打印直接到卷走卷原型制作工艺。在Wessels研究人员的协助下，该团队将学习将这种方法应用于水净化所需的广泛的微流体制造，组装和分析技术。通过该项目，该团队将开发方法来解决可扩展性和大规模制造性的问题，这些问题目前正在减缓先进微流体从实验室到现场的转换，并将这些技能和知识带回她的缅因州的EPSCoR管辖区。从Wessel研究所的专家那里获得先进的微流体技术，将使PI能够为她在缅因州和美国各地正在进行的研究合作增加新的深度，同时也致力于帮助解决水净化的关键问题。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。