Engineering 3D parallelized microfluidic droplet generators with equal flow profiles by computational fluid dynamics and stereolithographic printing

Abstract

Microfluidic droplet generators excel in generating monodisperse micrometer-sized droplets and particles. However, the low throughput of conventional droplet generators hinders their clinical and industrial translation. Current approaches to parallelize microdevices are challenged by the two-dimensional nature of the standard fabrication methods. Here, we report the facile production of three-dimensionally (3D) parallelized microfluidic droplet generators consisting of stacked and radially multiplexed channel designs. Computational fluid dynamics simulations form the design basis for a microflow distributor that ensures similar flow rates through all droplet generators. Stereolithography is the selected technique to fabricate microdevices, which enables the manufacturing of hollow channels with dimensions as small as 50 μm. The microdevices could be operated up to 4 bars without structural damage, including deformation of channels, or leakage of the on-chip printed Luer-Lok type connectors. The printed microdevices readily enable the production of water-in-oil emulsions, as well as polymer containing droplets that act as templates for both solid and core–shell hydrogel microparticles. The cytocompatibility of the 3D printed device is demonstrated by encapsulating mesenchymal stem cells in hydrogel microcapsules, which results in the controllable formation of stem cell spheroids that remain viable and metabolically active for at least 21 days. Thus, the unique features of stereolithography fabricated microfluidic devices allow for the parallelization of droplet generators in a simple yet effective manner by enabling the realization of (complex) 3D designs.