SBIR Phase I: Design and Fabrication of Novel Microfluidic Devices for STEM Education

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将是开发一个用于教育和研究目的的微流控器件的设计和大批量制造的新平台。目前使用的制造方法不利于大规模生产坚固的、高质量的、开放沟道的微流控器件，这些器件对于在专业应用之外的广泛使用是具有成本效益的。拟议的平台将有助于弥合芯片实验室技术在生物和化学等领域的承诺影响和实际影响之间的差距。使用新平台制造的设备将成为利用微流体在高中和大学层面应用科学和工程概念的实验室套件的核心。这些工具包将有助于解决国家对STEM专业人员的需求，预计未来10年STEM专业人员的增长速度将是所有职业的两倍，同时培训这个领域的学生，预计到2029年，该领域的市场价值将达到600亿美元。这个小企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目旨在消除阻碍开放通道微流控设备大规模生产的主要技术障碍。当前的平版印刷、添加剂和微磨制造技术需要专业知识、设备和生产时间的组合，这使得它们不适合组装足够便宜和足够坚固的设备，以供消费者使用，例如在教育环境中。拟议的平台将利用新的和现有的大批量制造技术来制造基于薄膜的设备，其通道和腔的尺寸为数十微米和数百微米，具有层之间的牢固结合以允许高压流动，每个设备的预计成本为0.15美元。研究目标包括开发适合教育和低资源环境的基于重力的和手动的泵装置。该项目在设备制造工艺方面取得的进展预计将对教育领域以外的领域产生积极影响，促进微流控技术在分析化学、生物制造和护理点生物传感等领域的商业化。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will be development of a novel platform for the design and high-volume fabrication of microfluidic devices for educational and research purposes. Currently used fabrication methods are not conducive to the large-scale production of robust, high quality, open-channel microfluidic devices that are cost-effective for widespread use outside of specialty applications. The proposed platform will contribute to bridging the gap between the promised and actual impact of lab-on- a-chip technologies in fields like biology and chemistry. Devices fabricated using the new platform will be the centerpiece of laboratory kits that utilize microfluidics to apply scientific and engineering concepts at the high school and college levels. The kits will contribute to educational efforts that address the nation’s demand for STEM professionals, projected to grow at twice the rate of all occupations in the next 10 years, while training students in a field expected to reach a $60 billion market value by 2029.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to eliminate the main technical hurdles that prevent the large scale production of open-channel microfluidic devices. Current lithographic, additive and micromilling fabrication technologies require a combination of expertise, equipment and production time that make them ill-suited for the purpose of assembling devices that are inexpensive and robust enough for consumer use, for example, in educational settings. The proposed platform will leverage new and existing high-volume fabrication technologies to manufacture film-based devices with channels and chambers measured in the tens and hundreds of micrometers, featuring strong bonding between layers to allow for high pressure flow, and at a projected cost of 0.15 USD per device. Research objectives include the development of gravity-based and hand powered pump setups appropriate for educational and low resource settings. The advancements in device fabrication processes achieved in this project are expected to have a positive impact beyond the field of education, facilitating the commercialization of microfluidic technologies in fields like analytical chemistry, biomanufacture and point-of-care biosensing.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.