{"entity":"Paper","count":128,"items":[{"id":"paper-001","slug":"001-3d-bioprinting-of-collagen-based-high-resolution-internally-perfusable-scaffolds-for-engineering-fully-biologic-tissue-s","title":"3D bioprinting of collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds for engineering fully biologic tissue systems","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","publication":{"paperTitle":"3D bioprinting of collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds for engineering fully biologic tissue systems","requestedDoi":"10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","resolvedDoi":"10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.186Z","abstract":"Organ-on-a-chip and microfluidic systems have improved the translational relevance of in vitro systems; however, current manufacturing approaches impart limitations on materials selection, non-native mechanical properties, geometric complexity, and cell-driven remodeling into functional tissues. Here, we three-dimensionally (3D) bioprint extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells into collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds (CHIPS) that integrate with a vascular and perfusion organ-on-a-chip reactor (VAPOR) to form a complete tissue engineering platform. We improve the fidelity of freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) bioprinting to produce a range of CHIPS designs fabricated in a one-step process. CHIPS exhibit size-dependent permeability of perfused molecules into the surrounding scaffold to support cell viability and migration. Lastly, we implemented multi-material bioprinting to control 3D spatial patterning, ECM composition, cellularization, and material properties to create a glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting pancreatic-like CHIPS with vascular endothelial cadherin + vascular-like networks. Together, CHIPS and VAPOR form a platform technology toward engineering full organ-scale function for disease modeling and cell replacement therapy.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh","Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Andrew R. Hudson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4148-5708","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ezgi Bakırcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-1540","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel Moss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8471-5489","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian Coffin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7256-8525","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh","Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","url":"https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","title":"3D bioprinting of collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds for engineering fully biologic tissue systems","subtitle":"","abstract":"Organ-on-a-chip and microfluidic systems have improved the translational relevance of in vitro systems; however, current manufacturing approaches impart limitations on materials selection, non-native mechanical properties, geometric complexity, and cell-driven remodeling into functional tissues. Here, we three-dimensionally (3D) bioprint extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells into collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds (CHIPS) that integrate with a vascular and perfusion organ-on-a-chip reactor (VAPOR) to form a complete tissue engineering platform. We improve the fidelity of freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) bioprinting to produce a range of CHIPS designs fabricated in a one-step process. CHIPS exhibit size-dependent permeability of perfused molecules into the surrounding scaffold to support cell viability and migration. Lastly, we implemented multi-material bioprinting to control 3D spatial patterning, ECM composition, cellularization, and material properties to create a glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting pancreatic-like CHIPS with vascular endothelial cadherin + vascular-like networks. Together, CHIPS and VAPOR form a platform technology toward engineering full organ-scale function for disease modeling and cell replacement therapy.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","given":"Daniel J.","family":"Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.","Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.","Pittsburgh, Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.","Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Andrew R. Hudson","given":"Andrew R.","family":"Hudson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4148-5708","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","given":"Joshua W.","family":"Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Ezgi Bakirci","given":"Ezgi","family":"Bakirci","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-1540","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Samuel Moss","given":"Samuel","family":"Moss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8471-5489","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Brian D. Coffin","given":"Brian D.","family":"Coffin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7256-8525","affiliations":["Pittsburgh, Heart, Lung, and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.","Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","given":"Adam W.","family":"Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.","Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA."]}],"publisher":"American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)","journal":"Science Advances","publishedDate":"2025-04-25","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"17","pages":"","issn":["2375-2548"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":72,"citedByCount":91,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4409723569","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","url":"https://openalex.org/W4409723569","title":"3D bioprinting of collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds for engineering fully biologic tissue systems","abstract":"Organ-on-a-chip and microfluidic systems have improved the translational relevance of in vitro systems; however, current manufacturing approaches impart limitations on materials selection, non-native mechanical properties, geometric complexity, and cell-driven remodeling into functional tissues. Here, we three-dimensionally (3D) bioprint extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells into collagen-based high-resolution internally perfusable scaffolds (CHIPS) that integrate with a vascular and perfusion organ-on-a-chip reactor (VAPOR) to form a complete tissue engineering platform. We improve the fidelity of freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) bioprinting to produce a range of CHIPS designs fabricated in a one-step process. CHIPS exhibit size-dependent permeability of perfused molecules into the surrounding scaffold to support cell viability and migration. Lastly, we implemented multi-material bioprinting to control 3D spatial patterning, ECM composition, cellularization, and material properties to create a glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting pancreatic-like CHIPS with vascular endothelial cadherin + vascular-like networks. Together, CHIPS and VAPOR form a platform technology toward engineering full organ-scale function for disease modeling and cell replacement therapy.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh","Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Andrew R. Hudson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4148-5708","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ezgi Bakırcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4938-1540","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel Moss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8471-5489","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian Coffin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7256-8525","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh","Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":84,"referencesCount":72,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Science Advances","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Pluripotent Stem Cells Research"],"keywords":["Tissue engineering","Scaffold","Extracellular matrix","3D bioprinting","Biomedical engineering","Biofabrication","Self-healing hydrogels","Organ-on-a-chip","Materials science","Nanotechnology","Microfluidics","Chemistry"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu5905","year":2025,"venue":"Science Advances","type":"Open-source workflow/analysis","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Likely the key Replistruder-associated publication; we should extract the repo link from full text.","whyItMatters":"Likely the key Replistruder-associated publication; we should extract the repo link from full text.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Science Advances DOI page","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source workflow/analysis"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 6 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-002","slug":"002-a-3d-printed-plate-handler-for-automated-handling-of-well-plates-on-the-opentrons-ot-2","title":"A 3D-Printed Plate Handler for Automated Handling of Well Plates on the Opentrons OT-2","doi":"10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","publication":{"paperTitle":"A 3D-Printed Plate Handler for Automated Handling of Well Plates on the Opentrons OT-2","requestedDoi":"10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","resolvedDoi":"10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.180Z","abstract":"This paper details a 3D-printed plate handler designed to address the limitation of automated plate manipulation within the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot. The hardware enables precise, automated labware transfer, expanding the OT-2’s capabilities for complex biological and chemical assays. Technically, it advances the state-of-the-art by providing a cost-effective, adaptable solution for labware handling, a feature often limited to more expensive robotic platforms but which can be crucial to expand capability through motion of plates into auxiliary devices or components of the robot, or stacking of plates to increase capacity of the instrument. The design utilizes open-source CAD software to create a custom mechanical structure, fabricated through replicable PLA 3D printing. Implemented with a Raspberry Pi Zero WH and integrated via the OT-2's serial communication, the plate handler achieves precise positional control. Functional testing validates its accuracy and stability in handling diverse labware. This hardware is applicable to various research areas requiring automated liquid handling and plate movement, offering a readily customizable and accessible tool for laboratory automation. Its open-source nature promotes reuse and adaptation for other robotic platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Robert R. A. Bolt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9721-4931","institutions":["University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Shorthouse","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3207-3584","institutions":["Medway School of Pharmacy","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Cook","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5898-9884","institutions":["Medway School of Pharmacy","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","url":"https://doi.org/10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","title":"A 3D-Printed Plate Handler for Automated Handling of Well Plates on the Opentrons OT-2","subtitle":"","abstract":"This paper details a 3D-printed plate handler designed to address the limitation of automated plate manipulation within the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot. The hardware enables precise, automated labware transfer, expanding the OT-2’s capabilities for complex biological and chemical assays. Technically, it advances the state-of-the-art by providing a cost-effective, adaptable solution for labware handling, a feature often limited to more expensive robotic platforms but which can be crucial to expand capability through motion of plates into auxiliary devices or components of the robot, or stacking of plates to increase capacity of the instrument. The design utilizes open-source CAD software to create a custom mechanical structure, fabricated through replicable PLA 3D printing. Implemented with a Raspberry Pi Zero WH and integrated via the OT-2's serial communication, the plate handler achieves precise positional control. Functional testing validates its accuracy and stability in handling diverse labware. This hardware is applicable to various research areas requiring automated liquid handling and plate movement, offering a readily customizable and accessible tool for laboratory automation. Its open-source nature promotes reuse and adaptation for other robotic platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Robert Bolt","given":"Robert","family":"Bolt","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David Shorthouse","given":"David","family":"Shorthouse","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michael Cook","given":"Michael","family":"Cook","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"University of Western Ontario, Western Libraries","journal":"Journal of Open Hardware","publishedDate":"2025-06-11","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"9","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2514-1708"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":0,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4411204146","doi":"10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","url":"https://openalex.org/W4411204146","title":"A 3D-Printed Plate Handler for Automated Handling of Well Plates on the Opentrons OT-2","abstract":"This paper details a 3D-printed plate handler designed to address the limitation of automated plate manipulation within the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot. The hardware enables precise, automated labware transfer, expanding the OT-2’s capabilities for complex biological and chemical assays. Technically, it advances the state-of-the-art by providing a cost-effective, adaptable solution for labware handling, a feature often limited to more expensive robotic platforms but which can be crucial to expand capability through motion of plates into auxiliary devices or components of the robot, or stacking of plates to increase capacity of the instrument. The design utilizes open-source CAD software to create a custom mechanical structure, fabricated through replicable PLA 3D printing. Implemented with a Raspberry Pi Zero WH and integrated via the OT-2's serial communication, the plate handler achieves precise positional control. Functional testing validates its accuracy and stability in handling diverse labware. This hardware is applicable to various research areas requiring automated liquid handling and plate movement, offering a readily customizable and accessible tool for laboratory automation. Its open-source nature promotes reuse and adaptation for other robotic platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Robert R. A. Bolt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9721-4931","institutions":["University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Shorthouse","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3207-3584","institutions":["Medway School of Pharmacy","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Cook","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5898-9884","institutions":["Medway School of Pharmacy","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":0,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Journal of Open Hardware","topics":["Drilling and Well Engineering","Oil and Gas Production Techniques","Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods"],"keywords":["Computer graphics (images)","Engineering drawing","Computer science","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.5206/joh.v9i1.22756","year":2025,"venue":"Journal of Open Hardware","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","High-throughput screening"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","High-throughput screening","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 300 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":5,"rationale":"Supports broad or translationally relevant applications."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-opentrons-ot-2"],"toolSlugs":["opentrons-ot-2"],"toolNames":["Opentrons OT-2"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-003","slug":"003-a-cost-effective-and-open-source-near-field-electrospinning-system-with-a-graphical-user-interface","title":"A cost-effective and open-source near-field electrospinning system with a graphical user interface","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"A cost-effective and open-source near-field electrospinning system with a graphical user interface","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00691","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.369Z","abstract":"Electrospinning is a versatile technique widely used in biomedicine and electronics. Here we describe the design and construction of a low-cost Near-Field Electrospinning System (NFES) using open-source technologies, including 3D printing and open-source hardware and software. The system features a modified 3D printer for precise needle and mobile collector control, along with an Arduino-driven syringe pump to regulate the flow of the polymeric solution. A custom user interface ensures optimal conditions during operation. Proof-of-concept tests demonstrate the system capability to fabricate and functionalize microfibers using a polyethylene oxide solution in distilled water.","authors":[{"name":"Cristian Castillo-Velásquez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5129-5977","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carlos Fuhrhop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6031-2925","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mario E. Flores","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4570-1487","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sebastián Brauchi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8494-9912","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00691","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00691","title":"A cost-effective and open-source near-field electrospinning system with a graphical user interface","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Cristian Castillo-Velásquez","given":"Cristian","family":"Castillo-Velásquez","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Carlos Fuhrhop","given":"Carlos","family":"Fuhrhop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6031-2925","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mario E. Flores","given":"Mario E.","family":"Flores","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sebastian Brauchi","given":"Sebastian","family":"Brauchi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2025-12-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"24","issue":"","pages":"e00691","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":37,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"University of Southern Chile","doi":"10.13039/501100009833","awards":["16ENI2-66903"]},{"name":"Agenția Națională pentru Cercetare și Dezvoltare","doi":"10.13039/100019783","awards":[]},{"name":"Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo","doi":"10.13039/501100020884","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4414136846","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00691","url":"https://openalex.org/W4414136846","title":"A cost-effective and open-source near-field electrospinning system with a graphical user interface","abstract":"Electrospinning is a versatile technique widely used in biomedicine and electronics. Here we describe the design and construction of a low-cost Near-Field Electrospinning System (NFES) using open-source technologies, including 3D printing and open-source hardware and software. The system features a modified 3D printer for precise needle and mobile collector control, along with an Arduino-driven syringe pump to regulate the flow of the polymeric solution. A custom user interface ensures optimal conditions during operation. Proof-of-concept tests demonstrate the system capability to fabricate and functionalize microfibers using a polyethylene oxide solution in distilled water.","authors":[{"name":"Cristian Castillo-Velásquez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5129-5977","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carlos Fuhrhop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6031-2925","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mario E. Flores","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4570-1487","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sebastián Brauchi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8494-9912","institutions":["Austral University of Chile"],"countries":["CL"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":34,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00691","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications","Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials","Conducting polymers and applications"],"keywords":["Electrospinning","Graphical user interface","Interface (matter)","Syringe driver","Microfiber","Interfacing","User interface"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"A cost-effective and open-source near-field electrospinning system with a graphical user interface - ScienceDirect","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Electrospinning"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"Low-cost near-field electrospinning machine","inclusionFit":"","summary":"easy to operate; reproducibility (limitation of traditional custom-build systems); for precise, programmable nanofiber patterning","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"easy to operate; reproducibility (limitation of traditional custom-build systems); for precise, programmable nanofiber patterning","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"design files available on OSF website","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"1200 USD","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Electrospinning","Low-cost near-field electrospinning machine"],"democratizingFeatures":["open-source hardware, firmware, software","easy to build with widely available tools and 3D printed parts","user-friendly interfaces","modular components + ability to integrate new extrusion hardware","enables reproducible, programmable, NFES workflows without needing to understand electrospinning physics"],"assetIds":["asset-cad-a-cost-effective-and-open-source-near-field-electrospinning-system-with-a-graphical-user-interface"],"assetSlugs":["cad-a-cost-effective-and-open-source-near-field-electrospinning-system-with-a-graphical-user-interface"],"assetTypes":["cad"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 30 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"toolSlugs":["low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"toolNames":["Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system"],"topicIds":["topic-electrospinning"],"topicSlugs":["electrospinning"],"topicNames":["Electrospinning"]},{"id":"paper-004","slug":"004-a-desktop-multi-material-3d-bio-printing-system-with-open-source-hardware-and-software","title":"A desktop multi-material 3D bio-printing system with open-source hardware and software","doi":"10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","publication":{"paperTitle":"A desktop multi-material 3D bio-printing system with open-source hardware and software","requestedDoi":"10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.475Z","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Jaehoo Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4521-3926","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kyu Eon Kim","orcid":"","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sumi Bang","orcid":"","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Insup Noh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0696-7768","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chibum Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9749-9810","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","title":"A desktop multi-material 3D bio-printing system with open-source hardware and software","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Jaehoo Lee","given":"Jaehoo","family":"Lee","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kyu Eon Kim","given":"Kyu Eon","family":"Kim","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sumi Bang","given":"Sumi","family":"Bang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Insup Noh","given":"Insup","family":"Noh","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Chibum Lee","given":"Chibum","family":"Lee","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing","publishedDate":"2017-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"18","issue":"4","pages":"605-612","issn":["2234-7593","2005-4602"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":49,"licenses":["http://www.springer.com/tdm"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2605082864","doi":"10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","url":"https://openalex.org/W2605082864","title":"A desktop multi-material 3D bio-printing system with open-source hardware and software","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Jaehoo Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4521-3926","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kyu Eon Kim","orcid":"","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sumi Bang","orcid":"","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Insup Noh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0696-7768","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chibum Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9749-9810","institutions":["Seoul National University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2017-04-01","publicationYear":2017,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":58,"referencesCount":27,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Bone Tissue Engineering Materials"],"keywords":["3D printing","Software","Fabrication","Process (computing)","Embedded system","Engineering","Computer science","Computer hardware","Manufacturing engineering","Mechanical engineering","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12541-017-0072-x","year":2017,"venue":"International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Early reference explicitly claiming open-source hardware/software for multimaterial bioprinting.","whyItMatters":"Early reference explicitly claiming open-source hardware/software for multimaterial bioprinting.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-software-a-desktop-multi-material-3d-bio-printing-system-with-open-source-hardware-and-software"],"assetSlugs":["software-a-desktop-multi-material-3d-bio-printing-system-with-open-source-hardware-and-software"],"assetTypes":["software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-005","slug":"005-a-hackable-multi-functional-and-modular-extrusion-3d-printer-for-soft-materials","title":"A hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"A hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-022-16008-6","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:46.053Z","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a powerful tool for material, food, and life science research and development, where the technology's democratization necessitates the advancement of open-source platforms. Herein, we developed a hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials, nicknamed Printer.HM. Multi-printhead modules are established based on a robotic arm for heterogeneous construct creation, where ink printability can be tuned by accessories such as heating and UV modules. Software associated with Printer.HM were designed to accept geometry inputs including computer-aided design models, coordinates, equations, and pictures, to create prints of distinct characteristics. Printer.HM could further perform versatile operations, such as liquid dispensing, non-planar printing, and pick-and-place of meso-objects. By 'mix-and-match' software and hardware settings, Printer.HM demonstrated printing of pH-responsive soft actuators, plant-based functional hydrogels, and organ macro-anatomical models. Integrating affordability and open design, Printer.HM is envisaged to democratize 3D printing for soft, biological, and sustainable material architectures.","authors":[{"name":"Iek Man Lei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6337-1592","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yaqi Sheng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3545-6601","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chon Lok Lei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0904-554X","institutions":["University of Macau","University of Oxford"],"countries":["GB","MO"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cillian Leow","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yan Yan Shery Huang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2619-730X","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-022-16008-6","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16008-6","title":"A hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a powerful tool for material, food, and life science research and development, where the technology’s democratization necessitates the advancement of open-source platforms. Herein, we developed a hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials, nicknamed Printer.HM. Multi-printhead modules are established based on a robotic arm for heterogeneous construct creation, where ink printability can be tuned by accessories such as heating and UV modules. Software associated with Printer.HM were designed to accept geometry inputs including computer-aided design models, coordinates, equations, and pictures, to create prints of distinct characteristics. Printer.HM could further perform versatile operations, such as liquid dispensing, non-planar printing, and pick-and-place of meso-objects. By ‘mix-and-match’ software and hardware settings, Printer.HM demonstrated printing of pH-responsive soft actuators, plant-based functional hydrogels, and organ macro-anatomical models. Integrating affordability and open design, Printer.HM is envisaged to democratize 3D printing for soft, biological, and sustainable material architectures.","authors":[{"name":"Iek Man Lei","given":"Iek Man","family":"Lei","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yaqi Sheng","given":"Yaqi","family":"Sheng","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Chon Lok Lei","given":"Chon Lok","family":"Lei","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Cillian Leow","given":"Cillian","family":"Leow","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yan Yan Shery Huang","given":"Yan Yan Shery","family":"Huang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2022-07-19","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":37,"citedByCount":32,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"European Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000781","awards":["ERC-StG, 758865"]},{"name":"W.D Armstrong Trust Fund","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"Chinese Government Scholarship","doi":"10.13039/501100010890","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4285799094","doi":"10.1038/s41598-022-16008-6","url":"https://openalex.org/W4285799094","title":"A hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a powerful tool for material, food, and life science research and development, where the technology's democratization necessitates the advancement of open-source platforms. Herein, we developed a hackable, multi-functional, and modular extrusion 3D printer for soft materials, nicknamed Printer.HM. Multi-printhead modules are established based on a robotic arm for heterogeneous construct creation, where ink printability can be tuned by accessories such as heating and UV modules. Software associated with Printer.HM were designed to accept geometry inputs including computer-aided design models, coordinates, equations, and pictures, to create prints of distinct characteristics. Printer.HM could further perform versatile operations, such as liquid dispensing, non-planar printing, and pick-and-place of meso-objects. By 'mix-and-match' software and hardware settings, Printer.HM demonstrated printing of pH-responsive soft actuators, plant-based functional hydrogels, and organ macro-anatomical models. Integrating affordability and open design, Printer.HM is envisaged to democratize 3D printing for soft, biological, and sustainable material architectures.","authors":[{"name":"Iek Man Lei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6337-1592","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yaqi Sheng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3545-6601","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chon Lok Lei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0904-554X","institutions":["University of Macau","University of Oxford"],"countries":["GB","MO"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cillian Leow","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yan Yan Shery Huang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2619-730X","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-07-19","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":32,"referencesCount":37,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence"],"keywords":["Modular design","Extrusion","Computer science","Materials science","Composite material","Programming language"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-16008-6","year":2022,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Useful adjacent open platform for hydrogel/soft-matter printing; may be bioprinting-enabling.","whyItMatters":"Useful adjacent open platform for hydrogel/soft-matter printing; may be bioprinting-enabling.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Nature landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 825 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-006","slug":"006-a-high-performance-open-source-syringe-extruder-optimized-for-extrusion-and-retraction-during-fresh-3d-bioprinting","title":"A high performance open-source syringe extruder optimized for extrusion and retraction during FRESH 3D bioprinting","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"A high performance open-source syringe extruder optimized for extrusion and retraction during FRESH 3D bioprinting","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00170","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:46.805Z","abstract":"Recent advances in embedded 3D bioprinting have significantly improved the resolution of individual filaments to below 100 μm; however, printing with such small filaments requires accurate extrusion of nanoliter volumes of bioink. Commercially available bioprinters and extruders are expensive and most utilize pneumatic control, which limits the minimum extrusion volume and prevents retraction (pulling bioink back into the reservoir), which is essential to printing high resolution features and complex internal geometry. Here we present a new generation of our open-source syringe pump designed for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting of soft materials: the Replistruder 4. The Replistruder 4 takes advantage of the geometry customizability and ease of 3D plastic printing while improving performance by integrating mass produced high-precision linear motion components. Simultaneously this new syringe pump remains compact and lightweight enough for several to be utilized on a 3D bioprinter for multimaterial bioprinting. To facilitate multiple use cases the Replistruder 4 is compatible with a range of syringes including disposable BD and Hamilton gastight syringes. In addition, we describe the process of designing clamps for other syringes. We demonstrate the performance of a Replistruder 4 with a 2.5 mL Hamilton gastight syringe by printing collagen type I constructs with individual filaments comprising 3.35 nL and patent channels down to 300 μm in width. With smaller volume Hamilton gastight syringes this performance can be further improved. Thus, the Replistruder 4 provides an open-source solution to print soft materials at the resolution limits of current embedded bioprinting platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00170","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00170","title":"A high performance open-source syringe extruder optimized for extrusion and retraction during FRESH 3D bioprinting","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","given":"Joshua W.","family":"Tashman","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","given":"Daniel J.","family":"Shiwarski","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","given":"Adam W.","family":"Feinberg","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"","pages":"e00170","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":9,"citedByCount":60,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["F30HL154728"]},{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["F32HL142229"]},{"name":"US Food and Drug Administration","doi":"10.13039/100000038","awards":["R01FD006582"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3117899725","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00170","url":"https://openalex.org/W3117899725","title":"A high performance open-source syringe extruder optimized for extrusion and retraction during FRESH 3D bioprinting","abstract":"Recent advances in embedded 3D bioprinting have significantly improved the resolution of individual filaments to below 100 μm; however, printing with such small filaments requires accurate extrusion of nanoliter volumes of bioink. Commercially available bioprinters and extruders are expensive and most utilize pneumatic control, which limits the minimum extrusion volume and prevents retraction (pulling bioink back into the reservoir), which is essential to printing high resolution features and complex internal geometry. Here we present a new generation of our open-source syringe pump designed for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting of soft materials: the Replistruder 4. The Replistruder 4 takes advantage of the geometry customizability and ease of 3D plastic printing while improving performance by integrating mass produced high-precision linear motion components. Simultaneously this new syringe pump remains compact and lightweight enough for several to be utilized on a 3D bioprinter for multimaterial bioprinting. To facilitate multiple use cases the Replistruder 4 is compatible with a range of syringes including disposable BD and Hamilton gastight syringes. In addition, we describe the process of designing clamps for other syringes. We demonstrate the performance of a Replistruder 4 with a 2.5 mL Hamilton gastight syringe by printing collagen type I constructs with individual filaments comprising 3.35 nL and patent channels down to 300 μm in width. With smaller volume Hamilton gastight syringes this performance can be further improved. Thus, the Replistruder 4 provides an open-source solution to print soft materials at the resolution limits of current embedded bioprinting platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":65,"referencesCount":9,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067220300791/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Extrusion","Syringe","Syringe driver","3D printing","Plastics extrusion","Materials science","Spark plug","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Computer science","Mechanical engineering","Composite material"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300791#m0005","year":2021,"venue":"(check full text)","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion","FRESH"],"systemOrTechnology":"Replistruder 4","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Directly comparable to Replistruder—an open syringe/extrusion tool that enables better bioink handling.","whyItMatters":"Directly comparable to Replistruder—an open syringe/extrusion tool that enables better bioink handling.","motivationUseCase":"Cheap, more control over operatiions. Unique functionality. Easy to modify and adpat to custom needs.","limitation":"no commercial benchmarking, no biological validation","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text","openSourceResources":"CAD File, install guide","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"141 USD + 3D Printer","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","FRESH","Open-source extruder/printhead","Replistruder 4"],"democratizingFeatures":["Open-source files and instructions. Adapts to various existing printer. Low cost. Uses off-the-shelf and 3d printed parts. High precision."],"assetIds":["asset-cad-a-high-performance-open-source-syringe-extruder-optimized-for-extrusion-and-retraction-during-fresh-3d-bioprinting","asset-software-a-high-performance-open-source-syringe-extruder-optimized-for-extrusion-and-retraction-during-fresh-3d-bioprint"],"assetSlugs":["cad-a-high-performance-open-source-syringe-extruder-optimized-for-extrusion-and-retraction-during-fresh-3d-bioprinting","software-a-high-performance-open-source-syringe-extruder-optimized-for-extrusion-and-retraction-during-fresh-3d-bioprint"],"assetTypes":["cad","software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0.00014 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":5,"rationale":"Supports broad or translationally relevant applications."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-replistruder-4"],"toolSlugs":["replistruder-4"],"toolNames":["Replistruder 4"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-007","slug":"007-a-low-cost-push-pull-syringe-pump-for-continuous-flow-applications","title":"A low-cost push–pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","publication":{"paperTitle":"A low-cost push–pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.641Z","abstract":"Syringe pumps are very useful tools to ensure a constant and pulsation-free flow rate, however usability is limited to batch processes. This article shows an open-source method for manufacturing a push pull syringe pump, valid for continuous processes, easy to build, low-cost and programmable. The push-pull syringe pump (PPSP) is driven by an Arduino nano ATmega328P which controls a NEMA 17 in microstepping via the A4988 stepper driver. The Push-Pull Syringe Pump setup is configurable by means of a digital encoder and an oled screen programmed using C ++. A PCB was designed and built to facilitate the assembly of the device. The continuous flow is guaranteed by four non-return valves and a dampener, which has been sized and optimized for use on this device. Finally, tests were carried out to evaluate the flow rates and the linearity of the flow. The device is achievable with a cost of less than 100 €.","authors":[{"name":"Marco Iannone","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-8824","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diego Caccavo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-6281","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Anna Angela Barba","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3144-4598","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gaetano Lamberti","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-6887","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","title":"A low-cost push–pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Marco Iannone","given":"Marco","family":"Iannone","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Diego Caccavo","given":"Diego","family":"Caccavo","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Anna Angela Barba","given":"Anna Angela","family":"Barba","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gaetano Lamberti","given":"Gaetano","family":"Lamberti","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2022-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"","pages":"e00295","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":19,"citedByCount":17,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4229044240","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00295","url":"https://openalex.org/W4229044240","title":"A low-cost push–pull syringe pump for continuous flow applications","abstract":"Syringe pumps are very useful tools to ensure a constant and pulsation-free flow rate, however usability is limited to batch processes. This article shows an open-source method for manufacturing a push pull syringe pump, valid for continuous processes, easy to build, low-cost and programmable. The push-pull syringe pump (PPSP) is driven by an Arduino nano ATmega328P which controls a NEMA 17 in microstepping via the A4988 stepper driver. The Push-Pull Syringe Pump setup is configurable by means of a digital encoder and an oled screen programmed using C ++. A PCB was designed and built to facilitate the assembly of the device. The continuous flow is guaranteed by four non-return valves and a dampener, which has been sized and optimized for use on this device. Finally, tests were carried out to evaluate the flow rates and the linearity of the flow. The device is achievable with a cost of less than 100 €.","authors":[{"name":"Marco Iannone","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-8824","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diego Caccavo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-6281","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Anna Angela Barba","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3144-4598","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gaetano Lamberti","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1689-6887","institutions":["University of Salerno"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2022-03-12","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":18,"referencesCount":9,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067222000402/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Intravenous Infusion Technology and Safety","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrical and Bioimpedance Tomography"],"keywords":["Syringe","Syringe driver","Peristaltic pump","Computer science","Interfacing","Usability","Computer hardware","Embedded system","Engineering","Operating system","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9058849/","year":2022,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Continuous flow","Syringe pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Continuous-flow is a common gap in low-cost pump designs; relevant for automated synthesis and perfusion workflows.","whyItMatters":"Continuous-flow is a common gap in low-cost pump designs; relevant for automated synthesis and perfusion workflows.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Continuous flow","Syringe pumping","Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative validation/calibration evidence is present."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-008","slug":"008-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-living-materials","title":"A Low-Cost, Open-Source 3D Printer for Multimaterial and High-Throughput Direct Ink Writing of Soft and Living Materials","doi":"10.1002/adma.202414971","publication":{"paperTitle":"A Low-Cost, Open-Source 3D Printer for Multimaterial and High-Throughput Direct Ink Writing of Soft and Living Materials","requestedDoi":"10.1002/adma.202414971","resolvedDoi":"10.1002/adma.202414971","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.644Z","abstract":"Direct ink writing is a 3D printing method that is compatible with a wide range of structural, elastomeric, electronic, and living materials, and it continues to expand its uses into physics, engineering, and biology laboratories. However, the large footprint, closed hardware and software ecosystems, and expense of commercial systems often hamper widespread adoption. This work introduces a compact, low-cost, multimaterial, and high-throughput direct ink writing 3D printer platform with detailed assembly files and instructions provided freely online. In contrast to existing low-cost 3D printers and bioprinters, which typically modify off-the-shelf plastic 3D printers, this system is built from scratch, offering a lower cost and full customizability. Active mixing of cell-laden bioinks, high-throughput production of auxetic lattices using multimaterial multinozzle 3D (MM3D) printing methods, and a high-toughness, photocurable hydrogel for fabrication of heart valves are introduced. Finally, hardware for embedded multinozzle and 3D gradient nozzle printing is developed for producing high-throughput and graded 3D parts. This powerful, simple-to-build, and customizable printing platform can help stimulate a vibrant biomaker community of engineers, biologists, and educators.","authors":[{"name":"Jonathan D. Weiss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-9206","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alana M. Mermin-Bunnell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-6072","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fredrik S. Solberg","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tony Tam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0288-5434","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luca Rosalia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7214-7859","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amit Sharir","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2049-3179","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dominic Rütsche","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6394-201X","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Soham Sinha","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8598-0543","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Perry S. Choi","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Masafumi Shibata","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-1317","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yellappa Palagani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9149-2490","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Riya Nilkant","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7850-9635","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kiruthika Paulvannan","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Ma","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark A. Skylar‐Scott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-7124","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1002/adma.202414971","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202414971","title":"A Low‐Cost, Open‐Source 3D Printer for Multimaterial and High‐Throughput Direct Ink Writing of Soft and Living Materials","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Direct ink writing is a 3D printing method that is compatible with a wide range of structural, elastomeric, electronic, and living materials, and it continues to expand its uses into physics, engineering, and biology laboratories. However, the large footprint, closed hardware and software ecosystems, and expense of commercial systems often hamper widespread adoption. This work introduces a compact, low‐cost, multimaterial, and high‐throughput direct ink writing 3D printer platform with detailed assembly files and instructions provided freely online. In contrast to existing low‐cost 3D printers and bioprinters, which typically modify off‐the‐shelf plastic 3D printers, this system is built from scratch, offering a lower cost and full customizability. Active mixing of cell‐laden bioinks, high‐throughput production of auxetic lattices using multimaterial multinozzle 3D (MM3D) printing methods, and a high‐toughness, photocurable hydrogel for fabrication of heart valves are introduced. Finally, hardware for embedded multinozzle and 3D gradient nozzle printing is developed for producing high‐throughput and graded 3D parts. This powerful, simple‐to‐build, and customizable printing platform can help stimulate a vibrant biomaker community of engineers, biologists, and educators.","authors":[{"name":"Jonathan D. Weiss","given":"Jonathan D.","family":"Weiss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-9206","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Alana Mermin‐Bunnell","given":"Alana","family":"Mermin‐Bunnell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-6072","affiliations":["Harvard‐MIT Program in Health Science and Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USA"]},{"name":"Fredrik S. Solberg","given":"Fredrik S.","family":"Solberg","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Tony Tam","given":"Tony","family":"Tam","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Luca Rosalia","given":"Luca","family":"Rosalia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7214-7859","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Amit Sharir","given":"Amit","family":"Sharir","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2049-3179","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Dominic Rütsche","given":"Dominic","family":"Rütsche","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6394-201X","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Soham Sinha","given":"Soham","family":"Sinha","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Perry S. Choi","given":"Perry S.","family":"Choi","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Masafumi Shibata","given":"Masafumi","family":"Shibata","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-1317","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Yellappa Palagani","given":"Yellappa","family":"Palagani","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Riya Nilkant","given":"Riya","family":"Nilkant","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Kiruthika Paulvannan","given":"Kiruthika","family":"Paulvannan","orcid":"","affiliations":["Hyde Middle School Cupertino CA 95014 USA"]},{"name":"Michael Ma","given":"Michael","family":"Ma","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford CA 94305 USA"]},{"name":"Mark A. Skylar‐Scott","given":"Mark A.","family":"Skylar‐Scott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-7124","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA","Basic Science and Engineering Initiative Children's Heart Center Stanford University Stanford CA 94304 USA","Chan Zuckerberg Biohub San Francisco CA 94158 USA"]}],"publisher":"Wiley","journal":"Advanced Materials","publishedDate":"2025-03-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"37","issue":"10","pages":"","issn":["0935-9648","1521-4095"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":55,"citedByCount":39,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000001","awards":["ECCS‐2026822"]},{"name":"Burroughs Wellcome Fund","doi":"10.13039/100000861","awards":[]},{"name":"National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000050","awards":["DP2HL168563"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4406039516","doi":"10.1002/adma.202414971","url":"https://openalex.org/W4406039516","title":"A Low‐Cost, Open‐Source 3D Printer for Multimaterial and High‐Throughput Direct Ink Writing of Soft and Living Materials","abstract":"Direct ink writing is a 3D printing method that is compatible with a wide range of structural, elastomeric, electronic, and living materials, and it continues to expand its uses into physics, engineering, and biology laboratories. However, the large footprint, closed hardware and software ecosystems, and expense of commercial systems often hamper widespread adoption. This work introduces a compact, low-cost, multimaterial, and high-throughput direct ink writing 3D printer platform with detailed assembly files and instructions provided freely online. In contrast to existing low-cost 3D printers and bioprinters, which typically modify off-the-shelf plastic 3D printers, this system is built from scratch, offering a lower cost and full customizability. Active mixing of cell-laden bioinks, high-throughput production of auxetic lattices using multimaterial multinozzle 3D (MM3D) printing methods, and a high-toughness, photocurable hydrogel for fabrication of heart valves are introduced. Finally, hardware for embedded multinozzle and 3D gradient nozzle printing is developed for producing high-throughput and graded 3D parts. This powerful, simple-to-build, and customizable printing platform can help stimulate a vibrant biomaker community of engineers, biologists, and educators.","authors":[{"name":"Jonathan D. Weiss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-9206","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alana M. Mermin-Bunnell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-6072","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fredrik S. Solberg","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tony Tam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0288-5434","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luca Rosalia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7214-7859","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amit Sharir","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2049-3179","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dominic Rütsche","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6394-201X","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Soham Sinha","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8598-0543","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Perry S. Choi","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Masafumi Shibata","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8543-1317","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yellappa Palagani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9149-2490","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Riya Nilkant","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7850-9635","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kiruthika Paulvannan","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Ma","orcid":"","institutions":["Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark A. Skylar‐Scott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-7124","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":36,"referencesCount":54,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202414971","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Advanced Materials","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["3D printing","3d printer","Throughput","Software","Computer science","Materials science","Footprint","Inkwell","Nanotechnology","Embedded system","Mechanical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/adma.202414971","year":2025,"venue":"Advanced Materials","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Custom Printer","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Direct ink writing","Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"Printess","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Adjacent platform for living-material printing; include if you want broader DIW-living-materials tooling.","whyItMatters":"Adjacent platform for living-material printing; include if you want broader DIW-living-materials tooling.","motivationUseCase":"Multi Nozzle printing. High end features for afforable price.","limitation":"Full custom build (not a retrofit) at very low cost; high-end multimaterial/multinozzle features rivaling expensive commercial DIW systems; compact (3 kg, 23x23x40 cm)","function":"Fully DIY (not retrofit) open-source 3D printer for multimaterial, high-throughput direct ink writing","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"CAD files, Github - instructions and software | Wide range of inks/viscosities and curing chemistries, incl. cell-laden biological materials","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"250 USD | 250","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Custom Printer","Bioprinting","Direct ink writing","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)","Printess"],"democratizingFeatures":["Low cost. Full DIY not retrofit. Open-source. Uses widely available components."],"assetIds":["asset-cad-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-living-materi","asset-documentation-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-liv","asset-software-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-living-m"],"assetSlugs":["cad-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-living-materi","documentation-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-liv","software-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printer-for-multimaterial-and-high-throughput-direct-ink-writing-of-soft-and-living-m"],"assetTypes":["cad","documentation","software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.9,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 5 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-printess"],"toolSlugs":["printess"],"toolNames":["Printess"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting","topic-custom-printer"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting","custom-printer"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting","Custom Printer"]},{"id":"paper-009","slug":"009-a-robot-assisted-acoustofluidic-end-effector","title":"A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector","doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","publication":{"paperTitle":"A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:45.766Z","abstract":"Liquid manipulation is the foundation of most laboratory processes. For macroscale liquid handling, both do-it-yourself and commercial robotic systems are available; however, for microscale, reagents are expensive and sample preparation is difficult. Over the last decade, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have come to serve for microscale liquid manipulation; however, lacking automation and multi-functionality. Despite their potential synergies, each has grown separately and no suitable interface yet exists to link macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices. Here, we present a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system, comprising a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector, that combines robotics and microfluidic functionalities. We further carried out fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping, and mobile mixing of complex viscous liquids. Finally, we pre-programmed the RAEE to perform automated mixing of viscous liquids in well plates, illustrating its versatility for the automatic execution of chemical processes.","authors":[{"name":"Jan Durrer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5367-180X","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prajwal Agrawal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2847-7885","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ali Ozgul","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephan C. F. Neuhauss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9615-480X","institutions":["University of Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nitesh Nama","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5249-4992","institutions":["University of Nebraska–Lincoln"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Ahmed","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0224-5293","institutions":["ETH Zurich","Robotics Research (United States)"],"countries":["CH","US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","title":"A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Liquid manipulation is the foundation of most laboratory processes. For macroscale liquid handling, both do-it-yourself and commercial robotic systems are available; however, for microscale, reagents are expensive and sample preparation is difficult. Over the last decade, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have come to serve for microscale liquid manipulation; however, lacking automation and multi-functionality. Despite their potential synergies, each has grown separately and no suitable interface yet exists to link macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices. Here, we present a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system, comprising a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector, that combines robotics and microfluidic functionalities. We further carried out fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping, and mobile mixing of complex viscous liquids. Finally, we pre-programmed the RAEE to perform automated mixing of viscous liquids in well plates, illustrating its versatility for the automatic execution of chemical processes.","authors":[{"name":"Jan Durrer","given":"Jan","family":"Durrer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5367-180X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Prajwal Agrawal","given":"Prajwal","family":"Agrawal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2847-7885","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ali Ozgul","given":"Ali","family":"Ozgul","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stephan C. F. Neuhauss","given":"Stephan C. F.","family":"Neuhauss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9615-480X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nitesh Nama","given":"Nitesh","family":"Nama","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel Ahmed","given":"Daniel","family":"Ahmed","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0224-5293","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Nature Communications","publishedDate":"2022-10-26","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2041-1723"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":82,"citedByCount":80,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4307303289","doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","url":"https://openalex.org/W4307303289","title":"A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector","abstract":"Liquid manipulation is the foundation of most laboratory processes. For macroscale liquid handling, both do-it-yourself and commercial robotic systems are available; however, for microscale, reagents are expensive and sample preparation is difficult. Over the last decade, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have come to serve for microscale liquid manipulation; however, lacking automation and multi-functionality. Despite their potential synergies, each has grown separately and no suitable interface yet exists to link macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices. Here, we present a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system, comprising a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector, that combines robotics and microfluidic functionalities. We further carried out fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping, and mobile mixing of complex viscous liquids. Finally, we pre-programmed the RAEE to perform automated mixing of viscous liquids in well plates, illustrating its versatility for the automatic execution of chemical processes.","authors":[{"name":"Jan Durrer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5367-180X","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prajwal Agrawal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2847-7885","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ali Ozgul","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephan C. F. Neuhauss","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9615-480X","institutions":["University of Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nitesh Nama","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5249-4992","institutions":["University of Nebraska–Lincoln"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Ahmed","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0224-5293","institutions":["ETH Zurich","Robotics Research (United States)"],"countries":["CH","US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-10-26","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":83,"referencesCount":80,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Nature Communications","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Microscale chemistry","Microfluidics","Robotics","Automation","Robot end effector","Computer science","Robot","Artificial intelligence","Mixing (physics)","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y","year":2022,"venue":"Nature Communications","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","Liquid handling"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Robot arm + acoustofluidic end effector to do microfluidic-style liquid manipulation and automated mixing.","whyItMatters":"Robot arm + acoustofluidic end effector to do microfluidic-style liquid manipulation and automated mixing.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","Liquid handling","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-010","slug":"010-a-simple-method-of-fabricating-mask-free-microfluidic-devices-for-biological-analysis","title":"A simple method of fabricating mask-free microfluidic devices for biological analysis","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"A simple method of fabricating mask-free microfluidic devices for biological analysis","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1063/1.3487796","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:48.844Z","abstract":"We report a simple, low-cost, rapid, and mask-free method to fabricate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic chip for biological analysis researches. In this fabrication process, a laser system is used to cut through paper to form intricate patterns and differently configured channels for specific purposes. Bonded with cyanoacrylate-based resin, the prepared paper sheet is sandwiched between glass slides (hydrophilic) or polymer-based plates (hydrophobic) to obtain a multilayer structure. In order to examine the chip's biocompatibility and applicability, protein concentration was measured while DNA capillary electrophoresis was carried out, and both of them show positive results. With the utilization of direct laser cutting and one-step gas-sacrificing techniques, the whole fabrication processes for complicated 2D and 3D microfluidic devices are shorten into several minutes which make it a good alternative of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chips used in biological analysis researches.","authors":[{"name":"Yi Xin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1681-196X","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rimantas Kodzius","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9417-8894","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiuqing Gong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8519-1317","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kang Xiao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7666-2460","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Weijia Wen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3784-7494","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1063/1.3487796","url":"https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3487796","title":"A simple method of fabricating mask-free microfluidic devices for biological analysis","subtitle":"","abstract":"We report a simple, low-cost, rapid, and mask-free method to fabricate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic chip for biological analysis researches. In this fabrication process, a laser system is used to cut through paper to form intricate patterns and differently configured channels for specific purposes. Bonded with cyanoacrylate-based resin, the prepared paper sheet is sandwiched between glass slides (hydrophilic) or polymer-based plates (hydrophobic) to obtain a multilayer structure. In order to examine the chip’s biocompatibility and applicability, protein concentration was measured while DNA capillary electrophoresis was carried out, and both of them show positive results. With the utilization of direct laser cutting and one-step gas-sacrificing techniques, the whole fabrication processes for complicated 2D and 3D microfluidic devices are shorten into several minutes which make it a good alternative of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chips used in biological analysis researches.","authors":[{"name":"Xin Yi","given":"Xin","family":"Yi","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 1 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong"]},{"name":"Rimantas Kodzius","given":"Rimantas","family":"Kodzius","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2 KAUST-HKUST Micro/Nanofluidic Joint Laboratory, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong"]},{"name":"Xiuqing Gong","given":"Xiuqing","family":"Gong","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 1 Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong"]},{"name":"Kang Xiao","given":"Kang","family":"Xiao","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 3 Department of Biology, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong"]},{"name":"Weijia Wen","given":"Weijia","family":"Wen","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2 KAUST-HKUST Micro/Nanofluidic Joint Laboratory, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong","The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 4 Department of Physics, , Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong"]}],"publisher":"AIP Publishing","journal":"Biomicrofluidics","publishedDate":"2010-09-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"4","issue":"3","pages":"","issn":["1932-1058"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":40,"citedByCount":22,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2090845535","doi":"10.1063/1.3487796","url":"https://openalex.org/W2090845535","title":"A simple method of fabricating mask-free microfluidic devices for biological analysis","abstract":"We report a simple, low-cost, rapid, and mask-free method to fabricate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic chip for biological analysis researches. In this fabrication process, a laser system is used to cut through paper to form intricate patterns and differently configured channels for specific purposes. Bonded with cyanoacrylate-based resin, the prepared paper sheet is sandwiched between glass slides (hydrophilic) or polymer-based plates (hydrophobic) to obtain a multilayer structure. In order to examine the chip's biocompatibility and applicability, protein concentration was measured while DNA capillary electrophoresis was carried out, and both of them show positive results. With the utilization of direct laser cutting and one-step gas-sacrificing techniques, the whole fabrication processes for complicated 2D and 3D microfluidic devices are shorten into several minutes which make it a good alternative of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chips used in biological analysis researches.","authors":[{"name":"Yi Xin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1681-196X","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rimantas Kodzius","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9417-8894","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiuqing Gong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8519-1317","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kang Xiao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7666-2460","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Weijia Wen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3784-7494","institutions":["Hong Kong University of Science and Technology","University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2010-09-01","publicationYear":2010,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":23,"referencesCount":39,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"bronze","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Biomicrofluidics","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Fabrication","Materials science","Nanotechnology","Polymer","Capillary action","Biocompatibility","Microfluidic chip","Lab-on-a-chip","Fluidics","Capillary electrophoresis","Chromatography"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"A simple method of fabricating mask-free microfluidic devices for biological analysis - PMC","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Microfluidics"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfluidics"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 760 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfluidics"],"topicSlugs":["microfluidics"],"topicNames":["Microfluidics"]},{"id":"paper-011","slug":"011-a-versatile-open-source-printhead-for-low-cost-3d-microextrusion-based-bioprinting","title":"A Versatile Open-Source Printhead for Low-Cost 3D Microextrusion-Based Bioprinting","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"A Versatile Open-Source Printhead for Low-Cost 3D Microextrusion-Based Bioprinting","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/polym12102346","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:46.559Z","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of Tissue engineering (TE) is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2-60 °C. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24-h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.","authors":[{"name":"Andres Sanz-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-0536","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["FI","JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Enrique Sodupe-Ortega","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-9275","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Universidad de La Rioja","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["ES","FI","JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alpha Pernía‐Espinoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6227-075X","institutions":["Universidad de La Rioja"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tatsuya Shimizu","orcid":"","institutions":["Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carmen Escobedo‐Lucea","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-0536","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["FI","JP"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/polym12102346","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102346","title":"A Versatile Open-Source Printhead for Low-Cost 3D Microextrusion-Based Bioprinting","subtitle":"","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of Tissue engineering (TE) is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2–60 °C. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24-h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.","authors":[{"name":"Andres Sanz-Garcia","given":"Andres","family":"Sanz-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-0536","affiliations":["Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E (P.O. Box 56), 00014 Helsinki, Finland","Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan"]},{"name":"Enrique Sodupe-Ortega","given":"Enrique","family":"Sodupe-Ortega","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-9275","affiliations":["Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E (P.O. Box 56), 00014 Helsinki, Finland","Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan","Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, San José de Calasanz 31, Edificio Departamental, 26004 Logroño, Spain"]},{"name":"Alpha Pernía-Espinoza","given":"Alpha","family":"Pernía-Espinoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6227-075X","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of La Rioja, San José de Calasanz 31, Edificio Departamental, 26004 Logroño, Spain"]},{"name":"Tatsuya Shimizu","given":"Tatsuya","family":"Shimizu","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan"]},{"name":"Carmen Escobedo-Lucea","given":"Carmen","family":"Escobedo-Lucea","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E (P.O. Box 56), 00014 Helsinki, Finland","Institute of Advanced Biomedical Engineering and Science, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Polymers","publishedDate":"2020-10-13","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"10","pages":"2346","issn":["2073-4360"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":72,"citedByCount":21,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Academy of Finland","doi":"10.13039/501100002341","awards":["266486","273689","276371","286793"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3092296670","doi":"10.3390/polym12102346","url":"https://openalex.org/W3092296670","title":"A Versatile Open-Source Printhead for Low-Cost 3D Microextrusion-Based Bioprinting","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of Tissue engineering (TE) is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2-60 °C. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24-h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.","authors":[{"name":"Andres Sanz-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-0536","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["FI","JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Enrique Sodupe-Ortega","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-9275","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Universidad de La Rioja","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["ES","FI","JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alpha Pernía‐Espinoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6227-075X","institutions":["Universidad de La Rioja"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tatsuya Shimizu","orcid":"","institutions":["Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carmen Escobedo‐Lucea","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5642-0536","institutions":["University of Helsinki","Tokyo Women's Medical University"],"countries":["FI","JP"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-10-13","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":23,"referencesCount":65,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2346/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Polymers","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Biofabrication","3D printing","Gelatin","Self-healing hydrogels","3d printer","Tissue engineering","Computer science","Biomedical engineering","Materials science","Mechanical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2346#:~:text=Herein%2C%20we%20present%20a%20low-cost%20easy-to-build%20printhead%20for,precise%20control%20of%20print%20temperature%20between%202%E2%80%9360%20%C2%B0C.","year":2020,"venue":"Polymers","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Shows an open printhead design path for lowering barriers to microextrusion bioprinting.","whyItMatters":"Shows an open printhead design path for lowering barriers to microextrusion bioprinting.","motivationUseCase":"multi‑syringe compatibility; full thermal control; multi‑material capability; broad printer compatibility; low cost; open documentation","limitation":"no long-term viability metrics,","function":"","keySources":"MDPI PDF","openSourceResources":"GitHub and NIH 3D Print Exchange","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"<70 USD","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source extruder/printhead","Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":["open-source hardware, firmware, documentation","3D printable and assembled using widely available tools","easy to install on common desktop 3D printers","modular design","multi-material capability"],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-microextrusion-based-bioprinting-printhead"],"toolSlugs":["microextrusion-based-bioprinting-printhead"],"toolNames":["Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-012","slug":"012-adapting-a-low-cost-and-open-source-commercial-liquid-handling-robot-for-high-throughput-screening","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Liquid Handling Robot for High Throughput Screening","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Liquid Handling Robot for High Throughput Screening","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":0.81,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.351Z","abstract":"Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.","authors":[{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thy Truong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6675-7685","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yiran Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-9984","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kei G. I. Webber","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Zhu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-0566","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-1734","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ryan Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","url":"https://doi.org/10.1177/2472630320973591","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"E. Enoch A.W. Councill","given":"E. Enoch A.W.","family":"Councill","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","given":"Nathanial B.","family":"Axtell","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Thy Truong","given":"Thy","family":"Truong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yiran Liang","given":"Yiran","family":"Liang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","given":"Adam L.","family":"Aposhian","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kei G.I. Webber","given":"Kei G.I.","family":"Webber","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ying Zhu","given":"Ying","family":"Zhu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","given":"Yongzheng","family":"Cong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","given":"Richard H.","family":"Carson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ryan T. Kelly","given":"Ryan T.","family":"Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2021-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"26","issue":"3","pages":"311-319","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":30,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Cancer Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000054","awards":["R33CA225248"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3101555713","doi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","url":"https://openalex.org/W3101555713","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","abstract":"Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.","authors":[{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thy Truong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6675-7685","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yiran Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-9984","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kei G. I. Webber","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Zhu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-0566","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-1734","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ryan Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-11-20","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":33,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630322011086/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Pipette","Workflow","Volume (thermodynamics)","Bioanalysis","Open source","Process engineering","Computer science","Chromatography","Reagent","Chemistry","Engineering","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8143861/","year":2021,"venue":"(see PMC)","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","High-throughput screening"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Practical paper showing how open-source hardware is used/adapted in real screening pipelines.","whyItMatters":"Practical paper showing how open-source hardware is used/adapted in real screening pipelines.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","High-throughput screening","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-013","slug":"013-an-open-source-extrusion-bioprinter-based-on-the-e3d-motion-system-and-tool-changer-to-enable-fresh-and-multimaterial-bi","title":"An open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable FRESH and multimaterial bioprinting","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable FRESH and multimaterial bioprinting","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-021-00931-1","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:48.819Z","abstract":"Bioprinting is increasingly used to create complex tissue constructs for an array of research applications, and there are also increasing efforts to print tissues for transplantation. Bioprinting may also prove valuable in the context of drug screening for personalized medicine for treatment of diseases such as cancer. However, the rapidly expanding bioprinting research field is currently limited by access to bioprinters. To increase the availability of bioprinting technologies we present here an open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable high-resolution multimaterial bioprinting. As proof of concept, the bioprinter is used to create collagen constructs using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) methodology, as well as multimaterial constructs composed of distinct sections of laminin and collagen. Data is presented demonstrating that the bioprinted constructs support growth of cells either seeded onto printed constructs or included in the bioink prior to bioprinting. This open source bioprinter is easily adapted for different bioprinting applications, and additional tools can be incorporated to increase the capabilities of the system.","authors":[{"name":"Adam Engberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6929-142X","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christina Stelzl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-9190","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olle Eriksson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5111-1374","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P.W. O’Callaghan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3117-5367","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-7776","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-021-00931-1","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-00931-1","title":"An open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable FRESH and multimaterial bioprinting","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Bioprinting is increasingly used to create complex tissue constructs for an array of research applications, and there are also increasing efforts to print tissues for transplantation. Bioprinting may also prove valuable in the context of drug screening for personalized medicine for treatment of diseases such as cancer. However, the rapidly expanding bioprinting research field is currently limited by access to bioprinters. To increase the availability of bioprinting technologies we present here an open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable high-resolution multimaterial bioprinting. As proof of concept, the bioprinter is used to create collagen constructs using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) methodology, as well as multimaterial constructs composed of distinct sections of laminin and collagen. Data is presented demonstrating that the bioprinted constructs support growth of cells either seeded onto printed constructs or included in the bioink prior to bioprinting. This open source bioprinter is easily adapted for different bioprinting applications, and additional tools can be incorporated to increase the capabilities of the system.","authors":[{"name":"Adam Engberg","given":"Adam","family":"Engberg","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christina Stelzl","given":"Christina","family":"Stelzl","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Olle Eriksson","given":"Olle","family":"Eriksson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paul O’Callaghan","given":"Paul","family":"O’Callaghan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","given":"Johan","family":"Kreuger","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2021-11-03","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":38,"citedByCount":31,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"Uppsala University","doi":"10.13039/501100007051","awards":[]},{"name":"VINNOVA","doi":"10.13039/501100001858","awards":["2019-00029"]},{"name":"Cancerfonden","doi":"10.13039/501100002794","awards":["20 1285 PjF 01 H"]},{"name":"Uppsala University","doi":"10.13039/501100007051","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3176182635","doi":"10.1038/s41598-021-00931-1","url":"https://openalex.org/W3176182635","title":"An open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable FRESH and multimaterial bioprinting","abstract":"Bioprinting is increasingly used to create complex tissue constructs for an array of research applications, and there are also increasing efforts to print tissues for transplantation. Bioprinting may also prove valuable in the context of drug screening for personalized medicine for treatment of diseases such as cancer. However, the rapidly expanding bioprinting research field is currently limited by access to bioprinters. To increase the availability of bioprinting technologies we present here an open source extrusion bioprinter based on the E3D motion system and tool changer to enable high-resolution multimaterial bioprinting. As proof of concept, the bioprinter is used to create collagen constructs using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) methodology, as well as multimaterial constructs composed of distinct sections of laminin and collagen. Data is presented demonstrating that the bioprinted constructs support growth of cells either seeded onto printed constructs or included in the bioink prior to bioprinting. This open source bioprinter is easily adapted for different bioprinting applications, and additional tools can be incorporated to increase the capabilities of the system.","authors":[{"name":"Adam Engberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6929-142X","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christina Stelzl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3957-9190","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olle Eriksson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5111-1374","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P.W. O’Callaghan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3117-5367","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-7776","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-11-03","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":32,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["3D bioprinting","Biofabrication","Context (archaeology)","Computer science","Self-healing hydrogels","Tissue engineering","Nanotechnology","Biomedical engineering","Materials science","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00931-1","year":2021,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion","FRESH"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Open-source multimaterial/FRESH-enabling design; very aligned with ‘Replistruder-like’ tooling.","whyItMatters":"Open-source multimaterial/FRESH-enabling design; very aligned with ‘Replistruder-like’ tooling.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"no commercial benchmarking","function":"","keySources":"Nature Sci Rep page","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","FRESH","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 5 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-014","slug":"014-an-open-source-syringe-pump-controller-for-fluid-delivery-of-multiple-volumes","title":"An Open Source Syringe Pump Controller for Fluid Delivery of Multiple Volumes","doi":"10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","publication":{"paperTitle":"An Open Source Syringe Pump Controller for Fluid Delivery of Multiple Volumes","requestedDoi":"10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","resolvedDoi":"10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:46.928Z","abstract":"Syringe pumps are a necessary piece of laboratory equipment that are used for fluid delivery in behavioral neuroscience laboratories. Many experiments provide rodents and primates with fluid rewards such as juice, water, or liquid sucrose. Current commercialized syringe pumps are not customizable and do not have the ability to deliver multiple volumes of fluid based on different inputs to the pump. Additionally, many syringe pumps are expensive and cannot be used in experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings due to electrical noise. We developed an open source syringe pump controller using commonly available parts. The controller adjusts the acceleration and speed of the motor to deliver three different volumes of fluid reward within one common time epoch. This syringe pump controller is cost effective and has been successfully implemented in rodent behavioral experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings in the rat frontal cortex while rats lick for different volumes of liquid sucrose rewards. Our syringe pump controller will enable new experiments to address the potential confound of temporal information in studies of reward signaling by fluid magnitude.","authors":[{"name":"Linda M. Amarante","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3592-7346","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"J. M. Newport","orcid":"","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Meagan Mitchell","orcid":"","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua Wilson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7192-3510","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark Laubach","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2403-4497","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","url":"https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","title":"An Open Source Syringe Pump Controller for Fluid Delivery of Multiple Volumes","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Syringe pumps are a necessary piece of laboratory equipment that are used for fluid delivery in behavioral neuroscience laboratories. Many experiments provide rodents and primates with fluid rewards such as juice, water, or liquid sucrose. Current commercialized syringe pumps are not customizable and do not have the ability to deliver multiple volumes of fluid based on different inputs to the pump. Additionally, many syringe pumps are expensive and cannot be used in experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings due to electrical noise. We developed an open source syringe pump controller using commonly available parts. The controller adjusts the acceleration and speed of the motor to deliver three different volumes of fluid reward within one common time epoch. This syringe pump controller is cost effective and has been successfully implemented in rodent behavioral experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings in the rat frontal cortex while rats lick for different volumes of liquid sucrose rewards. Our syringe pump controller will enable new experiments to address the potential confound of temporal information in studies of reward signaling by fluid magnitude.","authors":[{"name":"Linda M. Amarante","given":"Linda M.","family":"Amarante","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3592-7346","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jonathan Newport","given":"Jonathan","family":"Newport","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Meagan Mitchell","given":"Meagan","family":"Mitchell","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joshua Wilson","given":"Joshua","family":"Wilson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mark Laubach","given":"Mark","family":"Laubach","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2403-4497","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Society for Neuroscience","journal":"eneuro","publishedDate":"2019-09-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"6","issue":"5","pages":"ENEURO.0240-19.2019","issn":["2373-2822"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":4,"citedByCount":31,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2968821494","doi":"10.1523/eneuro.0240-19.2019","url":"https://openalex.org/W2968821494","title":"An Open Source Syringe Pump Controller for Fluid Delivery of Multiple Volumes","abstract":"Syringe pumps are a necessary piece of laboratory equipment that are used for fluid delivery in behavioral neuroscience laboratories. Many experiments provide rodents and primates with fluid rewards such as juice, water, or liquid sucrose. Current commercialized syringe pumps are not customizable and do not have the ability to deliver multiple volumes of fluid based on different inputs to the pump. Additionally, many syringe pumps are expensive and cannot be used in experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings due to electrical noise. We developed an open source syringe pump controller using commonly available parts. The controller adjusts the acceleration and speed of the motor to deliver three different volumes of fluid reward within one common time epoch. This syringe pump controller is cost effective and has been successfully implemented in rodent behavioral experiments with paired neurophysiological recordings in the rat frontal cortex while rats lick for different volumes of liquid sucrose rewards. Our syringe pump controller will enable new experiments to address the potential confound of temporal information in studies of reward signaling by fluid magnitude.","authors":[{"name":"Linda M. Amarante","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3592-7346","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"J. M. Newport","orcid":"","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Meagan Mitchell","orcid":"","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua Wilson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7192-3510","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark Laubach","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2403-4497","institutions":["American University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-08-15","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":38,"referencesCount":5,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"eNeuro","topics":["Neural dynamics and brain function","Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research","EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces"],"keywords":["Syringe","Syringe driver","Controller (irrigation)","Neurophysiology","Computer science","Simulation","Biomedical engineering","Neuroscience","Medicine","Mechanical engineering","Engineering","Psychology"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.eneuro.org/content/6/5/ENEURO.0240-19.2019","year":2019,"venue":"eNeuro","type":"Open-source software/control","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Syringe pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Control-layer open tool enabling multi-volume delivery; complements open pump hardware papers.","whyItMatters":"Control-layer open tool enabling multi-volume delivery; complements open pump hardware papers.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"eNeuro article + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Syringe pumping","Open-source software/control"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":2.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 60000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-015","slug":"015-an-open-source-3d-bioprinter-using-direct-light-processing-for-tissue-engineering-applications","title":"An Open-Source 3D Bioprinter Using Direct Light Processing for Tissue Engineering Applications","doi":"10.3390/inventions10050092","publication":{"paperTitle":"An Open-Source 3D Bioprinter Using Direct Light Processing for Tissue Engineering Applications","requestedDoi":"10.3390/inventions10050092","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/inventions10050092","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:47.060Z","abstract":"The demand for organ transplantation continues to rise worldwide, intensifying the gap between supply and demand and driving research in tissue engineering (TE). Bioprinting, particularly light-based vat photopolymerization (VP) methods such as digital light processing (DLP), has emerged as a promising strategy to fabricate complex, cell-compatible tissue constructs with high precision. In this study, we developed an open-source, bottom-up DLP bioprinter designed to provide a cost-effective and modular alternative to commercial systems. The device was built from commercially available components and custom-fabricated parts, with tolerance allocation and deviation analyses applied to ensure structural reliability. Mechanical and optical subsystems were modeled and validated, and the control architecture was implemented on the Arduino platform with a custom Python-based graphical interface. The system achieved a theoretical Z-axis resolution of 1 μm and a vertical travel range of 50 mm, with accuracy and repeatability comparable to research-grade bioprinters. Initial printing trials using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels demonstrated high-fidelity microfluidic constructs with adequate dimensional precision. Collectively, these results validate the functionality of the proposed system and highlight its potential as a flexible, precise, and cost-effective platform that is also easy to customize to advance the democratization of biofabrication in TE.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Sanchez-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6155-6204","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anuar Giménez-El-Amrani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5271-090X","institutions":["Hospital General Universitario De Valencia","Fundación General"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Armando González Muñoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6201-2929","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrés Sanz-García","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-4965","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca","Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/inventions10050092","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10050092","title":"An Open-Source 3D Bioprinter Using Direct Light Processing for Tissue Engineering Applications","subtitle":"","abstract":"The demand for organ transplantation continues to rise worldwide, intensifying the gap between supply and demand and driving research in tissue engineering (TE). Bioprinting, particularly light-based vat photopolymerization (VP) methods such as digital light processing (DLP), has emerged as a promising strategy to fabricate complex, cell-compatible tissue constructs with high precision. In this study, we developed an open-source, bottom-up DLP bioprinter designed to provide a cost-effective and modular alternative to commercial systems. The device was built from commercially available components and custom-fabricated parts, with tolerance allocation and deviation analyses applied to ensure structural reliability. Mechanical and optical subsystems were modeled and validated, and the control architecture was implemented on the Arduino platform with a custom Python-based graphical interface. The system achieved a theoretical Z-axis resolution of 1 μm and a vertical travel range of 50 mm, with accuracy and repeatability comparable to research-grade bioprinters. Initial printing trials using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels demonstrated high-fidelity microfluidic constructs with adequate dimensional precision. Collectively, these results validate the functionality of the proposed system and highlight its potential as a flexible, precise, and cost-effective platform that is also easy to customize to advance the democratization of biofabrication in TE.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Sanchez-Garcia","given":"Daniel","family":"Sanchez-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6155-6204","affiliations":["Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica (ALF-USAL), University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain","Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Salamanca, 37700 Béjar, Spain"]},{"name":"Anuar Giménez-El-Amrani","given":"Anuar","family":"Giménez-El-Amrani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5271-090X","affiliations":["BTELab, Fundación de Investigación del Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Avda. Tres Cruces 2, 46014 Valencia, Spain"]},{"name":"Armando Gonzalez-Muñoz","given":"Armando","family":"Gonzalez-Muñoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6201-2929","affiliations":["Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica (ALF-USAL), University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain","Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Salamanca, 37700 Béjar, Spain"]},{"name":"Andres Sanz-Garcia","given":"Andres","family":"Sanz-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-4965","affiliations":["Aplicaciones del Láser y Fotónica (ALF-USAL), University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain","Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Salamanca, 37700 Béjar, Spain","Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), SACYL-University of Salamanca-CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Inventions","publishedDate":"2025-10-17","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"5","pages":"92","issn":["2411-5134"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":33,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León","doi":"10.13039/501100008431","awards":["SA108P24"]},{"name":"Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades y Agencia Estatal de Investigación","doi":"10.13039/100014440","awards":["PID2023-149836NB","PLEC2022-009392","FPU22/03616"]},{"name":"Fundación General de la Universidad de Salamanca","doi":"","awards":["PC_TCUE1820P_034"]},{"name":"Conselleria de Sanitat Conselleria de Sanidad","doi":"","awards":["CDEI-02/20-A"]},{"name":"Agencia Valenciana de la Innovación","doi":"10.13039/501100016028","awards":["CAICO/2023/282"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4415295140","doi":"10.3390/inventions10050092","url":"https://openalex.org/W4415295140","title":"An Open-Source 3D Bioprinter Using Direct Light Processing for Tissue Engineering Applications","abstract":"The demand for organ transplantation continues to rise worldwide, intensifying the gap between supply and demand and driving research in tissue engineering (TE). Bioprinting, particularly light-based vat photopolymerization (VP) methods such as digital light processing (DLP), has emerged as a promising strategy to fabricate complex, cell-compatible tissue constructs with high precision. In this study, we developed an open-source, bottom-up DLP bioprinter designed to provide a cost-effective and modular alternative to commercial systems. The device was built from commercially available components and custom-fabricated parts, with tolerance allocation and deviation analyses applied to ensure structural reliability. Mechanical and optical subsystems were modeled and validated, and the control architecture was implemented on the Arduino platform with a custom Python-based graphical interface. The system achieved a theoretical Z-axis resolution of 1 μm and a vertical travel range of 50 mm, with accuracy and repeatability comparable to research-grade bioprinters. Initial printing trials using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels demonstrated high-fidelity microfluidic constructs with adequate dimensional precision. Collectively, these results validate the functionality of the proposed system and highlight its potential as a flexible, precise, and cost-effective platform that is also easy to customize to advance the democratization of biofabrication in TE.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Sanchez-Garcia","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6155-6204","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anuar Giménez-El-Amrani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5271-090X","institutions":["Hospital General Universitario De Valencia","Fundación General"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Armando González Muñoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6201-2929","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrés Sanz-García","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0413-4965","institutions":["Universidad de Salamanca","Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":27,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/5/92/pdf?version=1760702695","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Inventions","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Biofabrication","Modular design","Microfluidics","Self-healing hydrogels","Digital Light Processing","Tissue engineering","Innovator"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5134/10/5/92","year":2025,"venue":"Inventions (MDPI)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["DLP","Vat photopolymerization"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Extends the table beyond extrusion: open-source light-based bioprinting hardware.","whyItMatters":"Extends the table beyond extrusion: open-source light-based bioprinting hardware.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"MDPI landing + DOI; DOAJ abstract","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","DLP","Vat photopolymerization","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-016","slug":"016-an-open-source-and-low-cost-dual-extruder-3d-printer-for-macroscale-biotic-materials","title":"An open-source and low-cost dual-extruder 3D printer for macroscale biotic materials","doi":"10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open-source and low-cost dual-extruder 3D printer for macroscale biotic materials","requestedDoi":"10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:47.212Z","abstract":"Abstract This work presents the design and fabrication of a novel, dual-extruder biotic 3D printer, tailored for precise deposition of natural biomaterials such as pectin, chitosan, and cellulose. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional thermoplastic extrusion which relies on non-renewable plastics and produces significant waste, this printer utilizes a syringe-based mechanical extruder to deposit viscous biotic material hydrogels. The integration of a dual-extruder system enables the creation of multi-material prints, offering new possibilities for sustainable and biotic manufacturing. Designed with accessibility and versatility in mind, the system features user-friendly operation suitable for non-experts with open-source hardware and software. By providing a robust, customizable, and open-source platform, this work aims to empower researchers, educators, and innovators to advance biomaterials research and expand the reach of sustainable additive manufacturing. The printer fosters a collaborative community and lays the groundwork for further exploration of biological designs and materials.","authors":[{"name":"Jesse P. de Alva","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Markus J. Buehler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4173-9659","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","title":"An open-source and low-cost dual-extruder 3D printer for macroscale biotic materials","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract This work presents the design and fabrication of a novel, dual-extruder biotic 3D printer, tailored for precise deposition of natural biomaterials such as pectin, chitosan, and cellulose. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional thermoplastic extrusion which relies on non-renewable plastics and produces significant waste, this printer utilizes a syringe-based mechanical extruder to deposit viscous biotic material hydrogels. The integration of a dual-extruder system enables the creation of multi-material prints, offering new possibilities for sustainable and biotic manufacturing. Designed with accessibility and versatility in mind, the system features user-friendly operation suitable for non-experts with open-source hardware and software. By providing a robust, customizable, and open-source platform, this work aims to empower researchers, educators, and innovators to advance biomaterials research and expand the reach of sustainable additive manufacturing. The printer fosters a collaborative community and lays the groundwork for further exploration of biological designs and materials.","authors":[{"name":"Jesse P. de Alva","given":"Jesse P.","family":"de Alva","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Markus Buehler","given":"Markus","family":"Buehler","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Progress in Additive Manufacturing","publishedDate":"2026-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"1","pages":"831-841","issn":["2363-9512","2363-9520"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","doi":"10.13039/100006919","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4415418152","doi":"10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","url":"https://openalex.org/W4415418152","title":"An open-source and low-cost dual-extruder 3D printer for macroscale biotic materials","abstract":"Abstract This work presents the design and fabrication of a novel, dual-extruder biotic 3D printer, tailored for precise deposition of natural biomaterials such as pectin, chitosan, and cellulose. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional thermoplastic extrusion which relies on non-renewable plastics and produces significant waste, this printer utilizes a syringe-based mechanical extruder to deposit viscous biotic material hydrogels. The integration of a dual-extruder system enables the creation of multi-material prints, offering new possibilities for sustainable and biotic manufacturing. Designed with accessibility and versatility in mind, the system features user-friendly operation suitable for non-experts with open-source hardware and software. By providing a robust, customizable, and open-source platform, this work aims to empower researchers, educators, and innovators to advance biomaterials research and expand the reach of sustainable additive manufacturing. The printer fosters a collaborative community and lays the groundwork for further exploration of biological designs and materials.","authors":[{"name":"Jesse P. de Alva","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Markus J. Buehler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4173-9659","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-10-22","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":25,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Progress in Additive Manufacturing","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials"],"keywords":["3d printer","3D printing","Plastics extrusion","Work (physics)","Extrusion","Deposition (geology)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40964-025-01383-z","year":2025,"venue":"Progress in Additive Manufacturing","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Late-2025 open-access paper; potentially relevant for ‘biotic’ material extrusion.","whyItMatters":"Late-2025 open-access paper; potentially relevant for ‘biotic’ material extrusion.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer landing + MIT OA handle","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-handle-record-1721-1-163502","slug":"handle-record-1721-1-163502","name":"Handle record 1721.1/163502","url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/163502","kind":"handle"},"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 50 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-017","slug":"017-analytical-measurements-and-efficient-process-generation-using-a-dual-arm-robot-equipped-with-electronic-pipettes","title":"Analytical Measurements and Efficient Process Generation Using a Dual–Arm Robot Equipped with Electronic Pipettes","doi":"10.3390/en11102567","publication":{"paperTitle":"Analytical Measurements and Efficient Process Generation Using a Dual–Arm Robot Equipped with Electronic Pipettes","requestedDoi":"10.3390/en11102567","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/en11102567","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:47.336Z","abstract":"The continued growth in life sciences is being accompanied by the constantly rising demand for robotic systems. Today, bioscreening and high–throughput screening processes are well automated. In contrast, a deficit can be found in the area of analytical measurements with complex and frequently changing processes. Robots undertake not only transportation tasks, but also direct sample manipulation and subsequent analytical measurements. Due to their human-like structure, dual-arm robots perform such processes similar to human operation. Liquid handling is required to transfer chemicals, to prepare standard solutions, or to dilute samples. Two electronic pipettes with different volume ranges (5–200 µL and 50–1000 µL) were integrated into a dual–arm robotic system. The main focus in this publication is the software interface for alternating robot and pipette control as well as the high–level process control system. The performance using a dual–arm robot equipped with electronic pipettes and conventional manual pipettes was determined and compared. The automation system presented is the first integration of a dual-arm robot in analytical measurement processes. Conventional manual laboratory pipettes and electronic pipettes are simultaneously used for liquid-handling tasks. The software control system enables a flexible and user-friendly process generation.","authors":[{"name":"Heidi Fleischer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9491-1224","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Daniel Baumann","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shalaka Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3813-4680","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xianghua Chu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6290-4003","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Roddelkopf","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Klös","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kerstin Thurow","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3281-1065","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/en11102567","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102567","title":"Analytical Measurements and Efficient Process Generation Using a Dual–Arm Robot Equipped with Electronic Pipettes","subtitle":"","abstract":"The continued growth in life sciences is being accompanied by the constantly rising demand for robotic systems. Today, bioscreening and high–throughput screening processes are well automated. In contrast, a deficit can be found in the area of analytical measurements with complex and frequently changing processes. Robots undertake not only transportation tasks, but also direct sample manipulation and subsequent analytical measurements. Due to their human-like structure, dual-arm robots perform such processes similar to human operation. Liquid handling is required to transfer chemicals, to prepare standard solutions, or to dilute samples. Two electronic pipettes with different volume ranges (5–200 µL and 50–1000 µL) were integrated into a dual–arm robotic system. The main focus in this publication is the software interface for alternating robot and pipette control as well as the high–level process control system. The performance using a dual–arm robot equipped with electronic pipettes and conventional manual pipettes was determined and compared. The automation system presented is the first integration of a dual-arm robot in analytical measurement processes. Conventional manual laboratory pipettes and electronic pipettes are simultaneously used for liquid-handling tasks. The software control system enables a flexible and user-friendly process generation.","authors":[{"name":"Heidi Fleischer","given":"Heidi","family":"Fleischer","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute of Automation, University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]},{"name":"Daniel Baumann","given":"Daniel","family":"Baumann","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute of Automation, University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]},{"name":"Shalaka Joshi","given":"Shalaka","family":"Joshi","orcid":"","affiliations":["Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca), University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]},{"name":"Xianghua Chu","given":"Xianghua","family":"Chu","orcid":"","affiliations":["Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca), University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]},{"name":"Thomas Roddelkopf","given":"Thomas","family":"Roddelkopf","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5115-9519","affiliations":["Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca), University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]},{"name":"Michael Klos","given":"Michael","family":"Klos","orcid":"","affiliations":["Yaskawa Europe, 85391 Allershausen, Germany"]},{"name":"Kerstin Thurow","given":"Kerstin","family":"Thurow","orcid":"","affiliations":["Center for Life Science Automation (Celisca), University of Rostock, 18119 Rostock, Germany"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Energies","publishedDate":"2018-09-26","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"10","pages":"2567","issn":["1996-1073"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":34,"citedByCount":44,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie","doi":"10.13039/501100006360","awards":["FKZ: ZF4066003DB6"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2894297802","doi":"10.3390/en11102567","url":"https://openalex.org/W2894297802","title":"Analytical Measurements and Efficient Process Generation Using a Dual–Arm Robot Equipped with Electronic Pipettes","abstract":"The continued growth in life sciences is being accompanied by the constantly rising demand for robotic systems. Today, bioscreening and high–throughput screening processes are well automated. In contrast, a deficit can be found in the area of analytical measurements with complex and frequently changing processes. Robots undertake not only transportation tasks, but also direct sample manipulation and subsequent analytical measurements. Due to their human-like structure, dual-arm robots perform such processes similar to human operation. Liquid handling is required to transfer chemicals, to prepare standard solutions, or to dilute samples. Two electronic pipettes with different volume ranges (5–200 µL and 50–1000 µL) were integrated into a dual–arm robotic system. The main focus in this publication is the software interface for alternating robot and pipette control as well as the high–level process control system. The performance using a dual–arm robot equipped with electronic pipettes and conventional manual pipettes was determined and compared. The automation system presented is the first integration of a dual-arm robot in analytical measurement processes. Conventional manual laboratory pipettes and electronic pipettes are simultaneously used for liquid-handling tasks. The software control system enables a flexible and user-friendly process generation.","authors":[{"name":"Heidi Fleischer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9491-1224","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Daniel Baumann","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shalaka Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3813-4680","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xianghua Chu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6290-4003","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Roddelkopf","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Klös","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kerstin Thurow","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3281-1065","institutions":["University of Rostock"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2018-09-26","publicationYear":2018,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":48,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/10/2567/pdf?version=1537959387","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Energies","topics":["Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Pipette","Robot","Automation","Process (computing)","Software","Robotic arm","Computer science","Laboratory automation","Throughput","Interface (matter)","Simulation","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/en11102567","year":2018,"venue":"Energies","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","Pipetting/dispensing"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Dual-arm robot using electronic pipettes for liquid handling in analytical workflows.","whyItMatters":"Dual-arm robot using electronic pipettes for liquid handling in analytical workflows.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","Pipetting/dispensing","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-018","slug":"018-automation-of-biochemical-assays-using-an-open-sourced-inexpensive-robotic-liquid-handler","title":"Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","publication":{"paperTitle":"Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:48.931Z","abstract":"High Throughput Screening is crucial in pharmaceutical companies for efficient testing in drug discovery and development. Our Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) department extensively uses robotic liquid handlers in their High Throughput Analytics (HTA) group for assay development and sample screening. However, these instruments are expensive and require extensive training. Opentrons' OT-2 liquid handler offers a more affordable option (<∼ $10,000) with Python programming language and open-source flexibility, reducing training requirements. OT-2 allows broadening of testing capabilities and method transfer without significant capital investments. Two biochemical assays were conducted to assess OT-2's performance, and it demonstrated accurate pipetting with low covariance compared to Tecan EVO liquid handlers. Though OT-2 has some limitations such as lack of a crash detection system and limited deck space, it is a cost-effective, medium-throughput, and accurate liquid handling tool suitable for early-stage development and method transfer.","authors":[{"name":"George Moukarzel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-0561","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-120X","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Weiyue Xin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1704-1549","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carl Hofmann","orcid":"","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anjali Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7550-8736","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John W. Loughney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9583-0423","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amy Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1912-1921","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","title":"Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"George Moukarzel","given":"George","family":"Moukarzel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-0561","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yi Wang","given":"Yi","family":"Wang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Weiyue Xin","given":"Weiyue","family":"Xin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1704-1549","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Carl Hofmann","given":"Carl","family":"Hofmann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Anjali Joshi","given":"Anjali","family":"Joshi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"John W. Loughney","given":"John W.","family":"Loughney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9583-0423","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Amy Bowman","given":"Amy","family":"Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1912-1921","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2024-12-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"29","issue":"6","pages":"100205","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":22,"citedByCount":12,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4403325385","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","url":"https://openalex.org/W4403325385","title":"Automation of biochemical assays using an open-sourced, inexpensive robotic liquid handler","abstract":"High Throughput Screening is crucial in pharmaceutical companies for efficient testing in drug discovery and development. Our Vaccines Analytical Research and Development (V-AR&D) department extensively uses robotic liquid handlers in their High Throughput Analytics (HTA) group for assay development and sample screening. However, these instruments are expensive and require extensive training. Opentrons' OT-2 liquid handler offers a more affordable option (<∼ $10,000) with Python programming language and open-source flexibility, reducing training requirements. OT-2 allows broadening of testing capabilities and method transfer without significant capital investments. Two biochemical assays were conducted to assess OT-2's performance, and it demonstrated accurate pipetting with low covariance compared to Tecan EVO liquid handlers. Though OT-2 has some limitations such as lack of a crash detection system and limited deck space, it is a cost-effective, medium-throughput, and accurate liquid handling tool suitable for early-stage development and method transfer.","authors":[{"name":"George Moukarzel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-0561","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-120X","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Weiyue Xin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1704-1549","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Carl Hofmann","orcid":"","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anjali Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7550-8736","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John W. Loughney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9583-0423","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amy Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1912-1921","institutions":["Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States)","High Throughput Biology (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":11,"referencesCount":25,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630324000876/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Laboratory automation","Automation","Computer science","Operating system","Embedded system","Software engineering","Engineering","Manufacturing engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2024.100205","year":2024,"venue":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Automation","High-throughput screening"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Automation","High-throughput screening","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 10 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-019","slug":"019-bioclonebot-a-versatile-low-cost-and-open-source-automated-liquid-handler","title":"BioCloneBot: A versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","publication":{"paperTitle":"BioCloneBot: A versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:48.946Z","abstract":"Liquid handler systems can provide significant benefits to researchers by automating laboratory work, however, their unaffordable price provides a steep barrier to entry. Therefore, we provide the BioCloneBot, a versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler. This system can be easily built with 3D-printed parts and readily available commercial components. The BioCloneBot is highly adaptive to user needs and facilitates various liquid handling tasks in research and diagnostics. Its user-friendly interface and programmable nature make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from small-scale experiments to larger laboratory setups. By utilizing BioCloneBot, researchers and scientists can streamline their liquid handling processes without the financial constraints posed by traditional systems. In this paper, we detail the design, construction, and validation of BioCloneBot, showcasing its precise control, accuracy, and repeatability in various liquid handling tasks. The open-source nature of the system encourages collaboration and customization, enabling researchers to contribute and adapt the technology to specific experimental requirements.","authors":[{"name":"Ke’Koa CDH Wells","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nawwaf Kharma","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-3902","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brandon B. Jaunky","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaiyu Nie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7014-8085","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gabriel Aguiar-Tawil","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel M. Berry","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6817-9081","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","title":"BioCloneBot: A versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Ke’Koa CDH Wells","given":"Ke’Koa CDH","family":"Wells","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nawwaf Kharma","given":"Nawwaf","family":"Kharma","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Brandon B. Jaunky","given":"Brandon B.","family":"Jaunky","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kaiyu Nie","given":"Kaiyu","family":"Nie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7014-8085","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gabriel Aguiar-Tawil","given":"Gabriel","family":"Aguiar-Tawil","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel Berry","given":"Daniel","family":"Berry","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2024-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"18","issue":"","pages":"e00516","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":34,"citedByCount":4,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Concordia University","doi":"10.13039/501100002914","awards":[]},{"name":"NSERC","doi":"10.13039/501100000038","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4392247257","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00516","url":"https://openalex.org/W4392247257","title":"BioCloneBot: A versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler","abstract":"Liquid handler systems can provide significant benefits to researchers by automating laboratory work, however, their unaffordable price provides a steep barrier to entry. Therefore, we provide the BioCloneBot, a versatile, low-cost, and open-source automated liquid handler. This system can be easily built with 3D-printed parts and readily available commercial components. The BioCloneBot is highly adaptive to user needs and facilitates various liquid handling tasks in research and diagnostics. Its user-friendly interface and programmable nature make it suitable for a wide range of applications, from small-scale experiments to larger laboratory setups. By utilizing BioCloneBot, researchers and scientists can streamline their liquid handling processes without the financial constraints posed by traditional systems. In this paper, we detail the design, construction, and validation of BioCloneBot, showcasing its precise control, accuracy, and repeatability in various liquid handling tasks. The open-source nature of the system encourages collaboration and customization, enabling researchers to contribute and adapt the technology to specific experimental requirements.","authors":[{"name":"Ke’Koa CDH Wells","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nawwaf Kharma","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-3902","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brandon B. Jaunky","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaiyu Nie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7014-8085","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gabriel Aguiar-Tawil","orcid":"","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel M. Berry","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6817-9081","institutions":["Concordia University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2024-02-28","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":4,"referencesCount":27,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067224000105/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Scientific Computing and Data Management","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Open source","Computer science","Embedded system","Operating system","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10955647/","year":2024,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Liquid handling"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"One of the clearest recent open-hardware liquid-handling robots with a full paper + accessible full text.","whyItMatters":"One of the clearest recent open-hardware liquid-handling robots with a full paper + accessible full text.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI; GitHub","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-koacwells-bioclonebot","slug":"koacwells-bioclonebot","name":"KoaCWells/BioCloneBot","url":"https://github.com/KoaCWells/BioCloneBot","kind":"github"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Liquid handling","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.9,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 20 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-bioclonebot"],"toolSlugs":["bioclonebot"],"toolNames":["BioCloneBot"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-020","slug":"020-commit-digital-pipette-open-hardware-for-liquid-transfer-in-self-driving-laboratories","title":"Commit: Digital pipette: open hardware for liquid transfer in self-driving laboratories","doi":"10.1039/d5dd00336a","publication":{"paperTitle":"Commit: Digital pipette: open hardware for liquid transfer in self-driving laboratories","requestedDoi":"10.1039/d5dd00336a","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/d5dd00336a","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:48.961Z","abstract":"We present an updated version of the digital pipette, an economical 3D-printed device for accurate liquid transfers by robotic arms. The new version supports disposable tip replacement to reduce contamination while maintaining high accuracy.","authors":[{"name":"Naruki Yoshikawa","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-8709","institutions":["University of Toronto","Vector Institute","Institute of Science Tokyo"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kevin Angers","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1783-4241","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kourosh Darvish","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4984-432X","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium","Vector Institute"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sargol Okhovatian","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2565-7397","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dawn Bannerman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-7022","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilya Yakavets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0373-5160","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Milica Radisic","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1249-4135","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Alán Aspuru-Guzik","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8277-4434","institutions":["Canadian Institute for Advanced Research","University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium","Vector Institute"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/d5dd00336a","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5dd00336a","title":"Commit: Digital pipette: open hardware for liquid transfer in self-driving laboratories","subtitle":"","abstract":"We present an updated version of the digital pipette, an economical 3D-printed device for accurate liquid transfers by robotic arms. The new version supports disposable tip replacement to reduce contamination while maintaining high accuracy.","authors":[{"name":"Naruki Yoshikawa","given":"Naruki","family":"Yoshikawa","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-8709","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Vector Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada","Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan"]},{"name":"Kevin Angers","given":"Kevin","family":"Angers","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1783-4241","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Kourosh Darvish","given":"Kourosh","family":"Darvish","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4984-432X","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Vector Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada","Acceleration Consortium, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Sargol Okhovatian","given":"Sargol","family":"Okhovatian","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2565-7397","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Toronto General Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Dawn Bannerman","given":"Dawn","family":"Bannerman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-7022","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Toronto General Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Ilya Yakavets","given":"Ilya","family":"Yakavets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0373-5160","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Acceleration Consortium, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Milica Radisic","given":"Milica","family":"Radisic","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1249-4135","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Toronto General Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada","Acceleration Consortium, Toronto, ON, Canada"]},{"name":"Alán Aspuru-Guzik","given":"Alán","family":"Aspuru-Guzik","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8277-4434","affiliations":["University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada","Vector Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada","Acceleration Consortium, Toronto, ON, Canada","Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ON, Canada","NVIDIA, Toronto, ON, Canada"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"Digital Discovery","publishedDate":"2026-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"5","issue":"1","pages":"93-97","issn":["2635-098X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":13,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Canada First Research Excellence Fund","doi":"10.13039/501100010785","awards":["CFREF-2022-00042"]},{"name":"Japan Society for the Promotion of Science","doi":"10.13039/501100001691","awards":["JP25K21333"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7105983005","doi":"10.1039/d5dd00336a","url":"https://openalex.org/W7105983005","title":"Commit: Digital pipette: open hardware for liquid transfer in self-driving laboratories","abstract":"We present an updated version of the digital pipette, an economical 3D-printed device for accurate liquid transfers by robotic arms. The new version supports disposable tip replacement to reduce contamination while maintaining high accuracy.","authors":[{"name":"Naruki Yoshikawa","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-8709","institutions":["University of Toronto","Vector Institute","Institute of Science Tokyo"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kevin Angers","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1783-4241","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kourosh Darvish","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4984-432X","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium","Vector Institute"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sargol Okhovatian","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2565-7397","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dawn Bannerman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4310-7022","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilya Yakavets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0373-5160","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Milica Radisic","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1249-4135","institutions":["University of Toronto","Toronto Rehabilitation Institute","Toronto General Hospital","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Alán Aspuru-Guzik","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8277-4434","institutions":["Canadian Institute for Advanced Research","University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium","Vector Institute"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":7,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/dd/d5dd00336a","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Digital Discovery","topics":["Experimental Learning in Engineering","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies"],"keywords":["Transfer (computing)","Software","Data transmission","Process (computing)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/dd/d5dd00336a","year":2026,"venue":"Digital Discovery","type":"Open-source pipette/dispenser (handheld or module)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pipetting/dispensing"],"systemOrTechnology":"Commit: Digital Pipette | Commit: Digital Pipette (v2)","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Open hardware for accurate liquid transfer in self-driving labs; reports accuracy within ISO 8655-2 permissible error.","whyItMatters":"Open hardware for accurate liquid transfer in self-driving labs; reports accuracy within ISO 8655-2 permissible error.","motivationUseCase":"flexible, precise, low‑cost liquid handling that existing gantry‑based robots and human‑designed pipettes can’t provide. Open‑source, disposable‑tip‑compatible pipette that supports contamination‑free, multi‑liquid workflows in real experimental environments.","limitation":"Requires a robot arm/gripper to operate -- not a standalone bench tool","function":"Robot-mounted 3D-printed digital pipette for liquid transfer in self-driving labs","keySources":"RSC article landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"GitHub | Design files and documentation on GitHub","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Low","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","basic assembly","integration with robot gripper/arm"],"approximateCost":"300 USD | ~300","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pipetting/dispensing","Open-source pipette/dispenser (handheld or module)","Commit: Digital Pipette | Commit: Digital Pipette (v2)"],"democratizingFeatures":["open-source hardware and design files available on GitHub, accessible fabrication (3D printed), compatible with standard robotic gripper, compatible with commerical pipette tips which allows for multi-liquid workflows, rapid assembly and modular components, reliable (ISO-compliant accuracy)"],"assetIds":["asset-cad-commit-digital-pipette-open-hardware-for-liquid-transfer-in-self-driving-laboratories","asset-documentation-commit-digital-pipette-open-hardware-for-liquid-transfer-in-self-driving-laboratories"],"assetSlugs":["cad-commit-digital-pipette-open-hardware-for-liquid-transfer-in-self-driving-laboratories","documentation-commit-digital-pipette-open-hardware-for-liquid-transfer-in-self-driving-laboratories"],"assetTypes":["cad","documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 200 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-commit-digital-pipette"],"toolSlugs":["commit-digital-pipette"],"toolNames":["Commit: Digital Pipette"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-021","slug":"021-deep-integration-of-low-cost-liquid-handling-robots-in-an-industrial-pharmaceutical-development-environment","title":"Deep integration of low-cost liquid handling robots in an industrial pharmaceutical development environment","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","publication":{"paperTitle":"Deep integration of low-cost liquid handling robots in an industrial pharmaceutical development environment","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.042Z","abstract":"The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly embracing laboratory automation to enhance experimental efficiency and operational resilience, particularly through the integration of automated liquid handlers (ALHs). This paper explores the integration of the low-cost Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot with F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG's in-house workflow orchestration software, AutoLab, to overcome barriers to lab automation. By leveraging the OT-2's development-oriented interfaces and AutoLab's modular architecture, we achieved a user-friendly, cost-efficient, and flexible automation solution that aligns with FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data principles. We demonstrate an advanced workflow development methodology, utilizing the software architecture, that facilitates the creation of two flexible pipetting protocols and medium complexity assays. This deep integration approach diminishes the learning curve for novice users while simultaneously enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the experimental workflow. Our findings suggest that such integrations can significantly mitigate the challenges associated with lab automation, including cost, complexity, and adaptability, paving the way for more accessible and robust automated systems in pharmaceutical research.","authors":[{"name":"Anton Thieme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1427-593X","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sean Renwick","orcid":"","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michaela Marschmann","orcid":"","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pedro Ivo Guimarães","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Susanne Weissenborn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6388-2141","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jamie Clifton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0295-2708","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","title":"Deep integration of low-cost liquid handling robots in an industrial pharmaceutical development environment","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Anton Thieme","given":"Anton","family":"Thieme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1427-593X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sean Renwick","given":"Sean","family":"Renwick","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michaela Marschmann","given":"Michaela","family":"Marschmann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pedro Ivo Guimaraes","given":"Pedro Ivo","family":"Guimaraes","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Susanne Weissenborn","given":"Susanne","family":"Weissenborn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6388-2141","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jamie Clifton","given":"Jamie","family":"Clifton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0295-2708","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2024-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"29","issue":"5","pages":"100180","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":35,"citedByCount":10,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4402093887","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","url":"https://openalex.org/W4402093887","title":"Deep integration of low-cost liquid handling robots in an industrial pharmaceutical development environment","abstract":"The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly embracing laboratory automation to enhance experimental efficiency and operational resilience, particularly through the integration of automated liquid handlers (ALHs). This paper explores the integration of the low-cost Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot with F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG's in-house workflow orchestration software, AutoLab, to overcome barriers to lab automation. By leveraging the OT-2's development-oriented interfaces and AutoLab's modular architecture, we achieved a user-friendly, cost-efficient, and flexible automation solution that aligns with FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data principles. We demonstrate an advanced workflow development methodology, utilizing the software architecture, that facilitates the creation of two flexible pipetting protocols and medium complexity assays. This deep integration approach diminishes the learning curve for novice users while simultaneously enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the experimental workflow. Our findings suggest that such integrations can significantly mitigate the challenges associated with lab automation, including cost, complexity, and adaptability, paving the way for more accessible and robust automated systems in pharmaceutical research.","authors":[{"name":"Anton Thieme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1427-593X","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sean Renwick","orcid":"","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michaela Marschmann","orcid":"","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pedro Ivo Guimarães","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Susanne Weissenborn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6388-2141","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jamie Clifton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0295-2708","institutions":["Roche (Switzerland)"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":28,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630324000621/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["Scientific Computing and Data Management","Research Data Management Practices","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Workflow","Automation","Interoperability","Computer science","Robot","Modular design","Software engineering","Laboratory automation","Software","Orchestration","Systems engineering","Adaptability"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2024.100180","year":2024,"venue":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Automation","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Automation","Workflow automation","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 20 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-022","slug":"022-design-and-implementation-of-a-low-cost-bio-printer-modification-allowing-for-switching-between-plastic-and-gel-extrusio","title":"Design and implementation of a low cost bio-printer modification, allowing for switching between plastic and gel extrusion","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design and implementation of a low cost bio-printer modification, allowing for switching between plastic and gel extrusion","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00186","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.348Z","abstract":"Due to the high cost of bioprinters they are not feasible for proof of concept experiments or educational purposes. Furthermore, the more affordable DIY methods all disable the plastic printing capability of the original printer. Here we present an affordable bio-printing modification that is easy to install and maintains the original capabilities of the printer. The modification used mostly 3D printed parts and is based on the popular, open-source Prusa i3 3D printer. The modifications are kept as simple as possible and uses standard slicing software, allowing for installation by less experienced builders. By using disposable syringes and easily sterilizable parts, an aseptic bioprinting setup can be achieved, depending on the environment. It also allows for 2 component printing as well as UV curing. The bio-printing and curing capabilities were shown by printing and curing an artificial biofilm of an electro-active bacteria, Geobacter sulfurreducens, onto a carbon-cloth electrode which was used in a microbial fuel cell.","authors":[{"name":"Adolf Krige","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3386-701X","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Jakub Haluška","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8700-9232","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ulrika Rova","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7500-2367","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul Christakopoulos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0079-5950","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00186","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00186","title":"Design and implementation of a low cost bio-printer modification, allowing for switching between plastic and gel extrusion","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Adolf Krige","given":"Adolf","family":"Krige","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jakub Haluška","given":"Jakub","family":"Haluška","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ulrika Rova","given":"Ulrika","family":"Rova","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paul Christakopoulos","given":"Paul","family":"Christakopoulos","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"","pages":"e00186","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":12,"citedByCount":31,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Vetenskapsradet","doi":"10.13039/501100004359","awards":["2018 - 03875"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3128785321","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00186","url":"https://openalex.org/W3128785321","title":"Design and implementation of a low cost bio-printer modification, allowing for switching between plastic and gel extrusion","abstract":"Due to the high cost of bioprinters they are not feasible for proof of concept experiments or educational purposes. Furthermore, the more affordable DIY methods all disable the plastic printing capability of the original printer. Here we present an affordable bio-printing modification that is easy to install and maintains the original capabilities of the printer. The modification used mostly 3D printed parts and is based on the popular, open-source Prusa i3 3D printer. The modifications are kept as simple as possible and uses standard slicing software, allowing for installation by less experienced builders. By using disposable syringes and easily sterilizable parts, an aseptic bioprinting setup can be achieved, depending on the environment. It also allows for 2 component printing as well as UV curing. The bio-printing and curing capabilities were shown by printing and curing an artificial biofilm of an electro-active bacteria, Geobacter sulfurreducens, onto a carbon-cloth electrode which was used in a microbial fuel cell.","authors":[{"name":"Adolf Krige","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3386-701X","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Jakub Haluška","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8700-9232","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ulrika Rova","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7500-2367","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul Christakopoulos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0079-5950","institutions":["Luleå University of Technology"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-02-26","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":34,"referencesCount":11,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00186","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Cell Image Analysis Techniques"],"keywords":["3D printing","Curing (chemistry)","Computer science","3d printer","Software","Slicing","Computer hardware","Embedded system","Process engineering","Materials science","Engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"Design and implementation of a low cost bio-printer modification, allowing for switching between plastic and gel extrusion - ScienceDirect","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":5,"rationale":"Supports broad or translationally relevant applications."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-023","slug":"023-design-and-implementation-of-an-accessible-3d-bioprinter-benchmarking-the-performance-of-a-home-made-bioprinter-against-","title":"Design and Implementation of an Accessible 3D Bioprinter: Benchmarking the Performance of a Home-Made Bioprinter against a Professional Bioprinter","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design and Implementation of an Accessible 3D Bioprinter: Benchmarking the Performance of a Home-Made Bioprinter against a Professional Bioprinter","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/app131810213","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.397Z","abstract":"The tremendous application potential of 3D bioprinting in the biomedical field is witnessed by the ever-increasing interest in this technology over the past few years. In particular, the possibility of obtaining 3D cellular models that mimic tissues with precision and reproducibility represents a definitive advance for in vitro studies dealing with the biological mechanisms of cell growth, death and proliferation and is at the basis of the responses of healthy and pathological tissues to drugs and therapies. However, the impact of 3D bioprinting on research is limited by the high costs of professional 3D bioprinters, which represent an obstacle to the widespread access and usability of this technology. In this work, we present a 3D bioprinter that was developed in-house by modifying a low-cost commercial 3D printer by replacing the default extruder used to print plastic filaments with a custom-made syringe extruder that is suitable for printing bioinks. The modifications made to the 3D printer include adjusting the size of the extruder to accommodate a 1 mL syringe and reducing the extruder’s size above the printer. To validate the performance of the home-made bioprinter, some main printing characteristics, the cell vitality and the possibility of bioprinting CAD-designed constructs were benchmarked against a renowned professional 3D bioprinter by RegenHu. According to our findings, our in-house 3D bioprinter was mostly successful in printing a complex glioblastoma tumor model with good performances, and it managed to maintain a cell viability that was comparable to that achieved by a professional bioprinter. This suggests that an accessible open-source 3D bioprinter could be a viable option for research and development (R&amp;D) laboratories interested in pre-commercial 3D bioprinting advancements.","authors":[{"name":"P. D'Atanasio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0366-1309","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Noemi Fiaschini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1094-7743","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Antonio Rinaldi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3087-2649","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alessandro Zambotti","orcid":"","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"L. Cantini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0680-9535","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mariateresa Mancuso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0912-9287","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Francesca Antonelli","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8792-0330","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/app131810213","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810213","title":"Design and Implementation of an Accessible 3D Bioprinter: Benchmarking the Performance of a Home-Made Bioprinter against a Professional Bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"The tremendous application potential of 3D bioprinting in the biomedical field is witnessed by the ever-increasing interest in this technology over the past few years. In particular, the possibility of obtaining 3D cellular models that mimic tissues with precision and reproducibility represents a definitive advance for in vitro studies dealing with the biological mechanisms of cell growth, death and proliferation and is at the basis of the responses of healthy and pathological tissues to drugs and therapies. However, the impact of 3D bioprinting on research is limited by the high costs of professional 3D bioprinters, which represent an obstacle to the widespread access and usability of this technology. In this work, we present a 3D bioprinter that was developed in-house by modifying a low-cost commercial 3D printer by replacing the default extruder used to print plastic filaments with a custom-made syringe extruder that is suitable for printing bioinks. The modifications made to the 3D printer include adjusting the size of the extruder to accommodate a 1 mL syringe and reducing the extruder’s size above the printer. To validate the performance of the home-made bioprinter, some main printing characteristics, the cell vitality and the possibility of bioprinting CAD-designed constructs were benchmarked against a renowned professional 3D bioprinter by RegenHu. According to our findings, our in-house 3D bioprinter was mostly successful in printing a complex glioblastoma tumor model with good performances, and it managed to maintain a cell viability that was comparable to that achieved by a professional bioprinter. This suggests that an accessible open-source 3D bioprinter could be a viable option for research and development (R&D) laboratories interested in pre-commercial 3D bioprinting advancements.","authors":[{"name":"Paolo D’Atanasio","given":"Paolo","family":"D’Atanasio","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy"]},{"name":"Noemi Fiaschini","given":"Noemi","family":"Fiaschini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1094-7743","affiliations":["NANOFABER S.r.l., 00123 Rome, Italy"]},{"name":"Antonio Rinaldi","given":"Antonio","family":"Rinaldi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3087-2649","affiliations":["Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy"]},{"name":"Alessandro Zambotti","given":"Alessandro","family":"Zambotti","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy"]},{"name":"Lorenzo Cantini","given":"Lorenzo","family":"Cantini","orcid":"","affiliations":["Kentstrapper S.r.l., 50142 Florence, Italy"]},{"name":"Mariateresa Mancuso","given":"Mariateresa","family":"Mancuso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0912-9287","affiliations":["Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy"]},{"name":"Francesca Antonelli","given":"Francesca","family":"Antonelli","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Health Protection Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123 Rome, Italy"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Applied Sciences","publishedDate":"2023-09-11","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"18","pages":"10213","issn":["2076-3417"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":19,"citedByCount":2,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"internal ENEA “Proof of Concept” (PoC) program","doi":"","awards":["POR-FESR 2014–2020"]},{"name":"MAIA—Materiali Avanzati in una Infrastruttura Aperta","doi":"","awards":["POR-FESR 2014–2020"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4386638374","doi":"10.3390/app131810213","url":"https://openalex.org/W4386638374","title":"Design and Implementation of an Accessible 3D Bioprinter: Benchmarking the Performance of a Home-Made Bioprinter against a Professional Bioprinter","abstract":"The tremendous application potential of 3D bioprinting in the biomedical field is witnessed by the ever-increasing interest in this technology over the past few years. In particular, the possibility of obtaining 3D cellular models that mimic tissues with precision and reproducibility represents a definitive advance for in vitro studies dealing with the biological mechanisms of cell growth, death and proliferation and is at the basis of the responses of healthy and pathological tissues to drugs and therapies. However, the impact of 3D bioprinting on research is limited by the high costs of professional 3D bioprinters, which represent an obstacle to the widespread access and usability of this technology. In this work, we present a 3D bioprinter that was developed in-house by modifying a low-cost commercial 3D printer by replacing the default extruder used to print plastic filaments with a custom-made syringe extruder that is suitable for printing bioinks. The modifications made to the 3D printer include adjusting the size of the extruder to accommodate a 1 mL syringe and reducing the extruder’s size above the printer. To validate the performance of the home-made bioprinter, some main printing characteristics, the cell vitality and the possibility of bioprinting CAD-designed constructs were benchmarked against a renowned professional 3D bioprinter by RegenHu. According to our findings, our in-house 3D bioprinter was mostly successful in printing a complex glioblastoma tumor model with good performances, and it managed to maintain a cell viability that was comparable to that achieved by a professional bioprinter. This suggests that an accessible open-source 3D bioprinter could be a viable option for research and development (R&amp;D) laboratories interested in pre-commercial 3D bioprinting advancements.","authors":[{"name":"P. D'Atanasio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0366-1309","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Noemi Fiaschini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1094-7743","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Antonio Rinaldi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3087-2649","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alessandro Zambotti","orcid":"","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"L. Cantini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0680-9535","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mariateresa Mancuso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0912-9287","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Francesca Antonelli","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8792-0330","institutions":["National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":2,"referencesCount":20,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/18/10213/pdf?version=1694488075","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Applied Sciences","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Cell Image Analysis Techniques"],"keywords":["3D bioprinting","Nanotechnology","Biomedical engineering","Materials science","Engineering","Tissue engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/18/10213","year":2023,"venue":"Applied Sciences (MDPI)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"If files are shared, this is a solid ‘DIY vs commercial’ benchmarking reference.","whyItMatters":"If files are shared, this is a solid ‘DIY vs commercial’ benchmarking reference.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"MDPI landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 150 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-024","slug":"024-design-and-validation-of-a-piston-driven-syringe-extrusion-bioprinter-using-an-fdm-frame","title":"Design and Validation of a Piston-Driven Syringe-Extrusion Bioprinter Using an FDM Frame","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design and Validation of a Piston-Driven Syringe-Extrusion Bioprinter Using an FDM Frame","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/biomimetics10120811","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.640Z","abstract":"Direct ink writing (DIW) deposits viscous, shear-responsive inks at low temperature, enabling hydrogels and cell-laden bioinks for biomedical fabrication. Access to DIW remains limited by the cost of dedicated systems and the complexity of custom motion control. Repurposing fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers lowers these barriers by using accurate motion stages, open firmware, and familiar workflows while preserving build volume. In this study, three DIW actuator designs were implemented on an FDM frame. The first used a gear-and-rail transmission that converted stepper rotation to plunger travel. The second used a direct trapezoidal-screw pusher that increased force but reduced build-space clearance. The third relocated actuation to a remote piston-driven module that decoupled force generation from the printhead. The final architecture integrates the remote piston with partitioned control, where the printer executes motion and a programmable logic controller (PLC) manages extrusion. This arrangement reduces carried mass, preserves build space, and enables precise volumetric dosing with fast response. On a standard desktop frame, the system achieved controllable deposition of an agar/alginate ink using off-the-shelf electronics and modest modifications. This approach promotes sustainable and accessible innovation by repurposing existing FDM printers with open-source hardware and modular components. The resulting platform supports biomimetic biofabrication by combining mechanical efficiency, environmental responsibility, and cost-effective design.","authors":[{"name":"Linlin Zhou","orcid":"","institutions":["California State University, Fullerton"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Siheng Su","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-3452","institutions":["California State University, Fullerton"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/biomimetics10120811","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10120811","title":"Design and Validation of a Piston-Driven Syringe-Extrusion Bioprinter Using an FDM Frame","subtitle":"","abstract":"Direct ink writing (DIW) deposits viscous, shear-responsive inks at low temperature, enabling hydrogels and cell-laden bioinks for biomedical fabrication. Access to DIW remains limited by the cost of dedicated systems and the complexity of custom motion control. Repurposing fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers lowers these barriers by using accurate motion stages, open firmware, and familiar workflows while preserving build volume. In this study, three DIW actuator designs were implemented on an FDM frame. The first used a gear-and-rail transmission that converted stepper rotation to plunger travel. The second used a direct trapezoidal-screw pusher that increased force but reduced build-space clearance. The third relocated actuation to a remote piston-driven module that decoupled force generation from the printhead. The final architecture integrates the remote piston with partitioned control, where the printer executes motion and a programmable logic controller (PLC) manages extrusion. This arrangement reduces carried mass, preserves build space, and enables precise volumetric dosing with fast response. On a standard desktop frame, the system achieved controllable deposition of an agar/alginate ink using off-the-shelf electronics and modest modifications. This approach promotes sustainable and accessible innovation by repurposing existing FDM printers with open-source hardware and modular components. The resulting platform supports biomimetic biofabrication by combining mechanical efficiency, environmental responsibility, and cost-effective design.","authors":[{"name":"Linlin Zhou","given":"Linlin","family":"Zhou","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA"]},{"name":"Siheng Su","given":"Siheng","family":"Su","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-3452","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Biomimetics","publishedDate":"2025-12-04","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"12","pages":"811","issn":["2313-7673"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":35,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4417056730","doi":"10.3390/biomimetics10120811","url":"https://openalex.org/W4417056730","title":"Design and Validation of a Piston-Driven Syringe-Extrusion Bioprinter Using an FDM Frame","abstract":"Direct ink writing (DIW) deposits viscous, shear-responsive inks at low temperature, enabling hydrogels and cell-laden bioinks for biomedical fabrication. Access to DIW remains limited by the cost of dedicated systems and the complexity of custom motion control. Repurposing fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers lowers these barriers by using accurate motion stages, open firmware, and familiar workflows while preserving build volume. In this study, three DIW actuator designs were implemented on an FDM frame. The first used a gear-and-rail transmission that converted stepper rotation to plunger travel. The second used a direct trapezoidal-screw pusher that increased force but reduced build-space clearance. The third relocated actuation to a remote piston-driven module that decoupled force generation from the printhead. The final architecture integrates the remote piston with partitioned control, where the printer executes motion and a programmable logic controller (PLC) manages extrusion. This arrangement reduces carried mass, preserves build space, and enables precise volumetric dosing with fast response. On a standard desktop frame, the system achieved controllable deposition of an agar/alginate ink using off-the-shelf electronics and modest modifications. This approach promotes sustainable and accessible innovation by repurposing existing FDM printers with open-source hardware and modular components. The resulting platform supports biomimetic biofabrication by combining mechanical efficiency, environmental responsibility, and cost-effective design.","authors":[{"name":"Linlin Zhou","orcid":"","institutions":["California State University, Fullerton"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Siheng Su","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-3452","institutions":["California State University, Fullerton"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/12/811/pdf?version=1764827135","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Biomimetics","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["Modular design","Actuator","Fused deposition modeling","Repurposing","Stepper","Frame (networking)","Motion control","Programmable logic controller","Plunger","Interfacing"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/12/811","year":2024,"venue":"(MDPI journal; see landing)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Another replicable syringe-extrusion build pattern; include if authors provide files.","whyItMatters":"Another replicable syringe-extrusion build pattern; include if authors provide files.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"MDPI landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 100 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-025","slug":"025-design-and-validation-of-an-open-hardware-print-head-for-bioprinting-application","title":"Design and Validation of an Open-Hardware Print-Head for Bioprinting Application","doi":"10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design and Validation of an Open-Hardware Print-Head for Bioprinting Application","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.449Z","abstract":"In the last decades drop-on-demand inkjet technology played an increasing role in industrial and medical applications. This is due to the ability to deposit a small amount of material in precisely defined position. In the field of Biofabrication, inkjet printers are used to build 2D and 3D scaffolds and gels with biological molecules, including living cells. Several works, including seminal papers on inkjet bioprinting, were carried out with modified office printers. These printers have fixed structural characteristics and operating size, especially on the print-head, limiting the range of materials that can be dispensed. The aim of the present work is the design and fabrication of an open-source piezoelectric inkjet print-head, optimized for the bioprinting field. This low-cost, reproducible, reliable, versatile and biocompatible device will enable various research laboratories to work with a shared device; the open source allowing for parts to be modified to suit specific needs. The design was carried out by Finite Element (FE) modelling of the piezoelectric, mechanical, fluid dynamics and their coupling. The design was optimized for shear rate, which we minimized in order to be able to print cells. The mechanical frame of the printer was designed and built using a low-cost 3D printer. The nozzle plate was fabricated from a polycarbonate disc coated with biocompatible silicone, to increase the hydrophobicity of the outer surface of the disc, preventing ink adhesion on the edge of the nozzle; the refilling system, and the electronic control were also part of the project and will be freely available to download. The FE models were validated with ad-hoc experiments, printing water, gelatin solution, and cell culture media, by modulating the wave power in amplitude, frequency and duty cycle. The tests showed a large working window both respect to viscosity and to surface tension. Finally Human Skin Fibroblasts (ATCC-CRL- 2522, Teddington UK), suspended in culture media, were printed. Cell viability, assessed by CellTiter-Blue and LIVE / DEAD tests, resulted comparable with the control, demonstrating the validity of the first open source piezoelectric inkjet print-head for biofabrication.","authors":[{"name":"Carmelo De Maria","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1368-3571","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Laura M. Ferrari","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8521-9666","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Francesca Montemurro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4023-4111","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Federico Vozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5457-2328","institutions":["Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilenia Guerrazzi","orcid":"","institutions":["Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Boland","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2161-5699","institutions":["The University of Texas at El Paso"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Giovanni Vozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-9994","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","title":"Design and Validation of an Open-Hardware Print-Head for Bioprinting Application","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Carmelo De Maria","given":"Carmelo","family":"De Maria","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Laura Ferrari","given":"Laura","family":"Ferrari","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Francesca Montemurro","given":"Francesca","family":"Montemurro","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Federico Vozzi","given":"Federico","family":"Vozzi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ilenia Guerrazzi","given":"Ilenia","family":"Guerrazzi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Thomas Boland","given":"Thomas","family":"Boland","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Giovanni Vozzi","given":"Giovanni","family":"Vozzi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Procedia Engineering","publishedDate":"2015-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"110","issue":"","pages":"98-105","issn":["1877-7058"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":13,"citedByCount":14,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W1013714838","doi":"10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","url":"https://openalex.org/W1013714838","title":"Design and Validation of an Open-Hardware Print-Head for Bioprinting Application","abstract":"In the last decades drop-on-demand inkjet technology played an increasing role in industrial and medical applications. This is due to the ability to deposit a small amount of material in precisely defined position. In the field of Biofabrication, inkjet printers are used to build 2D and 3D scaffolds and gels with biological molecules, including living cells. Several works, including seminal papers on inkjet bioprinting, were carried out with modified office printers. These printers have fixed structural characteristics and operating size, especially on the print-head, limiting the range of materials that can be dispensed. The aim of the present work is the design and fabrication of an open-source piezoelectric inkjet print-head, optimized for the bioprinting field. This low-cost, reproducible, reliable, versatile and biocompatible device will enable various research laboratories to work with a shared device; the open source allowing for parts to be modified to suit specific needs. The design was carried out by Finite Element (FE) modelling of the piezoelectric, mechanical, fluid dynamics and their coupling. The design was optimized for shear rate, which we minimized in order to be able to print cells. The mechanical frame of the printer was designed and built using a low-cost 3D printer. The nozzle plate was fabricated from a polycarbonate disc coated with biocompatible silicone, to increase the hydrophobicity of the outer surface of the disc, preventing ink adhesion on the edge of the nozzle; the refilling system, and the electronic control were also part of the project and will be freely available to download. The FE models were validated with ad-hoc experiments, printing water, gelatin solution, and cell culture media, by modulating the wave power in amplitude, frequency and duty cycle. The tests showed a large working window both respect to viscosity and to surface tension. Finally Human Skin Fibroblasts (ATCC-CRL- 2522, Teddington UK), suspended in culture media, were printed. Cell viability, assessed by CellTiter-Blue and LIVE / DEAD tests, resulted comparable with the control, demonstrating the validity of the first open source piezoelectric inkjet print-head for biofabrication.","authors":[{"name":"Carmelo De Maria","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1368-3571","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Laura M. Ferrari","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8521-9666","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Francesca Montemurro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4023-4111","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Federico Vozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5457-2328","institutions":["Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilenia Guerrazzi","orcid":"","institutions":["Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Boland","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2161-5699","institutions":["The University of Texas at El Paso"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Giovanni Vozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-9994","institutions":["University of Pisa","Piaggio (Italy)"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2015-01-01","publicationYear":2015,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":16,"referencesCount":9,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.07.015","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Procedia Engineering","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Biofabrication","Nozzle","Biocompatible material","3D printing","Mechanical engineering","Materials science","Nanotechnology","Computer science","Engineering","Tissue engineering","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705815012564","year":2015,"venue":"Procedia Engineering","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Dedicated open-hardware printhead paper; good historical anchor beyond syringe conversions.","whyItMatters":"Dedicated open-hardware printhead paper; good historical anchor beyond syringe conversions.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"ScienceDirect landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source extruder/printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-026","slug":"026-design-of-an-open-source-low-cost-bioink-and-food-melt-extrusion-3d-printer","title":"Design of an Open-Source, Low-Cost Bioink and Food Melt Extrusion 3D Printer","doi":"10.3791/59834","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design of an Open-Source, Low-Cost Bioink and Food Melt Extrusion 3D Printer","requestedDoi":"10.3791/59834","resolvedDoi":"10.3791/59834","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.474Z","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an increasingly popular manufacturing technique that allows highly complex objects to be fabricated with no retooling costs. This increasing popularity is partly driven by falling barriers to entry such as system set-up costs and ease of operation. The following protocol presents the design and construction of an Additive Manufacturing Melt Extrusion (ADDME) 3D printer for the fabrication of custom parts and components. ADDME has been designed with a combination of 3D-printed, laser-cut, and online-sourced components. The protocol is arranged into easy-to-follow sections, with detailed diagrams and parts lists under the headings of framing, y-axis and bed, x-axis, extrusion, electronics, and software. The performance of ADDME is evaluated through extrusion testing and 3D printing of complex objects using viscous cream, chocolate, and Pluronic F-127 (a model for bioinks). The results indicate that ADDME is a capable platform for the fabrication of materials and constructs for use in a wide range of industries. The combination of detailed diagrams and video content facilitates access to low-cost, easy-to-operate equipment for individuals interested in 3D printing of complex objects from a wide range of materials.","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-2356","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jacob Skewes","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Logan Spiers","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prasad Yarlagadda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-4795","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3791/59834","url":"https://doi.org/10.3791/59834","title":"Design of an Open-Source, Low-Cost Bioink and Food Melt Extrusion 3D Printer","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","given":"Matthew","family":"Lanaro","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jacob Skewes","given":"Jacob","family":"Skewes","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Logan Spiers","given":"Logan","family":"Spiers","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Prasad K. Yarlagadda","given":"Prasad K.","family":"Yarlagadda","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","given":"Maria A.","family":"Woodruff","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"MyJove Corporation","journal":"Journal of Visualized Experiments","publishedDate":"2020-03-02","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"","issue":"157","pages":"","issn":["1940-087X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":0,"citedByCount":3,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2948294250","doi":"10.3791/59834","url":"https://openalex.org/W2948294250","title":"Design of an Open-Source, Low-Cost Bioink and Food Melt Extrusion 3D Printer","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an increasingly popular manufacturing technique that allows highly complex objects to be fabricated with no retooling costs. This increasing popularity is partly driven by falling barriers to entry such as system set-up costs and ease of operation. The following protocol presents the design and construction of an Additive Manufacturing Melt Extrusion (ADDME) 3D printer for the fabrication of custom parts and components. ADDME has been designed with a combination of 3D-printed, laser-cut, and online-sourced components. The protocol is arranged into easy-to-follow sections, with detailed diagrams and parts lists under the headings of framing, y-axis and bed, x-axis, extrusion, electronics, and software. The performance of ADDME is evaluated through extrusion testing and 3D printing of complex objects using viscous cream, chocolate, and Pluronic F-127 (a model for bioinks). The results indicate that ADDME is a capable platform for the fabrication of materials and constructs for use in a wide range of industries. The combination of detailed diagrams and video content facilitates access to low-cost, easy-to-operate equipment for individuals interested in 3D printing of complex objects from a wide range of materials.","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-2356","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jacob Skewes","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Logan Spiers","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prasad Yarlagadda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-4795","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-03-02","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":6,"referencesCount":9,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.3791/59834","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Journal of Visualized Experiments","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["3D printing","Extrusion","Fabrication","Computer science","3d printed","Software","Protocol (science)","Rapid prototyping","Framing (construction)","Materials science","Mechanical engineering","Engineering drawing"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.jove.com/t/59834/design-an-open-source-low-cost-bioink-food-melt-extrusion-3d","year":2020,"venue":"JoVE","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Concrete reproducible build/protocol paper; directly aligned with ‘new open tools’ ask.","whyItMatters":"Concrete reproducible build/protocol paper; directly aligned with ‘new open tools’ ask.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"JoVE landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-protocol-design-of-an-open-source-low-cost-bioink-and-food-melt-extrusion-3d-printer"],"assetSlugs":["protocol-design-of-an-open-source-low-cost-bioink-and-food-melt-extrusion-3d-printer"],"assetTypes":["protocol"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 6000 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-027","slug":"027-design-of-multi-nozzle-bio-3d-printer-system-based-on-marlin-firmware","title":"Design of Multi-nozzle Bio-3D Printer System Based on Marlin Firmware","doi":"10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","publication":{"paperTitle":"Design of Multi-nozzle Bio-3D Printer System Based on Marlin Firmware","requestedDoi":"10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:50.986Z","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yanan Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2886-1585","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Wan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3325-1386","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Xi Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8749-8267","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiarui Hou","orcid":"","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","title":"Design of Multi-nozzle Bio-3D Printer System Based on Marlin Firmware","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yanan Li","given":"Yanan","family":"Li","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yi Wan","given":"Yi","family":"Wan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Xi chang Liang","given":"Xi chang","family":"Liang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jiarui Hou","given":"Jiarui","family":"Hou","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Nature Singapore","journal":"Mechanisms and Machine Science","publishedDate":"2022-01-01","type":"book-chapter","language":"en","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"1673-1685","issn":["2211-0984","2211-0992"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":11,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://www.springer.com/tdm","https://www.springer.com/tdm"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4225783364","doi":"10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","url":"https://openalex.org/W4225783364","title":"Design of Multi-nozzle Bio-3D Printer System Based on Marlin Firmware","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yanan Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2886-1585","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Wan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3325-1386","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Xi Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8749-8267","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiarui Hou","orcid":"","institutions":["Shandong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationYear":2022,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":4,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Mechanisms and machine science","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Bone Tissue Engineering Materials"],"keywords":["Firmware","Nozzle","Workbench","Process (computing)","Engineering","3d printer","3D printing","Computer hardware","Embedded system","Mechanical engineering","Computer science","Automotive engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-7381-8_103","year":2022,"venue":"Advances in Mechanical Design (ICMD 2021) (Springer)","type":"Open-source firmware/software","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Firmware-centric ‘open tool’ angle: multi-nozzle control on common open firmware.","whyItMatters":"Firmware-centric ‘open tool’ angle: multi-nozzle control on common open firmware.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer chapter landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source firmware/software"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-firmware-design-of-multi-nozzle-bio-3d-printer-system-based-on-marlin-firmware"],"assetSlugs":["firmware-design-of-multi-nozzle-bio-3d-printer-system-based-on-marlin-firmware"],"assetTypes":["firmware"],"eventIds":["event-advances-in-mechanical-design-icmd-2021-springer"],"eventSlugs":["advances-in-mechanical-design-icmd-2021-springer"],"eventNames":["Advances in Mechanical Design (ICMD 2021) (Springer)"],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-028","slug":"028-designing-cost-effective-open-source-multihead-3d-bioprinters","title":"Designing cost-effective open-source multihead 3D bioprinters","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Designing cost-effective open-source multihead 3D bioprinters","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1089/genbio.2022.0021","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:50.565Z","abstract":"For the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances toward fabricating anatomic-size patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open-source software to control the printer. In this study, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open-source, and customizable multihead bioprinters. These bioprinters utilize computer controlled volumetric extrusion, allowing bioinks with a wide range of flow properties to be bioprinted, including non-Newtonian bioinks. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for ∼$400 USD. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-2013","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-9655","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Landon Dahle","orcid":"","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Mandrona","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2088-1473","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","orcid":"","institutions":["Texas A&M University System","Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1089/genbio.2022.0021","url":"https://doi.org/10.1089/genbio.2022.0021","title":"Designing Cost-Effective Open-Source Multihead 3D Bioprinters","subtitle":"","abstract":"For the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances toward fabricating anatomic-size patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open-source software to control the printer. In this study, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open-source, and customizable multihead bioprinters. These bioprinters utilize computer controlled volumetric extrusion, allowing bioinks with a wide range of flow properties to be bioprinted, including non-Newtonian bioinks. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for ∼$400 USD. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","given":"David","family":"Chimene","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","given":"Kaivalya A.","family":"Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","given":"Jeremy","family":"Thomas","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Landon Dahle","given":"Landon","family":"Dahle","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Cole Mandrona","given":"Cole","family":"Mandrona","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","given":"Akhilesh K.","family":"Gaharwar","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA","Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA","Department of Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA","Department of Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Remote Health Technologies and Systems, Texas A&amp;M University, College Station, Texas, USA."]}],"publisher":"SAGE Publications","journal":"GEN Biotechnology","publishedDate":"2022-08-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"1","issue":"4","pages":"386-400","issn":["2768-1572","2768-1556"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":16,"licenses":["https://journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4292240635","doi":"10.1089/genbio.2022.0021","url":"https://openalex.org/W4292240635","title":"Designing Cost-Effective Open-Source Multihead 3D Bioprinters","abstract":"For the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances toward fabricating anatomic-size patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open-source software to control the printer. In this study, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open-source, and customizable multihead bioprinters. These bioprinters utilize computer controlled volumetric extrusion, allowing bioinks with a wide range of flow properties to be bioprinted, including non-Newtonian bioinks. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for ∼$400 USD. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-2013","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-9655","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Landon Dahle","orcid":"","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Mandrona","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2088-1473","institutions":["Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","orcid":"","institutions":["Texas A&M University System","Texas College","Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":17,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/9426752","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"submittedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PubMed Central","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Computer science","3D printing","3D bioprinting","Software","Tissue engineering","Open source","Regenerative medicine","Fused deposition modeling","3d printed","Artificial intelligence","Biomedical engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9426752/","year":2022,"venue":"(see PMC)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Practical open-source path to multi-material/multihead bioprinting; widely replicable.","whyItMatters":"Practical open-source path to multi-material/multihead bioprinting; widely replicable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 10000 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-029","slug":"029-designing-cost-effective-open-source-multi-head-bioprinters-via-conversion-of-hobby-grade-3d-printers","title":"Designing Cost-Effective, Open-Source, Multi-Head Bioprinters via Conversion of Hobby-Grade 3D Printers","doi":"10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","publication":{"paperTitle":"Designing Cost-Effective, Open-Source, Multi-Head Bioprinters via Conversion of Hobby-Grade 3D Printers","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.607Z","abstract":"Abstract Over the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances towards fabricating anatomic-size, patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional 3D printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open source software to control the printer. In this work, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open source, and customizable multi-head bioprinters. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for approximately $400. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-2013","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-9655","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0284-0201","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","title":"Designing Cost-Effective, Open-Source, Multi-Head Bioprinters via Conversion of Hobby-Grade 3D Printers","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Over the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances towards fabricating anatomic-size, patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional 3D printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open source software to control the printer. In this work, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open source, and customizable multi-head bioprinters. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for approximately $400. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","given":"David","family":"Chimene","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-2013","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","given":"Kaivalya A.","family":"Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","given":"Jeremy","family":"Thomas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-9655","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","given":"Akhilesh K.","family":"Gaharwar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0284-0201","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2022-03-27","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":17,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4220914292","doi":"10.1101/2022.03.24.483055","url":"https://openalex.org/W4220914292","title":"Designing Cost-Effective, Open-Source, Multi-Head Bioprinters via Conversion of Hobby-Grade 3D Printers","abstract":"Abstract Over the past decade, additive manufacturing has resulted in significant advances towards fabricating anatomic-size, patient-specific scaffolds for tissue models and regenerative medicine. This can be attributed to the development of advanced bioinks capable of precise deposition of cells and biomaterials. The combination of additive manufacturing with advanced bioinks is enabling researchers to fabricate intricate tissue scaffolds that recreate the complex spatial distributions of cells and bioactive cues found in the human body. However, the expansion of this promising technique has been hampered by the high cost of commercially available bioprinters and proprietary software. In contrast, conventional 3D printing has become increasingly popular with home hobbyists and caused an explosion of both low-cost thermoplastic 3D printers and open source software to control the printer. In this work, we bring these benefits into the field of bioprinting by converting widely available and cost-effective 3D printers into fully functional, open source, and customizable multi-head bioprinters. We demonstrate the practicality of this approach by designing bioprinters customized with multiple extruders, automatic bed leveling, and temperature controls for approximately $400. These bioprinters were then used for in vitro and ex vivo bioprinting to demonstrate their utility for tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"David Chimene","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9782-2013","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kaivalya A. Deo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2233-383X","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy Thomas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-9655","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akhilesh K. Gaharwar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0284-0201","institutions":["Texas A&M University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-03-27","publicationYear":2022,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":15,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["3D printing","Computer science","Fused deposition modeling","3D bioprinting","Open source","3d printed","Software","Tissue engineering","Hobby","3d printer","Regenerative medicine","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"","year":2022,"venue":"bioRxiv","type":"Preprint","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Practical recipe for labs; in-scope as an open tool/system even if preprint.","whyItMatters":"Practical recipe for labs; in-scope as an open tool/system even if preprint.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"bioRxiv PDF","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Preprint"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-030","slug":"030-development-and-implementation-of-a-significantly-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-using-recycled-scrap-material","title":"Development and implementation of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter using recycled scrap material","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396/full","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development and implementation of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter using recycled scrap material","requestedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396 | 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396/full","resolvedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.725Z","abstract":"The field of 3D bioengineering proposes to effectively contribute to the manufacture of artificial multicellular organ/tissues and the understanding of complex cellular mechanisms. In this regard, 3D cell cultures comprise a promising bioengineering possibility for the alternative treatment of organ function loss, potentially improving patient life expectancies. Patients with end-stage disease, for example, could benefit from treatment until organ transplantation or even undergo organ function restoration. Currently, 3D bioprinters can produce tissues such as trachea cartilage or artificial skin. Most low-cost 3D bioprinters are built from fused deposition modeling 3D printer frames modified for the deposition of biologically compatible material, ranging between $13.000,00 and $300.000,00. Furthermore, the cost of consumables should also be considered as they, can range from $3,85 and $100.000,00 per gram, making biomaterials expensive, hindering bioprinting access. In this context, our report describes the first prototype of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter built from recycled scrap metal and off-the-shelf electronics. We demonstrate the functionalized process and methodology proof of concept and aim to test it in different biological tissue scaffolds in the future, using affordable materials and open-source methodologies, thus democratizing the state of the art of this technology.","authors":[{"name":"Jaciara Fernanda Gomes Gama","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3945-8644","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evellyn Araújo Dias","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rosângela Marques Gonçalves Aguiar Coelho","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"André Maia Chagas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2609-3017","institutions":["University of Sussex","Yobe State University"],"countries":["GB","NG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"José Aguiar Coelho Nt","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luiz Anastácio Alves","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0785-7272","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396","title":"Development and implementation of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter using recycled scrap material","subtitle":"","abstract":"The field of 3D bioengineering proposes to effectively contribute to the manufacture of artificial multicellular organ/tissues and the understanding of complex cellular mechanisms. In this regard, 3D cell cultures comprise a promising bioengineering possibility for the alternative treatment of organ function loss, potentially improving patient life expectancies. Patients with end-stage disease, for example, could benefit from treatment until organ transplantation or even undergo organ function restoration. Currently, 3D bioprinters can produce tissues such as trachea cartilage or artificial skin. Most low-cost 3D bioprinters are built from fused deposition modeling 3D printer frames modified for the deposition of biologically compatible material, ranging between $13.000,00 and $300.000,00. Furthermore, the cost of consumables should also be considered as they, can range from $3,85 and $100.000,00 per gram, making biomaterials expensive, hindering bioprinting access. In this context, our report describes the first prototype of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter built from recycled scrap metal and off-the-shelf electronics. We demonstrate the functionalized process and methodology proof of concept and aim to test it in different biological tissue scaffolds in the future, using affordable materials and open-source methodologies, thus democratizing the state of the art of this technology.","authors":[{"name":"Jaciara Fernanda Gomes Gama","given":"Jaciara Fernanda","family":"Gomes Gama","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Evellyn Araujo Dias","given":"Evellyn Araujo","family":"Dias","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rosângela Marques Gonçalves Aguiar Coelho","given":"Rosângela Marques Gonçalves","family":"Aguiar Coelho","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"André Maia Chagas","given":"André Maia","family":"Chagas","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"José Aguiar Coelho Nt","given":"José","family":"Aguiar Coelho Nt","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Luiz Anastacio Alves","given":"Luiz Anastacio","family":"Alves","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","journal":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","publishedDate":"2023-04-07","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"11","issue":"","pages":"","issn":["2296-4185"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":41,"citedByCount":14,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa Do Estado do Rio de Janeiro","doi":"10.13039/501100004586","awards":["001"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4362700783","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396","url":"https://openalex.org/W4362700783","title":"Development and implementation of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter using recycled scrap material","abstract":"The field of 3D bioengineering proposes to effectively contribute to the manufacture of artificial multicellular organ/tissues and the understanding of complex cellular mechanisms. In this regard, 3D cell cultures comprise a promising bioengineering possibility for the alternative treatment of organ function loss, potentially improving patient life expectancies. Patients with end-stage disease, for example, could benefit from treatment until organ transplantation or even undergo organ function restoration. Currently, 3D bioprinters can produce tissues such as trachea cartilage or artificial skin. Most low-cost 3D bioprinters are built from fused deposition modeling 3D printer frames modified for the deposition of biologically compatible material, ranging between $13.000,00 and $300.000,00. Furthermore, the cost of consumables should also be considered as they, can range from $3,85 and $100.000,00 per gram, making biomaterials expensive, hindering bioprinting access. In this context, our report describes the first prototype of a significantly low-cost 3D bioprinter built from recycled scrap metal and off-the-shelf electronics. We demonstrate the functionalized process and methodology proof of concept and aim to test it in different biological tissue scaffolds in the future, using affordable materials and open-source methodologies, thus democratizing the state of the art of this technology.","authors":[{"name":"Jaciara Fernanda Gomes Gama","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3945-8644","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evellyn Araújo Dias","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rosângela Marques Gonçalves Aguiar Coelho","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"André Maia Chagas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2609-3017","institutions":["University of Sussex","Yobe State University"],"countries":["GB","NG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"José Aguiar Coelho Nt","orcid":"","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luiz Anastácio Alves","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0785-7272","institutions":["Fundação Oswaldo Cruz"],"countries":["BR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-04-07","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":14,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Context (archaeology)","3D bioprinting","Nanotechnology","Biomedical engineering","Biochemical engineering","Computer science","Materials science","Tissue engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1108396/full","year":2023,"venue":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"Microextrusion bioprinter | Microextrusion bioprinter (recycled scrap material)","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Shows extreme cost-reduction approach; practical for access/democratization discussions.","whyItMatters":"Shows extreme cost-reduction approach; practical for access/democratization discussions.","motivationUseCase":"increase accessibility to bioprinting and democratize teaching of basic techniques","limitation":"Resolution/precision tradeoffs from using scrap/recycled components; build quality may vary with available scrap materials","function":"Low-cost 3D bioprinter built from recycled scrap metal and off-the-shelf electronics; no 3D printer required to build it","keySources":"Frontiers methods article + DOI","openSourceResources":"GitHub, CAD files, assembly schematics","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Moderate","technicalSkillsNeeded":["Metalworking/scrap fabrication","basic electronics assembly","no 3D printer access required"],"approximateCost":"260 USD | 260","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)","Microextrusion bioprinter | Microextrusion bioprinter (recycled scrap material)"],"democratizingFeatures":["can be built from locally-sourced materials (scrap metal), no 3D printer required"],"assetIds":["asset-cad-development-and-implementation-of-a-significantly-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-using-recycled-scrap-material","asset-schematics-development-and-implementation-of-a-significantly-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-using-recycled-scrap-material"],"assetSlugs":["cad-development-and-implementation-of-a-significantly-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-using-recycled-scrap-material","schematics-development-and-implementation-of-a-significantly-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-using-recycled-scrap-material"],"assetTypes":["cad","schematics"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 10 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-microextrusion-bioprinter"],"toolSlugs":["microextrusion-bioprinter"],"toolNames":["Microextrusion bioprinter"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-031","slug":"031-development-of-a-high-performance-open-source-3d-bioprinter","title":"Development of a high-performance open-source 3D bioprinter","doi":"10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of a high-performance open-source 3D bioprinter","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:49.838Z","abstract":"The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5000 to over $1,000,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter's travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","title":"Development of a high-performance open-source 3D bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5000 to over $1,000,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter’s travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","given":"Joshua W.","family":"Tashman","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","given":"Daniel J.","family":"Shiwarski","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","given":"Adam W.","family":"Feinberg","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2022-12-31","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":34,"citedByCount":61,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["F30HL154728"]},{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["K99HL155777"]},{"name":"U.S. Food and Drug Administration","doi":"10.13039/100000038","awards":["R01FD006582"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4313397288","doi":"10.1038/s41598-022-26809-4","url":"https://openalex.org/W4313397288","title":"Development of a high-performance open-source 3D bioprinter","abstract":"The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5000 to over $1,000,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter's travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-12-31","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":61,"referencesCount":32,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Computer science","3D printing","3d printer","3D bioprinting","Scaffold","Open source","Biomedical engineering","Tissue engineering","Engineering","Operating system","Mechanical engineering","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9805454/","year":2022,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Canonical ‘Feinberg lab’ open-source bioprinter paper; directly in-scope for new open tools.","whyItMatters":"Canonical ‘Feinberg lab’ open-source bioprinter paper; directly in-scope for new open tools.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"no cell viability or functional validation, how reproducible is the building (e.g. build time, failure rate, user variability)","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-032","slug":"032-development-of-a-high-performance-open-source-3d-bioprinter-preprint","title":"Development of a High-Performance Open-Source 3D Bioprinter (preprint)","doi":"10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of a High-Performance Open-Source 3D Bioprinter (preprint)","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":0.92,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:50.429Z","abstract":"Abstract The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5,000 to over $500,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter’s travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes, and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","title":"Development of a High-Performance Open-Source 3D Bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5,000 to over $500,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter’s travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes, and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","given":"Joshua W.","family":"Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","given":"Daniel J.","family":"Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","given":"Adam W.","family":"Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2022-09-13","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4296211102","doi":"10.1101/2022.09.11.507416","url":"https://openalex.org/W4296211102","title":"Development of a High-Performance Open-Source 3D Bioprinter","abstract":"Abstract The application of 3D printing to biological research has provided the tissue engineering community with a method for organizing cells and biological materials into complex 3D structures. While many commercial bioprinting platforms exist, they are expensive, ranging from $5,000 to over $500,000. This high cost of entry prevents many labs from incorporating 3D bioprinting into their research. Due to the open-source nature of desktop plastic 3D printers, an alternative option has been to convert low-cost plastic printers into bioprinters. Several open-source modifications have been described, but there remains a need for a user-friendly, step-by-step guide for converting a thermoplastic printer into a bioprinter using components with validated performance. Here we convert a low-cost 3D printer, the FlashForge Finder, into a bioprinter using our Replistruder 4 syringe pump and the Duet3D Duet 2 WiFi for total cost of less than $900. We demonstrate that the accuracy of the bioprinter’s travel is better than 35 µm in all three axes, and quantify fidelity by printing square lattice collagen scaffolds with average errors less than 2%. We also show high fidelity reproduction of clinical-imaging data by printing a scaffold of a human ear using collagen bioink. Finally, to maximize accessibility and customizability, all components we have designed for the bioprinter conversion are provided as open-source 3D models, along with instructions for further modifying the bioprinter for additional use cases, resulting in a comprehensive guide for the bioprinting field.","authors":[{"name":"Joshua W. Tashman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8193-0039","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Shiwarski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-303X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-09-13","publicationYear":2022,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":29,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["3D printing","Computer science","3d printer","3D bioprinting","Scaffold","Open source","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Tissue engineering","Materials science","Engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.09.11.507416v1.full","year":2022,"venue":"bioRxiv","type":"Preprint","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Captures preprint artifacts (sometimes includes extra build details / early repo links).","whyItMatters":"Captures preprint artifacts (sometimes includes extra build details / early repo links).","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"bioRxiv full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Preprint"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-033","slug":"033-development-of-a-microfluidic-open-source-3d-bioprinting-system-mos3s-for-the-engineering-of-hierarchical-tissues","title":"Development of a Microfluidic Open Source 3D bioprinting System (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","doi":"10.17632/s8bpwp2ryb.1","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of a Microfluidic Open Source 3D bioprinting System (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","requestedDoi":"10.17632/s8bpwp2ryb.1","resolvedDoi":"10.17632/s8bpwp2ryb.1","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:50.990Z","abstract":"The development of 3D bioprinting has shown great promise in the field of tissue engineering and disease modelling. However, the high cost of commercial 3D bioprinters has limited their accessibility, especially to those laboratories in resource-limited settings. Moreover, the need for a 3D bioprinting system capable of handling multi-material is growing. Therefore, the development of low-cost 3D bioprinters is necessary to make this technology accessible to a wider range of researchers. We have developed a customized, open-source, low-cost 3D bioprinter based on a commercial fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer to address this issue. The bioprinter is designed to print biomaterials for tissue engineering purposes using a coaxial nozzle for in situ cross-linking the biomaterial, and it includes three syringe pumps that can also be used to deliver liquid in microfluidic chips. The affordability of our bioprinter is a significant advantage, as it makes it accessible to a broader spectrum of users, working in different fields such as tissue engineering, drug discovery, and disease modeling. The open-source nature of the bioprinter also allows for easy customization and adaptation to specific research needs. The performance of the 3D bioprinter has been validated by constructing lattice scaffolds which are being widely used in tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"MOHAMMADI, SAJAD","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":null,"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W6887879798","doi":"10.17632/s8bpwp2ryb.1","url":"https://openalex.org/W6887879798","title":"Development of a Microfluidic Open Source 3D bioprinting System (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","abstract":"The development of 3D bioprinting has shown great promise in the field of tissue engineering and disease modelling. However, the high cost of commercial 3D bioprinters has limited their accessibility, especially to those laboratories in resource-limited settings. Moreover, the need for a 3D bioprinting system capable of handling multi-material is growing. Therefore, the development of low-cost 3D bioprinters is necessary to make this technology accessible to a wider range of researchers. We have developed a customized, open-source, low-cost 3D bioprinter based on a commercial fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer to address this issue. The bioprinter is designed to print biomaterials for tissue engineering purposes using a coaxial nozzle for in situ cross-linking the biomaterial, and it includes three syringe pumps that can also be used to deliver liquid in microfluidic chips. The affordability of our bioprinter is a significant advantage, as it makes it accessible to a broader spectrum of users, working in different fields such as tissue engineering, drug discovery, and disease modeling. The open-source nature of the bioprinter also allows for easy customization and adaptation to specific research needs. The performance of the 3D bioprinter has been validated by constructing lattice scaffolds which are being widely used in tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"MOHAMMADI, SAJAD","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-03-25","publicationYear":2024,"type":"other","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":0,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"https://doi.org/10.17632/s8bpwp2ryb.1","pdfUrl":"","license":"other-oa","version":"","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Mendeley Data","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["3D bioprinting","Microfluidics","Biofabrication","3D printing","Tissue engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/s8bpwp2ryb/1","year":2024,"venue":"(dataset/repo)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Not a formal paper link, but a recent open repository that may correspond to a paper; good lead.","whyItMatters":"Not a formal paper link, but a recent open repository that may correspond to a paper; good lead.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Mendeley Data DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-mendeley-dataset-s8bpwp2ryb","slug":"mendeley-dataset-s8bpwp2ryb","name":"Mendeley dataset s8bpwp2ryb","url":"https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/s8bpwp2ryb/1","kind":"dataset"},"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":5,"rationale":"Supports broad or translationally relevant applications."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"Speed/cycle time not reported; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-034","slug":"034-development-of-a-microfluidic-assisted-open-source-3d-bioprinting-system-mos3s-for-the-engineering-of-hierarchical-tissu","title":"Development of a microfluidic-assisted open-source 3D bioprinting system (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of a microfluidic-assisted open-source 3D bioprinting system (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00527","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.709Z","abstract":"crosslinking and scaffolds fabrication. The coupling of 3D printed syringe pumps with the motion control system is used for driving the tunable extrusion of inks for the fabrication of centimeter scale hierarchical lattice constructs for tissue engineering purposes. MOS3S performance have been validated to fabricate high-resolution structures with coaxial microfluidic technology, opening to new frontiers for seminal studies in pre-clinical disease modelling and tissue regeneration.","authors":[{"name":"Sajad Mohammadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6878-0099","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology","Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Salvatore D’Alessandro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7983-2085","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology","Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fabiano Bini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5641-1189","institutions":["Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Franco Marinozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4872-2980","institutions":["Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gianluca Cidonio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9445-6994","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00527","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00527","title":"Development of a microfluidic-assisted open-source 3D bioprinting system (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Sajad Mohammadi","given":"Sajad","family":"Mohammadi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Salvatore D’Alessandro","given":"Salvatore","family":"D’Alessandro","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Fabiano Bini","given":"Fabiano","family":"Bini","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Franco Marinozzi","given":"Franco","family":"Marinozzi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gianluca Cidonio","given":"Gianluca","family":"Cidonio","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2024-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"18","issue":"","pages":"e00527","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":15,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4393408611","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00527","url":"https://openalex.org/W4393408611","title":"Development of a microfluidic-assisted open-source 3D bioprinting system (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues","abstract":"crosslinking and scaffolds fabrication. The coupling of 3D printed syringe pumps with the motion control system is used for driving the tunable extrusion of inks for the fabrication of centimeter scale hierarchical lattice constructs for tissue engineering purposes. MOS3S performance have been validated to fabricate high-resolution structures with coaxial microfluidic technology, opening to new frontiers for seminal studies in pre-clinical disease modelling and tissue regeneration.","authors":[{"name":"Sajad Mohammadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6878-0099","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology","Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Salvatore D’Alessandro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7983-2085","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology","Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fabiano Bini","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5641-1189","institutions":["Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Franco Marinozzi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4872-2980","institutions":["Sapienza University of Rome"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gianluca Cidonio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9445-6994","institutions":["Italian Institute of Technology","Center for Nano Science and Technology"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2024-04-02","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":15,"referencesCount":30,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00527","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Nanotechnology","3D bioprinting","Tissue engineering","3D printing","Biofabrication","Scaffold","Fabrication","Computer science","Materials science","Biomedical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"Development of a microfluidic-assisted open-source 3D bioprinting system (MOS3S) for the engineering of hierarchical tissues - ScienceDirect","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":5,"rationale":"Supports broad or translationally relevant applications."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"Speed/cycle time not reported; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-035","slug":"035-development-of-a-robotic-system-for-automatic-organic-chemistry-synthesis","title":"Development of a Robotic System for Automatic Organic Chemistry Synthesis","doi":"10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of a Robotic System for Automatic Organic Chemistry Synthesis","requestedDoi":"10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","resolvedDoi":"10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:51.086Z","abstract":"Automated chemical synthesis has great promises of safety, efficiency, and reproducibility for both research and industry laboratories. Current approaches are based on specifically designed automation systems, which present two major drawbacks: 1) existing apparatus must be modified to be integrated into the automation systems and 2) such systems are not flexible and would require substantial redesign to handle new reactions or procedures. In this article, we propose a system based on a robot arm that mimics motions of human chemists, performs complex chemical reactions with no modifications to the existing setup used by humans, and thus removes human interventions. The automated system is capable of precise liquid handling, mixing, and filtering and is flexible; new skills and procedures could be added with minimum effort. The production sequence is customizable by chaining tasks together. We show that the robot is able to perform a Michael reaction, reaching a yield of 34%, which is comparable to that obtained by a junior chemist (undergraduate student in Chemistry). <italic xmlns:mml=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">Note to Practitioners</i> —This article explored methods to reduce the need of additional modifications on structured environments to implement automation. Existing approaches in chemical synthesis automation require substantial modifications on apparatus to incorporate automation, and hence, they are inflexible to changes in the procedures or reactions. This article suggested a new system that performed chemical reactions in an existing setup used by human chemist and was flexible in the production sequence or addition of tasks. We showed how the robot arm was capable of automating a Michael reaction and repeating the experiment again, which could be further extended multiple times. The yield obtained by the robot was comparable to junior chemist and consistent but lower than a senior chemist. Hence, we could improve the yield by understanding skills of a senior chemist and transferring them to the robot.","authors":[{"name":"Joyce Xin-Yan Lim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9440-5054","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dasheng Leow","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9823-0258","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Quang‐Cuong Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9605-4940","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Choon‐Hong Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3190-7855","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","title":"Development of a Robotic System for Automatic Organic Chemistry Synthesis","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Joyce Xin-Yan Lim","given":"Joyce Xin-Yan","family":"Lim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9440-5054","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dasheng Leow","given":"Dasheng","family":"Leow","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Quang-Cuong Pham","given":"Quang-Cuong","family":"Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9605-4940","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Choon-Hong Tan","given":"Choon-Hong","family":"Tan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)","journal":"IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering","publishedDate":"2021-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"18","issue":"4","pages":"2185-2190","issn":["1545-5955","1558-3783"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":0,"citedByCount":29,"licenses":["https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplorehelp/downloads/license-information/IEEE.html","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-029","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-037"],"funders":[{"name":"Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its Academic Research Fund Tier 1","doi":"","awards":["ID: RG4/18"]},{"name":"Agency For Science, Technology and Research of Singapore (A*STAR) through the AME Individual Research Grant 2017","doi":"","awards":["A1883c0008"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3110324412","doi":"10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","url":"https://openalex.org/W3110324412","title":"Development of a Robotic System for Automatic Organic Chemistry Synthesis","abstract":"Automated chemical synthesis has great promises of safety, efficiency, and reproducibility for both research and industry laboratories. Current approaches are based on specifically designed automation systems, which present two major drawbacks: 1) existing apparatus must be modified to be integrated into the automation systems and 2) such systems are not flexible and would require substantial redesign to handle new reactions or procedures. In this article, we propose a system based on a robot arm that mimics motions of human chemists, performs complex chemical reactions with no modifications to the existing setup used by humans, and thus removes human interventions. The automated system is capable of precise liquid handling, mixing, and filtering and is flexible; new skills and procedures could be added with minimum effort. The production sequence is customizable by chaining tasks together. We show that the robot is able to perform a Michael reaction, reaching a yield of 34%, which is comparable to that obtained by a junior chemist (undergraduate student in Chemistry). <italic xmlns:mml=\"http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\" xmlns:xlink=\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">Note to Practitioners</i> —This article explored methods to reduce the need of additional modifications on structured environments to implement automation. Existing approaches in chemical synthesis automation require substantial modifications on apparatus to incorporate automation, and hence, they are inflexible to changes in the procedures or reactions. This article suggested a new system that performed chemical reactions in an existing setup used by human chemist and was flexible in the production sequence or addition of tasks. We showed how the robot arm was capable of automating a Michael reaction and repeating the experiment again, which could be further extended multiple times. The yield obtained by the robot was comparable to junior chemist and consistent but lower than a senior chemist. Hence, we could improve the yield by understanding skills of a senior chemist and transferring them to the robot.","authors":[{"name":"Joyce Xin-Yan Lim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9440-5054","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dasheng Leow","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9823-0258","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Quang‐Cuong Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9605-4940","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Choon‐Hong Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3190-7855","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-11-18","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":36,"referencesCount":15,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/tase.2020.3036055","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence","Chemical Synthesis and Analysis"],"keywords":["Automation","Laboratory automation","Computer science","Chemist","Robot","Software engineering","Artificial intelligence","Engineering","Chemistry"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1109/TASE.2020.3036055","year":2020,"venue":"IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","Liquid handling","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Robot-arm-based chemistry automation with liquid handling, mixing, filtering—generalizable robot-arm approach.","whyItMatters":"Robot-arm-based chemistry automation with liquid handling, mixing, filtering—generalizable robot-arm approach.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","Liquid handling","Workflow automation","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-036","slug":"036-evaluation-of-microplate-handling-accuracy-for-applying-robotic-arms-in-laboratory-automation","title":"Evaluation of Microplate Handling Accuracy for Applying Robotic Arms in Laboratory Automation","doi":"10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","publication":{"paperTitle":"Evaluation of Microplate Handling Accuracy for Applying Robotic Arms in Laboratory Automation","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:51.119Z","abstract":"ABSTRACT An inexpensive single-arm robot is widely utilized for recent laboratory automation solutions. The integration of a single-arm robot as a transfer system into a semi-automatic liquid dispenser without a transfer system can be realized as an inexpensive alternative to a fully automated liquid handling system. However, there has been no quantitative investigation of the positional accuracy of robot arms required to transfer microplates. In this study, we constructed a platform comprising aluminum frames and digital gauges to facilitate such measurements. We measured the position repeatability of a robot arm equipped with a custom-made finger by repeatedly transferring microplates. Further, the acceptable misalignment of plate transfer was evaluated by adding an artificial offset to the microplate position using this platform. The results of these experiments are expected to serve as benchmarks for the selection of robot arms for laboratory automation in biology. Furthermore, all information for replicating this device will be made publicly available, thereby allowing many researchers to collaborate and accumulate knowledge, hopefully contributing to advances in this field.","authors":[{"name":"Yoritaka Harazono","orcid":"","institutions":["Hoshi University","The University of Tokyo"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Haruko Shimono","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kikumi Hata","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Toutai Mitsuyama","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takaaki Horinouchi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9141-9103","institutions":["Hoshi University","National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology","The University of Tokyo"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","title":"Evaluation of Microplate Handling Accuracy for Applying Robotic Arms in Laboratory Automation","subtitle":"","abstract":"ABSTRACT An inexpensive single-arm robot is widely utilized for recent laboratory automation solutions. The integration of a single-arm robot as a transfer system into a semi-automatic liquid dispenser without a transfer system can be realized as an inexpensive alternative to a fully automated liquid handling system. However, there has been no quantitative investigation of the positional accuracy of robot arms required to transfer microplates. In this study, we constructed a platform comprising aluminum frames and digital gauges to facilitate such measurements. We measured the position repeatability of a robot arm equipped with a custom-made finger by repeatedly transferring microplates. Further, the acceptable misalignment of plate transfer was evaluated by adding an artificial offset to the microplate position using this platform. The results of these experiments are expected to serve as benchmarks for the selection of robot arms for laboratory automation in biology. Furthermore, all information for replicating this device will be made publicly available, thereby allowing many researchers to collaborate and accumulate knowledge, hopefully contributing to advances in this field.","authors":[{"name":"Yoritaka Harazono","given":"Yoritaka","family":"Harazono","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0877-3898","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Haruko Shimono","given":"Haruko","family":"Shimono","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kikumi Hata","given":"Kikumi","family":"Hata","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Toutai Mitsuyama","given":"Toutai","family":"Mitsuyama","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1110-6375","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Takaaki Horinouchi","given":"Takaaki","family":"Horinouchi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9141-9103","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2024-01-02","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4390649533","doi":"10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","url":"https://openalex.org/W4390649533","title":"Evaluation of Microplate Handling Accuracy for Applying Robotic Arms in Laboratory Automation","abstract":"ABSTRACT An inexpensive single-arm robot is widely utilized for recent laboratory automation solutions. The integration of a single-arm robot as a transfer system into a semi-automatic liquid dispenser without a transfer system can be realized as an inexpensive alternative to a fully automated liquid handling system. However, there has been no quantitative investigation of the positional accuracy of robot arms required to transfer microplates. In this study, we constructed a platform comprising aluminum frames and digital gauges to facilitate such measurements. We measured the position repeatability of a robot arm equipped with a custom-made finger by repeatedly transferring microplates. Further, the acceptable misalignment of plate transfer was evaluated by adding an artificial offset to the microplate position using this platform. The results of these experiments are expected to serve as benchmarks for the selection of robot arms for laboratory automation in biology. Furthermore, all information for replicating this device will be made publicly available, thereby allowing many researchers to collaborate and accumulate knowledge, hopefully contributing to advances in this field.","authors":[{"name":"Yoritaka Harazono","orcid":"","institutions":["Hoshi University","The University of Tokyo"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Haruko Shimono","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kikumi Hata","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Toutai Mitsuyama","orcid":"","institutions":["National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takaaki Horinouchi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9141-9103","institutions":["Hoshi University","National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology","The University of Tokyo"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationYear":2024,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":18,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Laboratory automation","Automation","Robot","Robotic arm","Computer science","Offset (computer science)","Position (finance)","Repeatability","Transfer (computing)","Simulation","Artificial intelligence","Control engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.29.573685","year":2024,"venue":"bioRxiv","type":"Preprint","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","High-throughput screening"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Quantifies robot-arm positioning requirements for microplate transfer—key enabler around liquid handlers.","whyItMatters":"Quantifies robot-arm positioning requirements for microplate transfer—key enabler around liquid handlers.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","High-throughput screening","Preprint"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-037","slug":"037-extrusion-based-bioprinting-in-a-cost-effective-bioprinter","title":"Extrusion-Based Bioprinting in a Cost-Effective Bioprinter","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Extrusion-Based Bioprinting in a Cost-Effective Bioprinter","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/machines12080518","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.012Z","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the life sciences, combining multiple disciplines such as computer engineering, materials science, robotics, and biomedical engineering. This innovative technology enables the production of cellular constructs using bio-inks, and differs from conventional 3D printing by incorporating living cells. The present work addresses the conversion of a commercial thermoplastic 3D printer into a low-cost bioprinter. The modification addresses the challenges of the high cost of commercial bioprinters, limited adaptability, and specialized personnel requirements. This modification uses an extrusion-based bioprinting method that is particularly popular in research due to its viscosity tolerance and versatility. The individual steps, including replacing the extruder with a syringe pump, rebuilding the electronic motherboard, and configuring the firmware, are explained in detail. The work aims at providing access to bioprinting technology so that laboratories with modest resources can take advantage of the immense potential of this technology. This modification resulted in improved resolution, allowing submicron movements, which is comparable to some of the commercially available bioprinters. The accuracy of the modified printer was validated using hydrogel bioprinting tests, suggesting that it is suitable for broader applications in regenerative medicine.","authors":[{"name":"Jones Joseph Jebaraj Dharmaraj","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rajesh Jesudoss Hynes Navasingh","orcid":"","institutions":["Opole University of Technology"],"countries":["PL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Grzegorz Królczyk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2967-1719","institutions":["Opole University of Technology"],"countries":["PL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shenbaga Velu Pitchumani","orcid":"","institutions":["Vellore Institute of Technology University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/machines12080518","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12080518","title":"Extrusion-Based Bioprinting in a Cost-Effective Bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the life sciences, combining multiple disciplines such as computer engineering, materials science, robotics, and biomedical engineering. This innovative technology enables the production of cellular constructs using bio-inks, and differs from conventional 3D printing by incorporating living cells. The present work addresses the conversion of a commercial thermoplastic 3D printer into a low-cost bioprinter. The modification addresses the challenges of the high cost of commercial bioprinters, limited adaptability, and specialized personnel requirements. This modification uses an extrusion-based bioprinting method that is particularly popular in research due to its viscosity tolerance and versatility. The individual steps, including replacing the extruder with a syringe pump, rebuilding the electronic motherboard, and configuring the firmware, are explained in detail. The work aims at providing access to bioprinting technology so that laboratories with modest resources can take advantage of the immense potential of this technology. This modification resulted in improved resolution, allowing submicron movements, which is comparable to some of the commercially available bioprinters. The accuracy of the modified printer was validated using hydrogel bioprinting tests, suggesting that it is suitable for broader applications in regenerative medicine.","authors":[{"name":"Jones Joseph Jebaraj Dharmaraj","given":"Jones Joseph Jebaraj","family":"Dharmaraj","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2802-7566","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi 626005, Tamil Nadu, India"]},{"name":"Rajesh Jesudoss Hynes Navasingh","given":"Rajesh Jesudoss Hynes","family":"Navasingh","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi 626005, Tamil Nadu, India","Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, 76 Proszkowska St., 45-758 Opole, Poland"]},{"name":"Grzegorz Krolczyk","given":"Grzegorz","family":"Krolczyk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2967-1719","affiliations":["Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Opole University of Technology, 76 Proszkowska St., 45-758 Opole, Poland"]},{"name":"Shenbaga Velu Pitchumani","given":"Shenbaga Velu","family":"Pitchumani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7963-5671","affiliations":["School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai 600127, Tamil Nadu, India"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Machines","publishedDate":"2024-07-30","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"8","pages":"518","issn":["2075-1702"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":69,"citedByCount":9,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4401112342","doi":"10.3390/machines12080518","url":"https://openalex.org/W4401112342","title":"Extrusion-Based Bioprinting in a Cost-Effective Bioprinter","abstract":"Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a revolutionary approach in the life sciences, combining multiple disciplines such as computer engineering, materials science, robotics, and biomedical engineering. This innovative technology enables the production of cellular constructs using bio-inks, and differs from conventional 3D printing by incorporating living cells. The present work addresses the conversion of a commercial thermoplastic 3D printer into a low-cost bioprinter. The modification addresses the challenges of the high cost of commercial bioprinters, limited adaptability, and specialized personnel requirements. This modification uses an extrusion-based bioprinting method that is particularly popular in research due to its viscosity tolerance and versatility. The individual steps, including replacing the extruder with a syringe pump, rebuilding the electronic motherboard, and configuring the firmware, are explained in detail. The work aims at providing access to bioprinting technology so that laboratories with modest resources can take advantage of the immense potential of this technology. This modification resulted in improved resolution, allowing submicron movements, which is comparable to some of the commercially available bioprinters. The accuracy of the modified printer was validated using hydrogel bioprinting tests, suggesting that it is suitable for broader applications in regenerative medicine.","authors":[{"name":"Jones Joseph Jebaraj Dharmaraj","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rajesh Jesudoss Hynes Navasingh","orcid":"","institutions":["Opole University of Technology"],"countries":["PL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Grzegorz Królczyk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2967-1719","institutions":["Opole University of Technology"],"countries":["PL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shenbaga Velu Pitchumani","orcid":"","institutions":["Vellore Institute of Technology University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":70,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/8/518/pdf?version=1722331777","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Machines","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Motherboard","3D bioprinting","Computer science","Nanotechnology","Manufacturing engineering","Systems engineering","Engineering","Tissue engineering","Materials science","Biomedical engineering","Computer hardware"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/12/8/518","year":2024,"venue":"Machines (MDPI)","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Potential additional low-cost design reference; needs verification for open files.","whyItMatters":"Potential additional low-cost design reference; needs verification for open files.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"MDPI landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized or custom-built components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-038","slug":"038-fabrication-and-validation-of-an-affordable-diy-coaxial-3d-extrusion-bioprinter","title":"Fabrication and validation of an affordable DIY coaxial 3D extrusion bioprinter","doi":"10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","publication":{"paperTitle":"Fabrication and validation of an affordable DIY coaxial 3D extrusion bioprinter","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:51.240Z","abstract":"3D bioprinting has emerged as a promising technology in tissue engineering, allowing for the precise fabrication of complex structures to mimic native tissues. Coaxial bioprinting enhances the complexity of printed structures by extruding multiple materials in concentric layers. However, costly commercial systems and a lack of Do-it-Yourself (DIY) guides for coaxial 3D bioprinting limit the wider adoption of this technology. This study presents a detailed description of modifying a commercial 3D printer to a coaxial 3D bioprinting system that simultaneously drives two syringe pump extruders connected to a coaxial nozzle. The system was validated using a soft alginate-gelatin hydrogel core and a load-bearing methylcellulose-based (MC) hydrogel shell. Shape fidelity of the 3D printed structures was evaluated for core-shell extrusion ratio, coaxial nozzle configuration, and in-situ crosslinking of the hydrogel core. Employing optimized printing settings allowed the fabrication of complex scaffold structures with a gradual transition between the extrusion of core and shell material. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in varying alginate concentrations were printed, maintaining shape fidelity and high cell viability. In conclusion, we developed a cost-effective DIY coaxial 3D bioprinter capable of extruding soft cell-laden hydrogels that are not printable by conventional extrusion bioprinting. This printer presents an easy to build and modify platform to encourage a wider audience to utilize and tailor coaxial bioprinting for their specific requirements.","authors":[{"name":"Maximilian Jergitsch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-4932","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"R Soiunov","orcid":"","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"F. Selinger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-2966","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Martin Frauenlob","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-9378","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luis M. Delgado","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-2966","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Soledad Pérez‐Amodio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6825-0194","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Román A. Pérez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0823-2303","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Miguel A. Mateos‐Timoneda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-1414","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","title":"Fabrication and validation of an affordable DIY coaxial 3D extrusion bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"M. Jergitsch","given":"M.","family":"Jergitsch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-4932","affiliations":[]},{"name":"R. Soiunov","given":"R.","family":"Soiunov","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7301-7076","affiliations":[]},{"name":"F. Selinger","given":"F.","family":"Selinger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-2966","affiliations":[]},{"name":"M. Frauenlob","given":"M.","family":"Frauenlob","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"L. M. Delgado","given":"L. M.","family":"Delgado","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"S. Perez-Amodio","given":"S.","family":"Perez-Amodio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6825-0194","affiliations":[]},{"name":"R. A. Perez","given":"R. A.","family":"Perez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0823-2303","affiliations":[]},{"name":"M. A. Mateos-Timoneda","given":"M. A.","family":"Mateos-Timoneda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-1414","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2025-07-02","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"15","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":45,"citedByCount":7,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"Generalitat de Catalunya","doi":"10.13039/501100002809","awards":["2021 SGR 00565"]},{"name":"Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación","doi":"10.13039/501100004837","awards":["PID2022-137962OBI00"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4411855169","doi":"10.1038/s41598-025-06478-9","url":"https://openalex.org/W4411855169","title":"Fabrication and validation of an affordable DIY coaxial 3D extrusion bioprinter","abstract":"3D bioprinting has emerged as a promising technology in tissue engineering, allowing for the precise fabrication of complex structures to mimic native tissues. Coaxial bioprinting enhances the complexity of printed structures by extruding multiple materials in concentric layers. However, costly commercial systems and a lack of Do-it-Yourself (DIY) guides for coaxial 3D bioprinting limit the wider adoption of this technology. This study presents a detailed description of modifying a commercial 3D printer to a coaxial 3D bioprinting system that simultaneously drives two syringe pump extruders connected to a coaxial nozzle. The system was validated using a soft alginate-gelatin hydrogel core and a load-bearing methylcellulose-based (MC) hydrogel shell. Shape fidelity of the 3D printed structures was evaluated for core-shell extrusion ratio, coaxial nozzle configuration, and in-situ crosslinking of the hydrogel core. Employing optimized printing settings allowed the fabrication of complex scaffold structures with a gradual transition between the extrusion of core and shell material. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in varying alginate concentrations were printed, maintaining shape fidelity and high cell viability. In conclusion, we developed a cost-effective DIY coaxial 3D bioprinter capable of extruding soft cell-laden hydrogels that are not printable by conventional extrusion bioprinting. This printer presents an easy to build and modify platform to encourage a wider audience to utilize and tailor coaxial bioprinting for their specific requirements.","authors":[{"name":"Maximilian Jergitsch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3305-4932","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"R Soiunov","orcid":"","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"F. Selinger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-2966","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Martin Frauenlob","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7460-9378","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luis M. Delgado","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7094-2966","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Soledad Pérez‐Amodio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6825-0194","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Román A. Pérez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0823-2303","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Miguel A. Mateos‐Timoneda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7657-1414","institutions":["Universitat Internacional de Catalunya"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":7,"referencesCount":43,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Extrusion","Fabrication","Coaxial","Computer science","Materials science","Biomedical engineering","Engineering","Medicine","Mechanical engineering","Composite material","Pathology"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-06478-9","year":2025,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Coaxial extrusion expands tool capability (e.g., core–shell) with DIY accessibility.","whyItMatters":"Coaxial extrusion expands tool capability (e.g., core–shell) with DIY accessibility.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Nature landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-039","slug":"039-findus-an-open-source-3d-printable-liquid-handling-workstation-for-laboratory-automation-in-life-sciences","title":"FINDUS: An Open-Source 3D Printable Liquid-Handling Workstation for Laboratory Automation in Life Sciences","doi":"10.1177/2472630319877374","publication":{"paperTitle":"FINDUS: An Open-Source 3D Printable Liquid-Handling Workstation for Laboratory Automation in Life Sciences","requestedDoi":"10.1177/2472630319877374","resolvedDoi":"10.1177/2472630319877374","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:51.975Z","abstract":"3D-printed laboratory devices can enable ambitious research purposes even at a low-budget level. To follow this trend, here we describe the construction, calibration, and usage of the FINDUS (Fully Integrable Noncommercial Dispensing Utility System). We report the successful 3D printing and assembly of a liquid-handling workstation for less than $400. Using this setup, we achieve reliable and flexible liquid-dispensing automation with relative pipetting errors of less than 0.3%. We show our system is well suited for several showcase applications from both the biology and chemistry fields. In support of the open-source spirit, we make all 3D models, assembly instructions, and source code available for free download, rebuild, and modification.","authors":[{"name":"Fabian Barthels","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7950-2158","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ulrich Barthels","orcid":"","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Marvin Schwickert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1385-1416","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tanja Schirmeister","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4587-5076","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1177/2472630319877374","url":"https://doi.org/10.1177/2472630319877374","title":"FINDUS: An Open-Source 3D Printable Liquid-Handling Workstation for Laboratory Automation in Life Sciences","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Fabian Barthels","given":"Fabian","family":"Barthels","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7950-2158","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ulrich Barthels","given":"Ulrich","family":"Barthels","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Marvin Schwickert","given":"Marvin","family":"Schwickert","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Tanja Schirmeister","given":"Tanja","family":"Schirmeister","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2020-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"25","issue":"2","pages":"190-199","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":53,"citedByCount":53,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"johannes gutenberg-universität mainz","doi":"10.13039/501100004033","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2973461618","doi":"10.1177/2472630319877374","url":"https://openalex.org/W2973461618","title":"FINDUS: An Open-Source 3D Printable Liquid-Handling Workstation for Laboratory Automation in Life Sciences","abstract":"3D-printed laboratory devices can enable ambitious research purposes even at a low-budget level. To follow this trend, here we describe the construction, calibration, and usage of the FINDUS (Fully Integrable Noncommercial Dispensing Utility System). We report the successful 3D printing and assembly of a liquid-handling workstation for less than $400. Using this setup, we achieve reliable and flexible liquid-dispensing automation with relative pipetting errors of less than 0.3%. We show our system is well suited for several showcase applications from both the biology and chemistry fields. In support of the open-source spirit, we make all 3D models, assembly instructions, and source code available for free download, rebuild, and modification.","authors":[{"name":"Fabian Barthels","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7950-2158","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ulrich Barthels","orcid":"","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Marvin Schwickert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1385-1416","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tanja Schirmeister","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4587-5076","institutions":["Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-09-21","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":64,"referencesCount":42,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630322010251/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Workstation","Automation","Laboratory automation","Open source","Computer science","Computer hardware","Operating system","Embedded system","Software engineering","Software","Engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://colab.ws/articles/10.1177/2472630319877374","year":2020,"venue":"SLAS Technology","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","Liquid dispensing"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Strong open-source workstation reference with reported pipetting error metrics; useful comparator to OTTO/digital pipette.","whyItMatters":"Strong open-source workstation reference with reported pipetting error metrics; useful comparator to OTTO/digital pipette.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"CoLab/SAGE entry + DOI; FINDUS GitHub","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":null,"repo":{"id":"repo-fbarthels-findus","slug":"fbarthels-findus","name":"FBarthels/FINDUS","url":"https://github.com/FBarthels/FINDUS","kind":"github"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","Liquid dispensing","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 90 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-findus"],"toolSlugs":["findus"],"toolNames":["FINDUS"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-040","slug":"040-homebrew-photolithography-for-the-rapid-and-low-cost-do-it-yourself-prototyping-of-microfluidic-devices","title":"Homebrew photolithography for the rapid and low-cost,“Do It Yourself” prototyping of microfluidic devices","doi":"10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","publication":{"paperTitle":"Homebrew photolithography for the rapid and low-cost,“Do It Yourself” prototyping of microfluidic devices","requestedDoi":"10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","resolvedDoi":"10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.546Z","abstract":"Photolithography is the foundational process at the root of micro-electromechanical (MEMS) and microfluidic systems manufacture. The process is descendant from the semiconductor industry, originating from printed circuit board and microprocessor fabrication, itself historically performed in a cleanroom environment utilizing expensive, specialist microfabrication equipment. Consequently, these conditions prove cost-prohibitive and pose a large barrier to entry. We present a novel homebrew, \"do-it-yourself\" method for performing photolithography to produce master mold wafers using only household appliances and homemade equipment at the bench side, outside of a cleanroom, producing a range of designs including spiral, serpentine, rectangular, and circulatory. Our homebrew processes result in the production of microfluidic channels with feature resolution of ∼85 μm width and 50 μm height utilizing inkjet-printed photomasks on transparency film to expose dry-film photoresist. From start to finish, the entire process takes under <90 min and costs <£300. With SU8 epoxy negative photoresist and a chrome photomask, our low-cost UV exposure apparatus and homemade spincoater could be used to produce PDMS devices containing large arrays of identical microwells measuring 4.4 μm in diameter. We show that our homebrew method produces both rectangular and spiral microfluidic channels with better results than can be achieved by SLA 3D printing by comparison, and amenable to bonding into multilayer functional microfluidic devices. As these methods are fundamental to microfluidics manufacture, we envision that this work will be of value to researchers across a broad range of disciplines, such as those working in resource-constrained countries or conditions, with many and widely varying applications.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Todd","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1804-1615","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Natalio Krasnogor","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2651-4320","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","title":"Homebrew Photolithography for the Rapid and Low-Cost, “Do It Yourself” Prototyping of Microfluidic Devices","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Todd","given":"Daniel","family":"Todd","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1804-1615","affiliations":["Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems, ICOS, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG, U.K."]},{"name":"Natalio Krasnogor","given":"Natalio","family":"Krasnogor","orcid":"","affiliations":["Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems, ICOS, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5TG, U.K."]}],"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","journal":"ACS Omega","publishedDate":"2023-09-26","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"8","issue":"38","pages":"35393-35409","issn":["2470-1343"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":24,"citedByCount":18,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Royal Academy of Engineering","doi":"10.13039/501100000287","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4386775738","doi":"10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","url":"https://openalex.org/W4386775738","title":"Homebrew Photolithography for the Rapid and Low-Cost, “Do It Yourself” Prototyping of Microfluidic Devices","abstract":"Photolithography is the foundational process at the root of micro-electromechanical (MEMS) and microfluidic systems manufacture. The process is descendant from the semiconductor industry, originating from printed circuit board and microprocessor fabrication, itself historically performed in a cleanroom environment utilizing expensive, specialist microfabrication equipment. Consequently, these conditions prove cost-prohibitive and pose a large barrier to entry. We present a novel homebrew, \"do-it-yourself\" method for performing photolithography to produce master mold wafers using only household appliances and homemade equipment at the bench side, outside of a cleanroom, producing a range of designs including spiral, serpentine, rectangular, and circulatory. Our homebrew processes result in the production of microfluidic channels with feature resolution of ∼85 μm width and 50 μm height utilizing inkjet-printed photomasks on transparency film to expose dry-film photoresist. From start to finish, the entire process takes under <90 min and costs <£300. With SU8 epoxy negative photoresist and a chrome photomask, our low-cost UV exposure apparatus and homemade spincoater could be used to produce PDMS devices containing large arrays of identical microwells measuring 4.4 μm in diameter. We show that our homebrew method produces both rectangular and spiral microfluidic channels with better results than can be achieved by SLA 3D printing by comparison, and amenable to bonding into multilayer functional microfluidic devices. As these methods are fundamental to microfluidics manufacture, we envision that this work will be of value to researchers across a broad range of disciplines, such as those working in resource-constrained countries or conditions, with many and widely varying applications.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Todd","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1804-1615","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Natalio Krasnogor","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2651-4320","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":18,"referencesCount":18,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"ACS Omega","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Photolithography","Cleanroom","Microfluidics","Photoresist","Photomask","Microfabrication","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Consumables","Fabrication","Resist","Layer (electronics)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.3c05544","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.9,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 4.4 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-041","slug":"041-large-volume-syringe-pump-extruder-for-desktop-3d-printers","title":"Large volume syringe pump extruder for desktop 3D printers","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Large volume syringe pump extruder for desktop 3D printers","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2018.02.001","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.812Z","abstract":"Syringe pump extruders are required for a wide range of 3D printing applications, including bioprinting, embedded printing, and food printing. However, the mass of the syringe becomes a major challenge for most printing platforms, requiring compromises in speed, resolution and/or volume. To address these issues, we have designed a syringe pump large volume extruder (LVE) that is compatible with low-cost, open source 3D printers, and herein demonstrate its performance on a PrintrBot Simple Metal. Key aspects of the LVE include: (1) it is open source and compatible with open source hardware and software, making it inexpensive and widely accessible to the 3D printing community, (2) it utilizes a standard 60 mL syringe as its ink reservoir, effectively increasing print volume of the average bioprinter, (3) it is capable of retraction and high speed movements, and (4) it can print fluids using nozzle diameters as small as 100 µm, enabling the printing of complex shapes/objects when used in conjunction with the freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) 3D printing method. Printing performance of the LVE is demonstrated by utilizing alginate as a model biomaterial ink to fabricate parametric CAD models and standard calibration objects.","authors":[{"name":"Kira M. Pusch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1418-670X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas J. Hinton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8784-3710","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2018.02.001","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2018.02.001","title":"Large volume syringe pump extruder for desktop 3D printers","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Kira Pusch","given":"Kira","family":"Pusch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1418-670X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Thomas J. Hinton","given":"Thomas J.","family":"Hinton","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","given":"Adam W.","family":"Feinberg","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2018-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"3","issue":"","pages":"49-61","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":16,"citedByCount":121,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["DP2HL117750"]},{"name":"National Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000001","awards":["1454248"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2792908200","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2018.02.001","url":"https://openalex.org/W2792908200","title":"Large volume syringe pump extruder for desktop 3D printers","abstract":"Syringe pump extruders are required for a wide range of 3D printing applications, including bioprinting, embedded printing, and food printing. However, the mass of the syringe becomes a major challenge for most printing platforms, requiring compromises in speed, resolution and/or volume. To address these issues, we have designed a syringe pump large volume extruder (LVE) that is compatible with low-cost, open source 3D printers, and herein demonstrate its performance on a PrintrBot Simple Metal. Key aspects of the LVE include: (1) it is open source and compatible with open source hardware and software, making it inexpensive and widely accessible to the 3D printing community, (2) it utilizes a standard 60 mL syringe as its ink reservoir, effectively increasing print volume of the average bioprinter, (3) it is capable of retraction and high speed movements, and (4) it can print fluids using nozzle diameters as small as 100 µm, enabling the printing of complex shapes/objects when used in conjunction with the freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels (FRESH) 3D printing method. Printing performance of the LVE is demonstrated by utilizing alginate as a model biomaterial ink to fabricate parametric CAD models and standard calibration objects.","authors":[{"name":"Kira M. Pusch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1418-670X","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas J. Hinton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8784-3710","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam W. Feinberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3338-5456","institutions":["Carnegie Mellon University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2018-02-12","publicationYear":2018,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":137,"referencesCount":8,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2018.02.001","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Syringe driver","3D printing","Syringe","Volume (thermodynamics)","Plastics extrusion","Computer science","Peristaltic pump","Computer hardware","Materials science","Mechanical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6258044/","year":2018,"venue":"(see PMC)","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion","FRESH"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Enables higher-volume extrusion/embedded printing with low-cost hardware; bridges DIY + FRESH.","whyItMatters":"Enables higher-volume extrusion/embedded printing with low-cost hardware; bridges DIY + FRESH.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","FRESH","Open-source extruder/printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-042","slug":"042-leveraging-flexible-pipette-based-tool-changes-to-transform-liquid-handling-systems-into-dual-function-sample-preparatio","title":"Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","publication":{"paperTitle":"Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.982Z","abstract":"In soft materials synthesis, rapid self-assembly and poor mechanical strength often limit the applicability of experimental characterization techniques. This limitation arises because transferring these materials to a suitable imaging platform is either too slow to capture the process of interest or impossible to safely transfer from the synthesis vessel to the characterization. In addition, the variable nature of these materials requires many experiments to understand the underlying structure-property relationships that govern these materials. In this work we present a new hardware platform that integrates simultaneous pipetting and in-situ imaging using the Opentron OT-2 liquid handling robot. A 3D printed adapter features two cylindrical openings, one containing the pipette tip to gantry adapter, and the other a USB camera. When the gantry picks up the pipette tip, the entire apparatus is lifted, allowing the camera to be used. This system enables real-time monitoring and characterization of dynamic processes, such as hydrogel crosslinking, without manual intervention. We used this system to characterize ionically crosslinked hydrogels, and monitored their properties over time, in a high-throughput and combinatorial manner. Although hydrogels were used as a proof-of-concept, this platform has broader applications in materials research, including crystallization dynamics, polymerization kinetics, and drug delivery system development.","authors":[{"name":"Mohammad Nazeri","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0407-6489","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeffrey Watchorn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-0419","institutions":["Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sheldon Mei","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6901-1993","institutions":["University of New Brunswick","University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christine Allen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4916-3965","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Frank Gu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8749-9075","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","title":"Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Mohammad Nazeri","given":"Mohammad","family":"Nazeri","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jeffrey Watchorn","given":"Jeffrey","family":"Watchorn","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sheldon Mei","given":"Sheldon","family":"Mei","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alex Zhang","given":"Alex","family":"Zhang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christine Allen","given":"Christine","family":"Allen","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Frank Gu","given":"Frank","family":"Gu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8749-9075","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2025-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"22","issue":"","pages":"e00653","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":46,"citedByCount":3,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","doi":"10.13039/501100000038","awards":["506723"]},{"name":"University of Toronto","doi":"10.13039/501100003579","awards":[]},{"name":"Canada First Research Excellence Fund","doi":"10.13039/501100010785","awards":["RGPIN-2019-06441"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4410030081","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653","url":"https://openalex.org/W4410030081","title":"Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms","abstract":"In soft materials synthesis, rapid self-assembly and poor mechanical strength often limit the applicability of experimental characterization techniques. This limitation arises because transferring these materials to a suitable imaging platform is either too slow to capture the process of interest or impossible to safely transfer from the synthesis vessel to the characterization. In addition, the variable nature of these materials requires many experiments to understand the underlying structure-property relationships that govern these materials. In this work we present a new hardware platform that integrates simultaneous pipetting and in-situ imaging using the Opentron OT-2 liquid handling robot. A 3D printed adapter features two cylindrical openings, one containing the pipette tip to gantry adapter, and the other a USB camera. When the gantry picks up the pipette tip, the entire apparatus is lifted, allowing the camera to be used. This system enables real-time monitoring and characterization of dynamic processes, such as hydrogel crosslinking, without manual intervention. We used this system to characterize ionically crosslinked hydrogels, and monitored their properties over time, in a high-throughput and combinatorial manner. Although hydrogels were used as a proof-of-concept, this platform has broader applications in materials research, including crystallization dynamics, polymerization kinetics, and drug delivery system development.","authors":[{"name":"Mohammad Nazeri","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0407-6489","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeffrey Watchorn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-0419","institutions":["Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sheldon Mei","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6901-1993","institutions":["University of New Brunswick","University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christine Allen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4916-3965","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Frank Gu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8749-9075","institutions":["University of Toronto","Structural Genomics Consortium"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":2,"referencesCount":48,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468-0672(25)00031-8/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Pipette","Sample (material)","Computer science","Dual (grammatical number)","Function (biology)","Computer hardware","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Chromatography","Chemistry","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12181777/","year":2025,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Imaging integration","Tool changing"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Recent (2025) HardwareX paper; highly relevant to modular tool concepts like the digital pipette.","whyItMatters":"Recent (2025) HardwareX paper; highly relevant to modular tool concepts like the digital pipette.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Imaging integration","Tool changing","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-043","slug":"043-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system","title":"Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"","matchMethod":"none","matchScore":0.35,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.308Z","abstract":"","authors":[],"crossref":null,"openAlex":null},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067225000690","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Electrospinning"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Lower throughput/single-setup; reproducibility and fiber consistency still depend on careful calibration","function":"Open-source NFES system with GUI for programmable nanofiber patterning","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"Design files on OSF website","sourceWorkbooks":["summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Moderate","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","Arduino/electronics","basic GUI software use (no electrospinning-physics expertise required to operate)"],"approximateCost":"1200","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Electrospinning","Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-cad-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system","asset-software-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"assetSlugs":["cad-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system","software-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"assetTypes":["cad","software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"toolSlugs":["low-cost-near-field-electrospinning-nfes-system"],"toolNames":["Low-cost near-field electrospinning (NFES) system"],"topicIds":["topic-electrospinning"],"topicSlugs":["electrospinning"],"topicNames":["Electrospinning"]},{"id":"paper-044","slug":"044-low-cost-modular-modification-to-a-desktop-3d-printer-for-general-purpose-gel-paste-extrusion-direct-ink-writing","title":"Low-Cost, Modular Modification to a Desktop 3D Printer for General Purpose Gel/Paste Extrusion & Direct Ink Writing","doi":"10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","publication":{"paperTitle":"Low-Cost, Modular Modification to a Desktop 3D Printer for General Purpose Gel/Paste Extrusion & Direct Ink Writing","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":0.97,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:52.984Z","abstract":"Abstract We propose a design for a simple paste extruder modification that can be used for the selective deposition and patterning of gels and pastes, using a desktop 3D printer as the primary platform. This technology has found use with a variety of materials in seemingly disparate fields, including the printing of ceramics, food and biological materials, each with a variety of material-specific solutions to enhance printability. However, we focus on a syringe-pump driven system that is simple, low-cost, modular, easily assembled and highly modifiable with a low barrier of entry in order to maximise the generalisability and range of printable materials.","authors":[{"name":"Damien Leech","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7202-5392","institutions":["University of Nottingham","University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sonny Lightfoot","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4578-5760","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Huson","orcid":"","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexandros Ch. Stratakos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6117-7385","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","title":"Low-Cost, Modular Modification to a Desktop 3D Printer for General Purpose Gel/Paste Extrusion &amp; Direct Ink Writing","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract We propose a design for a simple paste extruder modification that can be used for the selective deposition and patterning of gels and pastes, using a desktop 3D printer as the primary platform. This technology has found use with a variety of materials in seemingly disparate fields, including the printing of ceramics, food and biological materials, each with a variety of material-specific solutions to enhance printability. However, we focus on a syringe-pump driven system that is simple, low-cost, modular, easily assembled and highly modifiable with a low barrier of entry in order to maximise the generalisability and range of printable materials.","authors":[{"name":"D. J. Leech","given":"D. J.","family":"Leech","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"S. Lightfoot","given":"S.","family":"Lightfoot","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"D. Huson","given":"D.","family":"Huson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"A. Stratakos","given":"A.","family":"Stratakos","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2021-03-11","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":57,"citedByCount":2,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3134384368","doi":"10.1101/2021.03.10.434735","url":"https://openalex.org/W3134384368","title":"Low-Cost, Modular Modification to a Desktop 3D Printer for General Purpose Gel/Paste Extrusion &amp; Direct Ink Writing","abstract":"Abstract We propose a design for a simple paste extruder modification that can be used for the selective deposition and patterning of gels and pastes, using a desktop 3D printer as the primary platform. This technology has found use with a variety of materials in seemingly disparate fields, including the printing of ceramics, food and biological materials, each with a variety of material-specific solutions to enhance printability. However, we focus on a syringe-pump driven system that is simple, low-cost, modular, easily assembled and highly modifiable with a low barrier of entry in order to maximise the generalisability and range of printable materials.","authors":[{"name":"Damien Leech","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7202-5392","institutions":["University of Nottingham","University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sonny Lightfoot","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4578-5760","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Huson","orcid":"","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexandros Ch. Stratakos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6117-7385","institutions":["University of the West of England"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-03-11","publicationYear":2021,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":2,"referencesCount":56,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials"],"keywords":["Modular design","Plastics extrusion","3D printing","Inkwell","Extrusion","3d printer","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Recipe","3d printed","Computer science","Process engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.10.434735v1.full","year":2021,"venue":"bioRxiv","type":"Preprint","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Direct ink writing","Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Building-block open hardware frequently used for hydrogel/biomaterial extrusion.","whyItMatters":"Building-block open hardware frequently used for hydrogel/biomaterial extrusion.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"bioRxiv full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Direct ink writing","Extrusion","Preprint"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":2,"rationale":"Cycle time appears slower or hours-scale."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-045","slug":"045-low-cost-versatile-and-highly-reproducible-microfabrication-pipeline-to-generate-3d-printed-customised-cell-culture-devi","title":"Low-cost, versatile, and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline to generate 3D-printed customised cell culture devices with complex designs","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Low-cost, versatile, and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline to generate 3D-printed customised cell culture devices with complex designs","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pbio.3002503","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.549Z","abstract":"Cell culture devices, such as microwells and microfluidic chips, are designed to increase the complexity of cell-based models while retaining control over culture conditions and have become indispensable platforms for biological systems modelling. From microtopography, microwells, plating devices, and microfluidic systems to larger constructs such as live imaging chamber slides, a wide variety of culture devices with different geometries have become indispensable in biology laboratories. However, while their application in biological projects is increasing exponentially, due to a combination of the techniques, equipment and tools required for their manufacture, and the expertise necessary, biological and biomedical labs tend more often to rely on already made devices. Indeed, commercially developed devices are available for a variety of applications but are often costly and, importantly, lack the potential for customisation by each individual lab. The last point is quite crucial, as often experiments in wet labs are adapted to whichever design is already available rather than designing and fabricating custom systems that perfectly fit the biological question. This combination of factors still restricts widespread application of microfabricated custom devices in most biological wet labs. Capitalising on recent advances in bioengineering and microfabrication aimed at solving these issues, and taking advantage of low-cost, high-resolution desktop resin 3D printers combined with PDMS soft lithography, we have developed an optimised a low-cost and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline. This is thought specifically for biomedical and biological wet labs with not prior experience in the field, which will enable them to generate a wide variety of customisable devices for cell culture and tissue engineering in an easy, fast reproducible way for a fraction of the cost of conventional microfabrication or commercial alternatives. This protocol is designed specifically to be a resource for biological labs with limited expertise in those techniques and enables the manufacture of complex devices across the μm to cm scale. We provide a ready-to-go pipeline for the efficient treatment of resin-based 3D-printed constructs for PDMS curing, using a combination of polymerisation steps, washes, and surface treatments. Together with the extensive characterisation of the fabrication pipeline, we show the utilisation of this system to a variety of applications and use cases relevant to biological experiments, ranging from micro topographies for cell alignments to complex multipart hydrogel culturing systems. This methodology can be easily adopted by any wet lab, irrespective of prior expertise or resource availability and will enable the wide adoption of tailored microfabricated devices across many fields of biology.","authors":[{"name":"Cathleen Hagemann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9900-3556","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"M. Bailey","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3253-9759","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eugenia Carraro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6581-9136","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ksenia S. Stankevich","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6701-7582","institutions":["University of York"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Valentina M. Lionello","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-6821","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Noreen Khokhar","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pacharaporn Suklai","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Carmen Moreno-Gonzalez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2092-5871","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kelly O’Toole","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"George Konstantinou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7804-6853","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Christina L. Dix","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-6371","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sudeep Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0493-2230","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eleonora Giagnorio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5226-1593","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute","Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta","University College London"],"countries":["GB","IT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mads S. Bergholt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-8942","institutions":["King's College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Christopher D. Spicer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-578X","institutions":["University of York"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Albane Imbert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4666-2101","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Francesco Saverio Tedesco","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-7682","institutions":["Great Ormond Street Hospital","The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Andrea Serio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7271-1878","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pbio.3002503","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002503","title":"Low-cost, versatile, and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline to generate 3D-printed customised cell culture devices with complex designs","subtitle":"","abstract":"Cell culture devices, such as microwells and microfluidic chips, are designed to increase the complexity of cell-based models while retaining control over culture conditions and have become indispensable platforms for biological systems modelling. From microtopography, microwells, plating devices, and microfluidic systems to larger constructs such as live imaging chamber slides, a wide variety of culture devices with different geometries have become indispensable in biology laboratories. However, while their application in biological projects is increasing exponentially, due to a combination of the techniques, equipment and tools required for their manufacture, and the expertise necessary, biological and biomedical labs tend more often to rely on already made devices. Indeed, commercially developed devices are available for a variety of applications but are often costly and, importantly, lack the potential for customisation by each individual lab. The last point is quite crucial, as often experiments in wet labs are adapted to whichever design is already available rather than designing and fabricating custom systems that perfectly fit the biological question. This combination of factors still restricts widespread application of microfabricated custom devices in most biological wet labs. Capitalising on recent advances in bioengineering and microfabrication aimed at solving these issues, and taking advantage of low-cost, high-resolution desktop resin 3D printers combined with PDMS soft lithography, we have developed an optimised a low-cost and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline. This is thought specifically for biomedical and biological wet labs with not prior experience in the field, which will enable them to generate a wide variety of customisable devices for cell culture and tissue engineering in an easy, fast reproducible way for a fraction of the cost of conventional microfabrication or commercial alternatives. This protocol is designed specifically to be a resource for biological labs with limited expertise in those techniques and enables the manufacture of complex devices across the μm to cm scale. We provide a ready-to-go pipeline for the efficient treatment of resin-based 3D-printed constructs for PDMS curing, using a combination of polymerisation steps, washes, and surface treatments. Together with the extensive characterisation of the fabrication pipeline, we show the utilisation of this system to a variety of applications and use cases relevant to biological experiments, ranging from micro topographies for cell alignments to complex multipart hydrogel culturing systems. This methodology can be easily adopted by any wet lab, irrespective of prior expertise or resource availability and will enable the wide adoption of tailored microfabricated devices across many fields of biology.","authors":[{"name":"Cathleen Hagemann","given":"Cathleen","family":"Hagemann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Matthew C. D. Bailey","given":"Matthew C. D.","family":"Bailey","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Eugenia Carraro","given":"Eugenia","family":"Carraro","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ksenia S. Stankevich","given":"Ksenia S.","family":"Stankevich","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Valentina Maria Lionello","given":"Valentina Maria","family":"Lionello","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Noreen Khokhar","given":"Noreen","family":"Khokhar","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pacharaporn Suklai","given":"Pacharaporn","family":"Suklai","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Carmen Moreno-Gonzalez","given":"Carmen","family":"Moreno-Gonzalez","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kelly O’Toole","given":"Kelly","family":"O’Toole","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"George Konstantinou","given":"George","family":"Konstantinou","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christina L. Dix","given":"Christina L.","family":"Dix","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sudeep Joshi","given":"Sudeep","family":"Joshi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Eleonora Giagnorio","given":"Eleonora","family":"Giagnorio","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mads S. Bergholt","given":"Mads S.","family":"Bergholt","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christopher D. Spicer","given":"Christopher D.","family":"Spicer","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Albane Imbert","given":"Albane","family":"Imbert","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Francesco Saverio Tedesco","given":"Francesco Saverio","family":"Tedesco","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Andrea Serio","given":"Andrea","family":"Serio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7271-1878","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS Biology","publishedDate":"2024-03-13","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"22","issue":"3","pages":"e3002503","issn":["1545-7885"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":78,"citedByCount":14,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000268","awards":["BB/T014318/1"]},{"name":"Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000268","awards":["BB/W006561/1"]},{"name":"Dementia Research Institute","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council","doi":"10.13039/100019180","awards":["10080927, 10079726, 10082354 and 10078461"]},{"name":"European Research Council","doi":"","awards":["759108"]},{"name":"AFM-Téléthon","doi":"10.13039/501100004923","awards":["21687"]},{"name":"Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000268","awards":["BB/M009513/1"]},{"name":"CureCMD","doi":"10.13039/100020419","awards":["576031"]},{"name":"Muscular Dystrophy UK","doi":"10.13039/501100008164","awards":[]},{"name":"National Institute for Health and Care Research","doi":"10.13039/501100000272","awards":[]},{"name":"Francis Crick Institute","doi":"10.13039/100010438","awards":[]},{"name":"Leverhulme Trust","doi":"10.13039/501100000275","awards":["RPG-2022-174"]},{"name":"Wellcome Trust","doi":"10.13039/100010269","awards":["225257/Z/22/Z"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4392747350","doi":"10.1371/journal.pbio.3002503","url":"https://openalex.org/W4392747350","title":"Low-cost, versatile, and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline to generate 3D-printed customised cell culture devices with complex designs","abstract":"Cell culture devices, such as microwells and microfluidic chips, are designed to increase the complexity of cell-based models while retaining control over culture conditions and have become indispensable platforms for biological systems modelling. From microtopography, microwells, plating devices, and microfluidic systems to larger constructs such as live imaging chamber slides, a wide variety of culture devices with different geometries have become indispensable in biology laboratories. However, while their application in biological projects is increasing exponentially, due to a combination of the techniques, equipment and tools required for their manufacture, and the expertise necessary, biological and biomedical labs tend more often to rely on already made devices. Indeed, commercially developed devices are available for a variety of applications but are often costly and, importantly, lack the potential for customisation by each individual lab. The last point is quite crucial, as often experiments in wet labs are adapted to whichever design is already available rather than designing and fabricating custom systems that perfectly fit the biological question. This combination of factors still restricts widespread application of microfabricated custom devices in most biological wet labs. Capitalising on recent advances in bioengineering and microfabrication aimed at solving these issues, and taking advantage of low-cost, high-resolution desktop resin 3D printers combined with PDMS soft lithography, we have developed an optimised a low-cost and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline. This is thought specifically for biomedical and biological wet labs with not prior experience in the field, which will enable them to generate a wide variety of customisable devices for cell culture and tissue engineering in an easy, fast reproducible way for a fraction of the cost of conventional microfabrication or commercial alternatives. This protocol is designed specifically to be a resource for biological labs with limited expertise in those techniques and enables the manufacture of complex devices across the μm to cm scale. We provide a ready-to-go pipeline for the efficient treatment of resin-based 3D-printed constructs for PDMS curing, using a combination of polymerisation steps, washes, and surface treatments. Together with the extensive characterisation of the fabrication pipeline, we show the utilisation of this system to a variety of applications and use cases relevant to biological experiments, ranging from micro topographies for cell alignments to complex multipart hydrogel culturing systems. This methodology can be easily adopted by any wet lab, irrespective of prior expertise or resource availability and will enable the wide adoption of tailored microfabricated devices across many fields of biology.","authors":[{"name":"Cathleen Hagemann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9900-3556","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"M. Bailey","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3253-9759","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eugenia Carraro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6581-9136","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ksenia S. Stankevich","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6701-7582","institutions":["University of York"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Valentina M. Lionello","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-6821","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Noreen Khokhar","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pacharaporn Suklai","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Carmen Moreno-Gonzalez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2092-5871","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kelly O’Toole","orcid":"","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"George Konstantinou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7804-6853","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Christina L. Dix","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-6371","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sudeep Joshi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0493-2230","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eleonora Giagnorio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5226-1593","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute","Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta","University College London"],"countries":["GB","IT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mads S. Bergholt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-8942","institutions":["King's College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Christopher D. Spicer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-578X","institutions":["University of York"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Albane Imbert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4666-2101","institutions":["The Francis Crick Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Francesco Saverio Tedesco","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-7682","institutions":["Great Ormond Street Hospital","The Francis Crick Institute","University College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Andrea Serio","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7271-1878","institutions":["King's College London","The Francis Crick Institute","UK Dementia Research Institute"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-03-13","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":14,"referencesCount":73,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS Biology","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies"],"keywords":["Microfabrication","Microfluidics","Nanotechnology","3d printed","Computer science","3D printing","3D cell culture","Pipeline (software)","Biochemical engineering","Materials science","Mechanical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"Low-cost, versatile, and highly reproducible microfabrication pipeline to generate 3D-printed customised cell culture devices with complex designs | PLOS Biology","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.7,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 50 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-046","slug":"046-mask-free-laser-lithography-for-rapid-and-low-cost-microfluidic-device-fabrication","title":"Mask-free laser lithography for rapid and low-cost microfluidic device fabrication","doi":"10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","publication":{"paperTitle":"Mask-free laser lithography for rapid and low-cost microfluidic device fabrication","requestedDoi":"10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","resolvedDoi":"10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.122Z","abstract":"Microfluidics has become recognized as a powerful platform technology associated with a constantly increasing array of applications across the life sciences. This surge of interest over recent years has led to an increased demand for microfluidic chips, resulting in more time being spent in the cleanroom fabricating devices using soft lithography-a slow and expensive process that requires extensive materials, training and significant engineering resources. This bottleneck limits platform complexity as a byproduct of lengthy delays between device iterations and affects the time spent developing the final application. To address this problem, we report a new, rapid, and economical approach to microfluidic device fabrication using dry resist films to laminate laser cut sheets of acrylic. We term our method laser lithography and show that our technique can be used to engineer 200 μm width channels for assembling droplet generators capable of generating monodisperse water droplets in oil and micromixers designed to sustain chemical reactions. Our devices offer high transparency, negligible device to device variation, and low X-ray background scattering, demonstrating their suitability for real-time X-ray-based characterization applications. Our approach also requires minimal materials and apparatus, is cleanroom free, and at a cost of around $1.00 per chip could significantly democratize device fabrication, thereby increasing the interdisciplinary accessibility of microfluidics.","authors":[{"name":"Tatiana Trantidou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6784-2665","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mark S. Friddin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-8792","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kin Boon Gan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8046-0490","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luyao Han","orcid":"","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guido Bolognesi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-0794","institutions":["Loughborough University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicholas J. Brooks","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1346-9559","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oscar Ces","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6418-5644","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","title":"Mask-Free Laser Lithography for Rapid and Low-Cost Microfluidic Device Fabrication","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Tatiana Trantidou","given":"Tatiana","family":"Trantidou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6784-2665","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.","Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K."]},{"name":"Mark S. Friddin","given":"Mark S.","family":"Friddin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-8792","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.","Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K."]},{"name":"Kin B. Gan","given":"Kin B.","family":"Gan","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K."]},{"name":"Luyao Han","given":"Luyao","family":"Han","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K."]},{"name":"Guido Bolognesi","given":"Guido","family":"Bolognesi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-0794","affiliations":["Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, U.K."]},{"name":"Nicholas J. Brooks","given":"Nicholas J.","family":"Brooks","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1346-9559","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.","Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K."]},{"name":"Oscar Ces","given":"Oscar","family":"Ces","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.","Institute of Chemical Biology, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K.","FABRICELL, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, U.K."]}],"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","journal":"Analytical Chemistry","publishedDate":"2018-12-04","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"90","issue":"23","pages":"13915-13921","issn":["0003-2700","1520-6882"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":40,"citedByCount":32,"licenses":[],"funders":[{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/J017566/1"]},{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/K038648/1"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2899962708","doi":"10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","url":"https://openalex.org/W2899962708","title":"Mask-Free Laser Lithography for Rapid and Low-Cost Microfluidic Device Fabrication","abstract":"Microfluidics has become recognized as a powerful platform technology associated with a constantly increasing array of applications across the life sciences. This surge of interest over recent years has led to an increased demand for microfluidic chips, resulting in more time being spent in the cleanroom fabricating devices using soft lithography-a slow and expensive process that requires extensive materials, training and significant engineering resources. This bottleneck limits platform complexity as a byproduct of lengthy delays between device iterations and affects the time spent developing the final application. To address this problem, we report a new, rapid, and economical approach to microfluidic device fabrication using dry resist films to laminate laser cut sheets of acrylic. We term our method laser lithography and show that our technique can be used to engineer 200 μm width channels for assembling droplet generators capable of generating monodisperse water droplets in oil and micromixers designed to sustain chemical reactions. Our devices offer high transparency, negligible device to device variation, and low X-ray background scattering, demonstrating their suitability for real-time X-ray-based characterization applications. Our approach also requires minimal materials and apparatus, is cleanroom free, and at a cost of around $1.00 per chip could significantly democratize device fabrication, thereby increasing the interdisciplinary accessibility of microfluidics.","authors":[{"name":"Tatiana Trantidou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6784-2665","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mark S. Friddin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-8792","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Kin Boon Gan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8046-0490","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luyao Han","orcid":"","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guido Bolognesi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2380-0794","institutions":["Loughborough University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicholas J. Brooks","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1346-9559","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oscar Ces","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6418-5644","institutions":["Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2018-11-05","publicationYear":2018,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":33,"referencesCount":39,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/36851","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"submittedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University)","topics":["Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Chemistry","Microfluidics","Fabrication","Lithography","Nanotechnology","Laser","Photolithography","Optoelectronics","Optics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03169","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Microfluidics"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfluidics"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 100 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized or custom-built components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfluidics"],"topicSlugs":["microfluidics"],"topicNames":["Microfluidics"]},{"id":"paper-047","slug":"047-microextrusion-based-bioprinting-printhead","title":"Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"","matchMethod":"none","matchScore":0.57,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.567Z","abstract":"","authors":[],"crossref":null,"openAlex":null},"primaryLink":"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2346","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Limited print resolution compared to specialized commercial microextrusion systems; shear stress on cells remains a consideration","function":"Open-source printhead that converts standard desktop 3D printers into bioprinters","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"GitHub and NIH 3D Print Exchange","sourceWorkbooks":["summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Low-Moderate","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","basic electronics wiring","installation on existing desktop 3D printer"],"approximateCost":"<70","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-microextrusion-based-bioprinting-printhead"],"toolSlugs":["microextrusion-based-bioprinting-printhead"],"toolNames":["Microextrusion-based bioprinting printhead"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-048","slug":"048-mslab-an-open-source-masked-stereolithography-msla-bioprinter","title":"mSLAb–An open-source masked stereolithography (mSLA) bioprinter","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"mSLAb–An open-source masked stereolithography (mSLA) bioprinter","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00543","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:56.791Z","abstract":"3D bioprinting is a tissue engineering approach using additive manufacturing to fabricate tissue equivalents for regenerative medicine or medical drug testing. For this purpose, biomaterials that provide the essential microenvironment to support the viability of cells integrated directly or seeded after printing are processed into three-dimensional (3D) structures. Compared to extrusion-based 3D printing, which is most commonly used in bioprinting, stereolithography (SLA) offers a higher printing resolution and faster processing speeds with a wide range of cell-friendly materials such as gelatin- or collagen-based hydrogels and SLA is, therefore, well suited to generate 3D tissue constructs. While there have been numerous publications of conversions and upgrades for extrusion-based printers, this is not the case for state-of-the-art SLA technology in bioprinting. The high cost of proprietary printers severely limits teaching and research in SLA bioprinting. With mSLAb, we present a low-cost and open-source high-resolution 3D bioprinter based on masked SLA (mSLA). mSLAb is based on an entry-level (€350) desktop mSLA printer (Phrozen Sonic Mini 4 K), equipped with temperature control and humidification of the printing chamber to enable the processing of cell-friendly hydrogels. Additionally, the build platform was redesigned for easy sample handling and microscopic analysis of the printed constructs. All modifications were done with off-the-shelf hardware and in-house designed 3D printed components, printed with the same printer that was being modified. We validated the system by printing macroscopic porous scaffolds as well as hollow channels from gelatin-based hydrogels as representative structures needed in tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"Benedikt Kaufmann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8141-9676","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Technical University of Munich","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Matthias Rudolph","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Markus Pechtl","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Geronimo Wildenburg","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oliver Hayden","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2678-8663","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hauke Clausen‐Schaumann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9413-0310","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefanie Sudhop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9503","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00543","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00543","title":"mSLAb – An open-source masked stereolithography (mSLA) bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Benedikt K. Kaufmann","given":"Benedikt K.","family":"Kaufmann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8141-9676","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Matthias Rudolph","given":"Matthias","family":"Rudolph","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Markus Pechtl","given":"Markus","family":"Pechtl","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Geronimo Wildenburg","given":"Geronimo","family":"Wildenburg","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Oliver Hayden","given":"Oliver","family":"Hayden","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Hauke Clausen-Schaumann","given":"Hauke","family":"Clausen-Schaumann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stefanie Sudhop","given":"Stefanie","family":"Sudhop","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2024-09-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"19","issue":"","pages":"e00543","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":35,"citedByCount":8,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"German Research Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100001659","awards":["512819356"]},{"name":"Bavarian State Ministry for Science and Art","doi":"10.13039/501100021711","awards":[]},{"name":"Bavarian Academic Forum","doi":"10.13039/501100022396","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4399616829","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00543","url":"https://openalex.org/W4399616829","title":"mSLAb – An open-source masked stereolithography (mSLA) bioprinter","abstract":"3D bioprinting is a tissue engineering approach using additive manufacturing to fabricate tissue equivalents for regenerative medicine or medical drug testing. For this purpose, biomaterials that provide the essential microenvironment to support the viability of cells integrated directly or seeded after printing are processed into three-dimensional (3D) structures. Compared to extrusion-based 3D printing, which is most commonly used in bioprinting, stereolithography (SLA) offers a higher printing resolution and faster processing speeds with a wide range of cell-friendly materials such as gelatin- or collagen-based hydrogels and SLA is, therefore, well suited to generate 3D tissue constructs. While there have been numerous publications of conversions and upgrades for extrusion-based printers, this is not the case for state-of-the-art SLA technology in bioprinting. The high cost of proprietary printers severely limits teaching and research in SLA bioprinting. With mSLAb, we present a low-cost and open-source high-resolution 3D bioprinter based on masked SLA (mSLA). mSLAb is based on an entry-level (€350) desktop mSLA printer (Phrozen Sonic Mini 4 K), equipped with temperature control and humidification of the printing chamber to enable the processing of cell-friendly hydrogels. Additionally, the build platform was redesigned for easy sample handling and microscopic analysis of the printed constructs. All modifications were done with off-the-shelf hardware and in-house designed 3D printed components, printed with the same printer that was being modified. We validated the system by printing macroscopic porous scaffolds as well as hollow channels from gelatin-based hydrogels as representative structures needed in tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"Benedikt Kaufmann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8141-9676","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Technical University of Munich","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Matthias Rudolph","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Markus Pechtl","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Geronimo Wildenburg","orcid":"","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oliver Hayden","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2678-8663","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hauke Clausen‐Schaumann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9413-0310","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefanie Sudhop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0838-9503","institutions":["Munich University of Applied Sciences","Center for NanoScience","Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00543","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Stereolithography","Open source","Computer science","Biomedical engineering","Materials science","Engineering","Operating system","Composite material","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"mSLAb – An open-source masked stereolithography (mSLA) bioprinter - ScienceDirect","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-mslab"],"toolSlugs":["mslab"],"toolNames":["mSLAb"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-049","slug":"049-nydus-one-syringe-extruder-nose-a-prusa-i3-3d-printer-modification-for-laboratory-automation-and-syringe-based-extrusion","title":"Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE): A Prusa i3 3D printer modification for laboratory automation and syringe-based extrusion","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","publication":{"paperTitle":"Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE): A Prusa i3 3D printer modification for laboratory automation and syringe-based extrusion","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":0.55,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.669Z","abstract":"Bioprinting, combined with other tissue engineering techniques, is a promising method to create engineered tissues or standardized 3D cell culturing models. It has potential applications in the development of animal free models for drug toxicity screenings or for personalized medicine approaches. Here we report the conversion of the worldwide used open source 3D printer (RepRap, Prusa i3) to a functional and affordable bioprinter by substituting the common plastic-extruder with the Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE). The NOSE modification enables mechanical hydrogel extrusion as well as a tunable deposition precision and volume by featuring a modular syringe-holder concept. A cost effective and simple hardware design including a custom software (termed ‘composer’) was developed to prove that this technique can be made accessible for a broader public. Furthermore, the printing procedure was optimized for the peer-reviewed FRESH-method by Hinton et al. which allows to print geometrical complex cell-laden constructs. We provide a detailed protocol on the creation of the FRESH-gel to ensure the reproducibility of this state of the art method. As a proof of concept HEK293 cells as well as mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) were utilized for cell-laden printing. Depending on the cellular source the survival rates range from 60% up to 95%. Automatized quantitative viability analysis was performed using the open source image analysis tool Icy, in particular the “spot detector” plugin. A detailed protocol allows the recreation of the assay. Further data utilizing a support bath printing technique reveal limitations regarding the printing and residential time of cell-laden constructs. Keywords: Open Source Bioprinter, RepRap Modificiation, Mechanical Syringe Extruder, Bioprinting Protocol, Bioprinting Software","authors":[{"name":"Nils Bessler","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Dennis Ogiermann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2659-0809","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maj‐Britt Buchholz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3058-8485","institutions":["University Medical Center Utrecht"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander Santel","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"J. Heidenreich","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rawas Ahmmed","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Holm Zaehres","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8062-8428","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Beate Brand-Saberi","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","title":"Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE): A Prusa i3 3D printer conversion for bioprinting applications utilizing the FRESH-method","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Nils Bessler","given":"Nils","family":"Bessler","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dennis Ogiermann","given":"Dennis","family":"Ogiermann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Maj-Britt Buchholz","given":"Maj-Britt","family":"Buchholz","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexander Santel","given":"Alexander","family":"Santel","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jan Heidenreich","given":"Jan","family":"Heidenreich","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rawas Ahmmed","given":"Rawas","family":"Ahmmed","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Holm Zaehres","given":"Holm","family":"Zaehres","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Beate Brand-Saberi","given":"Beate","family":"Brand-Saberi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0065-3947","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2019-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"6","issue":"","pages":"e00069","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":24,"citedByCount":68,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Ruhr-Universität Bochum","doi":"10.13039/501100006254","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2951767177","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","url":"https://openalex.org/W2951767177","title":"Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE): A Prusa i3 3D printer conversion for bioprinting applications utilizing the FRESH-method","abstract":"Bioprinting, combined with other tissue engineering techniques, is a promising method to create engineered tissues or standardized 3D cell culturing models. It has potential applications in the development of animal free models for drug toxicity screenings or for personalized medicine approaches. Here we report the conversion of the worldwide used open source 3D printer (RepRap, Prusa i3) to a functional and affordable bioprinter by substituting the common plastic-extruder with the Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE). The NOSE modification enables mechanical hydrogel extrusion as well as a tunable deposition precision and volume by featuring a modular syringe-holder concept. A cost effective and simple hardware design including a custom software (termed ‘composer’) was developed to prove that this technique can be made accessible for a broader public. Furthermore, the printing procedure was optimized for the peer-reviewed FRESH-method by Hinton et al. which allows to print geometrical complex cell-laden constructs. We provide a detailed protocol on the creation of the FRESH-gel to ensure the reproducibility of this state of the art method. As a proof of concept HEK293 cells as well as mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) were utilized for cell-laden printing. Depending on the cellular source the survival rates range from 60% up to 95%. Automatized quantitative viability analysis was performed using the open source image analysis tool Icy, in particular the “spot detector” plugin. A detailed protocol allows the recreation of the assay. Further data utilizing a support bath printing technique reveal limitations regarding the printing and residential time of cell-laden constructs. Keywords: Open Source Bioprinter, RepRap Modificiation, Mechanical Syringe Extruder, Bioprinting Protocol, Bioprinting Software","authors":[{"name":"Nils Bessler","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Dennis Ogiermann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2659-0809","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maj‐Britt Buchholz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3058-8485","institutions":["University Medical Center Utrecht"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander Santel","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"J. Heidenreich","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rawas Ahmmed","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Holm Zaehres","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8062-8428","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Beate Brand-Saberi","orcid":"","institutions":["Ruhr University Bochum"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-06-11","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":67,"referencesCount":19,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2019.e00069","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Pluripotent Stem Cells Research"],"keywords":["Modular design","Syringe","Computer science","Protocol (science)","3D printing","3d printer","Biomedical engineering","Embedded system","Computer hardware","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468-0672(18)30087-7/fulltext","year":2019,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Often referenced for syringe-based extrusion designs; adjacent to extrusion bioprinting toolchains.","whyItMatters":"Often referenced for syringe-based extrusion designs; adjacent to extrusion bioprinting toolchains.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"HardwareX landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source extruder/printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-nydus-one-syringe-extruder-nose"],"toolSlugs":["nydus-one-syringe-extruder-nose"],"toolNames":["Nydus One Syringe Extruder (NOSE)"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-050","slug":"050-open-source-cell-culture-automation-system-with-integrated-cell-counting-for-passaging-microplate-cultures","title":"Open-source cell culture automation system with integrated cell counting for passaging microplate cultures","doi":"10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source cell culture automation system with integrated cell counting for passaging microplate cultures","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:53.713Z","abstract":"Tissue culture in 96-well microplates is conventionally a tedious, highly manual process sensitive to individual technique and experimenter error. Here, we describe the Automated Cell Culture Splitter (ACCS), a system for passaging plates of adherent or suspension cells, for routine culture maintenance or specialized applications such as seeding plates for microscopy. The system is built around the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot and incorporates a novel on-deck imaging-based cell counter which allows it to compensate for density disparities across a source plate and control the number of cells seeded on a per-well basis. We find this solution can cut hands-on time by 61% and the results compare favorably to our existing manual cell culture processes in terms of both seeding density precision and bio-logical outcomes, achieving a control of seeding density with a well-to-well coefficient of variation (CV) under 11%. The system is designed to be adaptable and an accessible entry point into automation for high-throughput cell culture; to that end, all of the source code and hardware designs are released under open source licenses.","authors":[{"name":"Greg Courville","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6396-9017","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shivanshi Vaid","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2481-4609","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexis Toruño","orcid":"","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul Lebel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4569-1493","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joana P. Cabrera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5100-4560","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Preethi Raghavan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4340-3777","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"A. J. Jacobsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5056-3065","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"George R. R. Bell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1916-8351","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manuel D. Leonetti","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-405X","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Rafael Gómez-Sjöberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8017-9669","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","title":"Open-source cell culture automation system with integrated cell counting for passaging microplate cultures","subtitle":"","abstract":"Tissue culture in 96-well microplates is conventionally a tedious, highly manual process sensitive to individual technique and experimenter error. Here, we describe the Automated Cell Culture Splitter (ACCS), a system for passaging plates of adherent or suspension cells, for routine culture maintenance or specialized applications such as seeding plates for microscopy. The system is built around the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot and incorporates a novel on-deck imaging-based cell counter which allows it to compensate for density disparities across a source plate and control the number of cells seeded on a per-well basis. We find this solution can cut hands-on time by 61% and the results compare favorably to our existing manual cell culture processes in terms of both seeding density precision and bio-logical outcomes, achieving a control of seeding density with a well-to-well coefficient of variation (CV) under 11%. The system is designed to be adaptable and an accessible entry point into automation for high-throughput cell culture; to that end, all of the source code and hardware designs are released under open source licenses.","authors":[{"name":"Greg Courville","given":"Greg","family":"Courville","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6396-9017","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Shivanshi Vaid","given":"Shivanshi","family":"Vaid","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2481-4609","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexis Toruño","given":"Alexis","family":"Toruño","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paul Lebel","given":"Paul","family":"Lebel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4569-1493","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joana P. Cabrera","given":"Joana P.","family":"Cabrera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5100-4560","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Preethi Raghavan","given":"Preethi","family":"Raghavan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4340-3777","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Axel Jacobsen","given":"Axel","family":"Jacobsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5056-3065","affiliations":[]},{"name":"George Bell","given":"George","family":"Bell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1916-8351","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Manuel D. Leonetti","given":"Manuel D.","family":"Leonetti","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-405X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rafael Gómez-Sjöberg","given":"Rafael","family":"Gómez-Sjöberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8017-9669","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2024-12-27","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":26,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"","doi":"","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4405889651","doi":"10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","url":"https://openalex.org/W4405889651","title":"Open-source cell culture automation system with integrated cell counting for passaging microplate cultures","abstract":"Tissue culture in 96-well microplates is conventionally a tedious, highly manual process sensitive to individual technique and experimenter error. Here, we describe the Automated Cell Culture Splitter (ACCS), a system for passaging plates of adherent or suspension cells, for routine culture maintenance or specialized applications such as seeding plates for microscopy. The system is built around the Opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot and incorporates a novel on-deck imaging-based cell counter which allows it to compensate for density disparities across a source plate and control the number of cells seeded on a per-well basis. We find this solution can cut hands-on time by 61% and the results compare favorably to our existing manual cell culture processes in terms of both seeding density precision and bio-logical outcomes, achieving a control of seeding density with a well-to-well coefficient of variation (CV) under 11%. The system is designed to be adaptable and an accessible entry point into automation for high-throughput cell culture; to that end, all of the source code and hardware designs are released under open source licenses.","authors":[{"name":"Greg Courville","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6396-9017","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shivanshi Vaid","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2481-4609","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexis Toruño","orcid":"","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul Lebel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4569-1493","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joana P. Cabrera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5100-4560","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Preethi Raghavan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4340-3777","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"A. J. Jacobsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5056-3065","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"George R. R. Bell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1916-8351","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manuel D. Leonetti","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4881-405X","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Rafael Gómez-Sjöberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8017-9669","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationYear":2024,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":13,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Protein purification and stability"],"keywords":["Cell culture","Open source","Automation","Biology","Cell counting","Laboratory automation","Computational biology","Cell","Molecular biology","Computer science","Engineering","Genetics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.27.629034","year":2025,"venue":"bioRxiv","type":"Preprint","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Imaging integration","Microscopy integration","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Imaging integration","Microscopy integration","Workflow automation","Preprint"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 200 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-051","slug":"051-open-source-hybrid-3d-bioprinter-for-simultaneous-printing-of-thermoplastics-and-hydrogels","title":"Open-source hybrid 3D-bioprinter for simultaneous printing of thermoplastics and hydrogels","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source hybrid 3D-bioprinter for simultaneous printing of thermoplastics and hydrogels","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.242Z","abstract":"organ model development. Various 3D-bioprinting technologies and systems have been developed and are partly commercially available. Here, we present the construction and characterization of an open-source low-cost 3D-bioprinter that allows the alternated microextrusion of hydrogel and fused deposition modeling (FDM) of thermoplastic filaments. The presented 3D-bioprinter is based on a conventional Prusa i3 MK3 printer and features two independent printheads: the original FDM-head and a syringe-based microextrusion printhead for soft materials. Modifications were designed modularly to fit various syringe formats or heating elements to the device. The bioprinter is the first hybrid DIY 3D-bioprinter that allows switching between materials as often as required during a print run to produce complex multi-material constructs with arbitrary patterns in each layer. For validation of the printer, two designs suitable for relevant bioprinting applications were realized. First, a porous plastic construct filled with hydrogel was printed, serving as a mechanically stable bone replacement tissue model. Second, a plastic chamber, which might be used in organ-on-a-chip applications, was printed with an extruded silicone sealing that enables the liquid-tight attachment of glass slides to the top and bottom of the chamber.","authors":[{"name":"Fritz Koch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0991-5958","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ole Thaden","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin Tröndle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7699-3737","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Roland Zengerle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5348-2216","institutions":["Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung","University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefan Zimmermann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0715-3184","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter Koltay","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9150-5762","institutions":["University of Freiburg","Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","title":"Open-source hybrid 3D-bioprinter for simultaneous printing of thermoplastics and hydrogels","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Fritz Koch","given":"Fritz","family":"Koch","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ole Thaden","given":"Ole","family":"Thaden","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kevin Tröndle","given":"Kevin","family":"Tröndle","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Roland Zengerle","given":"Roland","family":"Zengerle","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stefan Zimmermann","given":"Stefan","family":"Zimmermann","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Peter Koltay","given":"Peter","family":"Koltay","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"","pages":"e00230","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":44,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft","doi":"10.13039/501100001659","awards":[]},{"name":"Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung Dienststelle Bonn","doi":"10.13039/501100002347","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3160470870","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","url":"https://openalex.org/W3160470870","title":"Open-source hybrid 3D-bioprinter for simultaneous printing of thermoplastics and hydrogels","abstract":"organ model development. Various 3D-bioprinting technologies and systems have been developed and are partly commercially available. Here, we present the construction and characterization of an open-source low-cost 3D-bioprinter that allows the alternated microextrusion of hydrogel and fused deposition modeling (FDM) of thermoplastic filaments. The presented 3D-bioprinter is based on a conventional Prusa i3 MK3 printer and features two independent printheads: the original FDM-head and a syringe-based microextrusion printhead for soft materials. Modifications were designed modularly to fit various syringe formats or heating elements to the device. The bioprinter is the first hybrid DIY 3D-bioprinter that allows switching between materials as often as required during a print run to produce complex multi-material constructs with arbitrary patterns in each layer. For validation of the printer, two designs suitable for relevant bioprinting applications were realized. First, a porous plastic construct filled with hydrogel was printed, serving as a mechanically stable bone replacement tissue model. Second, a plastic chamber, which might be used in organ-on-a-chip applications, was printed with an extruded silicone sealing that enables the liquid-tight attachment of glass slides to the top and bottom of the chamber.","authors":[{"name":"Fritz Koch","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0991-5958","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ole Thaden","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin Tröndle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7699-3737","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Roland Zengerle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5348-2216","institutions":["Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung","University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefan Zimmermann","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0715-3184","institutions":["University of Freiburg"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter Koltay","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9150-5762","institutions":["University of Freiburg","Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-09-15","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":49,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00230","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Self-healing hydrogels","3D printing","Materials science","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Polymer chemistry","Engineering","Composite material"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067221000596","year":2021,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Open-hardware path to hybrid scaffolds (structural polymer + hydrogel/cell-laden inks).","whyItMatters":"Open-hardware path to hybrid scaffolds (structural polymer + hydrogel/cell-laden inks).","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"ScienceDirect landing; Mendeley Data repository","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-doi-resource-10-17632-ywb5zdjk5x-1","slug":"doi-resource-10-17632-ywb5zdjk5x-1","name":"DOI resource 10.17632/ywb5zdjk5x.1","url":"https://doi.org/10.17632/ywb5zdjk5x.1","kind":"doi"},"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-052","slug":"052-open-source-personal-pipetting-robots-with-live-cell-incubation-and-microscopy-compatibility","title":"Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility","doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.283Z","abstract":"Liquid handling robots have the potential to automate many procedures in life sciences. However, they are not in widespread use in academic settings, where funding, space and maintenance specialists are usually limiting. In addition, current robots require lengthy programming by specialists and are incompatible with most academic laboratories with constantly changing small-scale projects. Here, we present the Pipetting Helper Imaging Lid (PHIL), an inexpensive, small, open-source personal liquid handling robot. It is designed for inexperienced users, with self-production from cheap commercial and 3D-printable components and custom control software. PHIL successfully automates pipetting (incl. aspiration) for e.g. tissue immunostainings and stimulations of live stem and progenitor cells during time-lapse microscopy using 3D printed peristaltic pumps. PHIL is cheap enough to put a personal pipetting robot within the reach of most labs and enables users without programming skills to easily automate a large range of experiments.","authors":[{"name":"Philip Dettinger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8032-781X","institutions":["University of Basel","ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Tobías Kull","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8002-0519","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Geethika Arekatla","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2639-9964","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nouraiz Ahmed","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1815-4481","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yang Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1763-6908","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Florin Schneiter","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Arne Wehling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0845-626X","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Schirmacher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-4811","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shunsuke Kawamura","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dirk Loeffler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9870-0088","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Timm Schroeder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9320-0252","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","title":"Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Liquid handling robots have the potential to automate many procedures in life sciences. However, they are not in widespread use in academic settings, where funding, space and maintenance specialists are usually limiting. In addition, current robots require lengthy programming by specialists and are incompatible with most academic laboratories with constantly changing small-scale projects. Here, we present the Pipetting Helper Imaging Lid (PHIL), an inexpensive, small, open-source personal liquid handling robot. It is designed for inexperienced users, with self-production from cheap commercial and 3D-printable components and custom control software. PHIL successfully automates pipetting (incl. aspiration) for e.g. tissue immunostainings and stimulations of live stem and progenitor cells during time-lapse microscopy using 3D printed peristaltic pumps. PHIL is cheap enough to put a personal pipetting robot within the reach of most labs and enables users without programming skills to easily automate a large range of experiments.","authors":[{"name":"Philip Dettinger","given":"Philip","family":"Dettinger","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Tobias Kull","given":"Tobias","family":"Kull","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Geethika Arekatla","given":"Geethika","family":"Arekatla","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nouraiz Ahmed","given":"Nouraiz","family":"Ahmed","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yang Zhang","given":"Yang","family":"Zhang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Florin Schneiter","given":"Florin","family":"Schneiter","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Arne Wehling","given":"Arne","family":"Wehling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0845-626X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel Schirmacher","given":"Daniel","family":"Schirmacher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-4811","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Shunsuke Kawamura","given":"Shunsuke","family":"Kawamura","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dirk Loeffler","given":"Dirk","family":"Loeffler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9870-0088","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Timm Schroeder","given":"Timm","family":"Schroeder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9320-0252","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Nature Communications","publishedDate":"2022-05-30","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2041-1723"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":57,"citedByCount":38,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["179490"]},{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["186271"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4281742107","doi":"10.1038/s41467-022-30643-7","url":"https://openalex.org/W4281742107","title":"Open-source personal pipetting robots with live-cell incubation and microscopy compatibility","abstract":"Liquid handling robots have the potential to automate many procedures in life sciences. However, they are not in widespread use in academic settings, where funding, space and maintenance specialists are usually limiting. In addition, current robots require lengthy programming by specialists and are incompatible with most academic laboratories with constantly changing small-scale projects. Here, we present the Pipetting Helper Imaging Lid (PHIL), an inexpensive, small, open-source personal liquid handling robot. It is designed for inexperienced users, with self-production from cheap commercial and 3D-printable components and custom control software. PHIL successfully automates pipetting (incl. aspiration) for e.g. tissue immunostainings and stimulations of live stem and progenitor cells during time-lapse microscopy using 3D printed peristaltic pumps. PHIL is cheap enough to put a personal pipetting robot within the reach of most labs and enables users without programming skills to easily automate a large range of experiments.","authors":[{"name":"Philip Dettinger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8032-781X","institutions":["University of Basel","ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Tobías Kull","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8002-0519","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Geethika Arekatla","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2639-9964","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nouraiz Ahmed","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1815-4481","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yang Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1763-6908","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Florin Schneiter","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Arne Wehling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0845-626X","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Schirmacher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8788-4811","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shunsuke Kawamura","orcid":"","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dirk Loeffler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9870-0088","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Timm Schroeder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9320-0252","institutions":["ETH Zurich"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-05-30","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":39,"referencesCount":54,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Nature Communications","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Pipette","Robot","Computer science","Open source","Software","Human–computer interaction","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Artificial intelligence","Engineering","Materials science","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30643-7","year":2022,"venue":"Nature Communications","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Incubation","Microscopy integration"],"systemOrTechnology":"Personal Pipetting Robot | Personal Pipetting Robot (PHIL)","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Shows open hardware that integrates pipetting + incubation + imaging, closer to ‘robot-compatible’ liquid handling.","whyItMatters":"Shows open hardware that integrates pipetting + incubation + imaging, closer to ‘robot-compatible’ liquid handling.","motivationUseCase":"claims that no robot can operate on microscope stages. to replace manual pipetting during live-cell microscopy (labor-intensive especially for long time-lapse experiments, disruptive to culture conditions)","limitation":"Designed for small-volume/well-plate work -- not built for large-batch or high-volume liquid handling","function":"Compact liquid handling robot for automated pipetting/aspiration during live-cell incubation and microscopy","keySources":"Nature Comms landing; PHIL GitHub","openSourceResources":"GitHub and authors' website, instructions in paper | GitHub and authors' website; instructions in paper","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Moderate","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","electronics assembly","basic scripting (no programming experience required for operation)"],"approximateCost":"600-800 USD | 600-800","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-csdgroup-phil","slug":"csdgroup-phil","name":"CSDGroup/PHIL","url":"https://github.com/CSDGroup/PHIL","kind":"github"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Incubation","Microscopy integration","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","Personal Pipetting Robot | Personal Pipetting Robot (PHIL)"],"democratizingFeatures":["open-source hardwarea and software, 3D printable and assembled with off-the-shelf components, compact and modular design meant for sitting directly on microscope stages thus enabling automated interventions during live-cell imaging, designed for standard two-finger robot grippers and common robotic arms, supports multi-pipetting,"],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-open-source-personal-pipetting-robots-with-live-cell-incubation-and-microscopy-compatibility"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-open-source-personal-pipetting-robots-with-live-cell-incubation-and-microscopy-compatibility"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 100 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build/setup appears multi-day but under a week."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-personal-pipetting-robot"],"toolSlugs":["personal-pipetting-robot"],"toolNames":["Personal Pipetting Robot"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-053","slug":"053-open-source-spring-driven-syringe-pump-with-3d-printed-components-for-microfluidic-applications","title":"Open-source spring-driven syringe pump with 3D-printed components for microfluidic applications","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source spring-driven syringe pump with 3D-printed components for microfluidic applications","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.808Z","abstract":"The operation of microfluidic devices requires precise and constant fluid flow. Microfluidic systems in low-resource settings require a portable, inexpensive, and electricity-free pumping approach due to the rising demand for microfluidics in point-of-care testing (POCT). Open-source alternatives, employing 3D printing and motors, offer affordability. However, using motors require electrical power, which often relies on external sources, hindering the on-site use of open-source pumps. This study introduces a spring-driven, 3D-printed syringe pump, eliminating the need for an external power source. The syringe pump is operated by the flat spiral spring's torque. By manually winding up the mainspring, the syringe pump can be operated without electricity. Various flow rates can be achieved by utilizing different syringe sizes and choosing the right gear combinations. All the parts of the syringe pump can be fabricated by 3D printing, requiring no additional components that require electricity. It operates by winding a mainspring and is user-friendly, allowing flow rate adjustments by assembling gears that modulate syringe plunger pushing velocity. The fabrication cost is $25-30 and can be assembled easily by following the instructions. We expect that the proposed syringe pump will enable the utilization of microfluidic technologies in resource-limited settings, promoting the adoption of microfluidics. Detailed information and results are available in the original research paper (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2024.135289).","authors":[{"name":"Se Been Park","orcid":"","institutions":["Pukyong National University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joong Ho Shin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-8618","institutions":["Pukyong National University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","title":"Open-source spring-driven syringe pump with 3D-printed components for microfluidic applications","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Se Been Park","given":"Se Been","family":"Park","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joong Ho Shin","given":"Joong Ho","family":"Shin","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2024-09-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"19","issue":"","pages":"e00550","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":29,"citedByCount":4,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Pukyong National University","doi":"10.13039/501100002644","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4400381736","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2024.e00550","url":"https://openalex.org/W4400381736","title":"Open-source spring-driven syringe pump with 3D-printed components for microfluidic applications","abstract":"The operation of microfluidic devices requires precise and constant fluid flow. Microfluidic systems in low-resource settings require a portable, inexpensive, and electricity-free pumping approach due to the rising demand for microfluidics in point-of-care testing (POCT). Open-source alternatives, employing 3D printing and motors, offer affordability. However, using motors require electrical power, which often relies on external sources, hindering the on-site use of open-source pumps. This study introduces a spring-driven, 3D-printed syringe pump, eliminating the need for an external power source. The syringe pump is operated by the flat spiral spring's torque. By manually winding up the mainspring, the syringe pump can be operated without electricity. Various flow rates can be achieved by utilizing different syringe sizes and choosing the right gear combinations. All the parts of the syringe pump can be fabricated by 3D printing, requiring no additional components that require electricity. It operates by winding a mainspring and is user-friendly, allowing flow rate adjustments by assembling gears that modulate syringe plunger pushing velocity. The fabrication cost is $25-30 and can be assembled easily by following the instructions. We expect that the proposed syringe pump will enable the utilization of microfluidic technologies in resource-limited settings, promoting the adoption of microfluidics. Detailed information and results are available in the original research paper (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2024.135289).","authors":[{"name":"Se Been Park","orcid":"","institutions":["Pukyong National University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joong Ho Shin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9568-8618","institutions":["Pukyong National University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-07-06","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":4,"referencesCount":30,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067224000440/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Intravenous Infusion Technology and Safety","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Syringe driver","Syringe","Microfluidics","Computer science","Process engineering","Mechanical engineering","Electrical engineering","Nanotechnology","Engineering","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11299592/","year":2024,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Syringe pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"A 2024 open-hardware pump design; useful building block for low-cost liquid handling and microfluidics.","whyItMatters":"A 2024 open-hardware pump design; useful building block for low-cost liquid handling and microfluidics.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Syringe pumping","Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-054","slug":"054-open-source-syringe-pump-library","title":"Open-Source Syringe Pump Library","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-Source Syringe Pump Library","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.551Z","abstract":"This article explores a new open-source method for developing and manufacturing high-quality scientific equipment suitable for use in virtually any laboratory. A syringe pump was designed using freely available open-source computer aided design (CAD) software and manufactured using an open-source RepRap 3-D printer and readily available parts. The design, bill of materials and assembly instructions are globally available to anyone wishing to use them. Details are provided covering the use of the CAD software and the RepRap 3-D printer. The use of an open-source Rasberry Pi computer as a wireless control device is also illustrated. Performance of the syringe pump was assessed and the methods used for assessment are detailed. The cost of the entire system, including the controller and web-based control interface, is on the order of 5% or less than one would expect to pay for a commercial syringe pump having similar performance. The design should suit the needs of a given research activity requiring a syringe pump including carefully controlled dosing of reagents, pharmaceuticals, and delivery of viscous 3-D printer media among other applications.","authors":[{"name":"Bas Wijnen","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily J. Hunt","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan United","Michigan Technological University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gerald C. Anzalone","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua M. Pearce","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9802-3056","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","title":"Open-Source Syringe Pump Library","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Bas Wijnen","given":"Bas","family":"Wijnen","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Emily J. Hunt","given":"Emily J.","family":"Hunt","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gerald C. Anzalone","given":"Gerald C.","family":"Anzalone","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joshua M. Pearce","given":"Joshua M.","family":"Pearce","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLoS ONE","publishedDate":"2014-09-17","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"9","pages":"e107216","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":36,"citedByCount":238,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W1972111566","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0107216","url":"https://openalex.org/W1972111566","title":"Open-Source Syringe Pump Library","abstract":"This article explores a new open-source method for developing and manufacturing high-quality scientific equipment suitable for use in virtually any laboratory. A syringe pump was designed using freely available open-source computer aided design (CAD) software and manufactured using an open-source RepRap 3-D printer and readily available parts. The design, bill of materials and assembly instructions are globally available to anyone wishing to use them. Details are provided covering the use of the CAD software and the RepRap 3-D printer. The use of an open-source Rasberry Pi computer as a wireless control device is also illustrated. Performance of the syringe pump was assessed and the methods used for assessment are detailed. The cost of the entire system, including the controller and web-based control interface, is on the order of 5% or less than one would expect to pay for a commercial syringe pump having similar performance. The design should suit the needs of a given research activity requiring a syringe pump including carefully controlled dosing of reagents, pharmaceuticals, and delivery of viscous 3-D printer media among other applications.","authors":[{"name":"Bas Wijnen","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily J. Hunt","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan United","Michigan Technological University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gerald C. Anzalone","orcid":"","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua M. Pearce","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9802-3056","institutions":["Michigan Technological University","Michigan United"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2014-09-17","publicationYear":2014,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":290,"referencesCount":29,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Intravenous Infusion Technology and Safety"],"keywords":["Syringe","Syringe driver","Computer science","Software","Open source hardware","Open source","Peristaltic pump","Interface (matter)","Operating system","Engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"","year":2014,"venue":"PLOS ONE","type":"Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Syringe pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific) | Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Not bioprinting-specific, but open syringe-pump hardware is a common building block for extrusion bioprinting. | Foundational open-hardware syringe pump reference frequently reused in lab automation builds.","whyItMatters":"Not bioprinting-specific, but open syringe-pump hardware is a common building block for extrusion bioprinting. | Foundational open-hardware syringe pump reference frequently reused in lab automation builds.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PLOS ONE printable PDF | PLOS ONE article + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Syringe pumping","Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":2,"rationale":"Cycle time appears slower or hours-scale."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-055","slug":"055-open-source-3d-printed-peristaltic-pumps-for-small-volume-point-of-care-liquid-handling","title":"Open-source, 3D-printed Peristaltic Pumps for Small Volume Point-of-Care Liquid Handling","doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source, 3D-printed Peristaltic Pumps for Small Volume Point-of-Care Liquid Handling","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.432Z","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidic technologies are frequently employed as point-of-care diagnostic tools for improving time-to-diagnosis and improving patient outcomes in clinical settings. These microfluidic devices often are designed to operate with peripheral equipment for liquid handling that increases the cost and complexity of these systems and reduces their potential for widespread adoption in low resource healthcare applications. Here, we present a low-cost (~$120), open-source peristaltic pump constructed with a combination of three dimensional (3D)-printed parts and common hardware, which is amenable to deployment with microfluidic devices for point-of-care diagnostics. This pump accepts commonly available silicone rubber tubing in a range of sizes from 1.5 to 3 mm, and is capable of producing flow rates up to 1.6 mL min −1 . This device is programmed with an Arduino microcontroller, allowing for custom flow profiles to fit a wide range of low volume liquid handling applications including precision liquid aliquoting, flow control within microfluidics, and generation of physiologically relevant forces for studying cellular mechanobiology within microfluidic systems.","authors":[{"name":"Michael R. Behrens","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8188-034X","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Haley Fuller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5020-9257","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily R. Swist","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jingwen Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7248-6295","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Md. Mydul Islam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0786-9150","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhicheng Long","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9408-1945","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Warren C. Ruder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0745-9933","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Robert L. Steward","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6542-3205","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","title":"Open-source, 3D-printed Peristaltic Pumps for Small Volume Point-of-Care Liquid Handling","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidic technologies are frequently employed as point-of-care diagnostic tools for improving time-to-diagnosis and improving patient outcomes in clinical settings. These microfluidic devices often are designed to operate with peripheral equipment for liquid handling that increases the cost and complexity of these systems and reduces their potential for widespread adoption in low resource healthcare applications. Here, we present a low-cost (~$120), open-source peristaltic pump constructed with a combination of three dimensional (3D)-printed parts and common hardware, which is amenable to deployment with microfluidic devices for point-of-care diagnostics. This pump accepts commonly available silicone rubber tubing in a range of sizes from 1.5 to 3 mm, and is capable of producing flow rates up to 1.6 mL min −1 . This device is programmed with an Arduino microcontroller, allowing for custom flow profiles to fit a wide range of low volume liquid handling applications including precision liquid aliquoting, flow control within microfluidics, and generation of physiologically relevant forces for studying cellular mechanobiology within microfluidic systems.","authors":[{"name":"Michael R. Behrens","given":"Michael R.","family":"Behrens","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Haley C. Fuller","given":"Haley C.","family":"Fuller","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Emily R. Swist","given":"Emily R.","family":"Swist","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jingwen Wu","given":"Jingwen","family":"Wu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Md. Mydul Islam","given":"Md. Mydul","family":"Islam","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Zhicheng Long","given":"Zhicheng","family":"Long","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Warren C. Ruder","given":"Warren C.","family":"Ruder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0745-9933","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Robert Steward","given":"Robert","family":"Steward","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2020-01-31","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":34,"citedByCount":66,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering","doi":"10.13039/100000070","awards":["T32-EB001026"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000050","awards":["K25-HL132098"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000050","awards":["K25-HL132098"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000050","awards":["K25-HL132098"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"United States Department of Defense | United States Air Force | AFMC | Air Force Office of Scientific Research","doi":"10.13039/100000181","awards":["FA9550-18-1-0262"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute","doi":"","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3003414970","doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-58246-6","url":"https://openalex.org/W3003414970","title":"Open-source, 3D-printed Peristaltic Pumps for Small Volume Point-of-Care Liquid Handling","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidic technologies are frequently employed as point-of-care diagnostic tools for improving time-to-diagnosis and improving patient outcomes in clinical settings. These microfluidic devices often are designed to operate with peripheral equipment for liquid handling that increases the cost and complexity of these systems and reduces their potential for widespread adoption in low resource healthcare applications. Here, we present a low-cost (~$120), open-source peristaltic pump constructed with a combination of three dimensional (3D)-printed parts and common hardware, which is amenable to deployment with microfluidic devices for point-of-care diagnostics. This pump accepts commonly available silicone rubber tubing in a range of sizes from 1.5 to 3 mm, and is capable of producing flow rates up to 1.6 mL min −1 . This device is programmed with an Arduino microcontroller, allowing for custom flow profiles to fit a wide range of low volume liquid handling applications including precision liquid aliquoting, flow control within microfluidics, and generation of physiologically relevant forces for studying cellular mechanobiology within microfluidic systems.","authors":[{"name":"Michael R. Behrens","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8188-034X","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Haley Fuller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5020-9257","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily R. Swist","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jingwen Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7248-6295","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Md. Mydul Islam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0786-9150","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhicheng Long","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9408-1945","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Warren C. Ruder","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0745-9933","institutions":["University of Pittsburgh"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Robert L. Steward","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6542-3205","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-01-31","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":71,"referencesCount":34,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrical and Thermal Properties of Materials","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Peristaltic pump","Peristalsis","Volume (thermodynamics)","Point (geometry)","Point of care","Computer science","3d printed","Open source","Chromatography","Biomedical engineering","Chemistry","Medicine"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6994627/","year":2020,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Peristaltic pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific) | Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Enabling open liquid-handling hardware that can integrate with extrusion/bioprinting workflows. | Practical open pump design for point-of-care and microfluidic liquid handling.","whyItMatters":"Enabling open liquid-handling hardware that can integrate with extrusion/bioprinting workflows. | Practical open pump design for point-of-care and microfluidic liquid handling.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Peristaltic pumping","Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source pump (syringe/peristaltic)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1600 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-056","slug":"056-open-source-community-driven-microfluidics-with-metafluidics","title":"Open-source, community-driven microfluidics with Metafluidics","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source, community-driven microfluidics with Metafluidics","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/nbt.3873","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:56.183Z","abstract":"Microfluidic devices have the potential to automate and miniaturize biological experiments, but open-source sharing of device designs has lagged behind sharing of other resources such as software. Synthetic biologists have used microfluidics for DNA assembly, cell-free expression, and cell culture, but a combination of expense, device complexity, and reliance on custom set-ups hampers their widespread adoption. We present Metafluidics, an open-source, community-driven repository that hosts digital design files, assembly specifications, and open-source software to enable users to build, configure, and operate a microfluidic device. We use Metafluidics to share designs and fabrication instructions for both a microfluidic ring-mixer device and a 32-channel tabletop microfluidic controller. This device and controller are applied to build genetic circuits using standard DNA assembly methods including ligation, Gateway, Gibson, and Golden Gate. Metafluidics is intended to enable a broad community of engineers, DIY enthusiasts, and other nontraditional participants with limited fabrication skills to contribute to microfluidic research.","authors":[{"name":"David S. Kong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5744-4533","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Todd Thorsen","orcid":"","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonathan Babb","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott Wick","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6906-4980","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy J Gam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4600-0383","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ron Weiss","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter A. Carr","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-8846","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/nbt.3873","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.3873","title":"Open-source, community-driven microfluidics with Metafluidics","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidic devices have the potential to automate and miniaturize biological experiments, but open-source sharing of device designs has lagged behind sharing of other resources such as software. Synthetic biologists have used microfluidics for DNA assembly, cell-free expression, and cell culture, but a combination of expense, device complexity, and reliance on custom set-ups hampers their widespread adoption. We present Metafluidics, an open-source, community-driven repository that hosts digital design files, assembly specifications, and open-source software to enable users to build, configure, and operate a microfluidic device. We use Metafluidics to share designs and fabrication instructions for both a microfluidic ring-mixer device and a 32-channel tabletop microfluidic controller. This device and controller are applied to build genetic circuits using standard DNA assembly methods including ligation, Gateway, Gibson, and Golden Gate. Metafluidics is intended to enable a broad community of engineers, DIY enthusiasts, and other nontraditional participants with limited fabrication skills to contribute to microfluidic research.","authors":[{"name":"David S Kong","given":"David S","family":"Kong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Todd A Thorsen","given":"Todd A","family":"Thorsen","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jonathan Babb","given":"Jonathan","family":"Babb","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Scott T Wick","given":"Scott T","family":"Wick","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jeremy J Gam","given":"Jeremy J","family":"Gam","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ron Weiss","given":"Ron","family":"Weiss","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Peter A Carr","given":"Peter A","family":"Carr","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-8846","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Nature Biotechnology","publishedDate":"2017-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"35","issue":"6","pages":"523-529","issn":["1087-0156","1546-1696"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":41,"citedByCount":80,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2623160224","doi":"10.1038/nbt.3873","url":"https://openalex.org/W2623160224","title":"Open-source, community-driven microfluidics with Metafluidics","abstract":"Microfluidic devices have the potential to automate and miniaturize biological experiments, but open-source sharing of device designs has lagged behind sharing of other resources such as software. Synthetic biologists have used microfluidics for DNA assembly, cell-free expression, and cell culture, but a combination of expense, device complexity, and reliance on custom set-ups hampers their widespread adoption. We present Metafluidics, an open-source, community-driven repository that hosts digital design files, assembly specifications, and open-source software to enable users to build, configure, and operate a microfluidic device. We use Metafluidics to share designs and fabrication instructions for both a microfluidic ring-mixer device and a 32-channel tabletop microfluidic controller. This device and controller are applied to build genetic circuits using standard DNA assembly methods including ligation, Gateway, Gibson, and Golden Gate. Metafluidics is intended to enable a broad community of engineers, DIY enthusiasts, and other nontraditional participants with limited fabrication skills to contribute to microfluidic research.","authors":[{"name":"David S. Kong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5744-4533","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Todd Thorsen","orcid":"","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonathan Babb","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott Wick","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6906-4980","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy J Gam","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4600-0383","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ron Weiss","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter A. Carr","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-8846","institutions":["MIT Lincoln Laboratory","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2017-06-01","publicationYear":2017,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":95,"referencesCount":38,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Nature Biotechnology","topics":["Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Computer science","Software","Open source","Gateway (web page)","Nanotechnology","Computer hardware","Operating system","World Wide Web","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"Open-source, community-driven microfluidics with Metafluidics | Nature Biotechnology","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Microfluidics"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfluidics"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear minimum handling volume found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfluidics"],"topicSlugs":["microfluidics"],"topicNames":["Microfluidics"]},{"id":"paper-057","slug":"057-openlh-open-liquid-handling-system-for-creative-experimentation-with-biology","title":"OpenLH: Open Liquid-Handling System for Creative Experimentation with Biology","doi":"10.1145/3294109.3295619","publication":{"paperTitle":"OpenLH: Open Liquid-Handling System for Creative Experimentation with Biology","requestedDoi":"10.1145/3294109.3295619","resolvedDoi":"10.1145/3294109.3295619","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":0.18,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.675Z","abstract":"The biological prototyping revolution is in motion, and new tools are needed to empower HCI researchers, designers, makers, and bio-enthusiasts to experiment with live organisms. We present OpenLH, a liquid handling system that empowers users to conduct accurate and repetitive experiments with live biology in a sterile, open, and affordable way. OpenLH integrates a commercially available robotic arm with custom 3D printed parts, a modified pipette, and a visual block-based programming interface. The system is as accurate as commercial liquid handlers, capable of repetitive tasks in micro-scale accuracy, easy to operate, and supports multi-materials including biomaterials, microorganisms and cell cultures. We describe the system's technical implementation and two custom interfaces. We demonstrate the system's impact for the HCI community with two use cases that include experimentation with live biology in non-traditional fields: visual design using pigment-expressing E.coli, and beer brewing experiment using serial dilution in home context.","authors":[{"name":"Gilad Gome","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0410-1502","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Waksberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6675-3730","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrey Grishko","orcid":"","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Iddo Yehoshua Wald","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7998-0133","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oren Zuckerman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1310-6499","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1145/3294109.3295619","url":"https://doi.org/10.1145/3294109.3295619","title":"OpenLH","subtitle":"Open Liquid-Handling System for Creative Experimentation with Biology","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Gilad Gome","given":"Gilad","family":"Gome","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel"]},{"name":"Julian Waksberg","given":"Julian","family":"Waksberg","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel"]},{"name":"Andrey Grishko","given":"Andrey","family":"Grishko","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel"]},{"name":"Iddo Yehoshua Wald","given":"Iddo Yehoshua","family":"Wald","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel"]},{"name":"Oren Zuckerman","given":"Oren","family":"Zuckerman","orcid":"","affiliations":["The Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel"]}],"publisher":"ACM","journal":"Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction","publishedDate":"2019-03-17","type":"proceedings-article","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"55-64","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":54,"citedByCount":48,"licenses":["https://www.acm.org/publications/policies/copyright_policy#Background"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2922029586","doi":"10.1145/3294109.3295619","url":"https://openalex.org/W2922029586","title":"OpenLH","abstract":"The biological prototyping revolution is in motion, and new tools are needed to empower HCI researchers, designers, makers, and bio-enthusiasts to experiment with live organisms. We present OpenLH, a liquid handling system that empowers users to conduct accurate and repetitive experiments with live biology in a sterile, open, and affordable way. OpenLH integrates a commercially available robotic arm with custom 3D printed parts, a modified pipette, and a visual block-based programming interface. The system is as accurate as commercial liquid handlers, capable of repetitive tasks in micro-scale accuracy, easy to operate, and supports multi-materials including biomaterials, microorganisms and cell cultures. We describe the system's technical implementation and two custom interfaces. We demonstrate the system's impact for the HCI community with two use cases that include experimentation with live biology in non-traditional fields: visual design using pigment-expressing E.coli, and beer brewing experiment using serial dilution in home context.","authors":[{"name":"Gilad Gome","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0410-1502","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Waksberg","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6675-3730","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrey Grishko","orcid":"","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Iddo Yehoshua Wald","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7998-0133","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Oren Zuckerman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1310-6499","institutions":["Reichman University"],"countries":["IL"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-03-15","publicationYear":2019,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":48,"referencesCount":35,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1145/3294109.3295619","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"","topics":["Cell Image Analysis Techniques","Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Computer science","Context (archaeology)","Human–computer interaction","Multimedia"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"","year":2019,"venue":"CHI EA (ACM) | (PDF / conference-style)","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automation","Control software","Pipetting/dispensing","Liquid handling"],"systemOrTechnology":"OpenLH","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Uses a commercial robotic arm + modified pipette + block-based programming; relevant example of robot-arm liquid handling. | Early ‘open liquid handling’ system description; may provide useful design patterns + references.","whyItMatters":"Uses a commercial robotic arm + modified pipette + block-based programming; relevant example of robot-arm liquid handling. | Early ‘open liquid handling’ system description; may provide useful design patterns + references.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"OpenLH PDF","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automation","Control software","Pipetting/dispensing","Liquid handling","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","OpenLH"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":["event-chi-ea-acm"],"eventSlugs":["chi-ea-acm"],"eventNames":["CHI EA (ACM)"],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openlh"],"toolSlugs":["openlh"],"toolNames":["OpenLH"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-058","slug":"058-openworkstation-a-modular-open-source-technology-for-automated-in-vitro-workflows","title":"OpenWorkstation: A modular open-source technology for automated in vitro workflows","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","publication":{"paperTitle":"OpenWorkstation: A modular open-source technology for automated in vitro workflows","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:54.797Z","abstract":"Automation liberates scientific staff from repetitive tasks, decreases the probability of human error and consequently enhances the reproducibility of lab experiments. However, the use of laboratory automation in academic laboratories is limited due to high acquisition costs and the inability to customize off-the-shelf hardware. To address these challenges, we present an Open Source Hardware concept, referred to as OpenWorkstation, to build an assembly line-inspired platform consisting of ready-to-use and customizable modules. In contrast to current standalone solutions, the OpenWorkstation concept enables the combination of single hardware modules -each with a specific set of functionalities -to a modular workstation to provide a fully automated setup. The base setup consists of a pipetting and transport module and is designed to execute basic protocol steps for in vitro research applications, including pipetting operations for liquids and viscous substances and transportation of cell culture vessels between the modules. We demonstrate the successful application of this concept within a case study by the development of a storage module to facilitate high-throughput studies and a photo-crosslinker module to initiate photo-induced polymerization of hydrogel solutions. We present a Systems Engineering framework for customized module development, guidance for the design and assembly of the presented modules, and operational instructions on the usage of the workstation. By combining capabilities from various open source instrumentations into a modular technology platform, the OpenWorkstation concept will facilitate efficient and reliable experimentation for in vitro research. Ultimately, this concept will allow academic groups to improve replicability and reproducibility in cell culture process operations towards more economical and innovative research in the future.","authors":[{"name":"Sebastian Eggert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9057-9922","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["AU","DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pawel Mieszczanek","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1343-4540","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christoph Meinert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7036-4067","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dietmar W. Hutmacher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5678-2134","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","title":"OpenWorkstation: A modular open-source technology for automated in vitro workflows","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Sebastian Eggert","given":"Sebastian","family":"Eggert","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pawel Mieszczanek","given":"Pawel","family":"Mieszczanek","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christoph Meinert","given":"Christoph","family":"Meinert","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dietmar W Hutmacher","given":"Dietmar W","family":"Hutmacher","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2020-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"8","issue":"","pages":"e00152","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":63,"citedByCount":35,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Central Queensland University","doi":"10.13039/501100001790","awards":[]},{"name":"Australian Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3094121686","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00152","url":"https://openalex.org/W3094121686","title":"OpenWorkstation: A modular open-source technology for automated in vitro workflows","abstract":"Automation liberates scientific staff from repetitive tasks, decreases the probability of human error and consequently enhances the reproducibility of lab experiments. However, the use of laboratory automation in academic laboratories is limited due to high acquisition costs and the inability to customize off-the-shelf hardware. To address these challenges, we present an Open Source Hardware concept, referred to as OpenWorkstation, to build an assembly line-inspired platform consisting of ready-to-use and customizable modules. In contrast to current standalone solutions, the OpenWorkstation concept enables the combination of single hardware modules -each with a specific set of functionalities -to a modular workstation to provide a fully automated setup. The base setup consists of a pipetting and transport module and is designed to execute basic protocol steps for in vitro research applications, including pipetting operations for liquids and viscous substances and transportation of cell culture vessels between the modules. We demonstrate the successful application of this concept within a case study by the development of a storage module to facilitate high-throughput studies and a photo-crosslinker module to initiate photo-induced polymerization of hydrogel solutions. We present a Systems Engineering framework for customized module development, guidance for the design and assembly of the presented modules, and operational instructions on the usage of the workstation. By combining capabilities from various open source instrumentations into a modular technology platform, the OpenWorkstation concept will facilitate efficient and reliable experimentation for in vitro research. Ultimately, this concept will allow academic groups to improve replicability and reproducibility in cell culture process operations towards more economical and innovative research in the future.","authors":[{"name":"Sebastian Eggert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9057-9922","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["AU","DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pawel Mieszczanek","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1343-4540","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christoph Meinert","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7036-4067","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dietmar W. Hutmacher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5678-2134","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-10-01","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":43,"referencesCount":74,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067220300614/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Biomedical and Engineering Education","Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects"],"keywords":["Modular design","Workflow","Computer science","Automation","Workstation","Embedded system","Protocol (science)","Laboratory automation","Computer hardware","Software engineering","Computer architecture","Systems engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://eprints.qut.edu.au/206083/","year":2020,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Liquid handling (module-based)","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Useful ‘platform’ paper for building modular open lab automation setups beyond a single device.","whyItMatters":"Useful ‘platform’ paper for building modular open lab automation setups beyond a single device.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"QUT ePrints record; GitHub","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":false,"repo":{"id":"repo-sebastianeggert-openworkstation","slug":"sebastianeggert-openworkstation","name":"SebastianEggert/OpenWorkstation","url":"https://github.com/SebastianEggert/OpenWorkstation","kind":"github"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Liquid handling (module-based)","Workflow automation","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.7,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openworkstation"],"toolSlugs":["openworkstation"],"toolNames":["OpenWorkstation"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-059","slug":"059-ot-mation-an-open-source-code-for-parsing-csv-files-into-python-scripts-for-control-of-ot-2-liquid-handling-robotics","title":"OT-Mation: an open-source code for parsing CSV files into Python scripts for control of OT-2 liquid-handling robotics","doi":"10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","publication":{"paperTitle":"OT-Mation: an open-source code for parsing CSV files into Python scripts for control of OT-2 liquid-handling robotics","requestedDoi":"10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","resolvedDoi":"10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.363Z","abstract":"Abstract OT-Mation is an open-source Python script designed to automate the programming of OT-2 liquid-handling robots, making combinatorial experiments more accessible to researchers. By parsing user-defined CSV files containing information on labware, reagents, pipettes, and experimental design, OT-Mation generates a bespoke Python script compatible with the OT-2 system. OT-Mation enhances reproducibility, reduces human error, and streamlines workflows, making it a valuable addition to any laboratory utilizing OT-2 robotics for liquid handling. While OT-Mation can be used for setting up any type of experiment on the OT-2, its real utility lies in making the connection between multifactorial experimental design software outputs (i.e. design of experiments arrays) and liquid-handling robot executable code. As such, OT-Mation helps bridge the gap between code-based flexibility and user-friendly operation, allowing researchers with limited programming skills to design and execute complex experiments efficiently.","authors":[{"name":"Alex Laverick","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Katherine Convey","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Catherine Harrison","orcid":"","institutions":["Fera Science (United Kingdom)","Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jenny Tomlinson","orcid":"","institutions":["Fera Science (United Kingdom)"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jem Stach","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas P. Howard","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5546-4043","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","url":"https://doi.org/10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","title":"OT-Mation: an open-source code for parsing CSV files into Python scripts for control of OT-2 liquid-handling robotics","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract OT-Mation is an open-source Python script designed to automate the programming of OT-2 liquid-handling robots, making combinatorial experiments more accessible to researchers. By parsing user-defined CSV files containing information on labware, reagents, pipettes, and experimental design, OT-Mation generates a bespoke Python script compatible with the OT-2 system. OT-Mation enhances reproducibility, reduces human error, and streamlines workflows, making it a valuable addition to any laboratory utilizing OT-2 robotics for liquid handling. While OT-Mation can be used for setting up any type of experiment on the OT-2, its real utility lies in making the connection between multifactorial experimental design software outputs (i.e. design of experiments arrays) and liquid-handling robot executable code. As such, OT-Mation helps bridge the gap between code-based flexibility and user-friendly operation, allowing researchers with limited programming skills to design and execute complex experiments efficiently.","authors":[{"name":"Alex Laverick","given":"Alex","family":"Laverick","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU,"]},{"name":"Katherine Convey","given":"Katherine","family":"Convey","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU,"]},{"name":"Catherine Harrison","given":"Catherine","family":"Harrison","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU,","Plant Protection, Fera Science Ltd, York Biotech Campus , York YO41 1LZ,"]},{"name":"Jenny Tomlinson","given":"Jenny","family":"Tomlinson","orcid":"","affiliations":["Plant Protection, Fera Science Ltd, York Biotech Campus , York YO41 1LZ,"]},{"name":"Jem Stach","given":"Jem","family":"Stach","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU,"]},{"name":"Thomas P Howard","given":"Thomas P","family":"Howard","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5546-4043","affiliations":["School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU,"]}],"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","journal":"Synthetic Biology","publishedDate":"2025-05-15","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2397-7000"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":23,"citedByCount":3,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000268","awards":["BB/W01095X/1"]},{"name":"Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"BBSRC Newcastle-Liverpool-Durham Doctoral Training Partnership","doi":"","awards":["2144113"]},{"name":"Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000268","awards":["BB/W01095X/1"]},{"name":"Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"BBSRC Newcastle-Liverpool-Durham Doctoral Training Partnership","doi":"","awards":["2144113"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4410232976","doi":"10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","url":"https://openalex.org/W4410232976","title":"OT-Mation: an open-source code for parsing CSV files into Python scripts for control of OT-2 liquid-handling robotics","abstract":"Abstract OT-Mation is an open-source Python script designed to automate the programming of OT-2 liquid-handling robots, making combinatorial experiments more accessible to researchers. By parsing user-defined CSV files containing information on labware, reagents, pipettes, and experimental design, OT-Mation generates a bespoke Python script compatible with the OT-2 system. OT-Mation enhances reproducibility, reduces human error, and streamlines workflows, making it a valuable addition to any laboratory utilizing OT-2 robotics for liquid handling. While OT-Mation can be used for setting up any type of experiment on the OT-2, its real utility lies in making the connection between multifactorial experimental design software outputs (i.e. design of experiments arrays) and liquid-handling robot executable code. As such, OT-Mation helps bridge the gap between code-based flexibility and user-friendly operation, allowing researchers with limited programming skills to design and execute complex experiments efficiently.","authors":[{"name":"Alex Laverick","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Katherine Convey","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Catherine Harrison","orcid":"","institutions":["Fera Science (United Kingdom)","Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jenny Tomlinson","orcid":"","institutions":["Fera Science (United Kingdom)"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jem Stach","orcid":"","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas P. Howard","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5546-4043","institutions":["Newcastle University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":3,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Synthetic Biology","topics":["Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research","Scientific Computing and Data Management","Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies"],"keywords":["Python (programming language)","Computer science","Executable","Scripting language","Programming language","Parsing","Source code","Artificial intelligence","Robotics","Software","Workflow","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1093/synbio/ysaf009","year":2025,"venue":"Synthetic Biology","type":"Open-source software/control","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Control software","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Control software","Workflow automation","Open-source software/control"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-ot-mation"],"toolSlugs":["ot-mation"],"toolNames":["OT-Mation"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-060","slug":"060-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automated-microp","title":"Principles of computer-controlled linear motion applied to an open-source affordable liquid handler for automated micropipetting","doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","publication":{"paperTitle":"Principles of computer-controlled linear motion applied to an open-source affordable liquid handler for automated micropipetting","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.377Z","abstract":"OTTO is an open-source automated liquid handler that can be fabricated at a cost of $1,500 using off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts as an alternative to commercial devices. Open-source approaches have been applied to build syringe pumps, centrifuges, and other laboratory equipment. These devices are affordable but generally rely on a single motor to perform simple operations and thus do not fully utilize the potential of the Maker Movement. Open-source linear actuators and microcontrollers enable the fabrication of more complex laboratory instruments that rely on 3D positioning and accurate dispensing of fluids, such as automated liquid handlers. These instruments can be built rapidly and affordably, thereby providing access to highly reproducible sample preparation for common biological assays such as qPCR. We applied the design principles of speed and accuracy, unattended automation, and open-source components to build an automated liquid handler that controls micropipetting of liquids in 3D space at speeds and positional resolutions required for qPCR. In benchmarking studies, OTTO showed accuracy and sample preparation times comparable to manual qPCR. The ability to control linear motion and liquid dispensing using affordable off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts can facilitate the adoption of open-source automated liquid handlers for qPCR, bioplotting, and other bioinstrumentation applications.","authors":[{"name":"David C. Florian","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0530-8878","institutions":["Vanderbilt University","Vanderbilt University Medical Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mateusz Odziomek","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0481-5533","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cerie L. Ock","orcid":"","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hannah Chen","orcid":"","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott A. Guelcher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9871-8058","institutions":["Vanderbilt University","Vanderbilt University Medical Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","title":"Principles of computer-controlled linear motion applied to an open-source affordable liquid handler for automated micropipetting","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract OTTO is an open-source automated liquid handler that can be fabricated at a cost of $1,500 using off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts as an alternative to commercial devices. Open-source approaches have been applied to build syringe pumps, centrifuges, and other laboratory equipment. These devices are affordable but generally rely on a single motor to perform simple operations and thus do not fully utilize the potential of the Maker Movement. Open-source linear actuators and microcontrollers enable the fabrication of more complex laboratory instruments that rely on 3D positioning and accurate dispensing of fluids, such as automated liquid handlers. These instruments can be built rapidly and affordably, thereby providing access to highly reproducible sample preparation for common biological assays such as qPCR. We applied the design principles of speed and accuracy, unattended automation, and open-source components to build an automated liquid handler that controls micropipetting of liquids in 3D space at speeds and positional resolutions required for qPCR. In benchmarking studies, OTTO showed accuracy and sample preparation times comparable to manual qPCR. The ability to control linear motion and liquid dispensing using affordable off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts can facilitate the adoption of open-source automated liquid handlers for qPCR, bioplotting, and other bioinstrumentation applications.","authors":[{"name":"David C. Florian","given":"David C.","family":"Florian","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mateusz Odziomek","given":"Mateusz","family":"Odziomek","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Cerie L. Ock","given":"Cerie L.","family":"Ock","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Hannah Chen","given":"Hannah","family":"Chen","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Scott A. Guelcher","given":"Scott A.","family":"Guelcher","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2020-08-12","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":32,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"National Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000001","awards":[]},{"name":"Vanderbilt University","doi":"10.13039/100006537","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3048752430","doi":"10.1038/s41598-020-70465-5","url":"https://openalex.org/W3048752430","title":"Principles of computer-controlled linear motion applied to an open-source affordable liquid handler for automated micropipetting","abstract":"OTTO is an open-source automated liquid handler that can be fabricated at a cost of $1,500 using off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts as an alternative to commercial devices. Open-source approaches have been applied to build syringe pumps, centrifuges, and other laboratory equipment. These devices are affordable but generally rely on a single motor to perform simple operations and thus do not fully utilize the potential of the Maker Movement. Open-source linear actuators and microcontrollers enable the fabrication of more complex laboratory instruments that rely on 3D positioning and accurate dispensing of fluids, such as automated liquid handlers. These instruments can be built rapidly and affordably, thereby providing access to highly reproducible sample preparation for common biological assays such as qPCR. We applied the design principles of speed and accuracy, unattended automation, and open-source components to build an automated liquid handler that controls micropipetting of liquids in 3D space at speeds and positional resolutions required for qPCR. In benchmarking studies, OTTO showed accuracy and sample preparation times comparable to manual qPCR. The ability to control linear motion and liquid dispensing using affordable off-the-shelf and 3D-printable parts can facilitate the adoption of open-source automated liquid handlers for qPCR, bioplotting, and other bioinstrumentation applications.","authors":[{"name":"David C. Florian","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0530-8878","institutions":["Vanderbilt University","Vanderbilt University Medical Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mateusz Odziomek","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0481-5533","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cerie L. Ock","orcid":"","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hannah Chen","orcid":"","institutions":["Vanderbilt University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott A. Guelcher","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9871-8058","institutions":["Vanderbilt University","Vanderbilt University Medical Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-08-12","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":40,"referencesCount":32,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Neuroscience and Neural Engineering"],"keywords":["Open source","Computer science","Motion (physics)","Operating system","Artificial intelligence","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70465-5","year":2020,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Automated pipetting"],"systemOrTechnology":"OTTO","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific) | Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Not a bioprinter, but relevant open automation tool for biofabrication/bioprinting workflows. | Canonical open-source liquid handling robot paper; good baseline against newer modular tools like digital pipette.","whyItMatters":"Not a bioprinter, but relevant open automation tool for biofabrication/bioprinting workflows. | Canonical open-source liquid handling robot paper; good baseline against newer modular tools like digital pipette.","motivationUseCase":"Low‑cost automated pipetting for qPCR and general liquid handling using standard micropipettes and labware.","limitation":"lower throughput due to slow error-checking system | Lower throughput due to a slower built-in error-checking system","function":"Open-source automated liquid handler (gantry-style) for micropipetting, e.g., qPCR sample prep","keySources":"Sci Rep PDF/landing + DOI | Sci Rep landing + OTTO site","openSourceResources":"Fully open‑source — CAD files, part lists, firmware, and GUI available online at website | Fully open-source -- CAD files, part lists, firmware, and GUI on project website","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Moderate-High","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","electronics/Arduino","G-code/firmware setup","calibration"],"approximateCost":"1500 USD? | 1500","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-openliquidhandler-com","slug":"openliquidhandler-com","name":"openliquidhandler.com","url":"https://openliquidhandler.com/","kind":"website"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Automated pipetting","automated pipetting","Open-source workflow/analysis | Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","OTTO"],"democratizingFeatures":["modular design"],"assetIds":["asset-cad-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automated-mi","asset-firmware-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automat","asset-software-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automat"],"assetSlugs":["cad-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automated-mi","firmware-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automat","software-principles-of-computer-controlled-linear-motion-applied-to-an-open-source-affordable-liquid-handler-for-automat"],"assetTypes":["cad","firmware","software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-otto"],"toolSlugs":["otto"],"toolNames":["OTTO"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-061","slug":"061-pylabrobot-an-open-source-hardware-agnostic-interface-for-liquid-handling-robots-and-accessories","title":"PyLabRobot: An open-source, hardware-agnostic interface for liquid-handling robots and accessories","doi":"10.1101/2023.07.10.547733 | 10.1016/j.device.2023.100111","publication":{"paperTitle":"PyLabRobot: An open-source, hardware-agnostic interface for liquid-handling robots and accessories","requestedDoi":"10.1101/2023.07.10.547733 | 10.1016/j.device.2023.100111","resolvedDoi":"10.1101/2023.07.10.547733","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.608Z","abstract":"Abstract Liquid handling robots are often limited by proprietary programming interfaces that are only compatible with a single type of robot and operating system, restricting method sharing and slowing development. Here we present PyLabRobot, an open-source, cross-platform Python interface capable of programming diverse liquid-handling robots, including Hamilton STARs, Tecan EVOs, and Opentron OT-2s. PyLabRobot provides a universal set of commands and representations for deck layout and labware, enabling the control of diverse accessory devices. The interface is extensible and can work with any robot that manipulates liquids within a Cartesian coordinate system. We validated the system through unit tests and several application demonstrations, including a browser-based simulator, a position calibration tool, and a path-teaching tool for complex movements. PyLabRobot provides a flexible, open, and collaborative programming environment for laboratory automation. Figure Abstract PyLabRobot overcomes the limitations of proprietary robotic systems. (a) Scientists with access to liquid-handling robots are currently limited by proprietary interfaces that require specialized knowledge, hinder cross-platform operability, and restrict sharing of methods among different robot types. For complex tasks, many researchers need assistance from a specialist familiar with their particular system, most notably when creating or editing protocols. (b) PyLabRobot ( https://github.com/PyLabRobot/pylabrobot ) offers a single interface that allows any person with basic Python skills to program diverse types of liquid-handling robots and share protocols freely, fostering a more collaborative and efficient research environment. The Python API makes it easy to interact with a large scientific computing ecosystem and allows users to leverage large language models for programming assistance.","authors":[{"name":"Rick P. Wierenga","orcid":"","institutions":["Leiden University","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["NL","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefan Golas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-4347","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Wilson Ho","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Connor W. Coley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-8723","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin M. Esvelt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-3945","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1101/2023.07.10.547733","url":"https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.10.547733","title":"PyLabRobot: An Open-Source, Hardware Agnostic Interface for Liquid-Handling Robots and Accessories","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Liquid handling robots are often limited by proprietary programming interfaces that are only compatible with a single type of robot and operating system, restricting method sharing and slowing development. Here we present PyLabRobot, an open-source, cross-platform Python interface capable of programming diverse liquid-handling robots, including Hamilton STARs, Tecan EVOs, and Opentron OT-2s. PyLabRobot provides a universal set of commands and representations for deck layout and labware, enabling the control of diverse accessory devices. The interface is extensible and can work with any robot that manipulates liquids within a Cartesian coordinate system. We validated the system through unit tests and several application demonstrations, including a browser-based simulator, a position calibration tool, and a path-teaching tool for complex movements. PyLabRobot provides a flexible, open, and collaborative programming environment for laboratory automation. Figure Abstract PyLabRobot overcomes the limitations of proprietary robotic systems. (a) Scientists with access to liquid-handling robots are currently limited by proprietary interfaces that require specialized knowledge, hinder cross-platform operability, and restrict sharing of methods among different robot types. For complex tasks, many researchers need assistance from a specialist familiar with their particular system, most notably when creating or editing protocols. (b) PyLabRobot ( https://github.com/PyLabRobot/pylabrobot ) offers a single interface that allows any person with basic Python skills to program diverse types of liquid-handling robots and share protocols freely, fostering a more collaborative and efficient research environment. The Python API makes it easy to interact with a large scientific computing ecosystem and allows users to leverage large language models for programming assistance.","authors":[{"name":"Rick P. Wierenga","given":"Rick P.","family":"Wierenga","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stefan Golas","given":"Stefan","family":"Golas","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Wilson Ho","given":"Wilson","family":"Ho","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Connor Coley","given":"Connor","family":"Coley","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kevin M. Esvelt","given":"Kevin M.","family":"Esvelt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-3945","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"openRxiv","journal":"","publishedDate":"2023-07-10","type":"posted-content","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":35,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4384069460","doi":"10.1101/2023.07.10.547733","url":"https://openalex.org/W4384069460","title":"PyLabRobot: An Open-Source, Hardware Agnostic Interface for Liquid-Handling Robots and Accessories","abstract":"Abstract Liquid handling robots are often limited by proprietary programming interfaces that are only compatible with a single type of robot and operating system, restricting method sharing and slowing development. Here we present PyLabRobot, an open-source, cross-platform Python interface capable of programming diverse liquid-handling robots, including Hamilton STARs, Tecan EVOs, and Opentron OT-2s. PyLabRobot provides a universal set of commands and representations for deck layout and labware, enabling the control of diverse accessory devices. The interface is extensible and can work with any robot that manipulates liquids within a Cartesian coordinate system. We validated the system through unit tests and several application demonstrations, including a browser-based simulator, a position calibration tool, and a path-teaching tool for complex movements. PyLabRobot provides a flexible, open, and collaborative programming environment for laboratory automation. Figure Abstract PyLabRobot overcomes the limitations of proprietary robotic systems. (a) Scientists with access to liquid-handling robots are currently limited by proprietary interfaces that require specialized knowledge, hinder cross-platform operability, and restrict sharing of methods among different robot types. For complex tasks, many researchers need assistance from a specialist familiar with their particular system, most notably when creating or editing protocols. (b) PyLabRobot ( https://github.com/PyLabRobot/pylabrobot ) offers a single interface that allows any person with basic Python skills to program diverse types of liquid-handling robots and share protocols freely, fostering a more collaborative and efficient research environment. The Python API makes it easy to interact with a large scientific computing ecosystem and allows users to leverage large language models for programming assistance.","authors":[{"name":"Rick P. Wierenga","orcid":"","institutions":["Leiden University","Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["NL","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stefan Golas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-4347","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Wilson Ho","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Connor W. Coley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8271-8723","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin M. Esvelt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-3945","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-07-10","publicationYear":2023,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":23,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)","topics":["Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Smart Agriculture and AI"],"keywords":["Computer science","Python (programming language)","Robot","Interface (matter)","Open source","Extensibility","Embedded system","Graphical user interface","Automation","Scripting language","Operating system","Human–computer interaction"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.07.10.547733v1.full","year":2023,"venue":"bioRxiv | Device","type":"Open-source software/control","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Control software","Automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification) | Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"Not hardware itself, but critical open control layer for heterogeneous open liquid-handling setups.","whyItMatters":"Not hardware itself, but critical open control layer for heterogeneous open liquid-handling setups.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"bioRxiv full text","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Control software","Automation","Open-source software/control"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-pylabrobot"],"toolSlugs":["pylabrobot"],"toolNames":["PyLabRobot"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-062","slug":"062-real-time-ai-driven-quality-control-for-laboratory-automation-a-novel-computer-vision-solution-for-the-opentrons-ot-2-li","title":"Real-time AI-driven quality control for laboratory automation: a novel computer vision solution for the opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot","doi":"10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","publication":{"paperTitle":"Real-time AI-driven quality control for laboratory automation: a novel computer vision solution for the opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot","requestedDoi":"10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.613Z","abstract":"Abstract The adoption of robotics and automated solutions in life sciences R&amp;D has accelerated in recent years, driven by the need to process increasing sample volumes, protect laboratory staff from hazardous substances, and manage financial pressures. Various automation systems, each with distinct levels of sample processing, transportation tasks, and data management, are available to meet specific application requirements, with liquid handling robots taking pivotal positions in these systems. However, current liquid handling robots, such as the Opentrons OT-2, lack integrated vision-based quality control, which limits their accuracy and reliability. This study presents an AI-driven computer vision model designed to enhance quality control in laboratory automation. By integrating the YOLOv8 object detection model with the OT-2, our model enables precise detection of pipette tips and liquid volumes, providing real-time feedback on errors, such as missing tips and incorrect liquid levels. Our results demonstrate the model's effectiveness and accessibility, presenting an affordable solution for improving automation in academic and research laboratories. This closed-loop system transforms the OT-2 into a robust tool for automated laboratory tasks, making it an accessible and cost-effective approach for enhancing quality control in laboratory automation and addressing a critical gap in available tools for resource-limited settings.","authors":[{"name":"Sana Ullah Khan","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Vilhelm Krarup Møller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9695-2864","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rasmus John Normand Frandsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3799-6062","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Marjan Mansourvar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6492-7858","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","title":"Real-time AI-driven quality control for laboratory automation: a novel computer vision solution for the opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract The adoption of robotics and automated solutions in life sciences R&D has accelerated in recent years, driven by the need to process increasing sample volumes, protect laboratory staff from hazardous substances, and manage financial pressures. Various automation systems, each with distinct levels of sample processing, transportation tasks, and data management, are available to meet specific application requirements, with liquid handling robots taking pivotal positions in these systems. However, current liquid handling robots, such as the Opentrons OT-2, lack integrated vision-based quality control, which limits their accuracy and reliability. This study presents an AI-driven computer vision model designed to enhance quality control in laboratory automation. By integrating the YOLOv8 object detection model with the OT-2, our model enables precise detection of pipette tips and liquid volumes, providing real-time feedback on errors, such as missing tips and incorrect liquid levels. Our results demonstrate the model's effectiveness and accessibility, presenting an affordable solution for improving automation in academic and research laboratories. This closed-loop system transforms the OT-2 into a robust tool for automated laboratory tasks, making it an accessible and cost-effective approach for enhancing quality control in laboratory automation and addressing a critical gap in available tools for resource-limited settings.","authors":[{"name":"Sana Ullah Khan","given":"Sana Ullah","family":"Khan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9295-4341","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Vilhelm Krarup Møller","given":"Vilhelm Krarup","family":"Møller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9695-2864","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rasmus John Normand Frandsen","given":"Rasmus John Normand","family":"Frandsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3799-6062","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Marjan Mansourvar","given":"Marjan","family":"Mansourvar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6492-7858","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Applied Intelligence","publishedDate":"2025-05-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"55","issue":"7","pages":"","issn":["0924-669X","1573-7497"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":9,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"Technical University of Denmark","doi":"10.13039/501100005192","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4408293710","doi":"10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","url":"https://openalex.org/W4408293710","title":"Real-time AI-driven quality control for laboratory automation: a novel computer vision solution for the opentrons OT-2 liquid handling robot","abstract":"Abstract The adoption of robotics and automated solutions in life sciences R&amp;D has accelerated in recent years, driven by the need to process increasing sample volumes, protect laboratory staff from hazardous substances, and manage financial pressures. Various automation systems, each with distinct levels of sample processing, transportation tasks, and data management, are available to meet specific application requirements, with liquid handling robots taking pivotal positions in these systems. However, current liquid handling robots, such as the Opentrons OT-2, lack integrated vision-based quality control, which limits their accuracy and reliability. This study presents an AI-driven computer vision model designed to enhance quality control in laboratory automation. By integrating the YOLOv8 object detection model with the OT-2, our model enables precise detection of pipette tips and liquid volumes, providing real-time feedback on errors, such as missing tips and incorrect liquid levels. Our results demonstrate the model's effectiveness and accessibility, presenting an affordable solution for improving automation in academic and research laboratories. This closed-loop system transforms the OT-2 into a robust tool for automated laboratory tasks, making it an accessible and cost-effective approach for enhancing quality control in laboratory automation and addressing a critical gap in available tools for resource-limited settings.","authors":[{"name":"Sana Ullah Khan","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Vilhelm Krarup Møller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9695-2864","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rasmus John Normand Frandsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3799-6062","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Marjan Mansourvar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6492-7858","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":8,"referencesCount":18,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Applied Intelligence","topics":["Industrial Vision Systems and Defect Detection","Fault Detection and Control Systems","Image Processing Techniques and Applications"],"keywords":["Computer science","Automation","Robot","Human–computer interaction","Quality (philosophy)","Control (management)","Laboratory automation","Computer vision","Artificial intelligence","Simulation","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-025-06334-3","year":2025,"venue":"Applied Intelligence","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Automation","Imaging integration"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Automation","Imaging integration","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 10 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative validation/calibration evidence is present."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"low","engineeringBarrier":"low","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-opentrons-ot-2"],"toolSlugs":["opentrons-ot-2"],"toolNames":["Opentrons OT-2"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-063","slug":"063-replistruder-4","title":"Replistruder 4","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Replistruder 4","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"","matchMethod":"none","matchScore":0,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.799Z","abstract":"","authors":[],"crossref":null,"openAlex":null},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300791","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"Replistruder 4","inclusionFit":"","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Requires a separate host 3D printer/motion platform; overall print quality depends on rigidity of that host platform","function":"High-performance open-source syringe extruder for extrusion/retraction control in FRESH 3D bioprinting","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"CAD files and install guide (HardwareX)","sourceWorkbooks":["summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Moderate","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","mechanical assembly","mounting/calibration on host printer"],"approximateCost":"141 (+ cost of host 3D printer)","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Replistruder 4"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-cad-replistruder-4","asset-software-replistruder-4"],"assetSlugs":["cad-replistruder-4","software-replistruder-4"],"assetTypes":["cad","software"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-replistruder-4"],"toolSlugs":["replistruder-4"],"toolNames":["Replistruder 4"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-064","slug":"064-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","title":"Sidekick: A Low-Cost Open-Source 3D-printed liquid dispensing robot","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Sidekick: A Low-Cost Open-Source 3D-printed liquid dispensing robot","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00319","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:56.005Z","abstract":"The Sidekick is a desktop liquid dispenser, compatible with standard SBS microplates and designed for accessible laboratory automation. It features an armature-based motion system and a fully 3D-printed chassis to reduce overall mechanical complexity and accommodate user modification. Liquid dispensing is achieved with four commercially available solenoid driven positive displacement pumps that deliver liquid in 10 µL increments. A Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 processor programmed in MicroPython is used for control, and exposes a USB serial interface for users to submit commands using either a simple vocabulary of commands or a subset of G-Code. At a total cost of $710 USD, the Sidekick offers laboratories an easy to build, easily maintained, open-source liquid dispensing system for both research and pedagogical introductions to lab automation.","authors":[{"name":"Rodolfo Keesey","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1144-3942","institutions":["Fordham University","The Bronx Defenders"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Robert J. LeSuer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7193-0780","institutions":["SUNY Brockport"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua Schrier","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2071-1657","institutions":["Fordham University","The Bronx Defenders"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00319","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00319","title":"Sidekick: A Low-Cost Open-Source 3D-printed liquid dispensing robot","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Rodolfo Keesey","given":"Rodolfo","family":"Keesey","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Robert LeSuer","given":"Robert","family":"LeSuer","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joshua Schrier","given":"Joshua","family":"Schrier","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2022-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"","pages":"e00319","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":39,"citedByCount":30,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation Inc","doi":"10.13039/100001082","awards":["TH-14-010"]},{"name":"National Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000001","awards":["CNS-2018427"]},{"name":"Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency","doi":"10.13039/100000185","awards":["HR001118C0036"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4281638515","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00319","url":"https://openalex.org/W4281638515","title":"Sidekick: A Low-Cost Open-Source 3D-printed liquid dispensing robot","abstract":"The Sidekick is a desktop liquid dispenser, compatible with standard SBS microplates and designed for accessible laboratory automation. It features an armature-based motion system and a fully 3D-printed chassis to reduce overall mechanical complexity and accommodate user modification. Liquid dispensing is achieved with four commercially available solenoid driven positive displacement pumps that deliver liquid in 10 µL increments. A Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 processor programmed in MicroPython is used for control, and exposes a USB serial interface for users to submit commands using either a simple vocabulary of commands or a subset of G-Code. At a total cost of $710 USD, the Sidekick offers laboratories an easy to build, easily maintained, open-source liquid dispensing system for both research and pedagogical introductions to lab automation.","authors":[{"name":"Rodolfo Keesey","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1144-3942","institutions":["Fordham University","The Bronx Defenders"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Robert J. LeSuer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7193-0780","institutions":["SUNY Brockport"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joshua Schrier","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2071-1657","institutions":["Fordham University","The Bronx Defenders"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-05-26","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":37,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067222000645/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["USB","Embedded system","Chassis","Open source","Computer hardware","Computer science","Interface (matter)","Microcontroller","Solenoid","Automation","Robot","Arduino"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067222000645","year":2022,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Dispensing","Liquid handling"],"systemOrTechnology":"Sidekick","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"HardwareX often includes complete design files + BOM; strong ‘open hardware’ fit.","whyItMatters":"HardwareX often includes complete design files + BOM; strong ‘open hardware’ fit.","motivationUseCase":"accessible liquid-dispensing robot for research and education","limitation":"can't aspirate, only dispense (not fully functional like a manual pipette) | Dispense-only -- cannot aspirate, so it is not a full substitute for a manual pipette","function":"Low-cost open-source 3D-printed armature-based liquid dispensing robot","keySources":"ScienceDirect HardwareX landing","openSourceResources":"all CAD, PCB, firmware, and documentation available on GitHub under an open license | All CAD, PCB, firmware, and documentation on GitHub (open license)","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"Low","technicalSkillsNeeded":["3D printing","basic electronics","MicroPython/G-code-subset command use"],"approximateCost":"710 USD | 710 (motion system alone: 152)","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":true,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Dispensing","Liquid handling","pipetting/dispensing","Open-source liquid handler (full robot)","Sidekick"],"democratizingFeatures":["accessible hardware"],"assetIds":["asset-bom-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","asset-cad-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","asset-documentation-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","asset-firmware-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","asset-pcb-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot"],"assetSlugs":["bom-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","cad-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","documentation-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","firmware-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot","pcb-sidekick-a-low-cost-open-source-3d-printed-liquid-dispensing-robot"],"assetTypes":["bom","cad","documentation","firmware","pcb"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":4.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 10 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-sidekick"],"toolSlugs":["sidekick"],"toolNames":["Sidekick"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-065","slug":"065-slowpoke-an-automated-golden-gate-cloning-workflow-for-opentrons-ot-2-and-flex","title":"Slowpoke: An Automated Golden Gate Cloning Workflow for Opentrons OT-2 and Flex","doi":"10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","publication":{"paperTitle":"Slowpoke: An Automated Golden Gate Cloning Workflow for Opentrons OT-2 and Flex","requestedDoi":"10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","resolvedDoi":"10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:55.931Z","abstract":"High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In synthetic biology, DNA assembly is a routine process where increasing demands for standardization, high-throughput capacity, and error-free execution are driving the development of accessible, automated solutions. Here, we present Slowpoke, a user-friendly and flexible workflow for Golden Gate-based cloning designed for the popular entry-cost, open-source liquid-handling platforms Opentrons OT-2 and Flex. Slowpoke automates the key steps of the DNA assembly process, including cloning, Escherichia coli transformation, plating, and colony PCR, requiring user intervention primarily for colony picking and plate transfers. To further simplify the usage, we developed a free graphical user interface (GUI), available at https://slowpoke.streamlit.app/, which enables rapid protocol generation through simple file uploads. We validated the workflow using two Golden Gate-based toolkits, the MoClo Yeast Toolkit (YTK), and SubtiToolKit (STK). High assembly efficiencies were achieved across platforms for basic transcript unit constructions: 17/17 positive colonies with YTK on OT-2, 11/12 on Flex, and 8/13 with STK on OT-2. High-throughput assemblies were also performed with six parts in Flex using YTK-compatible parts, and 55 out of 57 combinations resulted in correct constructs. These results confirm the robustness and adaptability of the workflow across toolkit complexity and automation platforms. The Slowpoke suite, including code scripts and templates, is freely available at https://github.com/Tom-Ellis-Lab/Slowpoke, offering an accessible and modular solution for automating Golden Gate cloning in synthetic biology laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Koray Malcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2942-1146","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Fankang Meng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4789-6516","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Henri Galez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1257-1615","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alicia Franja Da Silva","orcid":"","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","IFP Énergies nouvelles","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joaquin Caro-Astorga","orcid":"","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","London South Bank University","Bioengineering Center","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","RU","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Grégory Batt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1697-139X","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tim Ellis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-976X","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","title":"Slowpoke: An Automated Golden Gate Cloning Workflow for Opentrons OT-2 and Flex","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Koray Malcı","given":"Koray","family":"Malcı","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Imperial College London","Imperial Centre for Engineering Biology","Imperial College London"]},{"name":"Fankang Meng","given":"Fankang","family":"Meng","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Imperial College London","Imperial Centre for Engineering Biology","Imperial College London"]},{"name":"Henri Galez","given":"Henri","family":"Galez","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institut Pasteur","Inria, Université Paris Cité"]},{"name":"Alicia Franja Da Silva","given":"Alicia","family":"Franja Da Silva","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institut Pasteur","Inria, Université Paris Cité","IFP Energies Nouvelles"]},{"name":"Joaquin Caro-Astorga","given":"Joaquin","family":"Caro-Astorga","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Imperial College London","Imperial Centre for Engineering Biology","Imperial College London","London South Bank University","LSBU Bioscience and Bioengineering Research Centre"]},{"name":"Gregory Batt","given":"Gregory","family":"Batt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1697-139X","affiliations":["Institut Pasteur","Inria, Université Paris Cité"]},{"name":"Tom Ellis","given":"Tom","family":"Ellis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-976X","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Imperial College London","Imperial Centre for Engineering Biology","Imperial College London"]}],"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","journal":"ACS Synthetic Biology","publishedDate":"2026-02-20","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"15","issue":"2","pages":"511-521","issn":["2161-5063"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Agence Nationale de la Recherche","doi":"10.13039/501100001665","awards":["ANR-21-CE44-0033"]},{"name":"Agence Nationale de la Recherche","doi":"10.13039/501100001665","awards":["ANR-24-CE18-2885"]},{"name":"HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council","doi":"10.13039/100018703","awards":["101071159"]},{"name":"China Scholarship Council","doi":"10.13039/501100004543","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7127952489","doi":"10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","url":"https://openalex.org/W7127952489","title":"Slowpoke: An Automated Golden Gate Cloning Workflow for Opentrons OT-2 and Flex","abstract":"High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide In synthetic biology, DNA assembly is a routine process where increasing demands for standardization, high-throughput capacity, and error-free execution are driving the development of accessible, automated solutions. Here, we present Slowpoke, a user-friendly and flexible workflow for Golden Gate-based cloning designed for the popular entry-cost, open-source liquid-handling platforms Opentrons OT-2 and Flex. Slowpoke automates the key steps of the DNA assembly process, including cloning, Escherichia coli transformation, plating, and colony PCR, requiring user intervention primarily for colony picking and plate transfers. To further simplify the usage, we developed a free graphical user interface (GUI), available at https://slowpoke.streamlit.app/, which enables rapid protocol generation through simple file uploads. We validated the workflow using two Golden Gate-based toolkits, the MoClo Yeast Toolkit (YTK), and SubtiToolKit (STK). High assembly efficiencies were achieved across platforms for basic transcript unit constructions: 17/17 positive colonies with YTK on OT-2, 11/12 on Flex, and 8/13 with STK on OT-2. High-throughput assemblies were also performed with six parts in Flex using YTK-compatible parts, and 55 out of 57 combinations resulted in correct constructs. These results confirm the robustness and adaptability of the workflow across toolkit complexity and automation platforms. The Slowpoke suite, including code scripts and templates, is freely available at https://github.com/Tom-Ellis-Lab/Slowpoke, offering an accessible and modular solution for automating Golden Gate cloning in synthetic biology laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Koray Malcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2942-1146","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Fankang Meng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4789-6516","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Henri Galez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1257-1615","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alicia Franja Da Silva","orcid":"","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","IFP Énergies nouvelles","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joaquin Caro-Astorga","orcid":"","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","London South Bank University","Bioengineering Center","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","RU","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Grégory Batt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1697-139X","institutions":["Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies du numérique","Institut Pasteur","Université Paris Cité","Sorbonne Paris Cité"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tim Ellis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5392-976X","institutions":["Imperial Valley College","Imperial College London"],"countries":["GB","US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationYear":2026,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":30,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"ACS Synthetic Biology","topics":["Gene Regulatory Network Analysis","Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology","Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies"],"keywords":["Golden gate","Workflow","Modular design","Cloning (programming)","Scripting language","Laboratory automation","Automation","FLEX","Robustness (evolution)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acssynbio.5c00629","year":2026,"venue":"ACS Synthetic Biology","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Automated pipetting","Control software","Workflow automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (open-source liquid handling hardware)","summary":"","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Automated pipetting","Control software","Workflow automation","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0.5 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-slowpoke"],"toolSlugs":["slowpoke"],"toolNames":["Slowpoke"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-066","slug":"066-soft-robotic-patterning-of-liquids","title":"Soft robotic patterning of liquids","doi":"10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","publication":{"paperTitle":"Soft robotic patterning of liquids","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:56.131Z","abstract":"Patterning of two or more liquids, either homogeneous in each phase or mixed with particles (including biological matter, such as cells and proteins), by controlling their flow dynamics, is relevant to several applications. Examples include dynamic spatial confinement of liquids in microfluidic systems (such as lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip devices) or structuring of polymers to modulate various properties (such as strength, conductivity, transparency and surface finishing). State-of-the-art strategies use various technologies, including positioners, shakers and acoustic actuators, which often combine limited versatility of mixing with significant inefficiency, energy consumption, and noise, as well as tendency to increase the temperature of the liquids. Here, we describe a new kind of robotic mixers of liquids, based on electro-responsive smart materials (dielectric elastomer actuators). We show for the first time how an efficient soft robotic device can be used to produce, via combinations of rotations and translations, various spatial patterns in liquids and maintain them stable for a few minutes. Moreover, we show that, as compared to a conventional orbital shaker, the new type of robotic device can mix liquids with a higher efficacy (~ 94% relative to ~ 80%, after 8 min of mixing) and with a significantly lower increase of the liquids' temperature (+ 1 °C relative to + 5 °C, after 6 h of mixing). This is especially beneficial when mixing should occur according to controllable spatial features and should involve temperature-sensitive matter (such as biological cells, proteins, pre-polymers and other thermolabile molecules).","authors":[{"name":"Giacomo Sasso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1582-7188","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicola M. Pugno","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-2396","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London","University of Trento"],"countries":["GB","IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"James J. C. Busfield","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8304-7140","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Federico Carpi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8496-5085","institutions":["Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation","University of Florence","International Flame Research Foundation"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","title":"Soft robotic patterning of liquids","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Patterning of two or more liquids, either homogeneous in each phase or mixed with particles (including biological matter, such as cells and proteins), by controlling their flow dynamics, is relevant to several applications. Examples include dynamic spatial confinement of liquids in microfluidic systems (such as lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip devices) or structuring of polymers to modulate various properties (such as strength, conductivity, transparency and surface finishing). State-of-the-art strategies use various technologies, including positioners, shakers and acoustic actuators, which often combine limited versatility of mixing with significant inefficiency, energy consumption, and noise, as well as tendency to increase the temperature of the liquids. Here, we describe a new kind of robotic mixers of liquids, based on electro-responsive smart materials (dielectric elastomer actuators). We show for the first time how an efficient soft robotic device can be used to produce, via combinations of rotations and translations, various spatial patterns in liquids and maintain them stable for a few minutes. Moreover, we show that, as compared to a conventional orbital shaker, the new type of robotic device can mix liquids with a higher efficacy (~ 94% relative to ~ 80%, after 8 min of mixing) and with a significantly lower increase of the liquids’ temperature (+ 1 °C relative to + 5 °C, after 6 h of mixing). This is especially beneficial when mixing should occur according to controllable spatial features and should involve temperature-sensitive matter (such as biological cells, proteins, pre-polymers and other thermolabile molecules).","authors":[{"name":"Giacomo Sasso","given":"Giacomo","family":"Sasso","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nicola Pugno","given":"Nicola","family":"Pugno","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"James J. C. Busfield","given":"James J. C.","family":"Busfield","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Federico Carpi","given":"Federico","family":"Carpi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2023-09-21","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":38,"citedByCount":3,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme","doi":"","awards":["GrapheneCore3 881603"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4386925896","doi":"10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","url":"https://openalex.org/W4386925896","title":"Soft robotic patterning of liquids","abstract":"Patterning of two or more liquids, either homogeneous in each phase or mixed with particles (including biological matter, such as cells and proteins), by controlling their flow dynamics, is relevant to several applications. Examples include dynamic spatial confinement of liquids in microfluidic systems (such as lab-on-a-chip and organ-on-a-chip devices) or structuring of polymers to modulate various properties (such as strength, conductivity, transparency and surface finishing). State-of-the-art strategies use various technologies, including positioners, shakers and acoustic actuators, which often combine limited versatility of mixing with significant inefficiency, energy consumption, and noise, as well as tendency to increase the temperature of the liquids. Here, we describe a new kind of robotic mixers of liquids, based on electro-responsive smart materials (dielectric elastomer actuators). We show for the first time how an efficient soft robotic device can be used to produce, via combinations of rotations and translations, various spatial patterns in liquids and maintain them stable for a few minutes. Moreover, we show that, as compared to a conventional orbital shaker, the new type of robotic device can mix liquids with a higher efficacy (~ 94% relative to ~ 80%, after 8 min of mixing) and with a significantly lower increase of the liquids' temperature (+ 1 °C relative to + 5 °C, after 6 h of mixing). This is especially beneficial when mixing should occur according to controllable spatial features and should involve temperature-sensitive matter (such as biological cells, proteins, pre-polymers and other thermolabile molecules).","authors":[{"name":"Giacomo Sasso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1582-7188","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicola M. Pugno","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2136-2396","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London","University of Trento"],"countries":["GB","IT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"James J. C. Busfield","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8304-7140","institutions":["Queen Mary University of London"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Federico Carpi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8496-5085","institutions":["Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation","University of Florence","International Flame Research Foundation"],"countries":["IT"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":3,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Dielectric materials and actuators","Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials","Advanced Materials and Mechanics"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Mixing (physics)","Soft robotics","Materials science","Actuator","Soft matter","Polymer","Nanotechnology","Elastomer","Biological system","Computer science","Chemistry"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41755-5","year":2023,"venue":"Scientific Reports","type":"Protocol/paper","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Liquid handling"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (needs verification)","summary":"Soft-robotics approach to manipulating/patterning liquids (Scientific Reports). Might be relevant as an alternative actuation/control mechanism for liquid handling, even if not a pipetting robot.","whyItMatters":"Soft-robotics approach to manipulating/patterning liquids (Scientific Reports). Might be relevant as an alternative actuation/control mechanism for liquid handling, even if not a pipetting robot.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["liquid_handling","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Liquid handling","Protocol/paper"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-067","slug":"067-srishti-a-custom-built-laser-assisted-3d-bioprinter-for-fabricating-high-resolution-biological-constructs","title":"Srishti: a custom-built laser-assisted 3D bioprinter for fabricating high-resolution biological constructs","doi":"10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","publication":{"paperTitle":"Srishti: a custom-built laser-assisted 3D bioprinter for fabricating high-resolution biological constructs","requestedDoi":"10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","resolvedDoi":"10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:56.169Z","abstract":"Laser-assisted bioprinting is a nozzle-free, non-contact technique that employs drop-on-demand technology for the fabrication of high-resolution three dimensional (3D) structures for various applications including tissue engineering, in vitro modeling, spheroid/organoid production, biosensors, and more. Globally, custom-designed laser bioprinters are primarily being developed to create tissue-engineered cellular constructs. Bioink printability and its printing resolution are influenced by the design of the laser bioprinter and its parameters. There are only a few established laser bioprinters that are actively employed in the to development of living cellular constructs. “Srishti”, a custom-built laser-assisted bioprinting system with 8-axes control movement, was specifically designed, and developed to explore diverse biomedical applications. It is designed to facilitate precise control over motor movements to achieve high levels of reproducibility. This study examined the influence of key parameters such as donor-receiver distance (mm), donor & receiver printing speed (mm/s), bioink concentration (% & w/v), and bioink coating thickness (µm) on laser bioprinting of pre-designed patterns. Laser parameter optimization resulted in a significant enhancement of printed line width resolution, reducing it 13-fold from 1000 ± 47 μm to 78 ± 8 μm. Various bioink formulations, including sodium alginate, gelatin, and sodium alginate/gelatin blends, were investigated to determine the ideal bioink properties required for laser bioprinting. Further, in vitro studies were carried out to determine the viability of NCTC clone 929 (mouse fibroblast) cells after laser bioprinting. Under optimized conditions, bioink droplets containing one to three cells with an average diameter of 58 ± 6 μm were successfully printed using the Srishti bioprinter. Additionally, embryonic rat cardiomyoblast (H9c2) cells were also bioprinted to demonstrate viability upto 8 days in culture. Our analysis reveals the successful development of a cost-effective laser bioprinting system that offers precise control and facilitate printing of high resolution cellular bioink droplets. The designed Srishti system has been proven to be effective in live cell patterning with excellent viability and expression native cell phenotypes post-printing. These findings highlight the potential of Srishti in fabricating high-resolution tissue structures, making it a promising system for applications in tissue engineering, and drug testing.","authors":[{"name":"Muthu Parkkavi Sekar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7295-540X","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anuradha Subramanian","orcid":"","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dhakshinamoorthy Sundaramurthi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5493-3613","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Swaminathan Sethuraman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3771-3990","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","url":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","title":"Srishti: a custom-built laser-assisted 3D bioprinter for fabricating high-resolution biological constructs","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Muthu Parkkavi Sekar","given":"Muthu Parkkavi","family":"Sekar","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Anuradha Subramanian","given":"Anuradha","family":"Subramanian","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dhakshinamoorthy Sundaramurthi","given":"Dhakshinamoorthy","family":"Sundaramurthi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Swaminathan Sethuraman","given":"Swaminathan","family":"Sethuraman","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"BMC Methods","publishedDate":"2026-01-12","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"3","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["3004-8729"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":64,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7122407348","doi":"10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","url":"https://openalex.org/W7122407348","title":"Srishti: a custom-built laser-assisted 3D bioprinter for fabricating high-resolution biological constructs","abstract":"Laser-assisted bioprinting is a nozzle-free, non-contact technique that employs drop-on-demand technology for the fabrication of high-resolution three dimensional (3D) structures for various applications including tissue engineering, in vitro modeling, spheroid/organoid production, biosensors, and more. Globally, custom-designed laser bioprinters are primarily being developed to create tissue-engineered cellular constructs. Bioink printability and its printing resolution are influenced by the design of the laser bioprinter and its parameters. There are only a few established laser bioprinters that are actively employed in the to development of living cellular constructs. “Srishti”, a custom-built laser-assisted bioprinting system with 8-axes control movement, was specifically designed, and developed to explore diverse biomedical applications. It is designed to facilitate precise control over motor movements to achieve high levels of reproducibility. This study examined the influence of key parameters such as donor-receiver distance (mm), donor & receiver printing speed (mm/s), bioink concentration (% & w/v), and bioink coating thickness (µm) on laser bioprinting of pre-designed patterns. Laser parameter optimization resulted in a significant enhancement of printed line width resolution, reducing it 13-fold from 1000 ± 47 μm to 78 ± 8 μm. Various bioink formulations, including sodium alginate, gelatin, and sodium alginate/gelatin blends, were investigated to determine the ideal bioink properties required for laser bioprinting. Further, in vitro studies were carried out to determine the viability of NCTC clone 929 (mouse fibroblast) cells after laser bioprinting. Under optimized conditions, bioink droplets containing one to three cells with an average diameter of 58 ± 6 μm were successfully printed using the Srishti bioprinter. Additionally, embryonic rat cardiomyoblast (H9c2) cells were also bioprinted to demonstrate viability upto 8 days in culture. Our analysis reveals the successful development of a cost-effective laser bioprinting system that offers precise control and facilitate printing of high resolution cellular bioink droplets. The designed Srishti system has been proven to be effective in live cell patterning with excellent viability and expression native cell phenotypes post-printing. These findings highlight the potential of Srishti in fabricating high-resolution tissue structures, making it a promising system for applications in tissue engineering, and drug testing.","authors":[{"name":"Muthu Parkkavi Sekar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7295-540X","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anuradha Subramanian","orcid":"","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dhakshinamoorthy Sundaramurthi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5493-3613","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Swaminathan Sethuraman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3771-3990","institutions":["SASTRA University"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationYear":2026,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":55,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"BMC Methods","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Pluripotent Stem Cells Research","Neuroscience and Neural Engineering"],"keywords":["3D bioprinting","Laser","Sodium alginate","Fabrication","Tissue engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s44330-025-00051-6","year":2026,"venue":"BMC Methods","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Laser-assisted"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"2026 methods paper; brings recency and a non-extrusion modality.","whyItMatters":"2026 methods paper; brings recency and a non-extrusion modality.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer/BMC landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":false,"lowCost":false,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Laser-assisted","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 6 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":false,"evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-srishti"],"toolSlugs":["srishti"],"toolNames":["Srishti"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-068","slug":"068-starter-a-stand-alone-reconfigurable-and-translational-organ-on-chip-platform-based-on-modularity-and-open-design-princi","title":"STARTER: a stand-alone reconfigurable and translational organ-on-chip platform based on modularity and open design principles","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"STARTER: a stand-alone reconfigurable and translational organ-on-chip platform based on modularity and open design principles","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/d5lc00756a","matchMethod":"title","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.764Z","abstract":"OoC models for multiple days. This platform is designed to support automated multi-organ experiments, independent of the OoC type or material. All designs shown are made open source to encourage broader compatibility and collaboration.","authors":[{"name":"Aniruddha Paul","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2076-1307","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eric Safai","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9244-8915","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"L.E. de Heus","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6992-221X","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anke R. Vollertsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6480-955X","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin Weijgertse","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Bjorn de Wagenaar","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hossein Eslami Amirabadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7940-5833","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evita van de Steeg","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mathieu Odijk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4467-9604","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"A Van Der Meer","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Joshua Loessberg-Zahl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4491-5179","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/d5lc00756a","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00756a","title":"STARTER: a stand-alone reconfigurable and translational organ-on-chip platform based on modularity and open design principles","subtitle":"","abstract":"STARTER is a standardized modular microfluidic platform with swappable organ-on-chip modules and tube-less, reconfigurable fluidic circuits, all within a compact footprint, enabling flexible, stand-alone OoC studies with integrated functionality.","authors":[{"name":"Aniruddha Paul","given":"Aniruddha","family":"Paul","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2076-1307","affiliations":["BIOS Lab on Chip Group, Mesa+ Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Eric R. Safai","given":"Eric R.","family":"Safai","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9244-8915","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Laura E. de Heus","given":"Laura E.","family":"de Heus","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6992-221X","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Anke R. Vollertsen","given":"Anke R.","family":"Vollertsen","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Kevin Weijgertse","given":"Kevin","family":"Weijgertse","orcid":"","affiliations":["Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Bjorn de Wagenaar","given":"Bjorn","family":"de Wagenaar","orcid":"","affiliations":["Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Hossein E. Amirabadi","given":"Hossein E.","family":"Amirabadi","orcid":"","affiliations":["AZAR Innovations, Utrecht, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Evita van de Steeg","given":"Evita","family":"van de Steeg","orcid":"","affiliations":["Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), Leiden, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Mathieu Odijk","given":"Mathieu","family":"Odijk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4467-9604","affiliations":["IDS - Integrated Devices and Systems Group, MESA+ Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Andries D. van der Meer","given":"Andries D.","family":"van der Meer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8761-4077","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]},{"name":"Joshua Loessberg-Zahl","given":"Joshua","family":"Loessberg-Zahl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4491-5179","affiliations":["BIOS Lab on Chip Group, Mesa+ Institute of Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands","Department of Bioengineering Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"Lab on a Chip","publishedDate":"2026-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"26","issue":"3","pages":"604-617","issn":["1473-0197","1473-0189"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":38,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek","doi":"10.13039/501100003246","awards":["NWO-TTW Perspective Programme of the Dutch Research Council"]},{"name":"Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek","doi":"10.13039/501100003246","awards":["P19-03"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7125702981","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00756a","url":"https://openalex.org/W7125702981","title":"STARTER: a stand-alone reconfigurable and translational organ-on-chip platform based on modularity and open design principles","abstract":"OoC models for multiple days. This platform is designed to support automated multi-organ experiments, independent of the OoC type or material. All designs shown are made open source to encourage broader compatibility and collaboration.","authors":[{"name":"Aniruddha Paul","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2076-1307","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Eric Safai","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9244-8915","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"L.E. de Heus","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6992-221X","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anke R. Vollertsen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6480-955X","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin Weijgertse","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Bjorn de Wagenaar","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hossein Eslami Amirabadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7940-5833","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evita van de Steeg","orcid":"","institutions":["Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mathieu Odijk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4467-9604","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"A Van Der Meer","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Joshua Loessberg-Zahl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4491-5179","institutions":["University of Twente"],"countries":["NL"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationYear":2026,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2026/lc/d5lc00756a","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Lab on a Chip","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies"],"keywords":["Interoperability","Modular design","Modularity (biology)","Fluidics","Compatibility (geochemistry)","Interface (matter)","Open architecture","Open platform","Open source"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12834090/#sec2","year":null,"venue":"","type":"","category":["Organ-on-chip"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"STARTER","inclusionFit":"","summary":"Standardization and flexitbility. No external periphals needed.","whyItMatters":"","motivationUseCase":"Standardization and flexitbility. No external periphals needed.","limitation":"High custom-fabrication burden; no reported cost or build-time data, suggesting limited accessibility for non-specialist builders","function":"Modular, reconfigurable organ-on-chip platform with swappable pumping/sensing/OoC modules","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"Not reported","sourceWorkbooks":["old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"High","technicalSkillsNeeded":["Microfabrication","fluidics design","electronics/sensor integration","ISO-standard compliance knowledge"],"approximateCost":"??? (probably expensive due to custom parts) | Not reported (likely high due to custom parts)","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":false,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Organ-on-chip","STARTER"],"democratizingFeatures":["Built on ISO standards. Swapable modules to adpat to different experiments. Reconfigurable fludic circuits. Standalone system. Open-source. Integrated sensing and automation."],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1500 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build/setup appears multi-day but under a week."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"high","engineeringBarrier":"high","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-starter"],"toolSlugs":["starter"],"toolNames":["STARTER"],"topicIds":["topic-organ-on-chip"],"topicSlugs":["organ-on-chip"],"topicNames":["Organ-on-chip"]},{"id":"paper-069","slug":"069-systematic-design-of-an-advanced-open-source-3d-bioprinter-for-extrusion-and-electrohydrodynamic-based-processes","title":"Systematic design of an advanced open-source 3D bioprinter for extrusion and electrohydrodynamic-based processes","doi":"10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","publication":{"paperTitle":"Systematic design of an advanced open-source 3D bioprinter for extrusion and electrohydrodynamic-based processes","requestedDoi":"10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.303Z","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-2356","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Amelia Luu","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Archibald Lightbody-Gee","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Hedger","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sean K. Powell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2054-2539","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David W. Holmes","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2970-9158","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","title":"Systematic design of an advanced open-source 3D bioprinter for extrusion and electrohydrodynamic-based processes","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","given":"Matthew","family":"Lanaro","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Amelia Luu","given":"Amelia","family":"Luu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Archibald Lightbody-Gee","given":"Archibald","family":"Lightbody-Gee","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David Hedger","given":"David","family":"Hedger","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sean K. Powell","given":"Sean K.","family":"Powell","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David W. Holmes","given":"David W.","family":"Holmes","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","given":"Maria A.","family":"Woodruff","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology","publishedDate":"2021-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"113","issue":"9-10","pages":"2539-2554","issn":["0268-3768","1433-3015"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":60,"citedByCount":28,"licenses":["http://www.springer.com/tdm","http://www.springer.com/tdm"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3129884729","doi":"10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","url":"https://openalex.org/W3129884729","title":"Systematic design of an advanced open-source 3D bioprinter for extrusion and electrohydrodynamic-based processes","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Matthew Lanaro","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-2356","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Amelia Luu","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Archibald Lightbody-Gee","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Hedger","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sean K. Powell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2054-2539","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David W. Holmes","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2970-9158","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-02-22","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":28,"referencesCount":60,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications"],"keywords":["3D printing","Scaffold","Electrospinning","Process (computing)","Rapid prototyping","Extrusion","Engineering","Computer science","Manufacturing engineering","Nanotechnology","Mechanical engineering","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00170-021-06634-1","year":2021,"venue":"The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology","type":"Open-source bioprinter (full system)","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"Adds EHD capability to an open design; expands beyond standard syringe extrusion.","whyItMatters":"Adds EHD capability to an open design; expands beyond standard syringe extrusion.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer landing + DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":false,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source bioprinter (full system)"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-070","slug":"070-the-enderstruder-an-accessible-open-source-syringe-extruder-compatible-with-ender-series-3d-printers","title":"The Enderstruder: An accessible open-source syringe extruder compatible with Ender series 3D printers","doi":"10.17605/osf.io/9arym","publication":{"paperTitle":"The Enderstruder: An accessible open-source syringe extruder compatible with Ender series 3D printers","requestedDoi":"10.17605/osf.io/9arym","resolvedDoi":"10.17605/osf.io/9arym","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.774Z","abstract":"A syringe extruder designed specifically for Ender 3D printers that can be printed and built for about $55. We have rigorously tested on popular biomaterial inks and pastes. Complete details will be published in an open-access article that is currently under peer review.","authors":[{"name":"Crosby, Cody","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":null,"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W6906606144","doi":"10.17605/osf.io/9arym","url":"https://openalex.org/W6906606144","title":"The Enderstruder: An accessible open-source syringe extruder compatible with Ender series 3D printers","abstract":"A syringe extruder designed specifically for Ender 3D printers that can be printed and built for about $55. We have rigorously tested on popular biomaterial inks and pastes. Complete details will be published in an open-access article that is currently under peer review.","authors":[{"name":"Crosby, Cody","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationYear":2023,"type":"preprint","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":0,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/9arym","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Open Science Framework","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["Plastics extrusion","Syringe","Syringe driver","Series (stratigraphy)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10847170/","year":2024,"venue":"HardwareX","type":"Open-source extruder/printhead","category":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Included (new open-source bioprinting tool)","summary":"Direct Replistruder-like tool: low-cost syringe extruder with shared profiles and OSHW metadata.","whyItMatters":"Direct Replistruder-like tool: low-cost syringe extruder with shared profiles and OSHW metadata.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"PMC full text; OSF repository DOI","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":{"id":"repo-doi-resource-10-17605-osf-io-9arym","slug":"doi-resource-10-17605-osf-io-9arym","name":"DOI resource 10.17605/OSF.IO/9ARYM","url":"https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/9ARYM","kind":"doi"},"tags":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting","Extrusion","Open-source extruder/printhead"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":3,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-the-enderstruder"],"toolSlugs":["the-enderstruder"],"toolNames":["The Enderstruder"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-071","slug":"071-the-biureactor-an-open-source-3d-tissue-research-platform","title":"The ‘bIUreactor’: an open-source 3D tissue research platform","doi":"10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","publication":{"paperTitle":"The ‘bIUreactor’: an open-source 3D tissue research platform","requestedDoi":"10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","resolvedDoi":"10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.373Z","abstract":"We developed the open-source bIUreactor research platform for studying 3D structured tissues. The versatile and modular platform allows a researcher to generate 3D tissues, culture them with oxygenated perfusion, and provide cyclic loading, all in their own lab (in laboratorium) for an all in cost of $8,000 including 3D printer, printing resin, and electronics. We achieved this by applying a design philosophy that leverages 3D printing, open-source software and hardware, and practical techniques to produce the following: 1. perfusible 3D tissues, 2. a bioreactor chamber for tissue culture, 3. a module for applying cyclic compression, 4. a peristaltic pump for providing oxygenated perfusion to 3D tissues, 5. motor control units, and 6. open-source code for running the control units. By making it widely available for researchers to investigate 3D tissue models and easy for them to use, we intend for the bIUreactor to democratize 3D tissue research, therefore increasing the pace and scale of biomedical research discoveries using 3D tissue models.","authors":[{"name":"Elizabeth R. Butch","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Prideaux","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9211-9698","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark R. Holland","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0565-8720","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Justin-Thuy Phan","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Trent","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"V.C. Soon","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gary D. Hutchins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3211","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lester J. Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4950-7569","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","url":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","title":"The ‘bIUreactor’: An Open-Source 3D Tissue Research Platform","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract We developed the open-source bIUreactor research platform for studying 3D structured tissues. The versatile and modular platform allows a researcher to generate 3D tissues, culture them with oxygenated perfusion, and provide cyclic loading, all in their own lab ( in laboratorium ) for an all in cost of $8,000 including 3D printer, printing resin, and electronics. We achieved this by applying a design philosophy that leverages 3D printing, open-source software and hardware, and practical techniques to produce the following: 1. perfusible 3D tissues, 2. a bioreactor chamber for tissue culture, 3. a module for applying cyclic compression, 4. a peristaltic pump for providing oxygenated perfusion to 3D tissues, 5. motor control units, and 6. open-source code for running the control units. By making it widely available for researchers to investigate 3D tissue models and easy for them to use, we intend for the bIUreactor to democratize 3D tissue research, therefore increasing the pace and scale of biomedical research discoveries using 3D tissue models.","authors":[{"name":"Elizabeth Butch","given":"Elizabeth","family":"Butch","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Matthew Prideaux","given":"Matthew","family":"Prideaux","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mark Holland","given":"Mark","family":"Holland","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Justin-Thuy Phan","given":"Justin-Thuy","family":"Phan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Cole Trent","given":"Cole","family":"Trent","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Victor Soon","given":"Victor","family":"Soon","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gary Hutchins","given":"Gary","family":"Hutchins","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Lester Smith","given":"Lester","family":"Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4950-7569","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Annals of Biomedical Engineering","publishedDate":"2024-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"52","issue":"6","pages":"1678-1692","issn":["0090-6964","1573-9686"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":4,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4393188588","doi":"10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","url":"https://openalex.org/W4393188588","title":"The ‘bIUreactor’: An Open-Source 3D Tissue Research Platform","abstract":"We developed the open-source bIUreactor research platform for studying 3D structured tissues. The versatile and modular platform allows a researcher to generate 3D tissues, culture them with oxygenated perfusion, and provide cyclic loading, all in their own lab (in laboratorium) for an all in cost of $8,000 including 3D printer, printing resin, and electronics. We achieved this by applying a design philosophy that leverages 3D printing, open-source software and hardware, and practical techniques to produce the following: 1. perfusible 3D tissues, 2. a bioreactor chamber for tissue culture, 3. a module for applying cyclic compression, 4. a peristaltic pump for providing oxygenated perfusion to 3D tissues, 5. motor control units, and 6. open-source code for running the control units. By making it widely available for researchers to investigate 3D tissue models and easy for them to use, we intend for the bIUreactor to democratize 3D tissue research, therefore increasing the pace and scale of biomedical research discoveries using 3D tissue models.","authors":[{"name":"Elizabeth R. Butch","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Prideaux","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9211-9698","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark R. Holland","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0565-8720","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Justin-Thuy Phan","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Trent","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"V.C. Soon","orcid":"","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gary D. Hutchins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3211","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lester J. Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4950-7569","institutions":["Indiana University School of Medicine","Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-03-26","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":4,"referencesCount":27,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Annals of Biomedical Engineering","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Anatomy and Medical Technology"],"keywords":["3D printing","Modular design","Computer science","Open source","3d printer","Open source hardware","Software","3d printed","Computer hardware","Source code","Peristaltic pump","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-024-03481-5","year":2024,"venue":"Annals of Biomedical Engineering","type":"Open-source workflow/analysis","category":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Maybe (open-source but not bioprinting-specific)","summary":"May be useful adjacent open tooling for 3D tissue workflows; include or exclude based on strictness.","whyItMatters":"May be useful adjacent open tooling for 3D tissue workflows; include or exclude based on strictness.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"","function":"","keySources":"Springer landing","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["bioprinting","old_table","summary"],"sourceScope":"curated","mappingConfidence":"high","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":true,"lowCost":true,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":true,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Bioprinting","Open-source workflow/analysis"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":2,"rationale":"Cycle time appears slower or hours-scale."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-the-biureactor"],"toolSlugs":["the-biureactor"],"toolNames":["The ‘bIUreactor’"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting","topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting","bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting","Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-072","slug":"072-a-programmable-open-source-robot-that-scratches-cultured-tissues-to-investigate-cell-migration-healing-and-tissue-sculpt","title":"A programmable, open-source robot that scratches cultured tissues to investigate cell migration, healing, and tissue sculpting","doi":"10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","publication":{"paperTitle":"A programmable, open-source robot that scratches cultured tissues to investigate cell migration, healing, and tissue sculpting","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.586Z","abstract":"Despite the widespread popularity of the \"scratch assay,\" where a pipette is dragged manually through cultured tissue to create a gap to study cell migration and healing, it carries significant drawbacks. Its heavy reliance on manual technique can complicate quantification, reduce throughput, and limit the versatility and reproducibility. We present an open-source, low-cost, accessible, robotic scratching platform that addresses all of the core issues. Compatible with nearly all standard cell culture dishes and usable directly in a sterile culture hood without specialized training, our robot makes highly reproducible scratches in a variety of complex cultured tissues with high throughput. Moreover, the robot demonstrates precise removal of tissues for sculpting arbitrary tissue and wound shapes, enabling complex co-culture experiments. This system significantly improves the usefulness of the conventional scratch assay and opens up new possibilities in complex tissue engineering for realistic wound healing and migration research.","authors":[{"name":"Yubin Lin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4476-9383","institutions":["Princeton University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander Silverman-Dultz","orcid":"","institutions":["Washington University in St. Louis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Madeline Bailey","orcid":"","institutions":["Harvard University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Cohen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5819-1135","institutions":["Princeton University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","title":"A programmable, open-source robot that scratches cultured tissues to investigate cell migration, healing, and tissue sculpting","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yubin Lin","given":"Yubin","family":"Lin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4476-9383","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexander Silverman-Dultz","given":"Alexander","family":"Silverman-Dultz","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Madeline Bailey","given":"Madeline","family":"Bailey","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel J. Cohen","given":"Daniel J.","family":"Cohen","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Cell Reports Methods","publishedDate":"2024-12-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"4","issue":"12","pages":"100915","issn":["2667-2375"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":35,"citedByCount":7,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["R35 GM133574-06"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4405185958","doi":"10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","url":"https://openalex.org/W4405185958","title":"A programmable, open-source robot that scratches cultured tissues to investigate cell migration, healing, and tissue sculpting","abstract":"Despite the widespread popularity of the \"scratch assay,\" where a pipette is dragged manually through cultured tissue to create a gap to study cell migration and healing, it carries significant drawbacks. Its heavy reliance on manual technique can complicate quantification, reduce throughput, and limit the versatility and reproducibility. We present an open-source, low-cost, accessible, robotic scratching platform that addresses all of the core issues. Compatible with nearly all standard cell culture dishes and usable directly in a sterile culture hood without specialized training, our robot makes highly reproducible scratches in a variety of complex cultured tissues with high throughput. Moreover, the robot demonstrates precise removal of tissues for sculpting arbitrary tissue and wound shapes, enabling complex co-culture experiments. This system significantly improves the usefulness of the conventional scratch assay and opens up new possibilities in complex tissue engineering for realistic wound healing and migration research.","authors":[{"name":"Yubin Lin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4476-9383","institutions":["Princeton University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander Silverman-Dultz","orcid":"","institutions":["Washington University in St. Louis"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Madeline Bailey","orcid":"","institutions":["Harvard University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel J. Cohen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5819-1135","institutions":["Princeton University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":7,"referencesCount":41,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Cell Reports Methods","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Cellular Mechanics and Interactions","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["Cell migration","Open source","Biomedical engineering","Tissue engineering","Wound healing","Computer science","Cell","Materials science","Chemistry","Engineering","Medicine","Surgery"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100915","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-a-programmable-open-source-robot-that-scratches-cultured-tissues-to-investigate-cell-migration-healing-and"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-a-programmable-open-source-robot-that-scratches-cultured-tissues-to-investigate-cell-migration-healing-and"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-073","slug":"073-libemg-an-open-source-library-to-facilitate-the-exploration-of-myoelectric-control","title":"LibEMG: An Open Source Library to Facilitate the Exploration of Myoelectric Control","doi":"10.1109/access.2023.3304544","publication":{"paperTitle":"LibEMG: An Open Source Library to Facilitate the Exploration of Myoelectric Control","requestedDoi":"10.1109/access.2023.3304544","resolvedDoi":"10.1109/access.2023.3304544","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.721Z","abstract":"Myoelectric control has been used predominantly in the field of prosthetics, but is an increasingly promising hands-free input modality for emerging consumer markets such as mixed reality. Developing robust machine learning-enabled EMG control systems, however, has historically required substantial domain expertise. This has presented a significant barrier to entry for researchers, impeded progress in EMG-based interaction design, and contributed to the perception that such systems lack the robustness and intuitiveness required for real-world use. To overcome these challenges, we present LibEMG, an open-source Python library for performing offline EMG analyses and developing online EMG-based interactions. By abstracting the challenges and nuances surrounding myoelectric control, including hardware interfacing, data acquisition, feature extraction/selection, classification, post-processing, and evaluation, we eliminate many of the significant barriers limiting the exploration of this technology. Combining expertise from the prosthetics and human-computer interaction communities into a shared library, extensive examples, and documentation, we provide researchers with an accessible tool to accelerate research and improve reproducibility in myoelectric control. In doing so, we aim to facilitate the exploration of this technology, particularly outside prosthesis control, to unlock its potential as a widely applicable hands-free input modality.","authors":[{"name":"Ethan Eddy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8392-3729","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evan Campbell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-4318","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Angkoon Phinyomark","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0170-3245","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott Bateman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3592-2163","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Erik Scheme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4421-1016","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1109/access.2023.3304544","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2023.3304544","title":"LibEMG: An Open Source Library to Facilitate the Exploration of Myoelectric Control","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Ethan Eddy","given":"Ethan","family":"Eddy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8392-3729","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada"]},{"name":"Evan Campbell","given":"Evan","family":"Campbell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-4318","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada"]},{"name":"Angkoon Phinyomark","given":"Angkoon","family":"Phinyomark","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0170-3245","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada"]},{"name":"Scott Bateman","given":"Scott","family":"Bateman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3592-2163","affiliations":["Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada"]},{"name":"Erik Scheme","given":"Erik","family":"Scheme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4421-1016","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada"]}],"publisher":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)","journal":"IEEE Access","publishedDate":"2023-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"11","issue":"","pages":"87380-87397","issn":["2169-3536"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":93,"citedByCount":40,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","doi":"10.13039/501100000038","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4385756532","doi":"10.1109/access.2023.3304544","url":"https://openalex.org/W4385756532","title":"LibEMG: An Open Source Library to Facilitate the Exploration of Myoelectric Control","abstract":"Myoelectric control has been used predominantly in the field of prosthetics, but is an increasingly promising hands-free input modality for emerging consumer markets such as mixed reality. Developing robust machine learning-enabled EMG control systems, however, has historically required substantial domain expertise. This has presented a significant barrier to entry for researchers, impeded progress in EMG-based interaction design, and contributed to the perception that such systems lack the robustness and intuitiveness required for real-world use. To overcome these challenges, we present LibEMG, an open-source Python library for performing offline EMG analyses and developing online EMG-based interactions. By abstracting the challenges and nuances surrounding myoelectric control, including hardware interfacing, data acquisition, feature extraction/selection, classification, post-processing, and evaluation, we eliminate many of the significant barriers limiting the exploration of this technology. Combining expertise from the prosthetics and human-computer interaction communities into a shared library, extensive examples, and documentation, we provide researchers with an accessible tool to accelerate research and improve reproducibility in myoelectric control. In doing so, we aim to facilitate the exploration of this technology, particularly outside prosthesis control, to unlock its potential as a widely applicable hands-free input modality.","authors":[{"name":"Ethan Eddy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8392-3729","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Evan Campbell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5399-4318","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Angkoon Phinyomark","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0170-3245","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Scott Bateman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3592-2163","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Erik Scheme","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4421-1016","institutions":["University of New Brunswick"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":39,"referencesCount":100,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"IEEE Access","topics":["Muscle activation and electromyography studies","EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces","Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials"],"keywords":["Computer science","Interfacing","Python (programming language)","Documentation","Human–computer interaction","Limiting","Robustness (evolution)","Computer hardware","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2023.3304544","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"LibEMG","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record","LibEMG"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-libemg-an-open-source-library-to-facilitate-the-exploration-of-myoelectric-control"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-libemg-an-open-source-library-to-facilitate-the-exploration-of-myoelectric-control"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-libemg"],"toolSlugs":["libemg"],"toolNames":["LibEMG"],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-074","slug":"074-a-3d-printed-bionic-hand-powered-by-emg-signals-and-controlled-by-an-online-neural-network","title":"A 3D Printed, Bionic Hand Powered by EMG Signals and Controlled by an Online Neural Network","doi":"10.3390/biomimetics8020255","publication":{"paperTitle":"A 3D Printed, Bionic Hand Powered by EMG Signals and Controlled by an Online Neural Network","requestedDoi":"10.3390/biomimetics8020255","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/biomimetics8020255","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.836Z","abstract":"About 8% of the Ecuadorian population suffers some type of amputation of upper or lower limbs. Due to the high cost of a prosthesis and the fact that the salary of an average worker in the country reached 248 USD in August 2021, they experience a great labor disadvantage and only 17% of them are employed. Thanks to advances in 3D printing and the accessibility of bioelectric sensors, it is now possible to create economically accessible proposals. This work proposes the design of a hand prosthesis that uses electromyography (EMG) signals and neural networks for real-time control. The integrated system has a mechanical and electronic design, and the latter integrates artificial intelligence for control. To train the algorithm, an experimental methodology was developed to record muscle activity in upper extremities associated with specific tasks, using three EMG surface sensors. These data were used to train a five-layer neural network. the trained model was compressed and exported using TensorflowLite. The prosthesis consisted of a gripper and a pivot base, which were designed in Fusion 360 considering the movement restrictions and the maximum loads. It was actuated in real time thanks to the design of an electronic circuit that used an ESP32 development board, which was responsible for recording, processing and classifying the EMG signals associated with a motor intention, and to actuate the hand prosthesis. As a result of this work, a database with 60 electromyographic activity records from three tasks was released. The classification algorithm was able to detect the three muscle tasks with an accuracy of 78.67% and a response time of 80 ms. Finally, the 3D printed prosthesis was able to support a weight of 500 g with a safety factor equal to 15.","authors":[{"name":"Karla Avilés-Mendoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-4841","institutions":["Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Neil George Gaibor-León","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6827-652X","institutions":["Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Víctor Asanza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2786-4162","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Leandro L. Lorente-Leyva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-7765","institutions":["Universidad UTE"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diego H. Peluffo-Ordóńez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-6997","institutions":["Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique"],"countries":["MA"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/biomimetics8020255","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020255","title":"A 3D Printed, Bionic Hand Powered by EMG Signals and Controlled by an Online Neural Network","subtitle":"","abstract":"About 8% of the Ecuadorian population suffers some type of amputation of upper or lower limbs. Due to the high cost of a prosthesis and the fact that the salary of an average worker in the country reached 248 USD in August 2021, they experience a great labor disadvantage and only 17% of them are employed. Thanks to advances in 3D printing and the accessibility of bioelectric sensors, it is now possible to create economically accessible proposals. This work proposes the design of a hand prosthesis that uses electromyography (EMG) signals and neural networks for real-time control. The integrated system has a mechanical and electronic design, and the latter integrates artificial intelligence for control. To train the algorithm, an experimental methodology was developed to record muscle activity in upper extremities associated with specific tasks, using three EMG surface sensors. These data were used to train a five-layer neural network. the trained model was compressed and exported using TensorflowLite. The prosthesis consisted of a gripper and a pivot base, which were designed in Fusion 360 considering the movement restrictions and the maximum loads. It was actuated in real time thanks to the design of an electronic circuit that used an ESP32 development board, which was responsible for recording, processing and classifying the EMG signals associated with a motor intention, and to actuate the hand prosthesis. As a result of this work, a database with 60 electromyographic activity records from three tasks was released. The classification algorithm was able to detect the three muscle tasks with an accuracy of 78.67% and a response time of 80 ms. Finally, the 3D printed prosthesis was able to support a weight of 500 g with a safety factor equal to 15.","authors":[{"name":"Karla Avilés-Mendoza","given":"Karla","family":"Avilés-Mendoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-4841","affiliations":["Neuroimaging and Bioengineering Laboratory (LNB), Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090903, Ecuador"]},{"name":"Neil George Gaibor-León","given":"Neil George","family":"Gaibor-León","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6827-652X","affiliations":["Neuroimaging and Bioengineering Laboratory (LNB), Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL), Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, Guayaquil 090903, Ecuador"]},{"name":"Víctor Asanza","given":"Víctor","family":"Asanza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2786-4162","affiliations":["SDAS Research Group, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco"]},{"name":"Leandro L. Lorente-Leyva","given":"Leandro L.","family":"Lorente-Leyva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-7765","affiliations":["SDAS Research Group, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco","Faculty of Law, Administrative and Social Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170147, Ecuador"]},{"name":"Diego H. Peluffo-Ordóñez","given":"Diego H.","family":"Peluffo-Ordóñez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-6997","affiliations":["SDAS Research Group, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco","College of Computing, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 47963, Morocco"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Biomimetics","publishedDate":"2023-06-14","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"8","issue":"2","pages":"255","issn":["2313-7673"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":68,"citedByCount":15,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4380997546","doi":"10.3390/biomimetics8020255","url":"https://openalex.org/W4380997546","title":"A 3D Printed, Bionic Hand Powered by EMG Signals and Controlled by an Online Neural Network","abstract":"About 8% of the Ecuadorian population suffers some type of amputation of upper or lower limbs. Due to the high cost of a prosthesis and the fact that the salary of an average worker in the country reached 248 USD in August 2021, they experience a great labor disadvantage and only 17% of them are employed. Thanks to advances in 3D printing and the accessibility of bioelectric sensors, it is now possible to create economically accessible proposals. This work proposes the design of a hand prosthesis that uses electromyography (EMG) signals and neural networks for real-time control. The integrated system has a mechanical and electronic design, and the latter integrates artificial intelligence for control. To train the algorithm, an experimental methodology was developed to record muscle activity in upper extremities associated with specific tasks, using three EMG surface sensors. These data were used to train a five-layer neural network. the trained model was compressed and exported using TensorflowLite. The prosthesis consisted of a gripper and a pivot base, which were designed in Fusion 360 considering the movement restrictions and the maximum loads. It was actuated in real time thanks to the design of an electronic circuit that used an ESP32 development board, which was responsible for recording, processing and classifying the EMG signals associated with a motor intention, and to actuate the hand prosthesis. As a result of this work, a database with 60 electromyographic activity records from three tasks was released. The classification algorithm was able to detect the three muscle tasks with an accuracy of 78.67% and a response time of 80 ms. Finally, the 3D printed prosthesis was able to support a weight of 500 g with a safety factor equal to 15.","authors":[{"name":"Karla Avilés-Mendoza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4644-4841","institutions":["Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Neil George Gaibor-León","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6827-652X","institutions":["Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Víctor Asanza","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2786-4162","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Leandro L. Lorente-Leyva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-7765","institutions":["Universidad UTE"],"countries":["EC"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diego H. Peluffo-Ordóńez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-6997","institutions":["Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique"],"countries":["MA"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-06-14","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":15,"referencesCount":53,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/8/2/255/pdf?version=1686738214","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Biomimetics","topics":["Muscle activation and electromyography studies","EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces","Neuroscience and Neural Engineering"],"keywords":["Artificial neural network","Electromyography","Computer science","Population","Work (physics)","Artificial intelligence","Engineering","Pattern recognition (psychology)","Simulation","Physical medicine and rehabilitation","Mechanical engineering","Medicine"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8020255","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-075","slug":"075-a-practical-3d-printed-soft-robotic-prosthetic-hand-with-multi-articulating-capabilities","title":"A practical 3D-printed soft robotic prosthetic hand with multi-articulating capabilities","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","publication":{"paperTitle":"A practical 3D-printed soft robotic prosthetic hand with multi-articulating capabilities","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.935Z","abstract":"Soft robotic hands with monolithic structure have shown great potential to be used as prostheses due to their advantages to yield light weight and compact designs as well as its ease of manufacture. However, existing soft prosthetic hands design were often not geared towards addressing some of the practical requirements highlighted in prosthetics research. The gap between the existing designs and the practical requirements significantly hampers the potential to transfer these designs to real-world applications. This work addressed these requirements with the consideration of the trade-off between practicality and performance. These requirements were achieved through exploiting the monolithic 3D printing of soft materials which incorporates membrane enclosed flexure joints in the finger designs, synergy-based thumb motion and cable-driven actuation system in the proposed hand prosthesis. Our systematic design (tentatively named X-Limb) achieves a weight of 253gr, three grasps types (with capability of individual finger movement), power-grip force of 21.5N, finger flexion speed of 1.3sec, a minimum grasping cycles of 45,000 (while maintaining its original functionality) and a bill of material cost of 200 USD (excluding quick disconnect wrist but without factoring in the cost reduction through mass production). A standard Activities Measure for Upper-Limb Amputees benchmark test was carried out to evaluate the capability of X-Limb in performing grasping task required for activities of daily living. The results show that all the practical design requirements are satisfied, and the proposed soft prosthetic hand is able to perform all the real-world grasping tasks of the benchmark tests, showing great potential in improving life quality of individuals with upper limb loss.","authors":[{"name":"Alireza Mohammadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5561-1322","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Jim Lavranos","orcid":"","institutions":["Caulfield Hospital"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hao Zhou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-4747","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rahim Mutlu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5576-8744","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gürsel Alıcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6527-2881","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8495-0246","institutions":["The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter Choong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3522-7374","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne","St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Denny Oetomo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2680-6489","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","title":"A practical 3D-printed soft robotic prosthetic hand with multi-articulating capabilities","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Alireza Mohammadi","given":"Alireza","family":"Mohammadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5561-1322","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jim Lavranos","given":"Jim","family":"Lavranos","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Hao Zhou","given":"Hao","family":"Zhou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-4747","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rahim Mutlu","given":"Rahim","family":"Mutlu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gursel Alici","given":"Gursel","family":"Alici","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6527-2881","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ying Tan","given":"Ying","family":"Tan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Peter Choong","given":"Peter","family":"Choong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Denny Oetomo","given":"Denny","family":"Oetomo","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2020-05-14","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"15","issue":"5","pages":"e0232766","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":38,"citedByCount":154,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3025986385","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","url":"https://openalex.org/W3025986385","title":"A practical 3D-printed soft robotic prosthetic hand with multi-articulating capabilities","abstract":"Soft robotic hands with monolithic structure have shown great potential to be used as prostheses due to their advantages to yield light weight and compact designs as well as its ease of manufacture. However, existing soft prosthetic hands design were often not geared towards addressing some of the practical requirements highlighted in prosthetics research. The gap between the existing designs and the practical requirements significantly hampers the potential to transfer these designs to real-world applications. This work addressed these requirements with the consideration of the trade-off between practicality and performance. These requirements were achieved through exploiting the monolithic 3D printing of soft materials which incorporates membrane enclosed flexure joints in the finger designs, synergy-based thumb motion and cable-driven actuation system in the proposed hand prosthesis. Our systematic design (tentatively named X-Limb) achieves a weight of 253gr, three grasps types (with capability of individual finger movement), power-grip force of 21.5N, finger flexion speed of 1.3sec, a minimum grasping cycles of 45,000 (while maintaining its original functionality) and a bill of material cost of 200 USD (excluding quick disconnect wrist but without factoring in the cost reduction through mass production). A standard Activities Measure for Upper-Limb Amputees benchmark test was carried out to evaluate the capability of X-Limb in performing grasping task required for activities of daily living. The results show that all the practical design requirements are satisfied, and the proposed soft prosthetic hand is able to perform all the real-world grasping tasks of the benchmark tests, showing great potential in improving life quality of individuals with upper limb loss.","authors":[{"name":"Alireza Mohammadi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5561-1322","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Jim Lavranos","orcid":"","institutions":["Caulfield Hospital"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hao Zhou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3530-4747","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rahim Mutlu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5576-8744","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gürsel Alıcı","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6527-2881","institutions":["Australian Research Council","University of Wollongong"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8495-0246","institutions":["The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Peter Choong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3522-7374","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne","St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Denny Oetomo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2680-6489","institutions":["Australian Research Council","The University of Melbourne"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-05-14","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":182,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Soft Robotics and Applications","Robot Manipulation and Learning","Muscle activation and electromyography studies"],"keywords":["Thumb","Computer science","3d printed","Task (project management)","Benchmark (surveying)","Soft robotics","Prosthetic hand","Simulation","Engineering","Robot","Artificial intelligence","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232766","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation","Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation","topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation","prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation","Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-076","slug":"076-machine-learning-based-muscle-control-of-a-3d-printed-bionic-arm","title":"Machine-Learning-Based Muscle Control of a 3D-Printed Bionic Arm","doi":"10.3390/s20113144","publication":{"paperTitle":"Machine-Learning-Based Muscle Control of a 3D-Printed Bionic Arm","requestedDoi":"10.3390/s20113144","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/s20113144","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:57.939Z","abstract":"In this paper, a customizable wearable 3D-printed bionic arm is designed, fabricated, and optimized for a right arm amputee. An experimental test has been conducted for the user, where control of the artificial bionic hand is accomplished successfully using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals acquired by a multi-channel wearable armband. The 3D-printed bionic arm was designed for the low cost of 295 USD, and was lightweight at 428 g. To facilitate a generic control of the bionic arm, sEMG data were collected for a set of gestures (fist, spread fingers, wave-in, wave-out) from a wide range of participants. The collected data were processed and features related to the gestures were extracted for the purpose of training a classifier. In this study, several classifiers based on neural networks, support vector machine, and decision trees were constructed, trained, and statistically compared. The support vector machine classifier was found to exhibit an 89.93% success rate. Real-time testing of the bionic arm with the optimum classifier is demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Sherif Said","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-6238","institutions":["Université Paris-Est Créteil","Paris-Est Sup","American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["FR","KW"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ilyes Boulkaibet","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3823-1328","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"M. Sheikh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0862-565X","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Abdullah S. Karar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-996X","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samer Al Kork","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-4939","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amine Naït‐Ali","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5490-9215","institutions":["Université Paris-Est Créteil","Paris-Est Sup"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/s20113144","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/s20113144","title":"Machine-Learning-Based Muscle Control of a 3D-Printed Bionic Arm","subtitle":"","abstract":"In this paper, a customizable wearable 3D-printed bionic arm is designed, fabricated, and optimized for a right arm amputee. An experimental test has been conducted for the user, where control of the artificial bionic hand is accomplished successfully using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals acquired by a multi-channel wearable armband. The 3D-printed bionic arm was designed for the low cost of 295 USD, and was lightweight at 428 g. To facilitate a generic control of the bionic arm, sEMG data were collected for a set of gestures (fist, spread fingers, wave-in, wave-out) from a wide range of participants. The collected data were processed and features related to the gestures were extracted for the purpose of training a classifier. In this study, several classifiers based on neural networks, support vector machine, and decision trees were constructed, trained, and statistically compared. The support vector machine classifier was found to exhibit an 89.93% success rate. Real-time testing of the bionic arm with the optimum classifier is demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Sherif Said","given":"Sherif","family":"Said","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-6238","affiliations":["College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Al-Eqaila 54200, Kuwait","University-Paris-Est, LiSSi, (UPEC), 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, France"]},{"name":"Ilyes Boulkaibet","given":"Ilyes","family":"Boulkaibet","orcid":"","affiliations":["College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Al-Eqaila 54200, Kuwait"]},{"name":"Murtaza Sheikh","given":"Murtaza","family":"Sheikh","orcid":"","affiliations":["College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Al-Eqaila 54200, Kuwait"]},{"name":"Abdullah S. Karar","given":"Abdullah S.","family":"Karar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-996X","affiliations":["College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Al-Eqaila 54200, Kuwait"]},{"name":"Samer Alkork","given":"Samer","family":"Alkork","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-4939","affiliations":["College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Al-Eqaila 54200, Kuwait"]},{"name":"Amine Nait-ali","given":"Amine","family":"Nait-ali","orcid":"","affiliations":["University-Paris-Est, LiSSi, (UPEC), 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, France"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Sensors","publishedDate":"2020-06-02","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"20","issue":"11","pages":"3144","issn":["1424-8220"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":37,"citedByCount":45,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3033174637","doi":"10.3390/s20113144","url":"https://openalex.org/W3033174637","title":"Machine-Learning-Based Muscle Control of a 3D-Printed Bionic Arm","abstract":"In this paper, a customizable wearable 3D-printed bionic arm is designed, fabricated, and optimized for a right arm amputee. An experimental test has been conducted for the user, where control of the artificial bionic hand is accomplished successfully using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals acquired by a multi-channel wearable armband. The 3D-printed bionic arm was designed for the low cost of 295 USD, and was lightweight at 428 g. To facilitate a generic control of the bionic arm, sEMG data were collected for a set of gestures (fist, spread fingers, wave-in, wave-out) from a wide range of participants. The collected data were processed and features related to the gestures were extracted for the purpose of training a classifier. In this study, several classifiers based on neural networks, support vector machine, and decision trees were constructed, trained, and statistically compared. The support vector machine classifier was found to exhibit an 89.93% success rate. Real-time testing of the bionic arm with the optimum classifier is demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Sherif Said","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7380-6238","institutions":["Université Paris-Est Créteil","Paris-Est Sup","American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["FR","KW"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Ilyes Boulkaibet","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3823-1328","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"M. Sheikh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0862-565X","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Abdullah S. Karar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-996X","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samer Al Kork","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6618-4939","institutions":["American University of the Middle East"],"countries":["KW"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Amine Naït‐Ali","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5490-9215","institutions":["Université Paris-Est Créteil","Paris-Est Sup"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-06-02","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":47,"referencesCount":36,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3144/pdf?version=1592186759","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Sensors","topics":["Muscle activation and electromyography studies","Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials","Tactile and Sensory Interactions"],"keywords":["Classifier (UML)","Wearable computer","Artificial intelligence","Support vector machine","Robotic arm","3d printed","Gesture","Artificial neural network","Fist","Engineering","Computer science","Pattern recognition (psychology)"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/s20113144","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Open Hardware Methods"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"low","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Open Hardware Methods","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-open-hardware-methods"],"topicSlugs":["open-hardware-methods"],"topicNames":["Open Hardware Methods"]},{"id":"paper-077","slug":"077-3d-printed-robot-hand-structure-using-four-bar-linkage-mechanism-for-prosthetic-application","title":"3D Printed Robot Hand Structure Using Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism for Prosthetic Application","doi":"10.3390/s20154174","publication":{"paperTitle":"3D Printed Robot Hand Structure Using Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism for Prosthetic Application","requestedDoi":"10.3390/s20154174","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/s20154174","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:58.404Z","abstract":"Trans-radial prosthesis is a wearable device that intends to help amputees under the elbow to replace the function of the missing anatomical segment that resembles an actual human hand. However, there are some challenging aspects faced mainly on the robot hand structural design itself. Improvements are needed as this is closely related to structure efficiency. This paper proposes a robot hand structure with improved features (four-bar linkage mechanism) to overcome the deficiency of using the cable-driven actuated mechanism that leads to less structure durability and inaccurate motion range. Our proposed robot hand structure also took into account the existing design problems such as bulky structure, unindividual actuated finger, incomplete fingers and a lack of finger joints compared to the actual finger in its design. This paper presents the improvements achieved by applying the proposed design such as the use of a four-bar linkage mechanism instead of using the cable-driven mechanism, the size of an average human hand, five-fingers with completed joints where each finger is moved by motor individually, joint protection using a mechanical stopper, detachable finger structure from the palm frame, a structure that has sufficient durability for everyday use and an easy to fabricate structure using 3D printing technology. The four-bar linkage mechanism is the use of the solid linkage that connects the actuator with the structure to allow the structure to move. The durability was investigated using static analysis simulation. The structural details and simulation results were validated through motion capture analysis and load test. The motion analyses towards the 3D printed robot structure show 70-98% similar motion range capability to the designed structure in the CAD software, and it can withstand up to 1.6 kg load in the simulation and the real test. The improved robot hand structure with optimum durability for prosthetic uses was successfully developed.","authors":[{"name":"Mohamad Aizat Abdul Wahit","orcid":"","institutions":["Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Siti Anom Ahmad","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-0118","institutions":["Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mohammad Hamiruce Marhaban","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1524-1440","institutions":["Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia","Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chikamune Wada","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-7141","institutions":["Kyushu Institute of Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lila Iznita Izhar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0873-4407","institutions":["Universiti Teknologi Petronas"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/s20154174","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/s20154174","title":"3D Printed Robot Hand Structure Using Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism for Prosthetic Application","subtitle":"","abstract":"Trans-radial prosthesis is a wearable device that intends to help amputees under the elbow to replace the function of the missing anatomical segment that resembles an actual human hand. However, there are some challenging aspects faced mainly on the robot hand structural design itself. Improvements are needed as this is closely related to structure efficiency. This paper proposes a robot hand structure with improved features (four-bar linkage mechanism) to overcome the deficiency of using the cable-driven actuated mechanism that leads to less structure durability and inaccurate motion range. Our proposed robot hand structure also took into account the existing design problems such as bulky structure, unindividual actuated finger, incomplete fingers and a lack of finger joints compared to the actual finger in its design. This paper presents the improvements achieved by applying the proposed design such as the use of a four-bar linkage mechanism instead of using the cable-driven mechanism, the size of an average human hand, five-fingers with completed joints where each finger is moved by motor individually, joint protection using a mechanical stopper, detachable finger structure from the palm frame, a structure that has sufficient durability for everyday use and an easy to fabricate structure using 3D printing technology. The four-bar linkage mechanism is the use of the solid linkage that connects the actuator with the structure to allow the structure to move. The durability was investigated using static analysis simulation. The structural details and simulation results were validated through motion capture analysis and load test. The motion analyses towards the 3D printed robot structure show 70–98% similar motion range capability to the designed structure in the CAD software, and it can withstand up to 1.6 kg load in the simulation and the real test. The improved robot hand structure with optimum durability for prosthetic uses was successfully developed.","authors":[{"name":"Mohamad Aizat Abdul Wahit","given":"Mohamad Aizat","family":"Abdul Wahit","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor 43400, Malaysia"]},{"name":"Siti Anom Ahmad","given":"Siti Anom","family":"Ahmad","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-0118","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor 43400, Malaysia","Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor 43400, Malaysia"]},{"name":"Mohammad Hamiruce Marhaban","given":"Mohammad Hamiruce","family":"Marhaban","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Selangor 43400, Malaysia","Department of Electrical &amp; Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering &amp; Built Environment, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan 71800, Malaysia"]},{"name":"Chikamune Wada","given":"Chikamune","family":"Wada","orcid":"","affiliations":["Graduate School of Life Science and Systems Engineering, Department of Human Intelligence Systems, Institute of Technology Kyushu, 2-4 Hibikino, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 808-0196, Japan"]},{"name":"Lila Iznita Izhar","given":"Lila Iznita","family":"Izhar","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Malaysia"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Sensors","publishedDate":"2020-07-27","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"20","issue":"15","pages":"4174","issn":["1424-8220"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":35,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Universiti Putra Malaysia","doi":"10.13039/501100004530","awards":["9606100"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3044803463","doi":"10.3390/s20154174","url":"https://openalex.org/W3044803463","title":"3D Printed Robot Hand Structure Using Four-Bar Linkage Mechanism for Prosthetic Application","abstract":"Trans-radial prosthesis is a wearable device that intends to help amputees under the elbow to replace the function of the missing anatomical segment that resembles an actual human hand. However, there are some challenging aspects faced mainly on the robot hand structural design itself. Improvements are needed as this is closely related to structure efficiency. This paper proposes a robot hand structure with improved features (four-bar linkage mechanism) to overcome the deficiency of using the cable-driven actuated mechanism that leads to less structure durability and inaccurate motion range. Our proposed robot hand structure also took into account the existing design problems such as bulky structure, unindividual actuated finger, incomplete fingers and a lack of finger joints compared to the actual finger in its design. This paper presents the improvements achieved by applying the proposed design such as the use of a four-bar linkage mechanism instead of using the cable-driven mechanism, the size of an average human hand, five-fingers with completed joints where each finger is moved by motor individually, joint protection using a mechanical stopper, detachable finger structure from the palm frame, a structure that has sufficient durability for everyday use and an easy to fabricate structure using 3D printing technology. The four-bar linkage mechanism is the use of the solid linkage that connects the actuator with the structure to allow the structure to move. The durability was investigated using static analysis simulation. The structural details and simulation results were validated through motion capture analysis and load test. The motion analyses towards the 3D printed robot structure show 70-98% similar motion range capability to the designed structure in the CAD software, and it can withstand up to 1.6 kg load in the simulation and the real test. The improved robot hand structure with optimum durability for prosthetic uses was successfully developed.","authors":[{"name":"Mohamad Aizat Abdul Wahit","orcid":"","institutions":["Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Siti Anom Ahmad","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1759-0118","institutions":["Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Mohammad Hamiruce Marhaban","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1524-1440","institutions":["Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia","Universiti Putra Malaysia"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chikamune Wada","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-7141","institutions":["Kyushu Institute of Technology"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lila Iznita Izhar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0873-4407","institutions":["Universiti Teknologi Petronas"],"countries":["MY"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-07-27","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":44,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/15/4174/pdf?version=1595926990","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Sensors","topics":["Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics","Muscle activation and electromyography studies","Robot Manipulation and Learning"],"keywords":["Linkage (software)","Mechanism (biology)","Four-bar linkage","Engineering","Bar (unit)","Robot","Frame (networking)","Actuator","Wearable computer","Simulation","Computer science","Artificial intelligence"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/s20154174","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation","Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation","topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation","prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation","Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-078","slug":"078-implementation-of-3d-printing-technology-in-the-field-of-prosthetics-past-present-and-future","title":"Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future","doi":"10.3390/ijerph16091641","publication":{"paperTitle":"Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future","requestedDoi":"10.3390/ijerph16091641","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/ijerph16091641","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.061Z","abstract":"There is an interesting and long history of prostheses designed for those with upper-limb difference, and yet issues still persist that have not yet been solved. Prosthesis needs for children are particularly complex, due in part to their growth rates. Access to a device can have a significant impact on a child's psychosocial development. Often, devices supporting both cosmetic form and user function are not accessible to children due to high costs, insurance policies, medical availability, and their perceived durability and complexity of control. These challenges have encouraged a grassroots effort globally to offer a viable solution for the millions of people living with limb difference around the world. The innovative application of 3D printing for customizable and user-specific hardware has led to open-source Do It Yourself \"DIY\" production of assistive devices, having an incredible impact globally for families with little recourse. This paper examines new research and development of prostheses by the maker community and nonprofit organizations, as well as a novel case study exploring the development of technology and the training methods available. These design efforts are discussed further in the context of the medical regulatory framework in the United States and highlight new associated clinical studies designed to measure the quality of life impact of such devices.","authors":[{"name":"Albert Manero","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0145-7582","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Peter A. Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4487-0441","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John Sparkman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9346-5947","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matt Dombrowski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4388-2640","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dominique Courbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-9402","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anna Kester","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Isaac Womack","orcid":"","institutions":["Oregon Health & Science University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Albert Chi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1234-2601","institutions":["Oregon Health & Science University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/ijerph16091641","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091641","title":"Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future","subtitle":"","abstract":"There is an interesting and long history of prostheses designed for those with upper-limb difference, and yet issues still persist that have not yet been solved. Prosthesis needs for children are particularly complex, due in part to their growth rates. Access to a device can have a significant impact on a child’s psychosocial development. Often, devices supporting both cosmetic form and user function are not accessible to children due to high costs, insurance policies, medical availability, and their perceived durability and complexity of control. These challenges have encouraged a grassroots effort globally to offer a viable solution for the millions of people living with limb difference around the world. The innovative application of 3D printing for customizable and user-specific hardware has led to open-source Do It Yourself “DIY” production of assistive devices, having an incredible impact globally for families with little recourse. This paper examines new research and development of prostheses by the maker community and nonprofit organizations, as well as a novel case study exploring the development of technology and the training methods available. These design efforts are discussed further in the context of the medical regulatory framework in the United States and highlight new associated clinical studies designed to measure the quality of life impact of such devices.","authors":[{"name":"Albert Manero","given":"Albert","family":"Manero","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0145-7582","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"Peter Smith","given":"Peter","family":"Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4487-0441","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"John Sparkman","given":"John","family":"Sparkman","orcid":"","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"Matt Dombrowski","given":"Matt","family":"Dombrowski","orcid":"","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"Dominique Courbin","given":"Dominique","family":"Courbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-9402","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"Anna Kester","given":"Anna","family":"Kester","orcid":"","affiliations":["Limbitless Solutions, University of Central Florida, 4217 E Plaza Drive, Orlando, FL 32816, USA"]},{"name":"Isaac Womack","given":"Isaac","family":"Womack","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Trauma, Critical Care &amp; Acute Care Surgery Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA"]},{"name":"Albert Chi","given":"Albert","family":"Chi","orcid":"","affiliations":["Division of Trauma, Critical Care &amp; Acute Care Surgery Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","publishedDate":"2019-05-10","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"16","issue":"9","pages":"1641","issn":["1660-4601"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":77,"citedByCount":151,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2944512655","doi":"10.3390/ijerph16091641","url":"https://openalex.org/W2944512655","title":"Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future","abstract":"There is an interesting and long history of prostheses designed for those with upper-limb difference, and yet issues still persist that have not yet been solved. Prosthesis needs for children are particularly complex, due in part to their growth rates. Access to a device can have a significant impact on a child's psychosocial development. Often, devices supporting both cosmetic form and user function are not accessible to children due to high costs, insurance policies, medical availability, and their perceived durability and complexity of control. These challenges have encouraged a grassroots effort globally to offer a viable solution for the millions of people living with limb difference around the world. The innovative application of 3D printing for customizable and user-specific hardware has led to open-source Do It Yourself \"DIY\" production of assistive devices, having an incredible impact globally for families with little recourse. This paper examines new research and development of prostheses by the maker community and nonprofit organizations, as well as a novel case study exploring the development of technology and the training methods available. These design efforts are discussed further in the context of the medical regulatory framework in the United States and highlight new associated clinical studies designed to measure the quality of life impact of such devices.","authors":[{"name":"Albert Manero","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0145-7582","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Peter A. Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4487-0441","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John Sparkman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9346-5947","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matt Dombrowski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4388-2640","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dominique Courbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-9402","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anna Kester","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Isaac Womack","orcid":"","institutions":["Oregon Health & Science University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Albert Chi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1234-2601","institutions":["Oregon Health & Science University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-05-10","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":178,"referencesCount":72,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/9/1641/pdf?version=1557736318","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health","topics":["Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics","Muscle activation and electromyography studies","Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility"],"keywords":["Grassroots","Context (archaeology)","Function (biology)","Psychosocial","Quality (philosophy)","Business","Quality of life (healthcare)","Computer science","Process management","Internet privacy","Risk analysis (engineering)","Public relations"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091641","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-079","slug":"079-low-cost-sensor-integrated-3d-printed-personalized-prosthetic-hands-for-children-with-amniotic-band-syndrome-a-case-stud","title":"Low-cost sensor-integrated 3D-printed personalized prosthetic hands for children with amniotic band syndrome: A case study in sensing pressure distribution on an anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) using 3D-printed conformal electrode arrays","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","publication":{"paperTitle":"Low-cost sensor-integrated 3D-printed personalized prosthetic hands for children with amniotic band syndrome: A case study in sensing pressure distribution on an anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) using 3D-printed conformal electrode arrays","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:58.511Z","abstract":"Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is central to the creation of next-generation wearable systems for health care and human augmentation applications. Thus, there is a need to establish computer-aided design and manufacturing methods for producing personalized anatomically conformal systems, such as wearable devices and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Here, we show that a three-dimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing process enabled the design and fabrication of a sensor-integrated anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) in the form of personalized prosthetic hands that contain anatomically conformal electrode arrays for children affected by amniotic band syndrome, a common birth defect. A methodology for identifying optimal scanning parameters was identified based on local and global metrics of registered point cloud data quality. This method identified an optimal rotational angle step size between adjacent 3D scans. The sensitivity of the optimization process to variations in organic shape (i.e., geometry) was examined by testing other anatomical structures, including a foot, an ear, and a porcine kidney. We found that personalization of the prosthetic interface increased the tissue-prosthesis contact area by 408% relative to the non-personalized devices. Conformal 3D printing of carbon nanotube-based polymer inks across the personalized AHMI facilitated the integration of electronic components, specifically, conformal sensor arrays for measuring the pressure distribution across the AHMI (i.e., the tissue-prosthesis interface). We found that the pressure across the AHMI exhibited a non-uniform distribution and became redistributed upon activation of the prosthetic hand's grasping action. Overall, this work shows that the integration of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes offers the ability to design and fabricate wearable systems that contain sensor-integrated AHMIs.","authors":[{"name":"Yuxin Tong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2775-6057","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ezgi Küçükdeğer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6587-6850","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Justin Halper","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ellen Cesewski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6604-2321","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Elena Karakozoff","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander P. Haring","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David McIlvain","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manjot Singh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8165-254X","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nikita Khandelwal","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex Meholic","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sahil Laheri","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akshay Sharma","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0815-2503","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Blake N. Johnson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-2011","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","title":"Low-cost sensor-integrated 3D-printed personalized prosthetic hands for children with amniotic band syndrome: A case study in sensing pressure distribution on an anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) using 3D-printed conformal electrode arrays","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yuxin Tong","given":"Yuxin","family":"Tong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ezgi Kucukdeger","given":"Ezgi","family":"Kucukdeger","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Justin Halper","given":"Justin","family":"Halper","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ellen Cesewski","given":"Ellen","family":"Cesewski","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Elena Karakozoff","given":"Elena","family":"Karakozoff","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexander P. Haring","given":"Alexander P.","family":"Haring","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David McIlvain","given":"David","family":"McIlvain","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Manjot Singh","given":"Manjot","family":"Singh","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nikita Khandelwal","given":"Nikita","family":"Khandelwal","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alex Meholic","given":"Alex","family":"Meholic","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sahil Laheri","given":"Sahil","family":"Laheri","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Akshay Sharma","given":"Akshay","family":"Sharma","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Blake N. Johnson","given":"Blake N.","family":"Johnson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-2011","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2019-03-28","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"3","pages":"e0214120","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":74,"citedByCount":34,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University","doi":"10.13039/100007263","awards":["SEC-2018"]},{"name":"Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University","doi":"10.13039/100007263","awards":["ICAT-2018"]},{"name":"National Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000001","awards":["DUE-1644138"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2928323355","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","url":"https://openalex.org/W2928323355","title":"Low-cost sensor-integrated 3D-printed personalized prosthetic hands for children with amniotic band syndrome: A case study in sensing pressure distribution on an anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) using 3D-printed conformal electrode arrays","abstract":"Interfacing anatomically conformal electronic components, such as sensors, with biology is central to the creation of next-generation wearable systems for health care and human augmentation applications. Thus, there is a need to establish computer-aided design and manufacturing methods for producing personalized anatomically conformal systems, such as wearable devices and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Here, we show that a three-dimensional (3D) scanning and 3D printing process enabled the design and fabrication of a sensor-integrated anatomical human-machine interface (AHMI) in the form of personalized prosthetic hands that contain anatomically conformal electrode arrays for children affected by amniotic band syndrome, a common birth defect. A methodology for identifying optimal scanning parameters was identified based on local and global metrics of registered point cloud data quality. This method identified an optimal rotational angle step size between adjacent 3D scans. The sensitivity of the optimization process to variations in organic shape (i.e., geometry) was examined by testing other anatomical structures, including a foot, an ear, and a porcine kidney. We found that personalization of the prosthetic interface increased the tissue-prosthesis contact area by 408% relative to the non-personalized devices. Conformal 3D printing of carbon nanotube-based polymer inks across the personalized AHMI facilitated the integration of electronic components, specifically, conformal sensor arrays for measuring the pressure distribution across the AHMI (i.e., the tissue-prosthesis interface). We found that the pressure across the AHMI exhibited a non-uniform distribution and became redistributed upon activation of the prosthetic hand's grasping action. Overall, this work shows that the integration of 3D scanning and 3D printing processes offers the ability to design and fabricate wearable systems that contain sensor-integrated AHMIs.","authors":[{"name":"Yuxin Tong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2775-6057","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ezgi Küçükdeğer","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6587-6850","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Justin Halper","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ellen Cesewski","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6604-2321","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Elena Karakozoff","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander P. Haring","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David McIlvain","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manjot Singh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8165-254X","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nikita Khandelwal","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex Meholic","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sahil Laheri","orcid":"","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Akshay Sharma","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0815-2503","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Blake N. Johnson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-2011","institutions":["Virginia Tech"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-03-28","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":37,"referencesCount":75,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials","Tracheal and airway disorders","Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine"],"keywords":["Interfacing","Computer science","Interface (matter)","Wearable computer","Pressure sensor","Biomedical engineering","3D printing","Computer hardware","Embedded system","Mechanical engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214120","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-080","slug":"080-3d-printed-bionic-prosthetic-hands","title":"3D printed bionic prosthetic hands","doi":"10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","publication":{"paperTitle":"3D printed bionic prosthetic hands","requestedDoi":"10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","resolvedDoi":"10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:58.967Z","abstract":"This article deals with upper limb prosthetic made by 3D printing technology. For tests and analysis the number of open-source bionic hands (eNable and exiii's HACKberry projects) were chosen. These hands represent low cost solution of conventional or myolectric prosthesis. Our investigation was focused on three main parts: 3D printing using different 3D printers, technologies and materials; assembly with the use of commonly gettable fasteners and devices on Czech market; functionality testing under laboratory condition. In conclusion our results of these fields are summarized and possible improvements are outlined.","authors":[{"name":"Jan Koprnicky","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Petr Najman","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiří Šafka","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-8016","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","title":"3D printed bionic prosthetic hands","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Jan Koprnicky","given":"Jan","family":"Koprnicky","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Petr Najman","given":"Petr","family":"Najman","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jiri Safka","given":"Jiri","family":"Safka","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"IEEE","journal":"2017 IEEE International Workshop of Electronics, Control, Measurement, Signals and their Application to Mechatronics (ECMSM)","publishedDate":"2017-05-01","type":"proceedings-article","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"1-6","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":34,"citedByCount":36,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2626278735","doi":"10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","url":"https://openalex.org/W2626278735","title":"3D printed bionic prosthetic hands","abstract":"This article deals with upper limb prosthetic made by 3D printing technology. For tests and analysis the number of open-source bionic hands (eNable and exiii's HACKberry projects) were chosen. These hands represent low cost solution of conventional or myolectric prosthesis. Our investigation was focused on three main parts: 3D printing using different 3D printers, technologies and materials; assembly with the use of commonly gettable fasteners and devices on Czech market; functionality testing under laboratory condition. In conclusion our results of these fields are summarized and possible improvements are outlined.","authors":[{"name":"Jan Koprnicky","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Petr Najman","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiří Šafka","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-8016","institutions":["Technical University of Liberec"],"countries":["CZ"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2017-05-01","publicationYear":2017,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":48,"referencesCount":5,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"","topics":["Muscle activation and electromyography studies","Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["3d printed","3D printing","Computer science","Open source","Engineering","Engineering drawing","Manufacturing engineering","Mechanical engineering","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ecmsm.2017.7945898","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-3d-printed-bionic-prosthetic-hands"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-3d-printed-bionic-prosthetic-hands"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-081","slug":"081-system-for-the-experimental-evaluation-of-anthropomorphic-hands-application-to-a-new-3d-printed-prosthetic-hand-prototyp","title":"System for the experimental evaluation of anthropomorphic hands. Application to a new 3D-printed prosthetic hand prototype","doi":"10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","publication":{"paperTitle":"System for the experimental evaluation of anthropomorphic hands. Application to a new 3D-printed prosthetic hand prototype","requestedDoi":"10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","resolvedDoi":"10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:58.651Z","abstract":"In the present study, we propose a new actuation device and protocol for testing the grasping performance of low-cost 3D-printed hand prototypes. The actuation device is connected to the forearm of a healthy user and allows him to use his thumb and fingers to control any prototype moved by up to six tendons attached to this device. The protocol includes grasping actions on 24 different objects using eight typical grasp types to obtain a grasping ability score and information about the coordination of motion among the fingers. This study also presents a new design for a low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic hand, called the IMMA hand. Preliminary tests were performed with the IMMA hand and the actuation device on two subjects, using the protocol, to assess the validity of the device for the experimental evaluation of hand prototypes in early design stages. The analysis of the results of these tests shows that the coordination of motions among fingers is quite similar for both subjects, indicating a similar control of the artificial hand. Index and ring finger motions are highly correlated in over half of the grasp actions performed for both subjects.","authors":[{"name":"Immaculada Llop-Harillo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9378-1947","institutions":["Universitat Jaume I"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Antonio Pérez-González","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0210-7728","institutions":["Universitat Jaume I"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","url":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","title":"System for the experimental evaluation of anthropomorphic hands. Application to a new 3D-printed prosthetic hand prototype","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Immaculada Llop-Harillo","given":"Immaculada","family":"Llop-Harillo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9378-1947","affiliations":["Grupo de Biomecánica y Ergonomía, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Construcción, Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castellón, Spain"]},{"name":"Antonio Pérez-González","given":"Antonio","family":"Pérez-González","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0210-7728","affiliations":["Grupo de Biomecánica y Ergonomía, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Construcción, Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castellón, Spain"]}],"publisher":"Informa UK Limited","journal":"International Biomechanics","publishedDate":"2017-11-03","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"4","issue":"2","pages":"50-59","issn":["2333-5432"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":27,"citedByCount":19,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad","doi":"10.13039/501100003329","awards":["BES-2015-076005"]},{"name":"Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad","doi":"10.13039/501100003329","awards":["DPI2014-60635-R"]},{"name":"Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación","doi":"10.13039/501100007136","awards":["BES-2015-076005","DPI2014-60635-R"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2774811846","doi":"10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","url":"https://openalex.org/W2774811846","title":"System for the experimental evaluation of anthropomorphic hands. Application to a new 3D-printed prosthetic hand prototype","abstract":"In the present study, we propose a new actuation device and protocol for testing the grasping performance of low-cost 3D-printed hand prototypes. The actuation device is connected to the forearm of a healthy user and allows him to use his thumb and fingers to control any prototype moved by up to six tendons attached to this device. The protocol includes grasping actions on 24 different objects using eight typical grasp types to obtain a grasping ability score and information about the coordination of motion among the fingers. This study also presents a new design for a low-cost 3D-printed prosthetic hand, called the IMMA hand. Preliminary tests were performed with the IMMA hand and the actuation device on two subjects, using the protocol, to assess the validity of the device for the experimental evaluation of hand prototypes in early design stages. The analysis of the results of these tests shows that the coordination of motions among fingers is quite similar for both subjects, indicating a similar control of the artificial hand. Index and ring finger motions are highly correlated in over half of the grasp actions performed for both subjects.","authors":[{"name":"Immaculada Llop-Harillo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9378-1947","institutions":["Universitat Jaume I"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Antonio Pérez-González","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0210-7728","institutions":["Universitat Jaume I"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2017-11-03","publicationYear":2017,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":20,"referencesCount":22,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"International Biomechanics","topics":["Robot Manipulation and Learning","Muscle activation and electromyography studies","Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics"],"keywords":["GRASP","Thumb","Protocol (science)","Prosthetic hand","Index finger","3d printed","Computer science","Robotic hand","Forearm","Simulation","Little finger","Artificial intelligence"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1080/23335432.2017.1364666","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"],"modality":["Assistive devices"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices","Assistive devices","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-system-for-the-experimental-evaluation-of-anthropomorphic-hands-application-to-a-new-3d-printed-prosthetic"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-system-for-the-experimental-evaluation-of-anthropomorphic-hands-application-to-a-new-3d-printed-prosthetic"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"Not rubric-mapped","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":null,"rationale":"Paper is outside the rubric's bioprinting/liquid-handling/microfabrication types."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicSlugs":["prosthetics-assistive-devices"],"topicNames":["Prosthetics & Assistive Devices"]},{"id":"paper-082","slug":"082-lusobiomaker-a-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-with-multi-extrusion-and-contour-printing-capabilities-for-thermo-and-photocurable","title":"LusoBioMaker: A low-cost 3D bioprinter with multi-extrusion and contour printing capabilities for thermo- and photocurable hydrogels towards complex tissue fabrication","doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","publication":{"paperTitle":"LusoBioMaker: A low-cost 3D bioprinter with multi-extrusion and contour printing capabilities for thermo- and photocurable hydrogels towards complex tissue fabrication","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.312Z","abstract":"3D bioprinting is an expanding field that allows for the design of intricate structures using multiple materials and living cells. This has enormous potential for applications in drug testing, regenerative medicine, and, more recently, cell-based food products, with the surge of the cellular agriculture field. However, the high cost of equipment is frequently a significant limitation for implementing these approaches. Here, we present LusoBioMaker, an open-source bioprinter that delivers commercial-grade performance for under $900 of materi. Built on a modified Ender 3-V2 platform it integrates dual screw-driven extrusion, independent active temperature control (2–50 °C) and in-situ 365 nm photocuring, generating up to 320 N force through open-access firmware. Using κ-carrageenan, Pluronic F-127 and gelatin methacrylate/poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (GelMA/PEGDA) inks we printed complex lattices with a printability factor of 0.995 and sub-millimetre dimensional errors while maintaining 97 % L929 cell viability after fourteen days. Comprehensive calibration and acceptance tests performed in accordance with the ISO 230-1/2 standards confirmed <50 μm positional error and <0.005° angular deviation across both extrusion nozzles. A systematic review of 17 reported low-cost bioprinters revealed that none combine dual screw extrusion, active thermal regulation and on-head UV curing in a single chassis, highlighting LusoBioMaker's unique features set. As a proof-of-concept, we bioprinted a hollow nipple–areola complex by co-extruding a thermosensitive κ-carrageenan core and a photocurable GelMA/PEGDA shell, exploiting all three hardware capabilities in one uninterrupted run. This demonstration underscores LusoBioMaker's capacity to manufacture anatomically intricate, gradient tissues on demand and to democratise advanced biofabrication workflows.","authors":[{"name":"Afonso Gusmão","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0280-6249","institutions":["Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento","University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diana M. C. Marques","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6291-2038","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Duarte Almeida","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3313-0464","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"K. Schüler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0476-226X","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Frederico Castelo Ferreira","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5177-6237","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Paola Sanjuan‐Alberte","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2079-2864","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"M. A. L. Leite","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0392-3663","institutions":["Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento","University of Lisbon"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","title":"LusoBioMaker: A low-cost 3D bioprinter with multi-extrusion and contour printing capabilities for thermo- and photocurable hydrogels towards complex tissue fabrication","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Afonso Gusmão","given":"Afonso","family":"Gusmão","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Diana M.C. Marques","given":"Diana M.C.","family":"Marques","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Duarte Almeida","given":"Duarte","family":"Almeida","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kristin Schüler","given":"Kristin","family":"Schüler","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Frederico Castelo Ferreira","given":"Frederico","family":"Castelo Ferreira","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paola Sanjuan-Alberte","given":"Paola","family":"Sanjuan-Alberte","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2079-2864","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Marco Leite","given":"Marco","family":"Leite","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Bioprinting","publishedDate":"2025-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"50","issue":"","pages":"e00425","issn":["2405-8866"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":64,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4412027251","doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","url":"https://openalex.org/W4412027251","title":"LusoBioMaker: A low-cost 3D bioprinter with multi-extrusion and contour printing capabilities for thermo- and photocurable hydrogels towards complex tissue fabrication","abstract":"3D bioprinting is an expanding field that allows for the design of intricate structures using multiple materials and living cells. This has enormous potential for applications in drug testing, regenerative medicine, and, more recently, cell-based food products, with the surge of the cellular agriculture field. However, the high cost of equipment is frequently a significant limitation for implementing these approaches. Here, we present LusoBioMaker, an open-source bioprinter that delivers commercial-grade performance for under $900 of materi. Built on a modified Ender 3-V2 platform it integrates dual screw-driven extrusion, independent active temperature control (2–50 °C) and in-situ 365 nm photocuring, generating up to 320 N force through open-access firmware. Using κ-carrageenan, Pluronic F-127 and gelatin methacrylate/poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (GelMA/PEGDA) inks we printed complex lattices with a printability factor of 0.995 and sub-millimetre dimensional errors while maintaining 97 % L929 cell viability after fourteen days. Comprehensive calibration and acceptance tests performed in accordance with the ISO 230-1/2 standards confirmed <50 μm positional error and <0.005° angular deviation across both extrusion nozzles. A systematic review of 17 reported low-cost bioprinters revealed that none combine dual screw extrusion, active thermal regulation and on-head UV curing in a single chassis, highlighting LusoBioMaker's unique features set. As a proof-of-concept, we bioprinted a hollow nipple–areola complex by co-extruding a thermosensitive κ-carrageenan core and a photocurable GelMA/PEGDA shell, exploiting all three hardware capabilities in one uninterrupted run. This demonstration underscores LusoBioMaker's capacity to manufacture anatomically intricate, gradient tissues on demand and to democratise advanced biofabrication workflows.","authors":[{"name":"Afonso Gusmão","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0280-6249","institutions":["Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento","University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Diana M. C. Marques","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6291-2038","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Duarte Almeida","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3313-0464","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"K. Schüler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0476-226X","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Frederico Castelo Ferreira","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5177-6237","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Paola Sanjuan‐Alberte","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2079-2864","institutions":["University of Lisbon","Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"M. A. L. Leite","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0392-3663","institutions":["Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento","University of Lisbon"],"countries":["PT"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":71,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Bioprinting","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Self-healing hydrogels","Extrusion","Materials science","Fabrication","Tissue engineering","3D printing","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Composite material","Polymer chemistry","Engineering","Medicine"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2025.e00425","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"LusoBioMaker","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Supplemental corpus record","LusoBioMaker"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-lusobiomaker-a-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-with-multi-extrusion-and-contour-printing-capabilities-for-thermo-an"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-lusobiomaker-a-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-with-multi-extrusion-and-contour-printing-capabilities-for-thermo-an"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-lusobiomaker"],"toolSlugs":["lusobiomaker"],"toolNames":["LusoBioMaker"],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-083","slug":"083-development-of-an-open-source-low-cost-modular-quad-extrusion-3d-bioprinter","title":"Development of an Open-Source Low-Cost Modular Quad-Extrusion 3D Bioprinter","doi":"10.1115/msec2023-104996","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development of an Open-Source Low-Cost Modular Quad-Extrusion 3D Bioprinter","requestedDoi":"10.1115/msec2023-104996","resolvedDoi":"10.1115/msec2023-104996","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.093Z","abstract":"Abstract Advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are being harnessed to capture the complex range and specificity of native tissue properties towards fully functional bioprinted tissue constructs. Such enabling technologies have been reported to recapitulate the complexity and heterogeneity of the native tissues. However, the challenges of cost and scalability hamper broad AM process adoption and implementation for fundamental research in the life sciences as well as for clinical end-use applications. In order to address the cost barrier to AM adoption, an open-source low-cost modular quad-extrusion multi-material 3D bioprinting system is developed herein to enable the fabrication of complex tissue constructs. The developed quad-extrusion bioprinter (QEB) is established with two divergent printing modes, namely in-air printing (IAP) and support bath printing (SBP), using gelatin methacryloyl as a model hydrogel bioink. Bioprinted performance outcomes are then measured for structural fidelity with benchmarking to the computer-aided design models. Moreover, biological outcomes are qualified by way of a LIVE/DEAD cell viability assay over a 3-day time course. In summary, the developed QEB is shown to be a robust platform that enables the scalable fabrication of multi-material complex tissue constructs at an accessible cost under $300, further closing the gap between developmental and clinical AM platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Ralf Zgeib","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9644-9755","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiao Feng Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5966-6673","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ahmadreza Zaeri","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0234-8791","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fucheng Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7851-5432","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kai Cao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5675-1028","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Robert C. Chang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9325-5525","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1115/msec2023-104996","url":"https://doi.org/10.1115/msec2023-104996","title":"Development of an Open-Source Low-Cost Modular Quad-Extrusion 3D Bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are being harnessed to capture the complex range and specificity of native tissue properties towards fully functional bioprinted tissue constructs. Such enabling technologies have been reported to recapitulate the complexity and heterogeneity of the native tissues. However, the challenges of cost and scalability hamper broad AM process adoption and implementation for fundamental research in the life sciences as well as for clinical end-use applications. In order to address the cost barrier to AM adoption, an open-source low-cost modular quad-extrusion multi-material 3D bioprinting system is developed herein to enable the fabrication of complex tissue constructs. The developed quad-extrusion bioprinter (QEB) is established with two divergent printing modes, namely in-air printing (IAP) and support bath printing (SBP), using gelatin methacryloyl as a model hydrogel bioink. Bioprinted performance outcomes are then measured for structural fidelity with benchmarking to the computer-aided design models. Moreover, biological outcomes are qualified by way of a LIVE/DEAD cell viability assay over a 3-day time course. In summary, the developed QEB is shown to be a robust platform that enables the scalable fabrication of multi-material complex tissue constructs at an accessible cost under $300, further closing the gap between developmental and clinical AM platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Ralf Zgeib","given":"Ralf","family":"Zgeib","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]},{"name":"Xiaofeng Wang","given":"Xiaofeng","family":"Wang","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]},{"name":"Ahmadreza Zaeri","given":"Ahmadreza","family":"Zaeri","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]},{"name":"Fucheng Zhang","given":"Fucheng","family":"Zhang","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]},{"name":"Kai Cao","given":"Kai","family":"Cao","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]},{"name":"Robert Chang","given":"Robert","family":"Chang","orcid":"","affiliations":["Stevens Institute of Technology , Hoboken, New Jersey, United States"]}],"publisher":"American Society of Mechanical Engineers","journal":"Volume 1: Additive Manufacturing; Advanced Materials Manufacturing; Biomanufacturing; Life Cycle Engineering","publishedDate":"2023-06-12","type":"proceedings-article","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":0,"citedByCount":0,"licenses":["https://www.asme.org/publications-submissions/publishing-information/legal-policies"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4387124757","doi":"10.1115/msec2023-104996","url":"https://openalex.org/W4387124757","title":"Development of an Open-Source Low-Cost Modular Quad-Extrusion 3D Bioprinter","abstract":"Abstract Advanced additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are being harnessed to capture the complex range and specificity of native tissue properties towards fully functional bioprinted tissue constructs. Such enabling technologies have been reported to recapitulate the complexity and heterogeneity of the native tissues. However, the challenges of cost and scalability hamper broad AM process adoption and implementation for fundamental research in the life sciences as well as for clinical end-use applications. In order to address the cost barrier to AM adoption, an open-source low-cost modular quad-extrusion multi-material 3D bioprinting system is developed herein to enable the fabrication of complex tissue constructs. The developed quad-extrusion bioprinter (QEB) is established with two divergent printing modes, namely in-air printing (IAP) and support bath printing (SBP), using gelatin methacryloyl as a model hydrogel bioink. Bioprinted performance outcomes are then measured for structural fidelity with benchmarking to the computer-aided design models. Moreover, biological outcomes are qualified by way of a LIVE/DEAD cell viability assay over a 3-day time course. In summary, the developed QEB is shown to be a robust platform that enables the scalable fabrication of multi-material complex tissue constructs at an accessible cost under $300, further closing the gap between developmental and clinical AM platforms.","authors":[{"name":"Ralf Zgeib","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9644-9755","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiao Feng Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5966-6673","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ahmadreza Zaeri","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0234-8791","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Fucheng Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7851-5432","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kai Cao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5675-1028","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Robert C. Chang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9325-5525","institutions":["Stevens Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2023-06-12","publicationYear":2023,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":2,"referencesCount":0,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1115/msec2023-104996","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Pluripotent Stem Cells Research"],"keywords":["Modular design","3D printing","Computer science","Scalability","Benchmarking","Extrusion","Nanotechnology","3D bioprinting","Tissue engineering","Materials science","Engineering","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1115/msec2023-104996","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":["Extrusion"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Extrusion","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-084","slug":"084-development-and-characterization-of-a-low-cost-3d-bioprinter","title":"Development and characterization of a low-cost 3D bioprinter","doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","publication":{"paperTitle":"Development and characterization of a low-cost 3D bioprinter","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.270Z","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Bekir Yenilmez","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mikail Temirel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8199-0100","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephanie Knowlton","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Eric Lepowsky","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Savaş Taşoğlu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4604-217X","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","title":"Development and characterization of a low-cost 3D bioprinter","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Bekir Yenilmez","given":"Bekir","family":"Yenilmez","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mikail Temirel","given":"Mikail","family":"Temirel","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stephanie Knowlton","given":"Stephanie","family":"Knowlton","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Eric Lepowsky","given":"Eric","family":"Lepowsky","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Savas Tasoglu","given":"Savas","family":"Tasoglu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Bioprinting","publishedDate":"2019-03-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"","pages":"e00044","issn":["2405-8866"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":48,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Connecticut Innovations Biopipeline","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship","doi":"","awards":["DGE-1247393"]},{"name":"UG Research Fellowship","doi":"","awards":["P-1175"]},{"name":"UG Research Fellowship","doi":"","awards":["NNH16ZHA002C"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2913820194","doi":"10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","url":"https://openalex.org/W2913820194","title":"Development and characterization of a low-cost 3D bioprinter","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Bekir Yenilmez","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mikail Temirel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8199-0100","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephanie Knowlton","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Eric Lepowsky","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Savaş Taşoğlu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4604-217X","institutions":["University of Connecticut"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-01-31","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":52,"referencesCount":33,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Bioprinting","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Plotter","Self-healing hydrogels","Nanotechnology","Gelatin","Computer science","Characterization (materials science)","3D printing","Biomaterial","Materials science","Biomedical engineering","Engineering","Chemistry"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2019.e00044","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":1,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-085","slug":"085-exploiting-open-source-3d-printer-architecture-for-laboratory-robotics-to-automate-high-throughput-time-lapse-imaging-fo","title":"Exploiting open source 3D printer architecture for laboratory robotics to automate high-throughput time-lapse imaging for analytical microbiology","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","publication":{"paperTitle":"Exploiting open source 3D printer architecture for laboratory robotics to automate high-throughput time-lapse imaging for analytical microbiology","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.841Z","abstract":"Growth in open-source hardware designs combined with the low-cost of high performance optoelectronic and robotics components has supported a resurgence of in-house custom lab equipment development. We describe a low cost (below $700), open-source, fully customizable high-throughput imaging system for analytical microbiology applications. The system comprises a Raspberry Pi camera mounted on an aluminium extrusion frame with 3D-printed joints controlled by an Arduino microcontroller running open-source Repetier Host Firmware. The camera position is controlled by simple G-code scripts supplied from a Raspberry Pi singleboard computer and allow customized time-lapse imaging of microdevices over a large imaging area. Open-source OctoPrint software allows remote access and control. This simple yet effective design allows high-throughput microbiology testing in multiple formats including formats for bacterial motility, colony growth, microtitre plates and microfluidic devices termed 'lab-on-a-comb' to screen the effects of different culture media components and antibiotics on bacterial growth. The open-source robot design allows customization of the size of the imaging area; the current design has an imaging area of ~420 × 300mm, which allows 29 'lab-on-a-comb' devices to be imaged which is equivalent 3480 individual 1μl samples. The system can also be modified for fluorescence detection using LED and emission filters embedded on the PiCam for more sensitive detection of bacterial growth using fluorescent dyes.","authors":[{"name":"Sarah Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Tai The Diep","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-6369","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephanie P. Bull","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5129-1731","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anton Lindley-Decaire","orcid":"","institutions":["The Open University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Partha Ray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8375-8279","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander D. Edwards","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","title":"Exploiting open source 3D printer architecture for laboratory robotics to automate high-throughput time-lapse imaging for analytical microbiology","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Sarah H. Needs","given":"Sarah H.","family":"Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Tai The Diep","given":"Tai The","family":"Diep","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stephanie P. Bull","given":"Stephanie P.","family":"Bull","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Anton Lindley-Decaire","given":"Anton","family":"Lindley-Decaire","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Partha Ray","given":"Partha","family":"Ray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8375-8279","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexander D. Edwards","given":"Alexander D.","family":"Edwards","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2019-11-19","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"11","pages":"e0224878","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":44,"citedByCount":33,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/R022410/1"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2991312024","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","url":"https://openalex.org/W2991312024","title":"Exploiting open source 3D printer architecture for laboratory robotics to automate high-throughput time-lapse imaging for analytical microbiology","abstract":"Growth in open-source hardware designs combined with the low-cost of high performance optoelectronic and robotics components has supported a resurgence of in-house custom lab equipment development. We describe a low cost (below $700), open-source, fully customizable high-throughput imaging system for analytical microbiology applications. The system comprises a Raspberry Pi camera mounted on an aluminium extrusion frame with 3D-printed joints controlled by an Arduino microcontroller running open-source Repetier Host Firmware. The camera position is controlled by simple G-code scripts supplied from a Raspberry Pi singleboard computer and allow customized time-lapse imaging of microdevices over a large imaging area. Open-source OctoPrint software allows remote access and control. This simple yet effective design allows high-throughput microbiology testing in multiple formats including formats for bacterial motility, colony growth, microtitre plates and microfluidic devices termed 'lab-on-a-comb' to screen the effects of different culture media components and antibiotics on bacterial growth. The open-source robot design allows customization of the size of the imaging area; the current design has an imaging area of ~420 × 300mm, which allows 29 'lab-on-a-comb' devices to be imaged which is equivalent 3480 individual 1μl samples. The system can also be modified for fluorescence detection using LED and emission filters embedded on the PiCam for more sensitive detection of bacterial growth using fluorescent dyes.","authors":[{"name":"Sarah Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Tai The Diep","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-6369","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephanie P. Bull","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5129-1731","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anton Lindley-Decaire","orcid":"","institutions":["The Open University"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Partha Ray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8375-8279","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander D. Edwards","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-11-19","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":38,"referencesCount":38,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Cell Image Analysis Techniques","Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing"],"keywords":["Firmware","Computer hardware","Computer science","Throughput","Open source hardware","Software","Laboratory automation","Open source","Embedded system","Artificial intelligence","Automation","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224878","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Laboratory Automation","Microscopy and imaging","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 12.6 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation","topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation","microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation","Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-086","slug":"086-3d-printing-and-milling-a-real-time-pcr-device-for-infectious-disease-diagnostics","title":"3D printing and milling a real-time PCR device for infectious disease diagnostics","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","publication":{"paperTitle":"3D printing and milling a real-time PCR device for infectious disease diagnostics","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.452Z","abstract":"Diagnosing infectious diseases using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offers a conclusive result in determining the infection, the strain or type of pathogen, and the level of infection. However, due to the high-cost instrumentation involved and the complexity in maintenance, it is rarely used in the field to make a quick turnaround diagnosis. In order to provide a higher level of accessibility than current qPCR devices, a set of 3D manufacturing methods is explored as a possible option to fabricate a low-cost and portable qPCR device. The key advantage of this approach is the ability to upload the digital format of the design files on the internet for wide distribution so that people at any location can simply download and feed into their 3D printers for quick manufacturing. The material and design are carefully selected to minimize the number of custom parts that depend on advanced manufacturing processes which lower accessibility. The presented 3D manufactured qPCR device is tested with 20-μL samples that contain various concentrations of lentivirus, the same type as HIV. A reverse-transcription step is a part of the device's operation, which takes place prior to the qPCR step to reverse transcribe the target RNA from the lentivirus into complementary DNA (cDNA). This is immediately followed by qPCR which quantifies the target sequence molecules in the sample during the PCR amplification process. The entire process of thermal control and time-coordinated fluorescence reading is automated by closed-loop feedback and a microcontroller. The resulting device is portable and battery-operated, with a size of 12 × 7 × 6 cm3 and mass of only 214 g. By uploading and sharing the design files online, the presented low-cost qPCR device may provide easier access to a robust diagnosis protocol for various infectious diseases, such as HIV and malaria.","authors":[{"name":"Geoffrey Mulberry","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin A. White","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6737-7801","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manjusha Vaidya","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kiminobu Sugaya","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian N. Kim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5523-6091","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","title":"3D printing and milling a real-time PCR device for infectious disease diagnostics","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Geoffrey Mulberry","given":"Geoffrey","family":"Mulberry","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kevin A. White","given":"Kevin A.","family":"White","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Manjusha Vaidya","given":"Manjusha","family":"Vaidya","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kiminobu Sugaya","given":"Kiminobu","family":"Sugaya","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Brian N. Kim","given":"Brian N.","family":"Kim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5523-6091","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2017-06-06","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"6","pages":"e0179133","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":25,"citedByCount":48,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2623571175","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","url":"https://openalex.org/W2623571175","title":"3D printing and milling a real-time PCR device for infectious disease diagnostics","abstract":"Diagnosing infectious diseases using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offers a conclusive result in determining the infection, the strain or type of pathogen, and the level of infection. However, due to the high-cost instrumentation involved and the complexity in maintenance, it is rarely used in the field to make a quick turnaround diagnosis. In order to provide a higher level of accessibility than current qPCR devices, a set of 3D manufacturing methods is explored as a possible option to fabricate a low-cost and portable qPCR device. The key advantage of this approach is the ability to upload the digital format of the design files on the internet for wide distribution so that people at any location can simply download and feed into their 3D printers for quick manufacturing. The material and design are carefully selected to minimize the number of custom parts that depend on advanced manufacturing processes which lower accessibility. The presented 3D manufactured qPCR device is tested with 20-μL samples that contain various concentrations of lentivirus, the same type as HIV. A reverse-transcription step is a part of the device's operation, which takes place prior to the qPCR step to reverse transcribe the target RNA from the lentivirus into complementary DNA (cDNA). This is immediately followed by qPCR which quantifies the target sequence molecules in the sample during the PCR amplification process. The entire process of thermal control and time-coordinated fluorescence reading is automated by closed-loop feedback and a microcontroller. The resulting device is portable and battery-operated, with a size of 12 × 7 × 6 cm3 and mass of only 214 g. By uploading and sharing the design files online, the presented low-cost qPCR device may provide easier access to a robust diagnosis protocol for various infectious diseases, such as HIV and malaria.","authors":[{"name":"Geoffrey Mulberry","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kevin A. White","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6737-7801","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Manjusha Vaidya","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kiminobu Sugaya","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian N. Kim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5523-6091","institutions":["University of Central Florida"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2017-06-06","publicationYear":2017,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":55,"referencesCount":25,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Virus-based gene therapy research","Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology","Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments"],"keywords":["Infectious disease (medical specialty)","Virology","Medicine","Disease","Internal medicine"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179133","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Laboratory Automation"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Laboratory Automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-087","slug":"087-bio-spec-an-open-source-bench-top-parallel-bioreactor-system","title":"BIO-SPEC: An open-source bench-top parallel bioreactor system","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","publication":{"paperTitle":"BIO-SPEC: An open-source bench-top parallel bioreactor system","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.449Z","abstract":"The BIO-SPEC is an open-source, cost-effective, and modular bench-top bioreactor system designed for batch, sequencing batch, and chemostat cultivation. Featuring thermoelectric condensers to eliminate the need for a chiller, it ensures stable long-term operation. Controlled by a Raspberry Pi, the BIO-SPEC offers flexibility in headplate design, gas supply, and feeding strategies, making it a versatile alternative to high-cost commercial systems. This paper details the design, construction, and validation of the BIO-SPEC system, demonstrating its potential to advance microbiology and bioprocessing research through accessible and reliable hardware at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems.","authors":[{"name":"Laurens Parret","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4157-7709","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kenneth Simoens","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7967-4213","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jo De Vrieze","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9365-8896","institutions":["Ghent University","Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilse Smets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-5568","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","title":"BIO-SPEC: An open-source bench-top parallel bioreactor system","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Laurens Parret","given":"Laurens","family":"Parret","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4157-7709","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kenneth Simoens","given":"Kenneth","family":"Simoens","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7967-4213","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jo De Vrieze","given":"Jo","family":"De Vrieze","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9365-8896","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ilse Smets","given":"Ilse","family":"Smets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-5568","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2025-09-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"23","issue":"","pages":"e00670","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":15,"citedByCount":1,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"KU Leuven","doi":"10.13039/501100004040","awards":["C24/18/043"]},{"name":"Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek","doi":"10.13039/501100003130","awards":["FWO-G032321N"]},{"name":"Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek","doi":"10.13039/501100003130","awards":["FWO-1191022N"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4412879395","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","url":"https://openalex.org/W4412879395","title":"BIO-SPEC: An open-source bench-top parallel bioreactor system","abstract":"The BIO-SPEC is an open-source, cost-effective, and modular bench-top bioreactor system designed for batch, sequencing batch, and chemostat cultivation. Featuring thermoelectric condensers to eliminate the need for a chiller, it ensures stable long-term operation. Controlled by a Raspberry Pi, the BIO-SPEC offers flexibility in headplate design, gas supply, and feeding strategies, making it a versatile alternative to high-cost commercial systems. This paper details the design, construction, and validation of the BIO-SPEC system, demonstrating its potential to advance microbiology and bioprocessing research through accessible and reliable hardware at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems.","authors":[{"name":"Laurens Parret","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4157-7709","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kenneth Simoens","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7967-4213","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jo De Vrieze","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9365-8896","institutions":["Ghent University","Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ilse Smets","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-5568","institutions":["KU Leuven"],"countries":["BE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":1,"referencesCount":13,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468-0672(25)00048-3/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Spec#","Bioreactor","Open source","Computer science","Operating system","Embedded system","Chemistry","Programming language","Organic chemistry","Software"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00670","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"],"modality":["Cell culture"],"systemOrTechnology":"BIO-SPEC","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Cell culture","Supplemental corpus record","BIO-SPEC"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-bio-spec-an-open-source-bench-top-parallel-bioreactor-system"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-bio-spec-an-open-source-bench-top-parallel-bioreactor-system"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-bio-spec"],"toolSlugs":["bio-spec"],"toolNames":["BIO-SPEC"],"topicIds":["topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-088","slug":"088-technical-upgrade-of-an-open-source-liquid-handler-to-support-bacterial-colony-screening","title":"Technical upgrade of an open-source liquid handler to support bacterial colony screening","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","publication":{"paperTitle":"Technical upgrade of an open-source liquid handler to support bacterial colony screening","requestedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","resolvedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.574Z","abstract":"The optimization of genetically engineered biological constructs is a key step to deliver high-impact biotechnological applications. The use of high-throughput DNA assembly methods allows the construction of enough genotypic variants to successfully cover the target design space. This, however, entails extra workload for researchers during the screening stage of candidate variants. Despite the existence of commercial colony pickers, their high price excludes small research laboratories and budget-adjusted institutions from accessing such extensive screening capability. In this work we present COPICK, a technical solution to automatize colony picking in an open-source liquid handler Opentrons OT-2. COPICK relies on a mounted camera to capture images of regular Petri dishes and detect microbial colonies for automated screening. COPICK’s software can then automatically select the best colonies according to different criteria (size, color and fluorescence) and execute a protocol to pick them for further analysis. Benchmark tests performed for E. coli and P. putida colonies delivers a raw picking performance over pickable colonies of 82% with an accuracy of 73.4% at an estimated rate of 240 colonies/h. These results validate the utility of COPICK, and highlight the importance of ongoing technical improvements in open-source laboratory equipment to support smaller research teams.","authors":[{"name":"Irene del Olmo Lianes","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6135-4994","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pablo Yubero","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2860-2236","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Álvaro Gómez-Luengo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0201-7698","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología","Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Juan Nogales","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4961-0833","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología","Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David R. Espeso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5329-815X","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","title":"Technical upgrade of an open-source liquid handler to support bacterial colony screening","subtitle":"","abstract":"The optimization of genetically engineered biological constructs is a key step to deliver high-impact biotechnological applications. The use of high-throughput DNA assembly methods allows the construction of enough genotypic variants to successfully cover the target design space. This, however, entails extra workload for researchers during the screening stage of candidate variants. Despite the existence of commercial colony pickers, their high price excludes small research laboratories and budget-adjusted institutions from accessing such extensive screening capability. In this work we present COPICK, a technical solution to automatize colony picking in an open-source liquid handler Opentrons OT-2. COPICK relies on a mounted camera to capture images of regular Petri dishes and detect microbial colonies for automated screening. COPICK’s software can then automatically select the best colonies according to different criteria (size, color and fluorescence) and execute a protocol to pick them for further analysis. Benchmark tests performed for E. coli and P. putida colonies delivers a raw picking performance over pickable colonies of 82% with an accuracy of 73.4% at an estimated rate of 240 colonies/h. These results validate the utility of COPICK, and highlight the importance of ongoing technical improvements in open-source laboratory equipment to support smaller research teams.","authors":[{"name":"Irene del Olmo Lianes","given":"Irene","family":"del Olmo Lianes","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pablo Yubero","given":"Pablo","family":"Yubero","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Álvaro Gómez-Luengo","given":"Álvaro","family":"Gómez-Luengo","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Juan Nogales","given":"Juan","family":"Nogales","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David R. Espeso","given":"David R.","family":"Espeso","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","journal":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","publishedDate":"2023-06-19","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"11","issue":"","pages":"","issn":["2296-4185"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":44,"citedByCount":10,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4381149283","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","url":"https://openalex.org/W4381149283","title":"Technical upgrade of an open-source liquid handler to support bacterial colony screening","abstract":"The optimization of genetically engineered biological constructs is a key step to deliver high-impact biotechnological applications. The use of high-throughput DNA assembly methods allows the construction of enough genotypic variants to successfully cover the target design space. This, however, entails extra workload for researchers during the screening stage of candidate variants. Despite the existence of commercial colony pickers, their high price excludes small research laboratories and budget-adjusted institutions from accessing such extensive screening capability. In this work we present COPICK, a technical solution to automatize colony picking in an open-source liquid handler Opentrons OT-2. COPICK relies on a mounted camera to capture images of regular Petri dishes and detect microbial colonies for automated screening. COPICK’s software can then automatically select the best colonies according to different criteria (size, color and fluorescence) and execute a protocol to pick them for further analysis. Benchmark tests performed for E. coli and P. putida colonies delivers a raw picking performance over pickable colonies of 82% with an accuracy of 73.4% at an estimated rate of 240 colonies/h. These results validate the utility of COPICK, and highlight the importance of ongoing technical improvements in open-source laboratory equipment to support smaller research teams.","authors":[{"name":"Irene del Olmo Lianes","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6135-4994","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pablo Yubero","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2860-2236","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Álvaro Gómez-Luengo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0201-7698","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología","Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Juan Nogales","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4961-0833","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología","Unidades Centrales Científico-Técnicas"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David R. Espeso","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5329-815X","institutions":["Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas","Centro Nacional de Biotecnología"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-06-19","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":12,"referencesCount":43,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","topics":["Cell Image Analysis Techniques","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Biosensors and Analytical Detection"],"keywords":["Upgrade","Computer science","Benchmark (surveying)","Open source","Workload","Software","Throughput","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1202836","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pipetting and dispensing","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-089","slug":"089-enhanced-growth-of-bacterial-cells-in-a-smart-3d-printed-bioreactor","title":"Enhanced Growth of Bacterial Cells in a Smart 3D Printed Bioreactor","doi":"10.3390/mi14101829","publication":{"paperTitle":"Enhanced Growth of Bacterial Cells in a Smart 3D Printed Bioreactor","requestedDoi":"10.3390/mi14101829","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/mi14101829","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.698Z","abstract":"In the last decade, there has been a notable advancement in diverse bioreactor types catering to various applications. However, conventional bioreactors often exhibit bulkiness and high costs, making them less accessible to many researchers and laboratory facilities. In light of these challenges, this article aims to introduce and evaluate the development of a do-it-yourself (DIY) 3D printed smart bioreactor, offering a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for the proliferation of various bioentities, including bacteria and human organoids, among others. The customized bioreactor was fabricated under an ergonomic design and assembled with 3D printed mechanical parts combined with electronic components, under 3D printed housing. The 3D printed parts were designed using SOLIDWORKS® CAD Software (2022 SP2.0 Professional version) and fabricated via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. All parts were 3D printed with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in order for the bioreactor to be used under sterile conditions. The printed low-cost bioreactor integrates Internet-of-things (IoT) functionalities, since it provides the operator with the ability to change its operational parameters (sampling frequency, rotor speed, and duty cycle) remotely, via a user-friendly developed mobile application and to save the user history locally on the device. Using this bioreactor, which is adjusted to a standard commercial 12-well plate, proof of concept of a successful operation of the bioreactor during a 2-day culture of Escherichia coli bacteria (Mach1 strain) is presented. This study paves the way for more in-depth investigation of bacterial and various biological-entity growth cultures, utilizing 3D printing technology to create customized low-cost bioreactors.","authors":[{"name":"Eleftheria Maria Pechlivani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6385-2815","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sotirios Pemas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4416-0813","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexandros Kanlis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8795-4444","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paraskevi Pechlivani","orcid":"","institutions":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Spyros Petrakis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9094-3480","institutions":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Athanasios Papadimitriou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5895-7465","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dimitrios Tzovaras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6915-6722","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Konstantinos E. Hatzistergos","orcid":"","institutions":["Aristotle University of Thessaloniki"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/mi14101829","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101829","title":"Enhanced Growth of Bacterial Cells in a Smart 3D Printed Bioreactor","subtitle":"","abstract":"In the last decade, there has been a notable advancement in diverse bioreactor types catering to various applications. However, conventional bioreactors often exhibit bulkiness and high costs, making them less accessible to many researchers and laboratory facilities. In light of these challenges, this article aims to introduce and evaluate the development of a do-it-yourself (DIY) 3D printed smart bioreactor, offering a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for the proliferation of various bioentities, including bacteria and human organoids, among others. The customized bioreactor was fabricated under an ergonomic design and assembled with 3D printed mechanical parts combined with electronic components, under 3D printed housing. The 3D printed parts were designed using SOLIDWORKS® CAD Software (2022 SP2.0 Professional version) and fabricated via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. All parts were 3D printed with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in order for the bioreactor to be used under sterile conditions. The printed low-cost bioreactor integrates Internet-of-things (IoT) functionalities, since it provides the operator with the ability to change its operational parameters (sampling frequency, rotor speed, and duty cycle) remotely, via a user-friendly developed mobile application and to save the user history locally on the device. Using this bioreactor, which is adjusted to a standard commercial 12-well plate, proof of concept of a successful operation of the bioreactor during a 2-day culture of Escherichia coli bacteria (Mach1 strain) is presented. This study paves the way for more in-depth investigation of bacterial and various biological-entity growth cultures, utilizing 3D printing technology to create customized low-cost bioreactors.","authors":[{"name":"Eleftheria Maria Pechlivani","given":"Eleftheria Maria","family":"Pechlivani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6385-2815","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Sotirios Pemas","given":"Sotirios","family":"Pemas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4416-0813","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Alexandros Kanlis","given":"Alexandros","family":"Kanlis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8795-4444","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Paraskevi Pechlivani","given":"Paraskevi","family":"Pechlivani","orcid":"","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Spyros Petrakis","given":"Spyros","family":"Petrakis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9094-3480","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Institute of Applied Biosciences, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Athanasios Papadimitriou","given":"Athanasios","family":"Papadimitriou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5895-7465","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Dimitrios Tzovaras","given":"Dimitrios","family":"Tzovaras","orcid":"","affiliations":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Information Technologies Institute, 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece"]},{"name":"Konstantinos E. Hatzistergos","given":"Konstantinos E.","family":"Hatzistergos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2755-644X","affiliations":["Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Micromachines","publishedDate":"2023-09-26","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"10","pages":"1829","issn":["2072-666X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":33,"citedByCount":9,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme","doi":"","awards":["No. 101037128"]},{"name":"Centre for Research and Technology Hellas","doi":"","awards":["No. 101037128"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4387059274","doi":"10.3390/mi14101829","url":"https://openalex.org/W4387059274","title":"Enhanced Growth of Bacterial Cells in a Smart 3D Printed Bioreactor","abstract":"In the last decade, there has been a notable advancement in diverse bioreactor types catering to various applications. However, conventional bioreactors often exhibit bulkiness and high costs, making them less accessible to many researchers and laboratory facilities. In light of these challenges, this article aims to introduce and evaluate the development of a do-it-yourself (DIY) 3D printed smart bioreactor, offering a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for the proliferation of various bioentities, including bacteria and human organoids, among others. The customized bioreactor was fabricated under an ergonomic design and assembled with 3D printed mechanical parts combined with electronic components, under 3D printed housing. The 3D printed parts were designed using SOLIDWORKS® CAD Software (2022 SP2.0 Professional version) and fabricated via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. All parts were 3D printed with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in order for the bioreactor to be used under sterile conditions. The printed low-cost bioreactor integrates Internet-of-things (IoT) functionalities, since it provides the operator with the ability to change its operational parameters (sampling frequency, rotor speed, and duty cycle) remotely, via a user-friendly developed mobile application and to save the user history locally on the device. Using this bioreactor, which is adjusted to a standard commercial 12-well plate, proof of concept of a successful operation of the bioreactor during a 2-day culture of Escherichia coli bacteria (Mach1 strain) is presented. This study paves the way for more in-depth investigation of bacterial and various biological-entity growth cultures, utilizing 3D printing technology to create customized low-cost bioreactors.","authors":[{"name":"Eleftheria Maria Pechlivani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6385-2815","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Sotirios Pemas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4416-0813","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexandros Kanlis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8795-4444","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paraskevi Pechlivani","orcid":"","institutions":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Spyros Petrakis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9094-3480","institutions":["Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Athanasios Papadimitriou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5895-7465","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dimitrios Tzovaras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6915-6722","institutions":["Information Technologies Institute","Centre for Research and Technology Hellas"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Konstantinos E. Hatzistergos","orcid":"","institutions":["Aristotle University of Thessaloniki"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2023-09-26","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/10/1829/pdf?version=1695702068","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Micromachines","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies"],"keywords":["Bioreactor","3d printed","3D printing","Computer science","Process engineering","Engineering","Manufacturing engineering","Mechanical engineering","Chemistry"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101829","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"],"modality":["Cell culture"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Cell culture","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 50 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-090","slug":"090-printrlab-incubator-a-portable-and-low-cost-co2-incubator-based-on-an-open-source-3d-printer-architecture","title":"PrintrLab incubator: A portable and low-cost CO2 incubator based on an open-source 3D printer architecture","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","publication":{"paperTitle":"PrintrLab incubator: A portable and low-cost CO2 incubator based on an open-source 3D printer architecture","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.358Z","abstract":"Growth in open-source hardware designs combined with the decreasing cost of high-quality 3D printers have supported a resurgence of in-house custom lab equipment development. Herein, we describe a low-cost (< $400), open-source CO2 incubator. The system is comprised of a Raspberry Pi computer connected to a 3D printer controller board that has controls for a CO2 sensor, solenoid valve, heater, and thermistors. CO2 is supplied through the sublimation of dry ice stored inside a thermos to create a sustained 5% CO2 supply. The unit is controlled via G-Code commands sent by the Raspberry Pi to the controller board. In addition, we built a custom software application for remote control and used the open-source Grafana dashboard for remote monitoring. Our data show that we can maintain consistent CO2 and temperature levels for over three days without manual interruption. The results from our culture plates and real-time PCR indicate that our incubator performed equally well when compared to a much more expensive commercial CO2 incubator. We have also demonstrated that the antibiotic susceptibility assay can be performed in this low-cost CO2 incubator. Our work also indicates that the system can be connected to incubator chambers of various chamber volumes.","authors":[{"name":"Arunkumar Arumugam","orcid":"","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Markham","orcid":"","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Saurabh S. Aykar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2885-0210","institutions":["Iowa State University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Barbara Van Der Pol","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3064-8564","institutions":["University of Alabama at Birmingham"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paula Dixon","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Alabama at Birmingham"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michelle Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1969-5792","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Season Wong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5264-0286","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","title":"PrintrLab incubator: A portable and low-cost CO2 incubator based on an open-source 3D printer architecture","subtitle":"","abstract":"Growth in open-source hardware designs combined with the decreasing cost of high-quality 3D printers have supported a resurgence of in-house custom lab equipment development. Herein, we describe a low-cost (< $400), open-source CO 2 incubator. The system is comprised of a Raspberry Pi computer connected to a 3D printer controller board that has controls for a CO 2 sensor, solenoid valve, heater, and thermistors. CO 2 is supplied through the sublimation of dry ice stored inside a thermos to create a sustained 5% CO 2 supply. The unit is controlled via G-Code commands sent by the Raspberry Pi to the controller board. In addition, we built a custom software application for remote control and used the open-source Grafana dashboard for remote monitoring. Our data show that we can maintain consistent CO 2 and temperature levels for over three days without manual interruption. The results from our culture plates and real-time PCR indicate that our incubator performed equally well when compared to a much more expensive commercial CO 2 incubator. We have also demonstrated that the antibiotic susceptibility assay can be performed in this low-cost CO 2 incubator. Our work also indicates that the system can be connected to incubator chambers of various chamber volumes.","authors":[{"name":"Arunkumar Arumugam","given":"Arunkumar","family":"Arumugam","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Cole Markham","given":"Cole","family":"Markham","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Saurabh S. Aykar","given":"Saurabh S.","family":"Aykar","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Barbara Van Der Pol","given":"Barbara","family":"Van Der Pol","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paula Dixon","given":"Paula","family":"Dixon","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michelle Wu","given":"Michelle","family":"Wu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Season Wong","given":"Season","family":"Wong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5264-0286","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2021-06-02","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"16","issue":"6","pages":"e0251812","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":19,"citedByCount":17,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases","doi":"10.13039/100000060","awards":["75N93019C00018"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3164132477","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","url":"https://openalex.org/W3164132477","title":"PrintrLab incubator: A portable and low-cost CO2 incubator based on an open-source 3D printer architecture","abstract":"Growth in open-source hardware designs combined with the decreasing cost of high-quality 3D printers have supported a resurgence of in-house custom lab equipment development. Herein, we describe a low-cost (< $400), open-source CO2 incubator. The system is comprised of a Raspberry Pi computer connected to a 3D printer controller board that has controls for a CO2 sensor, solenoid valve, heater, and thermistors. CO2 is supplied through the sublimation of dry ice stored inside a thermos to create a sustained 5% CO2 supply. The unit is controlled via G-Code commands sent by the Raspberry Pi to the controller board. In addition, we built a custom software application for remote control and used the open-source Grafana dashboard for remote monitoring. Our data show that we can maintain consistent CO2 and temperature levels for over three days without manual interruption. The results from our culture plates and real-time PCR indicate that our incubator performed equally well when compared to a much more expensive commercial CO2 incubator. We have also demonstrated that the antibiotic susceptibility assay can be performed in this low-cost CO2 incubator. Our work also indicates that the system can be connected to incubator chambers of various chamber volumes.","authors":[{"name":"Arunkumar Arumugam","orcid":"","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Cole Markham","orcid":"","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Saurabh S. Aykar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2885-0210","institutions":["Iowa State University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Barbara Van Der Pol","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3064-8564","institutions":["University of Alabama at Birmingham"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paula Dixon","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Alabama at Birmingham"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michelle Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1969-5792","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Season Wong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5264-0286","institutions":["AI Biosciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-06-02","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":17,"referencesCount":21,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Biosensors and Analytical Detection"],"keywords":["Incubator","Open source","Operating system","Embedded system","Solenoid valve","Computer hardware","Software","Computer science","Open source hardware","Engineering","Electrical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251812","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"],"modality":["Cell culture"],"systemOrTechnology":"PrintrLab incubator","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Cell culture","Supplemental corpus record","PrintrLab incubator"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 4000 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-printrlab-incubator"],"toolSlugs":["printrlab-incubator"],"toolNames":["PrintrLab incubator"],"topicIds":["topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-091","slug":"091-a-custom-ultra-low-cost-3d-bioprinter-supports-cell-growth-and-differentiation","title":"A Custom Ultra-Low-Cost 3D Bioprinter Supports Cell Growth and Differentiation","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","publication":{"paperTitle":"A Custom Ultra-Low-Cost 3D Bioprinter Supports Cell Growth and Differentiation","requestedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","resolvedDoi":"10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:28:59.994Z","abstract":"Advances in 3D bioprinting have allowed the use of stem cells along with biomaterials and growth factors toward novel tissue engineering approaches. However, the cost of these systems along with their consumables is currently extremely high, limiting their applicability. To address this, we converted a 3D printer into an open source 3D bioprinter and produced a customized bioink based on accessible alginate/gelatin precursors, leading to a cost-effective solution. The bioprinter's resolution, including line width, spreading ratio and extrusion uniformity measurements, along with the rheological properties of the bioinks were analyzed, revealing high bioprinting accuracy within the printability window. Following the bioprinting process, cell survival and proliferation were validated on HeLa Kyoto and HEK293T cell lines. In addition, we isolated and 3D bioprinted postnatal neural stem cell progenitors derived from the mouse subventricular zone as well as mesenchymal stem cells derived from mouse bone marrow. Our results suggest that our low-cost 3D bioprinter can support cell proliferation and differentiation of two different types of primary stem cell populations, indicating that it can be used as a reliable tool for developing efficient research models for stem cell research and tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"Konstantinos Ioannidis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1800-534X","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Rodolfos I. Danalatos","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Spyridon Champeris Tsaniras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4960-9314","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Konstantina Kaplani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4710-5494","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georgia Lokka","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anastasia Kanellou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9774-4895","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dionysios J. Papachristou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7676-6702","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georgios Bokias","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0893-4716","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zoi Lygerou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5683-0220","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stavros Taraviras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7455-647X","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","url":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","title":"A Custom Ultra-Low-Cost 3D Bioprinter Supports Cell Growth and Differentiation","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Konstantinos Ioannidis","given":"Konstantinos","family":"Ioannidis","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Rodolfos I. Danalatos","given":"Rodolfos I.","family":"Danalatos","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Spyridon Champeris Tsaniras","given":"Spyridon","family":"Champeris Tsaniras","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Konstantina Kaplani","given":"Konstantina","family":"Kaplani","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Georgia Lokka","given":"Georgia","family":"Lokka","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Anastasia Kanellou","given":"Anastasia","family":"Kanellou","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dionysios J. Papachristou","given":"Dionysios J.","family":"Papachristou","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Georgios Bokias","given":"Georgios","family":"Bokias","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Zoi Lygerou","given":"Zoi","family":"Lygerou","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stavros Taraviras","given":"Stavros","family":"Taraviras","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","journal":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","publishedDate":"2020-11-04","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"8","issue":"","pages":"","issn":["2296-4185"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":58,"citedByCount":62,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3095053513","doi":"10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","url":"https://openalex.org/W3095053513","title":"A Custom Ultra-Low-Cost 3D Bioprinter Supports Cell Growth and Differentiation","abstract":"Advances in 3D bioprinting have allowed the use of stem cells along with biomaterials and growth factors toward novel tissue engineering approaches. However, the cost of these systems along with their consumables is currently extremely high, limiting their applicability. To address this, we converted a 3D printer into an open source 3D bioprinter and produced a customized bioink based on accessible alginate/gelatin precursors, leading to a cost-effective solution. The bioprinter's resolution, including line width, spreading ratio and extrusion uniformity measurements, along with the rheological properties of the bioinks were analyzed, revealing high bioprinting accuracy within the printability window. Following the bioprinting process, cell survival and proliferation were validated on HeLa Kyoto and HEK293T cell lines. In addition, we isolated and 3D bioprinted postnatal neural stem cell progenitors derived from the mouse subventricular zone as well as mesenchymal stem cells derived from mouse bone marrow. Our results suggest that our low-cost 3D bioprinter can support cell proliferation and differentiation of two different types of primary stem cell populations, indicating that it can be used as a reliable tool for developing efficient research models for stem cell research and tissue engineering.","authors":[{"name":"Konstantinos Ioannidis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1800-534X","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Rodolfos I. Danalatos","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Spyridon Champeris Tsaniras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4960-9314","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Konstantina Kaplani","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4710-5494","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georgia Lokka","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anastasia Kanellou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9774-4895","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dionysios J. Papachristou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7676-6702","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georgios Bokias","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0893-4716","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zoi Lygerou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5683-0220","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stavros Taraviras","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7455-647X","institutions":["University of Patras"],"countries":["GR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-11-04","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":66,"referencesCount":60,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Neuroscience and Neural Engineering"],"keywords":["3D bioprinting","Tissue engineering","Stem cell","Mesenchymal stem cell","Biomedical engineering","Materials science","Consumables","Gelatin","Cell biology","Chemistry","Biology","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.580889","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Bioprinting"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Bioprinting","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-bioprinting"],"topicSlugs":["bioprinting"],"topicNames":["Bioprinting"]},{"id":"paper-092","slug":"092-automating-hesc-differentiation-with-3d-printing-and-legacy-liquid-handling-solutions","title":"Automating hESC differentiation with 3D printing and legacy liquid handling solutions","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","publication":{"paperTitle":"Automating hESC differentiation with 3D printing and legacy liquid handling solutions","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.127Z","abstract":"Historically, the routine use of laboratory automation solutions has been prohibitively expensive for many laboratories. As legacy hardware has begun to emerge on the secondary market, automation is becoming an increasingly affordable option to augment workflow in virtually any laboratory. To assess the utility of legacy liquid handling in stem cell differentiation, a used liquid handling robot was purchased at auction to automate a stem cell differentiation protocol that gives rise to CD14 + CD45+ mononuclear cells. To maintain sterility, the automated liquid handling robot was housed in a custom constructed HEPA filtered enclosure. A custom cell scraper and a disposable filter box were designed and 3D printed to permit the robot intricate cell culture actions required by the protocol. All files for the 3D printed labware are uploaded and are freely available. •A used liquid handling robot was used to automate an hESC to monocyte differentiation protocol.•The robot-performed protocol induced monocytes as effectively as human technicians.•Custom 3D printed labware was made to permit certain cell culture actions and are uploaded for free access.","authors":[{"name":"Eric Zluhan","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)","SUNY Upstate Medical University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kathleen Kelly","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nick LeClair","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Danique Wortel","orcid":"","institutions":["Cornell University","Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kelsey Moody","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5518-7202","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","title":"Automating hESC differentiation with 3D printing and legacy liquid handling solutions","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Eric Zluhan","given":"Eric","family":"Zluhan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kathleen Kelly","given":"Kathleen","family":"Kelly","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nick LeClair","given":"Nick","family":"LeClair","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Danique Wortel","given":"Danique","family":"Wortel","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kelsey Moody","given":"Kelsey","family":"Moody","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"MethodsX","publishedDate":"2016-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"3","issue":"","pages":"569-576","issn":["2215-0161"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":1,"citedByCount":3,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2539862744","doi":"10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","url":"https://openalex.org/W2539862744","title":"Automating hESC differentiation with 3D printing and legacy liquid handling solutions","abstract":"Historically, the routine use of laboratory automation solutions has been prohibitively expensive for many laboratories. As legacy hardware has begun to emerge on the secondary market, automation is becoming an increasingly affordable option to augment workflow in virtually any laboratory. To assess the utility of legacy liquid handling in stem cell differentiation, a used liquid handling robot was purchased at auction to automate a stem cell differentiation protocol that gives rise to CD14 + CD45+ mononuclear cells. To maintain sterility, the automated liquid handling robot was housed in a custom constructed HEPA filtered enclosure. A custom cell scraper and a disposable filter box were designed and 3D printed to permit the robot intricate cell culture actions required by the protocol. All files for the 3D printed labware are uploaded and are freely available. •A used liquid handling robot was used to automate an hESC to monocyte differentiation protocol.•The robot-performed protocol induced monocytes as effectively as human technicians.•Custom 3D printed labware was made to permit certain cell culture actions and are uploaded for free access.","authors":[{"name":"Eric Zluhan","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)","SUNY Upstate Medical University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kathleen Kelly","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nick LeClair","orcid":"","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Danique Wortel","orcid":"","institutions":["Cornell University","Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kelsey Moody","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5518-7202","institutions":["Ichor Life Sciences (United States)"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationYear":2016,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":3,"referencesCount":1,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://methods-x.com/article/S2215016116300383/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"MethodsX","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects"],"keywords":["Computer science","Workflow","Robot","Upload","Protocol (science)","Embedded system","Automation","Operating system","Engineering","Artificial intelligence","Database","Medicine"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2016.10.005","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation","Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-automating-hesc-differentiation-with-3d-printing-and-legacy-liquid-handling-solutions"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-automating-hesc-differentiation-with-3d-printing-and-legacy-liquid-handling-solutions"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 35000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-093","slug":"093-teach-your-microscope-how-to-print-low-cost-and-rapid-iteration-microfabrication-for-biology","title":"Teach your microscope how to print: low-cost and rapid-iteration microfabrication for biology","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00181a","publication":{"paperTitle":"Teach your microscope how to print: low-cost and rapid-iteration microfabrication for biology","requestedDoi":"10.1039/d5lc00181a","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/d5lc00181a","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.696Z","abstract":". Our protocol drastically reduces material costs compared to conventional methods and enables design-to-device turnaround within a day. By leveraging open-source microscope control software and existing lab equipment, our workflow lowers the entry barrier to microfabrication, enabling labs to prototype custom solutions for diverse experimental needs while maintaining compatibility with soft lithography and downstream biological assays.","authors":[{"name":"Lucien Hinderling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3956-9363","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Remo Hadorn","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Moritz Kwasny","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joël Frei","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Benjamin Grädel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1995-0263","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sacha Psalmon","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1844-6679","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yannick Blum","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6837-7803","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rémi Berthoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2682-4940","institutions":["Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex E. Landolt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1988-5171","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Benjamin D. Towbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-1257","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Riveline","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4632-011X","institutions":["Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique","Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire","Université de Strasbourg"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olivier Pertz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8579-4919","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/d5lc00181a","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00181a","title":"Teach your microscope how to print: low-cost and rapid-iteration microfabrication for biology","subtitle":"","abstract":"Repurposing fluorescence microscopes with DMDs for maskless photolithography enables low-cost, high-resolution microfabrication without cleanrooms. We demonstrate applications across diverse biological systems.","authors":[{"name":"Lucien Hinderling","given":"Lucien","family":"Hinderling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3956-9363","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland","Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Remo Hadorn","given":"Remo","family":"Hadorn","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7391-7943","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Moritz Kwasny","given":"Moritz","family":"Kwasny","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0855-2269","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Joël Frei","given":"Joël","family":"Frei","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Benjamin Grädel","given":"Benjamin","family":"Grädel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1995-0263","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland","Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Sacha Psalmon","given":"Sacha","family":"Psalmon","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1844-6679","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland","Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Yannick Blum","given":"Yannick","family":"Blum","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Rémi Berthoz","given":"Rémi","family":"Berthoz","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, France"]},{"name":"Alex E. Landolt","given":"Alex E.","family":"Landolt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1988-5171","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland","Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Benjamin D. Towbin","given":"Benjamin D.","family":"Towbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-1257","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]},{"name":"Daniel Riveline","given":"Daniel","family":"Riveline","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch CEDEX, France","Université de Strasbourg, IGBMC UMR 7104 – UMR-S 1258, F-67400 Illkirch, France","Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7104, F-67400 Illkirch, France","Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S 1258, F-67400 Illkirch, France"]},{"name":"Olivier Pertz","given":"Olivier","family":"Pertz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8579-4919","affiliations":["Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"Lab on a Chip","publishedDate":"2025-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"25","issue":"16","pages":"4091-4105","issn":["1473-0197","1473-0189"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":66,"citedByCount":4,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"University of Bern","doi":"10.13039/100009068","awards":["Open Round 2022-4"]},{"name":"Uniscientia Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017659","awards":["187-2021"]},{"name":"Novartis Stiftung für Medizinisch-Biologische Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100004784","awards":["#20C219"]},{"name":"Experiment","doi":"10.13039/100018206","awards":["10.18258/50706"]},{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["310030_185376"]},{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["310030_207475"]},{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["CRSII5_183550"]},{"name":"Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung","doi":"10.13039/501100001711","awards":["PCEFP3_181204"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4412409669","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00181a","url":"https://openalex.org/W4412409669","title":"Teach your microscope how to print: low-cost and rapid-iteration microfabrication for biology","abstract":". Our protocol drastically reduces material costs compared to conventional methods and enables design-to-device turnaround within a day. By leveraging open-source microscope control software and existing lab equipment, our workflow lowers the entry barrier to microfabrication, enabling labs to prototype custom solutions for diverse experimental needs while maintaining compatibility with soft lithography and downstream biological assays.","authors":[{"name":"Lucien Hinderling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3956-9363","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Remo Hadorn","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Moritz Kwasny","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joël Frei","orcid":"","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Benjamin Grädel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1995-0263","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sacha Psalmon","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1844-6679","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yannick Blum","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6837-7803","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rémi Berthoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2682-4940","institutions":["Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alex E. Landolt","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1988-5171","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Benjamin D. Towbin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7046-1257","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Riveline","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4632-011X","institutions":["Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique","Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire","Université de Strasbourg"],"countries":["FR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olivier Pertz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8579-4919","institutions":["University of Bern"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":4,"referencesCount":63,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lc/d5lc00181a","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Lab on a Chip","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Microfabrication","Photolithography","Microscope","Nanotechnology","Repurposing","Fluorescence microscope","Microfluidics","Materials science","Computer science","Engineering","Optics","Fluorescence"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00181a","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-teach-your-microscope-how-to-print-low-cost-and-rapid-iteration-microfabrication-for-biology"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-teach-your-microscope-how-to-print-low-cost-and-rapid-iteration-microfabrication-for-biology"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":4.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 1 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication","topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication","microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-094","slug":"094-open-source-microscope-add-on-for-structured-illumination-microscopy","title":"Open-source microscope add-on for structured illumination microscopy","doi":"10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","publication":{"paperTitle":"Open-source microscope add-on for structured illumination microscopy","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.924Z","abstract":"Super-resolution techniques expand the abilities of researchers who have the knowledge and resources to either build or purchase a system. This excludes the part of the research community without these capabilities. Here we introduce the openSIM add-on to upgrade existing optical microscopes to Structured Illumination super-resolution Microscopes (SIM). The openSIM is an open-hardware system, designed and documented to be easily duplicated by other laboratories, making super-resolution modality accessible to facilitate innovative research. The add-on approach gives a performance improvement for pre-existing lab equipment without the need to build a completely new system.","authors":[{"name":"Mélanie T. M. Hannebelle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3769-1437","institutions":["Center for Innovation","École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne","Stanford University"],"countries":["CH","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Esther Raeth","orcid":"","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel M. Leitão","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2462-4187","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tomáš Lukeš","orcid":"","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jakub Pospíšil","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3615-5752","institutions":["Czech Technical University in Prague","UiT The Arctic University of Norway"],"countries":["CZ","NO"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chiara Toniolo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-2936","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olivier F. Venzin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-7408","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Antonius Chrisnandy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3851-4870","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prabhu Prasad Swain","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8699-950X","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nathan Ronceray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-2411","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthias P. Lütolf","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5898-305X","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrew C. Oates","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3015-3978","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guy M. Hagen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4802-9481","institutions":["University of Colorado Colorado Springs"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Theo Lasser","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4948-7580","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Aleksandra Rađenović","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-2785","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John D. McKinney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0557-3479","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georg E. Fantner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5889-3022","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","title":"Open-source microscope add-on for structured illumination microscopy","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Super-resolution techniques expand the abilities of researchers who have the knowledge and resources to either build or purchase a system. This excludes the part of the research community without these capabilities. Here we introduce the openSIM add-on to upgrade existing optical microscopes to Structured Illumination super-resolution Microscopes (SIM). The openSIM is an open-hardware system, designed and documented to be easily duplicated by other laboratories, making super-resolution modality accessible to facilitate innovative research. The add-on approach gives a performance improvement for pre-existing lab equipment without the need to build a completely new system.","authors":[{"name":"Mélanie T. M. Hannebelle","given":"Mélanie T. M.","family":"Hannebelle","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Esther Raeth","given":"Esther","family":"Raeth","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6852-6709","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Samuel M. Leitao","given":"Samuel M.","family":"Leitao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2462-4187","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Tomáš Lukeš","given":"Tomáš","family":"Lukeš","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jakub Pospíšil","given":"Jakub","family":"Pospíšil","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3615-5752","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Chiara Toniolo","given":"Chiara","family":"Toniolo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-2936","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Olivier F. Venzin","given":"Olivier F.","family":"Venzin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-7408","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Antonius Chrisnandy","given":"Antonius","family":"Chrisnandy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3851-4870","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Prabhu P. Swain","given":"Prabhu P.","family":"Swain","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nathan Ronceray","given":"Nathan","family":"Ronceray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-2411","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Matthias P. Lütolf","given":"Matthias P.","family":"Lütolf","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5898-305X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Andrew C. Oates","given":"Andrew C.","family":"Oates","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3015-3978","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Guy M. Hagen","given":"Guy M.","family":"Hagen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4802-9481","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Theo Lasser","given":"Theo","family":"Lasser","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4948-7580","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Aleksandra Radenovic","given":"Aleksandra","family":"Radenovic","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-2785","affiliations":[]},{"name":"John D. McKinney","given":"John D.","family":"McKinney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0557-3479","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Georg E. Fantner","given":"Georg E.","family":"Fantner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5889-3022","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Nature Communications","publishedDate":"2024-02-20","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"15","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2041-1723"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":46,"citedByCount":23,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4391954188","doi":"10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","url":"https://openalex.org/W4391954188","title":"Open-source microscope add-on for structured illumination microscopy","abstract":"Super-resolution techniques expand the abilities of researchers who have the knowledge and resources to either build or purchase a system. This excludes the part of the research community without these capabilities. Here we introduce the openSIM add-on to upgrade existing optical microscopes to Structured Illumination super-resolution Microscopes (SIM). The openSIM is an open-hardware system, designed and documented to be easily duplicated by other laboratories, making super-resolution modality accessible to facilitate innovative research. The add-on approach gives a performance improvement for pre-existing lab equipment without the need to build a completely new system.","authors":[{"name":"Mélanie T. M. Hannebelle","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3769-1437","institutions":["Center for Innovation","École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne","Stanford University"],"countries":["CH","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Esther Raeth","orcid":"","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel M. Leitão","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2462-4187","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tomáš Lukeš","orcid":"","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jakub Pospíšil","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3615-5752","institutions":["Czech Technical University in Prague","UiT The Arctic University of Norway"],"countries":["CZ","NO"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chiara Toniolo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2167-2936","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Olivier F. Venzin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8349-7408","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Antonius Chrisnandy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3851-4870","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prabhu Prasad Swain","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8699-950X","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nathan Ronceray","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8069-2411","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthias P. Lütolf","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5898-305X","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrew C. Oates","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3015-3978","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guy M. Hagen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4802-9481","institutions":["University of Colorado Colorado Springs"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Theo Lasser","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4948-7580","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Aleksandra Rađenović","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-2785","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John D. McKinney","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0557-3479","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Georg E. Fantner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5889-3022","institutions":["École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne"],"countries":["CH"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-02-20","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":26,"referencesCount":46,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Nature Communications","topics":["Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques","Near-Field Optical Microscopy","Optical Coherence Tomography Applications"],"keywords":["Upgrade","Microscope","Computer science","Resolution (logic)","Modality (human–computer interaction)","Open source","Software","Artificial intelligence","Optics","Operating system","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45567-7","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-095","slug":"095-entomoscope-an-open-source-photomicroscope-for-biodiversity-discovery","title":"Entomoscope: An Open-Source Photomicroscope for Biodiversity Discovery","doi":"10.1109/access.2024.3355272","publication":{"paperTitle":"Entomoscope: An Open-Source Photomicroscope for Biodiversity Discovery","requestedDoi":"10.1109/access.2024.3355272","resolvedDoi":"10.1109/access.2024.3355272","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.852Z","abstract":"Understanding and combatting biodiversity loss are critical tasks facing our planet. They are made especially difficult because much of the earth’s biodiversity is concentrated in abundant and species-rich groups of invertebrates like insects. Traditionally, samples of insects have been analyzed manually by experts using morphology. Not only does this necessitate taxonomic expertise, but it is also error-prone, time-consuming, and often involves commercial microscopes that are too expensive for many countries in the Global South where most species are found. The alternative to expert sorting with morphology is the use of DNA barcoding. However, this requires a well-equipped laboratory and an entirely different skill set.We present an alternative solution: a low-cost, open-source photomicroscope for taking high-resolution, focus-stacked images that can be used for insect classification: the Entomoscope.We describe two different versions of the Entomoscope, a standalone version that can be operated without additional hardware and an even simpler Version, that requires a computer. We show that the optics are of sufficiently high quality to classify specimens with >95% accuracy into 15 different types of insects (mostly ’families’ according to the Linnean classification). The classifier can be successively extended or individually trained for specific classification tasks. Here, we provide building instructions, 3D files, and a list of commercially available parts so that everyone can build their own Entomoscope. Open-source DIY hardware like the Entomoscope facilitates affordable, cutting-edge biodiversity research by entomologists around the globe.","authors":[{"name":"Lorenz Wührl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0734-6093","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luca Rettenberger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7416-1902","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rudolf Meier","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4452-2885","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily Hartop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8598-9844","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julien Graf","orcid":"","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christian Pylatiuk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3507-7134","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1109/access.2024.3355272","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2024.3355272","title":"Entomoscope: An Open-Source Photomicroscope for Biodiversity Discovery","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Lorenz Wührl","given":"Lorenz","family":"Wührl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0734-6093","affiliations":["Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany"]},{"name":"Luca Rettenberger","given":"Luca","family":"Rettenberger","orcid":"","affiliations":["Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany"]},{"name":"Rudolf Meier","given":"Rudolf","family":"Meier","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4452-2885","affiliations":["Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Museum f&#x00FC;r Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany"]},{"name":"Emily Hartop","given":"Emily","family":"Hartop","orcid":"","affiliations":["Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Museum f&#x00FC;r Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany"]},{"name":"Julien Graf","given":"Julien","family":"Graf","orcid":"","affiliations":["Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Museum f&#x00FC;r Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany"]},{"name":"Christian Pylatiuk","given":"Christian","family":"Pylatiuk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3507-7134","affiliations":["Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany"]}],"publisher":"Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)","journal":"IEEE Access","publishedDate":"2024-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"12","issue":"","pages":"11785-11794","issn":["2169-3536"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":39,"citedByCount":20,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"Program Natural, Artificial and Cognitive Information Processing (NACIP) of the Helmholtz-Association","doi":"","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4390956147","doi":"10.1109/access.2024.3355272","url":"https://openalex.org/W4390956147","title":"Entomoscope: An Open-Source Photomicroscope for Biodiversity Discovery","abstract":"Understanding and combatting biodiversity loss are critical tasks facing our planet. They are made especially difficult because much of the earth’s biodiversity is concentrated in abundant and species-rich groups of invertebrates like insects. Traditionally, samples of insects have been analyzed manually by experts using morphology. Not only does this necessitate taxonomic expertise, but it is also error-prone, time-consuming, and often involves commercial microscopes that are too expensive for many countries in the Global South where most species are found. The alternative to expert sorting with morphology is the use of DNA barcoding. However, this requires a well-equipped laboratory and an entirely different skill set.We present an alternative solution: a low-cost, open-source photomicroscope for taking high-resolution, focus-stacked images that can be used for insect classification: the Entomoscope.We describe two different versions of the Entomoscope, a standalone version that can be operated without additional hardware and an even simpler Version, that requires a computer. We show that the optics are of sufficiently high quality to classify specimens with >95% accuracy into 15 different types of insects (mostly ’families’ according to the Linnean classification). The classifier can be successively extended or individually trained for specific classification tasks. Here, we provide building instructions, 3D files, and a list of commercially available parts so that everyone can build their own Entomoscope. Open-source DIY hardware like the Entomoscope facilitates affordable, cutting-edge biodiversity research by entomologists around the globe.","authors":[{"name":"Lorenz Wührl","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0734-6093","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Luca Rettenberger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7416-1902","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Rudolf Meier","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4452-2885","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emily Hartop","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8598-9844","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julien Graf","orcid":"","institutions":["Museum für Naturkunde"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christian Pylatiuk","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3507-7134","institutions":["Karlsruhe Institute of Technology"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":20,"referencesCount":37,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"IEEE Access","topics":["Species Distribution and Climate Change","Plant and animal studies","Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior"],"keywords":["Computer science","Biodiversity","Classifier (UML)","Open source","Barcode","Sorting","Artificial intelligence","Data science","Ecology","Software","Biology","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2024.3355272","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"Entomoscope","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record","Entomoscope"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-entomoscope"],"toolSlugs":["entomoscope"],"toolNames":["Entomoscope"],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-096","slug":"096-developing-the-openflexure-microscope-towards-medical-use-technical-and-social-challenges-of-developing-globally-accessi","title":"Developing the OpenFlexure Microscope towards medical use: technical and social challenges of developing globally accessible hardware for healthcare","doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","publication":{"paperTitle":"Developing the OpenFlexure Microscope towards medical use: technical and social challenges of developing globally accessible hardware for healthcare","requestedDoi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","resolvedDoi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:00.980Z","abstract":"The OpenFlexure Microscope is an accessible, three-dimensional-printed robotic microscope, with sufficient image quality to resolve diagnostic features including parasites and cancerous cells. As access to lab-grade microscopes is a major challenge in global healthcare, the OpenFlexure Microscope has been developed to be manufactured, maintained and used in remote environments, supporting point-of-care diagnosis. The steps taken in transforming the hardware and software from an academic prototype towards an accepted medical device include addressing technical and social challenges, and are key for any innovation targeting improved effectiveness in low-resource healthcare. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.","authors":[{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Freya Whiteford","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8324-1242","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Rosen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9271-9842","institutions":["Baylor College of Medicine"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"W. J. Wadsworth","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4733-7594","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Catherine Mkindi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9358-6105","institutions":["Ifakara Health Institute"],"countries":["TZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joram Mduda","orcid":"","institutions":["Ifakara Health Institute"],"countries":["TZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8421-4134","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Hervé Mboa Nkoudou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9678-7765","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Élisée Jafsia","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stéphane Fadanka","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"K Hummel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4499-5316","institutions":["The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sharmila Anandasabapathy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5876-831X","institutions":["Baylor College of Medicine"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","url":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","title":"Developing the OpenFlexure Microscope towards medical use: technical and social challenges of developing globally accessible hardware for healthcare","subtitle":"","abstract":"The OpenFlexure Microscope is an accessible, three-dimensional-printed robotic microscope, with sufficient image quality to resolve diagnostic features including parasites and cancerous cells. As access to lab-grade microscopes is a major challenge in global healthcare, the OpenFlexure Microscope has been developed to be manufactured, maintained and used in remote environments, supporting point-of-care diagnosis. The steps taken in transforming the hardware and software from an academic prototype towards an accepted medical device include addressing technical and social challenges, and are key for any innovation targeting improved effectiveness in low-resource healthcare. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.","authors":[{"name":"Joe Knapper","given":"Joe","family":"Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","affiliations":["University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK"]},{"name":"Freya Whiteford","given":"Freya","family":"Whiteford","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8324-1242","affiliations":["University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK"]},{"name":"Daniel Rosen","given":"Daniel","family":"Rosen","orcid":"","affiliations":["Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"William Wadsworth","given":"William","family":"Wadsworth","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Physics, University of Bath , Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Julian Stirling","given":"Julian","family":"Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","affiliations":["Foxhill Engineering , Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Catherine Mkindi","given":"Catherine","family":"Mkindi","orcid":"","affiliations":["Ifakara Health Institute , Ifakara, Tanzania"]},{"name":"Joram Mduda","given":"Joram","family":"Mduda","orcid":"","affiliations":["Ifakara Health Institute , Ifakara, Tanzania"]},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","given":"Valerian L.","family":"Sanga","orcid":"","affiliations":["Bongo Tech and Research Labs , Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","given":"Paul T.","family":"Nyakyi","orcid":"","affiliations":["Bongo Tech and Research Labs , Dar es Salaam, Tanzania"]},{"name":"Thomas Hervé Mboa Nkoudou","given":"Thomas Hervé","family":"Mboa Nkoudou","orcid":"","affiliations":["Mboalab and African Higher Institute of Open Science and Hardware (AHIOSH) , Yaounde, Cameroon"]},{"name":"Elisée Jafsia","given":"Elisée","family":"Jafsia","orcid":"","affiliations":["Mboalab and African Higher Institute of Open Science and Hardware (AHIOSH) , Yaounde, Cameroon"]},{"name":"Stephane Fadanka","given":"Stephane","family":"Fadanka","orcid":"","affiliations":["Mboalab and African Higher Institute of Open Science and Hardware (AHIOSH) , Yaounde, Cameroon"]},{"name":"Kelsey Hummel","given":"Kelsey","family":"Hummel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4499-5316","affiliations":["MD Anderson Cancer Centre , Houston, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Sharmila Anandasabapathy","given":"Sharmila","family":"Anandasabapathy","orcid":"","affiliations":["Baylor College of Medicine , Houston, Texas, USA"]},{"name":"Richard Bowman","given":"Richard","family":"Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","affiliations":["University of Glasgow , Glasgow, UK"]}],"publisher":"The Royal Society","journal":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences","publishedDate":"2024-07-09","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"382","issue":"2274","pages":"","issn":["1364-503X","1471-2962"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":23,"citedByCount":6,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Royal Society","doi":"10.13039/501100000288","awards":["RGF\\EA\\181034"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4399294017","doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","url":"https://openalex.org/W4399294017","title":"Developing the OpenFlexure Microscope towards medical use: technical and social challenges of developing globally accessible hardware for healthcare","abstract":"The OpenFlexure Microscope is an accessible, three-dimensional-printed robotic microscope, with sufficient image quality to resolve diagnostic features including parasites and cancerous cells. As access to lab-grade microscopes is a major challenge in global healthcare, the OpenFlexure Microscope has been developed to be manufactured, maintained and used in remote environments, supporting point-of-care diagnosis. The steps taken in transforming the hardware and software from an academic prototype towards an accepted medical device include addressing technical and social challenges, and are key for any innovation targeting improved effectiveness in low-resource healthcare. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.","authors":[{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Freya Whiteford","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8324-1242","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Daniel Rosen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9271-9842","institutions":["Baylor College of Medicine"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"W. J. Wadsworth","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4733-7594","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Catherine Mkindi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9358-6105","institutions":["Ifakara Health Institute"],"countries":["TZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joram Mduda","orcid":"","institutions":["Ifakara Health Institute"],"countries":["TZ"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8421-4134","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas Hervé Mboa Nkoudou","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9678-7765","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Élisée Jafsia","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stéphane Fadanka","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"K Hummel","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4499-5316","institutions":["The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sharmila Anandasabapathy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5876-831X","institutions":["Baylor College of Medicine"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Glasgow"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":7,"referencesCount":16,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences","topics":["Biomedical and Engineering Education","Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education","Scientific Computing and Data Management"],"keywords":["Microscope","Health care","Point of care","Computer science","Software","Key (lock)","Resource (disambiguation)","Nanotechnology","Business","Multimedia","Medicine","Computer security"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0257","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"OpenFlexure Microscope","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record","OpenFlexure Microscope"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-developing-the-openflexure-microscope-towards-medical-use-technical-and-social-challenges-of-developing-gl"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-developing-the-openflexure-microscope-towards-medical-use-technical-and-social-challenges-of-developing-gl"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openflexure-microscope"],"toolSlugs":["openflexure-microscope"],"toolNames":["OpenFlexure Microscope"],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-097","slug":"097-an-open-source-combined-atomic-force-microscope-and-optical-microscope-for-mechanobiology-studies","title":"An open-source combined atomic force microscope and optical microscope for mechanobiology studies","doi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open-source combined atomic force microscope and optical microscope for mechanobiology studies","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.063Z","abstract":"Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has become the gold standard tool for measuring mechanical properties of biological samples including proteins, single cells and tissues. However, investment in this specialized equipment and gaining expertise in its operation are significant obstacles for non-experts looking to adopt this technique. To address this, we have designed an AFM based mechanical measurement system for measuring cell mechanical properties which is combined with a custom inverted fluorescence microscope which can be used for characterizing mechanosensitive responses. This system, through its ease of use and low setup cost, will promote interdisciplinary research leading to new insights into the role of cell mechanics and mechanosensitive responses in physiology and disease.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Delgado","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2976-3322","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sarah J. DesRoches","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3060-9290","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gia Kang","orcid":"","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yousef Aldabii","orcid":"","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrew R. Harris","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5487-4694","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","title":"An open-source combined atomic force microscope and optical microscope for mechanobiology studies","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Delgado","given":"Daniel","family":"Delgado","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Sarah Desroches","given":"Sarah","family":"Desroches","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gia Kang","given":"Gia","family":"Kang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yousef Aldabii","given":"Yousef","family":"Aldabii","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Andrew R. Harris","given":"Andrew R.","family":"Harris","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5487-4694","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Heliyon","publishedDate":"2024-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"19","pages":"e38214","issn":["2405-8440"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":36,"citedByCount":5,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","doi":"10.13039/501100000038","awards":[]},{"name":"Banting Research Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100010231","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4402666294","doi":"10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","url":"https://openalex.org/W4402666294","title":"An open-source combined atomic force microscope and optical microscope for mechanobiology studies","abstract":"Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) has become the gold standard tool for measuring mechanical properties of biological samples including proteins, single cells and tissues. However, investment in this specialized equipment and gaining expertise in its operation are significant obstacles for non-experts looking to adopt this technique. To address this, we have designed an AFM based mechanical measurement system for measuring cell mechanical properties which is combined with a custom inverted fluorescence microscope which can be used for characterizing mechanosensitive responses. This system, through its ease of use and low setup cost, will promote interdisciplinary research leading to new insights into the role of cell mechanics and mechanosensitive responses in physiology and disease.","authors":[{"name":"Daniel Delgado","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2976-3322","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sarah J. DesRoches","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3060-9290","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gia Kang","orcid":"","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yousef Aldabii","orcid":"","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andrew R. Harris","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5487-4694","institutions":["Carleton University"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-09-20","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":5,"referencesCount":38,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Heliyon","topics":["Cellular Mechanics and Interactions","Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Mechanobiology","Microscope","Atomic force microscopy","Nanotechnology","Optical microscope","Microscopy","Materials science","Optics","Physics","Biology","Anatomy","Scanning electron microscope"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e38214","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-an-open-source-combined-atomic-force-microscope-and-optical-microscope-for-mechanobiology-studies"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-an-open-source-combined-atomic-force-microscope-and-optical-microscope-for-mechanobiology-studies"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-098","slug":"098-an-open-source-alignment-method-for-multichannel-infinite-conjugate-microscopes-using-a-ray-transfer-matrix-analysis-mod","title":"An open-source alignment method for multichannel infinite-conjugate microscopes using a ray transfer matrix analysis model","doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open-source alignment method for multichannel infinite-conjugate microscopes using a ray transfer matrix analysis model","requestedDoi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","resolvedDoi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.092Z","abstract":"Multichannel, infinite-conjugate optical systems easily allow implementation of multiple image paths and imaging modes into a single microscope. Traditional optical alignment methods which rely on additional hardware are not always simple to implement, particularly in compact open-source microscope designs. We present here an alignment algorithm and process to position the lenses and cameras in a microscope using only image magnification measurements. We show that the resulting positioning accuracy is comparable to the axial resolution of the microscope. Ray transfer matrix analysis is used to model the imaging paths when the optics are both correctly and incorrectly aligned. This is used to derive the corresponding image magnifications. We can then extract information about the lens positions using simple image-based measurements to determine whether there is misalignment of the objective lens to sample distance (working distance) and with what magnitude and direction the objective lens needs to be adjusted. Using the M4All open-source 3D printable microscope system in combination with the OpenFlexure microscope, we validate the alignment method and highlight its usability. We provide the model and an example implementation of the algorithm as an open-source Jupyter Notebook. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.","authors":[{"name":"Gemma S. Cairns","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0524-8008","institutions":["University of Strathclyde"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian Patton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8222-4419","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","url":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","title":"An open-source alignment method for multichannel infinite-conjugate microscopes using a ray transfer matrix analysis model","subtitle":"","abstract":"Multichannel, infinite-conjugate optical systems easily allow implementation of multiple image paths and imaging modes into a single microscope. Traditional optical alignment methods which rely on additional hardware are not always simple to implement, particularly in compact open-source microscope designs. We present here an alignment algorithm and process to position the lenses and cameras in a microscope using only image magnification measurements. We show that the resulting positioning accuracy is comparable to the axial resolution of the microscope. Ray transfer matrix analysis is used to model the imaging paths when the optics are both correctly and incorrectly aligned. This is used to derive the corresponding image magnifications. We can then extract information about the lens positions using simple image-based measurements to determine whether there is misalignment of the objective lens to sample distance (working distance) and with what magnitude and direction the objective lens needs to be adjusted. Using the M4All open-source 3D printable microscope system in combination with the OpenFlexure microscope, we validate the alignment method and highlight its usability. We provide the model and an example implementation of the algorithm as an open-source Jupyter Notebook. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy’.","authors":[{"name":"Gemma S. Cairns","given":"Gemma S.","family":"Cairns","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0524-8008","affiliations":["Department of Physics and SUPA, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow G4 0NG, UK"]},{"name":"Brian R. Patton","given":"Brian R.","family":"Patton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8222-4419","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"The Royal Society","journal":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences","publishedDate":"2024-07-09","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"382","issue":"2274","pages":"","issn":["1364-503X","1471-2962"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":17,"citedByCount":2,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Royal Society","doi":"10.13039/501100000288","awards":["RGF\\EA\\181058, URF\\R\\180017"]},{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/M003701/1"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4399294146","doi":"10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","url":"https://openalex.org/W4399294146","title":"An open-source alignment method for multichannel infinite-conjugate microscopes using a ray transfer matrix analysis model","abstract":"Multichannel, infinite-conjugate optical systems easily allow implementation of multiple image paths and imaging modes into a single microscope. Traditional optical alignment methods which rely on additional hardware are not always simple to implement, particularly in compact open-source microscope designs. We present here an alignment algorithm and process to position the lenses and cameras in a microscope using only image magnification measurements. We show that the resulting positioning accuracy is comparable to the axial resolution of the microscope. Ray transfer matrix analysis is used to model the imaging paths when the optics are both correctly and incorrectly aligned. This is used to derive the corresponding image magnifications. We can then extract information about the lens positions using simple image-based measurements to determine whether there is misalignment of the objective lens to sample distance (working distance) and with what magnitude and direction the objective lens needs to be adjusted. Using the M4All open-source 3D printable microscope system in combination with the OpenFlexure microscope, we validate the alignment method and highlight its usability. We provide the model and an example implementation of the algorithm as an open-source Jupyter Notebook. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Open, reproducible hardware for microscopy'.","authors":[{"name":"Gemma S. Cairns","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0524-8008","institutions":["University of Strathclyde"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Brian Patton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8222-4419","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":2,"referencesCount":12,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences","topics":["Optical measurement and interference techniques","Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques","Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques"],"keywords":["Microscope","Lens (geology)","Magnification","Computer science","Optics","Computer vision","Artificial intelligence","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0107","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-an-open-source-alignment-method-for-multichannel-infinite-conjugate-microscopes-using-a-ray-transfer-matri"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-an-open-source-alignment-method-for-multichannel-infinite-conjugate-microscopes-using-a-ray-transfer-matri"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":2.8,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 170 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative validation/calibration evidence is present."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-099","slug":"099-rapid-bacterial-motility-monitoring-using-inexpensive-3d-printed-openflexure-microscopy-allows-microfluidic-antibiotic-s","title":"Rapid Bacterial Motility Monitoring Using Inexpensive 3D-Printed OpenFlexure Microscopy Allows Microfluidic Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing","doi":"10.3390/mi13111974","publication":{"paperTitle":"Rapid Bacterial Motility Monitoring Using Inexpensive 3D-Printed OpenFlexure Microscopy Allows Microfluidic Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing","requestedDoi":"10.3390/mi13111974","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/mi13111974","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.658Z","abstract":"Antibiotic susceptibility testing is vital to tackle the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Inexpensive digital CMOS cameras can be converted into portable digital microscopes using 3D printed x-y-z stages. Microscopic examination of bacterial motility can rapidly detect the response of microbes to antibiotics to determine susceptibility. Here, we present a new simple microdevice-miniature microscope cell measurement system for multiplexed antibiotic susceptibility testing. The microdevice is made using melt-extruded plastic film strips containing ten parallel 0.2 mm diameter microcapillaries. Two different antibiotics, ceftazidime and gentamicin, were prepared in Mueller-Hinton agar (0.4%) to produce an antibiotic-loaded microdevice for simple sample addition. This combination was selected to closely match current standard methods for both antibiotic susceptibility testing and motility testing. Use of low agar concentration permits observation of motile bacteria responding to antibiotic exposure as they enter capillaries. This device fits onto the OpenFlexure 3D-printed digital microscope using a Raspberry Pi computer and v2 camera, avoiding need for expensive laboratory microscopes. This inexpensive and portable digital microscope platform had sufficient magnification to detect motile bacteria, yet wide enough field of view to monitor bacteria behavior as they entered antibiotic-loaded microcapillaries. The image quality was sufficient to detect how bacterial motility was inhibited by different concentrations of antibiotic. We conclude that a 3D-printed Raspberry Pi-based microscope combined with disposable microfluidic test strips permit rapid, easy-to-use bacterial motility detection, with potential for aiding detection of antibiotic resistance.","authors":[{"name":"Tai The Diep","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-6369","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sarah Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel C. Bizley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4971-777X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander D. Edwards","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/mi13111974","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111974","title":"Rapid Bacterial Motility Monitoring Using Inexpensive 3D-Printed OpenFlexure Microscopy Allows Microfluidic Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing","subtitle":"","abstract":"Antibiotic susceptibility testing is vital to tackle the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Inexpensive digital CMOS cameras can be converted into portable digital microscopes using 3D printed x-y-z stages. Microscopic examination of bacterial motility can rapidly detect the response of microbes to antibiotics to determine susceptibility. Here, we present a new simple microdevice-miniature microscope cell measurement system for multiplexed antibiotic susceptibility testing. The microdevice is made using melt-extruded plastic film strips containing ten parallel 0.2 mm diameter microcapillaries. Two different antibiotics, ceftazidime and gentamicin, were prepared in Mueller-Hinton agar (0.4%) to produce an antibiotic-loaded microdevice for simple sample addition. This combination was selected to closely match current standard methods for both antibiotic susceptibility testing and motility testing. Use of low agar concentration permits observation of motile bacteria responding to antibiotic exposure as they enter capillaries. This device fits onto the OpenFlexure 3D-printed digital microscope using a Raspberry Pi computer and v2 camera, avoiding need for expensive laboratory microscopes. This inexpensive and portable digital microscope platform had sufficient magnification to detect motile bacteria, yet wide enough field of view to monitor bacteria behavior as they entered antibiotic-loaded microcapillaries. The image quality was sufficient to detect how bacterial motility was inhibited by different concentrations of antibiotic. We conclude that a 3D-printed Raspberry Pi-based microscope combined with disposable microfluidic test strips permit rapid, easy-to-use bacterial motility detection, with potential for aiding detection of antibiotic resistance.","authors":[{"name":"Tai Diep","given":"Tai","family":"Diep","orcid":"","affiliations":["Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK"]},{"name":"Sarah Needs","given":"Sarah","family":"Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","affiliations":["Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK"]},{"name":"Samuel Bizley","given":"Samuel","family":"Bizley","orcid":"","affiliations":["Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK"]},{"name":"Alexander Edwards","given":"Alexander","family":"Edwards","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X","affiliations":["Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AD, UK","Capillary Film Technology Ltd., Billingshurst RH14 9TF, UK"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Micromachines","publishedDate":"2022-11-14","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"13","issue":"11","pages":"1974","issn":["2072-666X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":22,"citedByCount":8,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/S010807/1"]},{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["TTD"]},{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["203362"]},{"name":"University of Reading International Studentship","doi":"","awards":["EP/S010807/1"]},{"name":"University of Reading International Studentship","doi":"","awards":["TTD"]},{"name":"University of Reading International Studentship","doi":"","awards":["203362"]},{"name":"National Institute for Health Research","doi":"10.13039/501100000272","awards":["EP/S010807/1"]},{"name":"National Institute for Health Research","doi":"10.13039/501100000272","awards":["TTD"]},{"name":"National Institute for Health Research","doi":"10.13039/501100000272","awards":["203362"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4309213400","doi":"10.3390/mi13111974","url":"https://openalex.org/W4309213400","title":"Rapid Bacterial Motility Monitoring Using Inexpensive 3D-Printed OpenFlexure Microscopy Allows Microfluidic Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing","abstract":"Antibiotic susceptibility testing is vital to tackle the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Inexpensive digital CMOS cameras can be converted into portable digital microscopes using 3D printed x-y-z stages. Microscopic examination of bacterial motility can rapidly detect the response of microbes to antibiotics to determine susceptibility. Here, we present a new simple microdevice-miniature microscope cell measurement system for multiplexed antibiotic susceptibility testing. The microdevice is made using melt-extruded plastic film strips containing ten parallel 0.2 mm diameter microcapillaries. Two different antibiotics, ceftazidime and gentamicin, were prepared in Mueller-Hinton agar (0.4%) to produce an antibiotic-loaded microdevice for simple sample addition. This combination was selected to closely match current standard methods for both antibiotic susceptibility testing and motility testing. Use of low agar concentration permits observation of motile bacteria responding to antibiotic exposure as they enter capillaries. This device fits onto the OpenFlexure 3D-printed digital microscope using a Raspberry Pi computer and v2 camera, avoiding need for expensive laboratory microscopes. This inexpensive and portable digital microscope platform had sufficient magnification to detect motile bacteria, yet wide enough field of view to monitor bacteria behavior as they entered antibiotic-loaded microcapillaries. The image quality was sufficient to detect how bacterial motility was inhibited by different concentrations of antibiotic. We conclude that a 3D-printed Raspberry Pi-based microscope combined with disposable microfluidic test strips permit rapid, easy-to-use bacterial motility detection, with potential for aiding detection of antibiotic resistance.","authors":[{"name":"Tai The Diep","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7166-6369","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sarah Needs","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3407-9637","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel C. Bizley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4971-777X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander D. Edwards","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-989X","institutions":["University of Reading"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-11-14","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":8,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/11/1974/pdf?version=1669111266","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Micromachines","topics":["Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Microscope","Microfluidics","Microscopy","Materials science","Antibiotics","Microbiology","Biomedical engineering","Nanotechnology","Optics","Biology","Medicine","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13111974","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"OpenFlexure Microscope","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record","OpenFlexure Microscope"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 200 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openflexure-microscope"],"toolSlugs":["openflexure-microscope"],"toolNames":["OpenFlexure Microscope"],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication","topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication","microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-100","slug":"100-a-low-cost-3d-printed-microfluidic-bioreactor-and-imaging-chamber-for-live-organoid-imaging","title":"A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging","doi":"10.1063/5.0041027","publication":{"paperTitle":"A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging","requestedDoi":"10.1063/5.0041027","resolvedDoi":"10.1063/5.0041027","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.636Z","abstract":"Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro and are observed to self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs. Brain organoids have emerged as valuable models for the study of human brain development in health and disease. Researchers are now in need of improved culturing and imaging tools to capture the in vitro dynamics of development processes in the brain. Here, we describe the design of a microfluidic chip and bioreactor, to enable in situ tracking and imaging of brain organoids on-chip. The low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor supports organoid growth and provides an optimal imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging, with drug delivery support. This fully isolated design of a live-cell imaging and culturing platform enables long-term live-imaging of the intact live brain organoids as it grows. We can thus analyze their self-organization in a controlled environment with high temporal and spatial resolution.","authors":[{"name":"Ikram Khan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6036-0361","institutions":["Indian Institute of Technology Madras"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anil Prabhakar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0808-3157","institutions":["Indian Institute of Technology Madras"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chloé Delépine","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1856-9583","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hayley W. S. Tsang","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Vincent A. Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7083-9360","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mriganka Sur","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2442-5671","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1063/5.0041027","url":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0041027","title":"A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging","subtitle":"","abstract":"Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro and are observed to self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs. Brain organoids have emerged as valuable models for the study of human brain development in health and disease. Researchers are now in need of improved culturing and imaging tools to capture the in vitro dynamics of development processes in the brain. Here, we describe the design of a microfluidic chip and bioreactor, to enable in situ tracking and imaging of brain organoids on-chip. The low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor supports organoid growth and provides an optimal imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging, with drug delivery support. This fully isolated design of a live-cell imaging and culturing platform enables long-term live-imaging of the intact live brain organoids as it grows. We can thus analyze their self-organization in a controlled environment with high temporal and spatial resolution.","authors":[{"name":"Ikram Khan","given":"Ikram","family":"Khan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6036-0361","affiliations":["Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 , Madras 600036, India"]},{"name":"Anil Prabhakar","given":"Anil","family":"Prabhakar","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology 1 , Madras 600036, India"]},{"name":"Chloe Delepine","given":"Chloe","family":"Delepine","orcid":"","affiliations":["Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2 , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA"]},{"name":"Hayley Tsang","given":"Hayley","family":"Tsang","orcid":"","affiliations":["Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2 , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA"]},{"name":"Vincent Pham","given":"Vincent","family":"Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7083-9360","affiliations":["Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2 , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA"]},{"name":"Mriganka Sur","given":"Mriganka","family":"Sur","orcid":"","affiliations":["Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2 , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA"]}],"publisher":"AIP Publishing","journal":"Biomicrofluidics","publishedDate":"2021-03-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"15","issue":"2","pages":"","issn":["1932-1058"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":51,"citedByCount":62,"licenses":[],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["R01MH085802"]},{"name":"Center for Computational Brain , IIT Madras","doi":"","awards":[]},{"name":"Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India","doi":"10.13039/501100001407","awards":["BIRAC-BT/BIPP0946/36/15"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3144102812","doi":"10.1063/5.0041027","url":"https://openalex.org/W3144102812","title":"A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging","abstract":"Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro and are observed to self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs. Brain organoids have emerged as valuable models for the study of human brain development in health and disease. Researchers are now in need of improved culturing and imaging tools to capture the in vitro dynamics of development processes in the brain. Here, we describe the design of a microfluidic chip and bioreactor, to enable in situ tracking and imaging of brain organoids on-chip. The low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor supports organoid growth and provides an optimal imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging, with drug delivery support. This fully isolated design of a live-cell imaging and culturing platform enables long-term live-imaging of the intact live brain organoids as it grows. We can thus analyze their self-organization in a controlled environment with high temporal and spatial resolution.","authors":[{"name":"Ikram Khan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6036-0361","institutions":["Indian Institute of Technology Madras"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Anil Prabhakar","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0808-3157","institutions":["Indian Institute of Technology Madras"],"countries":["IN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chloé Delépine","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1856-9583","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hayley W. S. Tsang","orcid":"","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Vincent A. Pham","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7083-9360","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mriganka Sur","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2442-5671","institutions":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-03-01","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":64,"referencesCount":51,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"bronze","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Biomicrofluidics","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Pluripotent Stem Cells Research","Cancer Cells and Metastasis"],"keywords":["Organoid","Microfluidics","3d printed","Live cell imaging","Organ-on-a-chip","Bioreactor","Nanotechnology","Biomedical engineering","Computer science","Materials science","Chemistry","Cell biology"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0041027","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture"],"modality":["Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging","Cell culture"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging","Cell culture","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-a-low-cost-3d-printed-microfluidic-bioreactor-and-imaging-chamber-for-live-organoid-imaging"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-a-low-cost-3d-printed-microfluidic-bioreactor-and-imaging-chamber-for-live-organoid-imaging"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 50 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication","topic-microscopy-imaging","topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication","microscopy-imaging","bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-101","slug":"101-the-incubot-a-3d-printer-based-microscope-for-long-term-live-cell-imaging-within-a-tissue-culture-incubator","title":"The incubot: A 3D printer-based microscope for long-term live cell imaging within a tissue culture incubator","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","publication":{"paperTitle":"The incubot: A 3D printer-based microscope for long-term live cell imaging within a tissue culture incubator","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.662Z","abstract":"Commercial live cell imaging systems represent a large financial burden to research groups, while current open source incubator microscopy systems lack adaptability and are sometimes inadequate for complex imaging experimentation. We present here a low-cost microscope designed for inclusion within a conventional tissue culture incubator. The build is constructed using an entry level 3D printer as the basis for the motion control system, with Raspberry Pi imaging and software integration, allowing for reflected, oblique, and fluorescence imaging of live cell monolayers. The open source nature of the design is aimed to facilitate adaptation by both the community at large and by individual researchers/groups. The development of an adaptable and easy-to-use graphic user interface (GUI) allows for the scientist to be at the core of experimental design through simple modifications of the base GUI code, or generation of an entirely purpose-built script. This adaptability will allow scientists to adapt this equipment for their experimental needs, as opposed to designing experiments to fit their current equipment. The build can be constructed for a cost of roughly €1000 and thus serves as a low-cost and adaptable addition to the open source microscopy community.","authors":[{"name":"George Merces","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7116-2451","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Conor Kennedy","orcid":"","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Blanca Lenoci","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4758-3982","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emmanuel G. Reynaud","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-661X","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Niamh Burke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9293-6874","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark Pickering","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2454-2897","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","title":"The incubot: A 3D printer-based microscope for long-term live cell imaging within a tissue culture incubator","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"George O.T. Merces","given":"George O.T.","family":"Merces","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Conor Kennedy","given":"Conor","family":"Kennedy","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Blanca Lenoci","given":"Blanca","family":"Lenoci","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Emmanuel G. Reynaud","given":"Emmanuel G.","family":"Reynaud","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Niamh Burke","given":"Niamh","family":"Burke","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Mark Pickering","given":"Mark","family":"Pickering","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"","pages":"e00189","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":30,"citedByCount":41,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3138049415","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","url":"https://openalex.org/W3138049415","title":"The incubot: A 3D printer-based microscope for long-term live cell imaging within a tissue culture incubator","abstract":"Commercial live cell imaging systems represent a large financial burden to research groups, while current open source incubator microscopy systems lack adaptability and are sometimes inadequate for complex imaging experimentation. We present here a low-cost microscope designed for inclusion within a conventional tissue culture incubator. The build is constructed using an entry level 3D printer as the basis for the motion control system, with Raspberry Pi imaging and software integration, allowing for reflected, oblique, and fluorescence imaging of live cell monolayers. The open source nature of the design is aimed to facilitate adaptation by both the community at large and by individual researchers/groups. The development of an adaptable and easy-to-use graphic user interface (GUI) allows for the scientist to be at the core of experimental design through simple modifications of the base GUI code, or generation of an entirely purpose-built script. This adaptability will allow scientists to adapt this equipment for their experimental needs, as opposed to designing experiments to fit their current equipment. The build can be constructed for a cost of roughly €1000 and thus serves as a low-cost and adaptable addition to the open source microscopy community.","authors":[{"name":"George Merces","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7116-2451","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Conor Kennedy","orcid":"","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Blanca Lenoci","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4758-3982","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Emmanuel G. Reynaud","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-661X","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Niamh Burke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9293-6874","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Mark Pickering","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2454-2897","institutions":["University College Dublin"],"countries":["IE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-03-11","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":50,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067221000183/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Cell Image Analysis Techniques","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques"],"keywords":["Incubator","Computer science","Interface (matter)","Software","Graphical user interface","Microscope","Adaptability","Human–computer interaction","Computer hardware","Operating system","Pathology"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00189","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging","Cell culture"],"systemOrTechnology":"The incubot","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture","Microscopy and imaging","Cell culture","Supplemental corpus record","The incubot"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-the-incubot-a-3d-printer-based-microscope-for-long-term-live-cell-imaging-within-a-tissue-culture-incubato"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-the-incubot-a-3d-printer-based-microscope-for-long-term-live-cell-imaging-within-a-tissue-culture-incubato"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 855 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-the-incubot"],"toolSlugs":["the-incubot"],"toolNames":["The incubot"],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging","topic-bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging","bioreactors-cell-culture"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging","Bioreactors & Cell Culture"]},{"id":"paper-102","slug":"102-simplifying-the-openflexure-microscope-software-with-the-web-of-things","title":"Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things","doi":"10.1098/rsos.211158","publication":{"paperTitle":"Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things","requestedDoi":"10.1098/rsos.211158","resolvedDoi":"10.1098/rsos.211158","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.782Z","abstract":"We present the OpenFlexure Microscope software stack which provides computer control of our open source motorised microscope. Our diverse community of users needs both graphical and script-based interfaces. We split the control code into client and server applications interfaced via a web API conforming to the W3C Web of Things standard. A graphical interface is viewed either in a web browser or in our cross-platform Electron application, and gives basic interactive control including common operations such as Z stack acquisition and tiled scanning. Automated control is possible from Python and Matlab, or any language that supports HTTP requests. Network control makes the software stack more robust, allows multiple microscopes to be controlled by one computer, and facilitates sharing of equipment. Graphical and script-based clients can run simultaneously, making it easier to monitor ongoing experiments. We have included an extension mechanism to add functionality, for example controlling additional hardware components or adding automation routines. Using a Web of Things approach has resulted in a user-friendly and extremely versatile software control solution for the OpenFlexure Microscope, and we believe this approach could be generalized in the future to make automated experiments involving several instruments much easier to implement.","authors":[{"name":"Joel T. Collins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-7511","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel McDermott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-5467","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Filip Ayazi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4521-9826","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaspar Bumke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7603-0861","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1098/rsos.211158","url":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211158","title":"Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things","subtitle":"","abstract":"We present the OpenFlexure Microscope software stack which provides computer control of our open source motorised microscope. Our diverse community of users needs both graphical and script-based interfaces. We split the control code into client and server applications interfaced via a web API conforming to the W3C Web of Things standard. A graphical interface is viewed either in a web browser or in our cross-platform Electron application, and gives basic interactive control including common operations such as Z stack acquisition and tiled scanning. Automated control is possible from Python and M atlab , or any language that supports HTTP requests. Network control makes the software stack more robust, allows multiple microscopes to be controlled by one computer, and facilitates sharing of equipment. Graphical and script-based clients can run simultaneously, making it easier to monitor ongoing experiments. We have included an extension mechanism to add functionality, for example controlling additional hardware components or adding automation routines. Using a Web of Things approach has resulted in a user-friendly and extremely versatile software control solution for the OpenFlexure Microscope, and we believe this approach could be generalized in the future to make automated experiments involving several instruments much easier to implement.","authors":[{"name":"Joel T. Collins","given":"Joel T.","family":"Collins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-7511","affiliations":["Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Joe Knapper","given":"Joe","family":"Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","affiliations":["Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Samuel J. McDermott","given":"Samuel J.","family":"McDermott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-5467","affiliations":["Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK"]},{"name":"Filip Ayazi","given":"Filip","family":"Ayazi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4521-9826","affiliations":["Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK"]},{"name":"Kaspar E. Bumke","given":"Kaspar E.","family":"Bumke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7603-0861","affiliations":["Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Julian Stirling","given":"Julian","family":"Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","affiliations":["Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK"]},{"name":"Richard W. Bowman","given":"Richard W.","family":"Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","affiliations":["Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, Bath, UK"]}],"publisher":"The Royal Society","journal":"Royal Society Open Science","publishedDate":"2021-11-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"8","issue":"11","pages":"","issn":["2054-5703"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":49,"citedByCount":8,"licenses":["https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/"],"funders":[{"name":"Royal Society","doi":"10.13039/501100000288","awards":["RGF\\EA\\181034","URF\\R1\\180153"]},{"name":"EPSRC","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":["EP/R011443/1","EP/R013969/1"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3213727658","doi":"10.1098/rsos.211158","url":"https://openalex.org/W3213727658","title":"Simplifying the OpenFlexure microscope software with the web of things","abstract":"We present the OpenFlexure Microscope software stack which provides computer control of our open source motorised microscope. Our diverse community of users needs both graphical and script-based interfaces. We split the control code into client and server applications interfaced via a web API conforming to the W3C Web of Things standard. A graphical interface is viewed either in a web browser or in our cross-platform Electron application, and gives basic interactive control including common operations such as Z stack acquisition and tiled scanning. Automated control is possible from Python and Matlab, or any language that supports HTTP requests. Network control makes the software stack more robust, allows multiple microscopes to be controlled by one computer, and facilitates sharing of equipment. Graphical and script-based clients can run simultaneously, making it easier to monitor ongoing experiments. We have included an extension mechanism to add functionality, for example controlling additional hardware components or adding automation routines. Using a Web of Things approach has resulted in a user-friendly and extremely versatile software control solution for the OpenFlexure Microscope, and we believe this approach could be generalized in the future to make automated experiments involving several instruments much easier to implement.","authors":[{"name":"Joel T. Collins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-7511","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel McDermott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-5467","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Filip Ayazi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4521-9826","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaspar Bumke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7603-0861","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-11-01","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":33,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211158","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Royal Society Open Science","topics":["Image Processing Techniques and Applications","Cell Image Analysis Techniques"],"keywords":["Software","Computer science","Microscope","World Wide Web","Optics","Physics","Operating system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.211158","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"OpenFlexure Microscope","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record","OpenFlexure Microscope"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-simplifying-the-openflexure-microscope-software-with-the-web-of-things"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-simplifying-the-openflexure-microscope-software-with-the-web-of-things"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.2,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openflexure-microscope"],"toolSlugs":["openflexure-microscope"],"toolNames":["OpenFlexure Microscope"],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-103","slug":"103-the-openflexure-project-the-technical-challenges-of-co-developing-a-microscope-in-the-uk-and-tanzania","title":"The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania","doi":"10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","publication":{"paperTitle":"The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania","requestedDoi":"10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","resolvedDoi":"10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.802Z","abstract":"The OpenFlexure Microscope is a 3D-printed laboratory-grade motorised microscope. Over the past 3 years, the microscope has primarily been co-developed between the University of Bath and the Tanzanian engineering company STICLab. We are beginning the process of preparing the microscope for medical certification, as an in-vitro diagnostic device. In this paper we detail the technical challenges of remote design of a complex scientific instrument. We believe that identifying and solving these issues is essential if we are to encourage research organisations in the Global North to design instrumentation with Africans, rather than \"for Africa\".","authors":[{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8421-4134","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Grace A. Mwakajinga","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joel T. Collins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-7511","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaspar Bumke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7603-0861","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Qingxin Meng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0680-7000","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel McDermott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-5467","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","url":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","title":"The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Julian Stirling","given":"Julian","family":"Stirling","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","given":"Valerian L.","family":"Sanga","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","given":"Paul T.","family":"Nyakyi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Grace A. Mwakajinga","given":"Grace A.","family":"Mwakajinga","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joel T. Collins","given":"Joel T.","family":"Collins","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kaspar Bumke","given":"Kaspar","family":"Bumke","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Joe Knapper","given":"Joe","family":"Knapper","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Qingxin Meng","given":"Qingxin","family":"Meng","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Samuel McDermott","given":"Samuel","family":"McDermott","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Richard Bowman","given":"Richard","family":"Bowman","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"IEEE","journal":"2020 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","publishedDate":"2020-10-29","type":"proceedings-article","language":"","volume":"","issue":"","pages":"1-4","issn":[],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":13,"citedByCount":7,"licenses":["https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplorehelp/downloads/license-information/IEEE.html","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-029","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-037"],"funders":[{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000266","awards":[]},{"name":"Royal Society","doi":"10.13039/501100000288","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3127916056","doi":"10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","url":"https://openalex.org/W3127916056","title":"The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania","abstract":"The OpenFlexure Microscope is a 3D-printed laboratory-grade motorised microscope. Over the past 3 years, the microscope has primarily been co-developed between the University of Bath and the Tanzanian engineering company STICLab. We are beginning the process of preparing the microscope for medical certification, as an in-vitro diagnostic device. In this paper we detail the technical challenges of remote design of a complex scientific instrument. We believe that identifying and solving these issues is essential if we are to encourage research organisations in the Global North to design instrumentation with Africans, rather than \"for Africa\".","authors":[{"name":"Julian Stirling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8270-9237","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Valerian L. Sanga","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8421-4134","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul T. Nyakyi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Grace A. Mwakajinga","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joel T. Collins","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9382-7511","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kaspar Bumke","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7603-0861","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Joe Knapper","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5519-1700","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Qingxin Meng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0680-7000","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel McDermott","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2736-5467","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard Bowman","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1531-8199","institutions":["University of Bath"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-10-29","publicationYear":2020,"type":"conference-paper","language":"en","citedByCount":11,"referencesCount":8,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"other-oa","version":"submittedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Pure (University of Bath)","topics":["Biomedical and Engineering Education"],"keywords":["Microscope","Tanzania","Certification","Instrumentation (computer programming)","Process (computing)","Computer science","Engineering","Political science","Optics","Geography","Environmental planning","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"The OpenFlexure Project","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microscopy & Imaging","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record","The OpenFlexure Project"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":3,"rationale":"Validated for intended use, but broad generality is unclear."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-openflexure-microscope"],"toolSlugs":["openflexure-microscope"],"toolNames":["OpenFlexure Microscope"],"topicIds":["topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-104","slug":"104-democratizing-self-driving-labs-advances-in-low-cost-3d-printing-for-laboratory-automation","title":"Democratizing self-driving labs: advances in low-cost 3D printing for laboratory automation","doi":"10.1039/d4dd00411f","publication":{"paperTitle":"Democratizing self-driving labs: advances in low-cost 3D printing for laboratory automation","requestedDoi":"10.1039/d4dd00411f","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/d4dd00411f","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:01.927Z","abstract":"Low-cost FDM 3D printing transforms consumer 3D printers into automated lab equipment including liquid handlers, imaging devices, robotic arms, and bioprinters, cutting costs by 90–99% versus commercial alternatives to enable affordable self-driving laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Sayan Doloi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9580-3433","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maloy Das","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yujia Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7506-0265","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Z. H. Cho","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xingchi Xiao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2041-3365","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John V. Hanna","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0644-3932","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University","University of Warwick"],"countries":["GB","SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Osvaldo","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Leonard Ng Wei Tat","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/d4dd00411f","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4dd00411f","title":"Democratizing self-driving labs: advances in low-cost 3D printing for laboratory automation","subtitle":"","abstract":"Low-cost FDM 3D printing transforms consumer 3D printers into automated lab equipment including liquid handlers, imaging devices, robotic arms, and bioprinters, cutting costs by 90–99% versus commercial alternatives to enable affordable self-driving laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Sayan Doloi","given":"Sayan","family":"Doloi","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"Maloy Das","given":"Maloy","family":"Das","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"Yujia Li","given":"Yujia","family":"Li","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"Zen Han Cho","given":"Zen Han","family":"Cho","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3782-9507","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"Xingchi Xiao","given":"Xingchi","family":"Xiao","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"John V. Hanna","given":"John V.","family":"Hanna","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0644-3932","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore","University of Warwick, Department of Physics, Millburn House, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK"]},{"name":"Matthew Osvaldo","given":"Matthew","family":"Osvaldo","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]},{"name":"Leonard Ng Wei Tat","given":"Leonard","family":"Ng Wei Tat","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6062-7823","affiliations":["School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"Digital Discovery","publishedDate":"2025-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"4","issue":"7","pages":"1685-1721","issn":["2635-098X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":198,"citedByCount":19,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Ministry of Education - Singapore","doi":"10.13039/501100001459","awards":["RS14/23"]},{"name":"Ministry of Education - Singapore","doi":"10.13039/501100001459","awards":["RG86/23"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4410549543","doi":"10.1039/d4dd00411f","url":"https://openalex.org/W4410549543","title":"Democratizing self-driving labs: advances in low-cost 3D printing for laboratory automation","abstract":"Low-cost FDM 3D printing transforms consumer 3D printers into automated lab equipment including liquid handlers, imaging devices, robotic arms, and bioprinters, cutting costs by 90–99% versus commercial alternatives to enable affordable self-driving laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Sayan Doloi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9580-3433","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maloy Das","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yujia Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7506-0265","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Z. H. Cho","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xingchi Xiao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2041-3365","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"John V. Hanna","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0644-3932","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University","University of Warwick"],"countries":["GB","SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Osvaldo","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Leonard Ng Wei Tat","orcid":"","institutions":["Nanyang Technological University"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationYear":2025,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":16,"referencesCount":178,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/dd/d4dd00411f","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Digital Discovery","topics":["Cell Image Analysis Techniques","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Automation","3D printing","Manufacturing engineering","Laboratory automation","Engineering","Computer science","Nanotechnology","Process engineering","Materials science","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4dd00411f","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-democratizing-self-driving-labs-advances-in-low-cost-3d-printing-for-laboratory-automation"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-democratizing-self-driving-labs-advances-in-low-cost-3d-printing-for-laboratory-automation"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-105","slug":"105-automated-liquid-handler-from-a-3d-printer","title":"Automated Liquid Handler from a 3D Printer","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","publication":{"paperTitle":"Automated Liquid Handler from a 3D Printer","requestedDoi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","resolvedDoi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.057Z","abstract":"High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Efforts to encourage laboratory automation through student access to and usage of commercial equipment are hampered by prohibitive acquisition costs. Here, an automated liquid handler using manual pipettes was developed to operate on a commercial hobbyist 3D printer at a cost of US $325. Arising from an iterative design process that ensured sufficient strength and rigidity, the adapter assembly, when fabricated by using 3D printing, was found to operate as it was intended. Tests conducted found the system to be sufficiently stable and accurate in its positioning, while pipetting accuracy was not affected. A survey following a usage exercise with the operational system was conducted as part of an overall effort to encourage students to overcome their disciplinary boundaries.","authors":[{"name":"Alexey Kopyl","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yuki Yew","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jian Wern Ong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-5720","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas J. Hiscox","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2182-2874","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"C.E. Young","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Murat Muradoglu","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tuck Wah Ng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5592-1390","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","title":"Automated Liquid Handler from a 3D Printer","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Alexey Kopyl","given":"Alexey","family":"Kopyl","orcid":"","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Yuki Yew","given":"Yuki","family":"Yew","orcid":"","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Jian Wern Ong","given":"Jian Wern","family":"Ong","orcid":"","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Thomas Hiscox","given":"Thomas","family":"Hiscox","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2182-2874","affiliations":["School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Calem Young","given":"Calem","family":"Young","orcid":"","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Murat Muradoglu","given":"Murat","family":"Muradoglu","orcid":"","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]},{"name":"Tuck Wah Ng","given":"Tuck Wah","family":"Ng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5592-1390","affiliations":["Laboratory for Optics & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia"]}],"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","journal":"Journal of Chemical Education","publishedDate":"2024-02-13","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"101","issue":"2","pages":"640-646","issn":["0021-9584","1938-1328"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":28,"citedByCount":12,"licenses":["https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-001","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-009","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-017"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4390619625","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","url":"https://openalex.org/W4390619625","title":"Automated Liquid Handler from a 3D Printer","abstract":"High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Efforts to encourage laboratory automation through student access to and usage of commercial equipment are hampered by prohibitive acquisition costs. Here, an automated liquid handler using manual pipettes was developed to operate on a commercial hobbyist 3D printer at a cost of US $325. Arising from an iterative design process that ensured sufficient strength and rigidity, the adapter assembly, when fabricated by using 3D printing, was found to operate as it was intended. Tests conducted found the system to be sufficiently stable and accurate in its positioning, while pipetting accuracy was not affected. A survey following a usage exercise with the operational system was conducted as part of an overall effort to encourage students to overcome their disciplinary boundaries.","authors":[{"name":"Alexey Kopyl","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yuki Yew","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jian Wern Ong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-5720","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thomas J. Hiscox","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2182-2874","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"C.E. Young","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Murat Muradoglu","orcid":"","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Tuck Wah Ng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5592-1390","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":12,"referencesCount":26,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"bronze","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Journal of Chemical Education","topics":["Experimental Learning in Engineering","Biomedical and Engineering Education","Engineering Education and Pedagogy"],"keywords":["Adapter (computing)","Automation","Computer science","Pipette","Laboratory automation","Computer hardware","Process (computing)","Rigidity (electromagnetism)","3d printer","Manufacturing engineering","Process engineering","Embedded system"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00855","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation","Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-automated-liquid-handler-from-a-3d-printer"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-automated-liquid-handler-from-a-3d-printer"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 100 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Part sourcing complexity not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-106","slug":"106-high-efficiency-3d-printed-three-chamber-electromagnetic-peristaltic-micropump","title":"High-Efficiency 3D-Printed Three-Chamber Electromagnetic Peristaltic Micropump","doi":"10.3390/mi14020257","publication":{"paperTitle":"High-Efficiency 3D-Printed Three-Chamber Electromagnetic Peristaltic Micropump","requestedDoi":"10.3390/mi14020257","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/mi14020257","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.046Z","abstract":"This paper describes the design and characteristics of a three-chamber electromagnetic-driven peristaltic micropump based on 3D-printing technology. The micropump is composed of an NdFeB permanent magnet, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, a 3D-printing pump body, bolts, electromagnets and a cantilever valve. Through simulation analysis and experiments using a single chamber and three chambers, valved and valveless, as well as different starting modes, the results were optimized. Finally, it is concluded that the performance of the three-chamber valved model is optimal under synchronous starting conditions. The measurement results show that the maximum output flow and back pressure of the 5 V, 0.3 A drive source are 2407.2 μL/min and 1127 Pa, respectively. The maximum specific flow and back pressure of the micropump system are 534.9 μL/min∙W and 250.4 Pa/W, respectively.","authors":[{"name":"He Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8886-9680","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiaodan Miao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-7199","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Hongguang Lu","orcid":"","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shihai Liu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5641-1018","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhuoqing Yang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9635-6145","institutions":["Shanghai Jiao Tong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/mi14020257","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020257","title":"High-Efficiency 3D-Printed Three-Chamber Electromagnetic Peristaltic Micropump","subtitle":"","abstract":"This paper describes the design and characteristics of a three-chamber electromagnetic-driven peristaltic micropump based on 3D-printing technology. The micropump is composed of an NdFeB permanent magnet, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, a 3D-printing pump body, bolts, electromagnets and a cantilever valve. Through simulation analysis and experiments using a single chamber and three chambers, valved and valveless, as well as different starting modes, the results were optimized. Finally, it is concluded that the performance of the three-chamber valved model is optimal under synchronous starting conditions. The measurement results show that the maximum output flow and back pressure of the 5 V, 0.3 A drive source are 2407.2 μL/min and 1127 Pa, respectively. The maximum specific flow and back pressure of the micropump system are 534.9 μL/min∙W and 250.4 Pa/W, respectively.","authors":[{"name":"He Chen","given":"He","family":"Chen","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China"]},{"name":"Xiaodan Miao","given":"Xiaodan","family":"Miao","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China"]},{"name":"Hongguang Lu","given":"Hongguang","family":"Lu","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China"]},{"name":"Shihai Liu","given":"Shihai","family":"Liu","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China"]},{"name":"Zhuoqing Yang","given":"Zhuoqing","family":"Yang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9635-6145","affiliations":["National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Micromachines","publishedDate":"2023-01-19","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"2","pages":"257","issn":["2072-666X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":15,"citedByCount":11,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"","awards":["52172372"]},{"name":"Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"","awards":["51605277"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4317436390","doi":"10.3390/mi14020257","url":"https://openalex.org/W4317436390","title":"High-Efficiency 3D-Printed Three-Chamber Electromagnetic Peristaltic Micropump","abstract":"This paper describes the design and characteristics of a three-chamber electromagnetic-driven peristaltic micropump based on 3D-printing technology. The micropump is composed of an NdFeB permanent magnet, a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film, a 3D-printing pump body, bolts, electromagnets and a cantilever valve. Through simulation analysis and experiments using a single chamber and three chambers, valved and valveless, as well as different starting modes, the results were optimized. Finally, it is concluded that the performance of the three-chamber valved model is optimal under synchronous starting conditions. The measurement results show that the maximum output flow and back pressure of the 5 V, 0.3 A drive source are 2407.2 μL/min and 1127 Pa, respectively. The maximum specific flow and back pressure of the micropump system are 534.9 μL/min∙W and 250.4 Pa/W, respectively.","authors":[{"name":"He Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8886-9680","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiaodan Miao","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1748-7199","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Hongguang Lu","orcid":"","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Shihai Liu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5641-1018","institutions":["Shanghai University of Engineering Science"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhuoqing Yang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9635-6145","institutions":["Shanghai Jiao Tong University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2023-01-19","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":11,"referencesCount":15,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/2/257/pdf?version=1674124167","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Micromachines","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Fuel Cells and Related Materials","Electrical and Thermal Properties of Materials"],"keywords":["Micropump","Peristaltic pump","Materials science","Microcoil","Polydimethylsiloxane","Cantilever","Mechanical engineering","Magnet","3d printed","Electrical engineering","Engineering","Composite material"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14020257","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":2.7,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 534.9 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative validation/calibration evidence is present."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-107","slug":"107-establishment-of-low-cost-laboratory-automation-processes-using-autoit-and-4-axis-robots","title":"Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","publication":{"paperTitle":"Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.174Z","abstract":"In most small laboratories, many processes are not yet automated because existing laboratory automation solutions are usually expensive and inflexible to use. Examples of this are autosamplers that are only compatible with one specific laboratory instrument or larger liquid handling stations that are expensive and usually self-contained. A flexible and inexpensive way to automate laboratory processes would be to automate existing laboratory equipment with the help of suitable robotic arms. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of such a strategy based on a low-cost 4-axis robot and freely available software. We used the scripting language AutoIt that automates any Windows-based instrument control software. Using these tools, we automated three fundamentally different laboratory processes: a pipetting process, a use as an autosampler for an atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument, and a more complex process involving the inoculation of bacterial cultures. We also integrated a conventional webcam for 2D barcode recognition. Compared to a trained professional who performed all experiments manually, all setups showed no significant differences in accuracy and precision. In summary, the tested system consisting of a 4-axis robot and freely available software is suitable for flexible automation and has potential for even more complex laboratory processes. Limitations such as a lack of collaboration and speed will be addressed in follow-up studies. The system thus represents a well-suited flexible laboratory automation system for both research and teaching purposes.","authors":[{"name":"Nicole Rupp","orcid":"","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Katrin Peschke","orcid":"","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Köppl","orcid":"","institutions":["Lead Discovery Center (Germany)"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Drissner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-749X","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thole Züchner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6095-4656","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","title":"Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Nicole Rupp","given":"Nicole","family":"Rupp","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Katrin Peschke","given":"Katrin","family":"Peschke","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michael Köppl","given":"Michael","family":"Köppl","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"David Drissner","given":"David","family":"Drissner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-749X","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Thole Zuchner","given":"Thole","family":"Zuchner","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2022-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"27","issue":"5","pages":"312-318","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":21,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4284991010","doi":"10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","url":"https://openalex.org/W4284991010","title":"Establishment of low-cost laboratory automation processes using AutoIt and 4-axis robots","abstract":"In most small laboratories, many processes are not yet automated because existing laboratory automation solutions are usually expensive and inflexible to use. Examples of this are autosamplers that are only compatible with one specific laboratory instrument or larger liquid handling stations that are expensive and usually self-contained. A flexible and inexpensive way to automate laboratory processes would be to automate existing laboratory equipment with the help of suitable robotic arms. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of such a strategy based on a low-cost 4-axis robot and freely available software. We used the scripting language AutoIt that automates any Windows-based instrument control software. Using these tools, we automated three fundamentally different laboratory processes: a pipetting process, a use as an autosampler for an atomic absorption spectroscopy instrument, and a more complex process involving the inoculation of bacterial cultures. We also integrated a conventional webcam for 2D barcode recognition. Compared to a trained professional who performed all experiments manually, all setups showed no significant differences in accuracy and precision. In summary, the tested system consisting of a 4-axis robot and freely available software is suitable for flexible automation and has potential for even more complex laboratory processes. Limitations such as a lack of collaboration and speed will be addressed in follow-up studies. The system thus represents a well-suited flexible laboratory automation system for both research and teaching purposes.","authors":[{"name":"Nicole Rupp","orcid":"","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Katrin Peschke","orcid":"","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michael Köppl","orcid":"","institutions":["Lead Discovery Center (Germany)"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"David Drissner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1173-749X","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thole Züchner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6095-4656","institutions":["Albstadt-Sigmaringen University"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2022-07-10","publicationYear":2022,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":22,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630322051640/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Image Processing Techniques and Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Laboratory automation","Automation","Scripting language","Software","Robot","Computer science","Process (computing)","Barcode","Instrumentation (computer programming)","Instrument control","Process automation system","Simulation"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.slast.2022.07.001","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-establishment-of-low-cost-laboratory-automation-processes-using-autoit-and-4-axis-robots"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-establishment-of-low-cost-laboratory-automation-processes-using-autoit-and-4-axis-robots"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized or custom-built components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-108","slug":"108-highly-customizable-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-kit","title":"Highly-customizable 3D-printed peristaltic pump kit","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","publication":{"paperTitle":"Highly-customizable 3D-printed peristaltic pump kit","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.211Z","abstract":", each component followed a standardized unit) to achieve (1) customizability (users can easily reconfigure various components to comply with their experiments), (2) forward compatibility (new parts with the standardized unit can be designed and easily interfaced to the current kit), and (3) easy replacement of the parts experiencing wear and tear. To demonstrate the forward compatibility, we developed a flowrate calibration tool that was readily interfaced with the developed pump system. The pumps exhibited good repeatability in flowrates and functioned inside a cell incubator (at 37 °C and 95 % humidity) for seven days without noticeable issues in the performance. This cost-effective, highly customizable pump kit should find use in lab-on-a-chip, organs-on-a-chip, and point-of-care microfluidic applications.","authors":[{"name":"Terry Ching","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5747-2020","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jyothsna Vasudevan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8140-5151","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hsih Yin Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3328-0489","institutions":["National University of Singapore"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chwee Teck Lim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4019-9782","institutions":["National University of Singapore"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Javier G. Fernandez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2961-6506","institutions":["Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi‐Chin Toh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-4852","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU","SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michinao Hashimoto","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9684-2354","institutions":["Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","title":"Highly-customizable 3D-printed peristaltic pump kit","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Terry Ching","given":"Terry","family":"Ching","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jyothsna Vasudevan","given":"Jyothsna","family":"Vasudevan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Hsih Yin Tan","given":"Hsih Yin","family":"Tan","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Chwee Teck Lim","given":"Chwee Teck","family":"Lim","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Javier Fernandez","given":"Javier","family":"Fernandez","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yi-Chin Toh","given":"Yi-Chin","family":"Toh","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michinao Hashimoto","given":"Michinao","family":"Hashimoto","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"","pages":"e00202","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":30,"citedByCount":29,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Ministry of Education - Singapore","doi":"10.13039/501100001459","awards":[]},{"name":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","doi":"10.13039/100006919","awards":[]},{"name":"Ministry of Education","doi":"10.13039/501100002701","awards":[]},{"name":"Agency for Science, Technology and Research","doi":"10.13039/501100001348","awards":["A19B9b0067"]},{"name":"Digital Manufacturing and Design Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design","doi":"10.13039/501100010707","awards":["RGDM1620503"]},{"name":"National University of Singapore","doi":"10.13039/501100001352","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3158861232","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","url":"https://openalex.org/W3158861232","title":"Highly-customizable 3D-printed peristaltic pump kit","abstract":", each component followed a standardized unit) to achieve (1) customizability (users can easily reconfigure various components to comply with their experiments), (2) forward compatibility (new parts with the standardized unit can be designed and easily interfaced to the current kit), and (3) easy replacement of the parts experiencing wear and tear. To demonstrate the forward compatibility, we developed a flowrate calibration tool that was readily interfaced with the developed pump system. The pumps exhibited good repeatability in flowrates and functioned inside a cell incubator (at 37 °C and 95 % humidity) for seven days without noticeable issues in the performance. This cost-effective, highly customizable pump kit should find use in lab-on-a-chip, organs-on-a-chip, and point-of-care microfluidic applications.","authors":[{"name":"Terry Ching","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5747-2020","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jyothsna Vasudevan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8140-5151","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hsih Yin Tan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3328-0489","institutions":["National University of Singapore"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Chwee Teck Lim","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4019-9782","institutions":["National University of Singapore"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Javier G. Fernandez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2961-6506","institutions":["Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi‐Chin Toh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-4852","institutions":["National University of Singapore","Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU","SG"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Michinao Hashimoto","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9684-2354","institutions":["Singapore University of Technology and Design"],"countries":["SG"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-05-17","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":31,"referencesCount":28,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067221000316/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Dielectric materials and actuators","Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices"],"keywords":["Peristaltic pump","Microfluidics","Volumetric flow rate","Modular design","Repeatability","Compatibility (geochemistry)","Encapsulation (networking)","Micromixer","Process engineering","Computer science","Computer hardware","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00202","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-highly-customizable-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-kit"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-highly-customizable-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-kit"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 727300 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-109","slug":"109-an-open-source-automated-peg-precipitation-assay-to-measure-the-relative-solubility-of-proteins-with-low-material-requir","title":"An open-source automated PEG precipitation assay to measure the relative solubility of proteins with low material requirement","doi":"10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open-source automated PEG precipitation assay to measure the relative solubility of proteins with low material requirement","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.309Z","abstract":"The solubility of proteins correlates with a variety of their properties, including function, production yield, pharmacokinetics, and formulation at high concentrations. High solubility is therefore a key requirement for the development of protein-based reagents for applications in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Accurate solubility measurements, however, remain challenging and resource intensive, which limits their throughput and hence their applicability at the early stages of development pipelines, when long-lists of candidates are typically available in minute amounts. Here, we present an automated method based on the titration of a crowding agent (polyethylene glycol, PEG) to quantitatively assess relative solubility of proteins using about 200 µg of purified material. Our results demonstrate that this method is accurate and economical in material requirement and costs of reagents, which makes it suitable for high-throughput screening. This approach is freely-shared and based on a low cost, open-source liquid-handling robot. We anticipate that this method will facilitate the assessment of the developability of proteins and make it substantially more accessible.","authors":[{"name":"Marc Oeller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0597-5950","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pietro Sormanni","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6228-2221","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Michele Vendruscolo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3616-1610","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","title":"An open-source automated PEG precipitation assay to measure the relative solubility of proteins with low material requirement","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract The solubility of proteins correlates with a variety of their properties, including function, production yield, pharmacokinetics, and formulation at high concentrations. High solubility is therefore a key requirement for the development of protein-based reagents for applications in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Accurate solubility measurements, however, remain challenging and resource intensive, which limits their throughput and hence their applicability at the early stages of development pipelines, when long-lists of candidates are typically available in minute amounts. Here, we present an automated method based on the titration of a crowding agent (polyethylene glycol, PEG) to quantitatively assess relative solubility of proteins using about 200 µg of purified material. Our results demonstrate that this method is accurate and economical in material requirement and costs of reagents, which makes it suitable for high-throughput screening. This approach is freely-shared and based on a low cost, open-source liquid-handling robot. We anticipate that this method will facilitate the assessment of the developability of proteins and make it substantially more accessible.","authors":[{"name":"Marc Oeller","given":"Marc","family":"Oeller","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pietro Sormanni","given":"Pietro","family":"Sormanni","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Michele Vendruscolo","given":"Michele","family":"Vendruscolo","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2021-11-09","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"11","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":27,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3204990896","doi":"10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","url":"https://openalex.org/W3204990896","title":"An open-source automated PEG precipitation assay to measure the relative solubility of proteins with low material requirement","abstract":"The solubility of proteins correlates with a variety of their properties, including function, production yield, pharmacokinetics, and formulation at high concentrations. High solubility is therefore a key requirement for the development of protein-based reagents for applications in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Accurate solubility measurements, however, remain challenging and resource intensive, which limits their throughput and hence their applicability at the early stages of development pipelines, when long-lists of candidates are typically available in minute amounts. Here, we present an automated method based on the titration of a crowding agent (polyethylene glycol, PEG) to quantitatively assess relative solubility of proteins using about 200 µg of purified material. Our results demonstrate that this method is accurate and economical in material requirement and costs of reagents, which makes it suitable for high-throughput screening. This approach is freely-shared and based on a low cost, open-source liquid-handling robot. We anticipate that this method will facilitate the assessment of the developability of proteins and make it substantially more accessible.","authors":[{"name":"Marc Oeller","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0597-5950","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pietro Sormanni","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6228-2221","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Michele Vendruscolo","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3616-1610","institutions":["University of Cambridge"],"countries":["GB"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":29,"referencesCount":34,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Protein purification and stability","Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research"],"keywords":["Solubility","Polyethylene glycol","Reagent","Computer science","High-throughput screening","Throughput","PEG ratio","Yield (engineering)","Precipitation","Biochemical engineering","Automated method","Process engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01126-4","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Bioprinting","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"No clear feature-size or precision evidence found."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-110","slug":"110-bosl-fal-pump-a-small-low-cost-easily-constructed-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-sampling-of-waters","title":"BoSL FAL pump: A small, low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump for sampling of waters","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","publication":{"paperTitle":"BoSL FAL pump: A small, low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump for sampling of waters","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.418Z","abstract":"Water sampling is an essential undertaking for water utilities and agencies to protect and enhance our natural resources. The high variability in water quality, however, often necessitates a spatially distributed sampling program which is impeded by high-cost and large sampling devices. This paper presents the BoSL FAL Pump - a low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump which can be made from commonly available components and is sized to suit even the most space constrained installations. The pump is 38 mm in height and 28 mm in diameter, its components cost $19 AUD and the construction time is just 12 min (excluding 3D printing times). The pump is driven by a direct current motor which is commonly available, cheap and allows for flexibility in the energy supply (5-12 V). Optionally, the pump has a Hall effect sensor and magnet to detect rotation rates and pumping volumes to improve the accuracy of pumping rates/volumes. The pump can be easily controlled by commonly available microcontrollers, as demonstrated by this paper which implements the ATmega328P on the Arduino Uno R3. This paper validates the pump for long-term deployments at flow rates of up to 13 mL per minute in 0.14 mL volume increments at accuracy levels of greater than 99%. The pump itself is scalable, allowing for a wider range of pumping rates when, for example, large volume samples are required for pathogen and micropollutant detection.","authors":[{"name":"David McCarthy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8845-6501","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Baiqian Shi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2097-1416","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Miao Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2661-3011","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephen Catsamas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8967-5853","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","title":"BoSL FAL pump: A small, low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump for sampling of waters","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"David T. McCarthy","given":"David T.","family":"McCarthy","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Baiqian Shi","given":"Baiqian","family":"Shi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Miao Wang","given":"Miao","family":"Wang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Stephen Catsamas","given":"Stephen","family":"Catsamas","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2021-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"","pages":"e00214","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":23,"citedByCount":14,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3176141061","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","url":"https://openalex.org/W3176141061","title":"BoSL FAL pump: A small, low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump for sampling of waters","abstract":"Water sampling is an essential undertaking for water utilities and agencies to protect and enhance our natural resources. The high variability in water quality, however, often necessitates a spatially distributed sampling program which is impeded by high-cost and large sampling devices. This paper presents the BoSL FAL Pump - a low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump which can be made from commonly available components and is sized to suit even the most space constrained installations. The pump is 38 mm in height and 28 mm in diameter, its components cost $19 AUD and the construction time is just 12 min (excluding 3D printing times). The pump is driven by a direct current motor which is commonly available, cheap and allows for flexibility in the energy supply (5-12 V). Optionally, the pump has a Hall effect sensor and magnet to detect rotation rates and pumping volumes to improve the accuracy of pumping rates/volumes. The pump can be easily controlled by commonly available microcontrollers, as demonstrated by this paper which implements the ATmega328P on the Arduino Uno R3. This paper validates the pump for long-term deployments at flow rates of up to 13 mL per minute in 0.14 mL volume increments at accuracy levels of greater than 99%. The pump itself is scalable, allowing for a wider range of pumping rates when, for example, large volume samples are required for pathogen and micropollutant detection.","authors":[{"name":"David McCarthy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8845-6501","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Baiqian Shi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2097-1416","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Miao Wang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2661-3011","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Stephen Catsamas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8967-5853","institutions":["Monash University"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":14,"referencesCount":21,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067221000432/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Water Quality Monitoring Technologies","Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems","Electrical and Bioimpedance Tomography"],"keywords":["Peristaltic pump","Sampling (signal processing)","Volume (thermodynamics)","Vacuum pump","Computer science","Process engineering","Environmental science","Volumetric flow rate","Simulation","Engineering","Mechanical engineering","Mechanics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"BoSL FAL pump","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record","BoSL FAL pump"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-bosl-fal-pump-a-small-low-cost-easily-constructed-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-sampling-of-waters"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-bosl-fal-pump-a-small-low-cost-easily-constructed-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-sampling-of-waters"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 140 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":2,"rationale":"Operation appears single-unit or manually constrained."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-bosl-fal-pump"],"toolSlugs":["bosl-fal-pump"],"toolNames":["BoSL FAL pump"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-111","slug":"111-evobot-an-open-source-modular-liquid-handling-robot-for-scientific-experiments","title":"EvoBot: An Open-Source, Modular, Liquid Handling Robot for Scientific Experiments","doi":"10.3390/app10030814","publication":{"paperTitle":"EvoBot: An Open-Source, Modular, Liquid Handling Robot for Scientific Experiments","requestedDoi":"10.3390/app10030814","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/app10030814","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.972Z","abstract":"Commercial liquid handling robots are rarely appropriate when tasks change often, which is the case in the early stages of biochemical research. In order to address it, we have developed EvoBot, a liquid handling robot, which is open-source and employs a modular design. The combination of an open-source and a modular design is particularly powerful because functionality is divided into modules with simple, well-defined interfaces, hence customisation of modules is possible without detailed knowledge of the entire system. Furthermore, the modular design allows end-users to only produce and assemble the modules that are relevant for their specific application. Hence, time and money are not wasted on functionality that is not needed. Finally, modules can easily be reused. In this paper, we describe the EvoBot modular design and through scientific experiments such as basic liquid handling, nurturing of microbial fuel cells, and droplet chemotaxis experiments document how functionality is increased one module at a time with a significant amount of reuse. In addition to providing wet-labs with an extendible, open-source liquid handling robot, we also think that modularity is a key concept that is likely to be useful in other robots developed for scientific purposes.","authors":[{"name":"Andrés Faíña","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7288-6988","institutions":["IT University of Copenhagen"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Brian Nejati","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6051-7031","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kasper Støy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-2487","institutions":["IT University of Copenhagen"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/app10030814","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030814","title":"EvoBot: An Open-Source, Modular, Liquid Handling Robot for Scientific Experiments","subtitle":"","abstract":"Commercial liquid handling robots are rarely appropriate when tasks change often, which is the case in the early stages of biochemical research. In order to address it, we have developed EvoBot, a liquid handling robot, which is open-source and employs a modular design. The combination of an open-source and a modular design is particularly powerful because functionality is divided into modules with simple, well-defined interfaces, hence customisation of modules is possible without detailed knowledge of the entire system. Furthermore, the modular design allows end-users to only produce and assemble the modules that are relevant for their specific application. Hence, time and money are not wasted on functionality that is not needed. Finally, modules can easily be reused. In this paper, we describe the EvoBot modular design and through scientific experiments such as basic liquid handling, nurturing of microbial fuel cells, and droplet chemotaxis experiments document how functionality is increased one module at a time with a significant amount of reuse. In addition to providing wet-labs with an extendible, open-source liquid handling robot, we also think that modularity is a key concept that is likely to be useful in other robots developed for scientific purposes.","authors":[{"name":"Andres Faiña","given":"Andres","family":"Faiña","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7288-6988","affiliations":["Robots, Evolution and Art Lab (REAL), Department of Computer Science, IT University of Copenhagen, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark"]},{"name":"Brian Nejati","given":"Brian","family":"Nejati","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada; His work was carried out while he was employed at ITU"]},{"name":"Kasper Stoy","given":"Kasper","family":"Stoy","orcid":"","affiliations":["Robots, Evolution and Art Lab (REAL), Department of Computer Science, IT University of Copenhagen, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Applied Sciences","publishedDate":"2020-01-23","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"10","issue":"3","pages":"814","issn":["2076-3417"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":27,"citedByCount":42,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"H2020 Future and Emerging Technologies","doi":"10.13039/100010664","awards":["611640"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3002429683","doi":"10.3390/app10030814","url":"https://openalex.org/W3002429683","title":"EvoBot: An Open-Source, Modular, Liquid Handling Robot for Scientific Experiments","abstract":"Commercial liquid handling robots are rarely appropriate when tasks change often, which is the case in the early stages of biochemical research. In order to address it, we have developed EvoBot, a liquid handling robot, which is open-source and employs a modular design. The combination of an open-source and a modular design is particularly powerful because functionality is divided into modules with simple, well-defined interfaces, hence customisation of modules is possible without detailed knowledge of the entire system. Furthermore, the modular design allows end-users to only produce and assemble the modules that are relevant for their specific application. Hence, time and money are not wasted on functionality that is not needed. Finally, modules can easily be reused. In this paper, we describe the EvoBot modular design and through scientific experiments such as basic liquid handling, nurturing of microbial fuel cells, and droplet chemotaxis experiments document how functionality is increased one module at a time with a significant amount of reuse. In addition to providing wet-labs with an extendible, open-source liquid handling robot, we also think that modularity is a key concept that is likely to be useful in other robots developed for scientific purposes.","authors":[{"name":"Andrés Faíña","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7288-6988","institutions":["IT University of Copenhagen"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Brian Nejati","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6051-7031","institutions":["University of Toronto"],"countries":["CA"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kasper Støy","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-2487","institutions":["IT University of Copenhagen"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2020-01-23","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":49,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/3/814/pdf?version=1581510382","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Applied Sciences","topics":["Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence","Micro and Nano Robotics","Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation"],"keywords":["Modular design","Modularity (biology)","Reuse","Computer science","Robot","Self-reconfiguring modular robot","Key (lock)","Open source","Human–computer interaction","Simple (philosophy)","Systems engineering","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030814","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"EvoBot","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation","Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record","EvoBot"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.1,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":2,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 100 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-evobot"],"toolSlugs":["evobot"],"toolNames":["EvoBot"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-112","slug":"112-a-simple-approach-for-controlling-an-open-source-syringe-pump","title":"A Simple Approach for Controlling an Open-Source Syringe Pump","doi":"10.26701/ems.769837","publication":{"paperTitle":"A Simple Approach for Controlling an Open-Source Syringe Pump","requestedDoi":"10.26701/ems.769837","resolvedDoi":"10.26701/ems.769837","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.990Z","abstract":"Precise control of fluid flows in microfluidic applications is crucial for various applications in lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnostics. Standard bench-top equipment for providing this capability are syringe pumps. However, high cost of these systems limit their availability in low resourced laboratories. There are various open-sourced alternative syringe pump systems that can be fabricated and assembled using 3D printing, but they lack versatile control and flow rate characterization that are required for microfluidic applications. We report a simple and cost-effective approach to control an open-source multi-channel syringe pump. Simultaneous and adjustable flow control, and detailed characterization of the volume flow rates for different syringe volumes are also demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Fatih Akkoyun","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1432-8926","institutions":["Engineering (Italy)","Adnan Menderes University"],"countries":["IT","TR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adem Özçelik","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3124-795X","institutions":["Engineering (Italy)","Adnan Menderes University"],"countries":["IT","TR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.26701/ems.769837","url":"https://doi.org/10.26701/ems.769837","title":"A Simple Approach for Controlling an Open-Source Syringe Pump","subtitle":"","abstract":"Precise control of fluid flows in microfluidic applications is crucial for various applications in lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnostics. Standard bench-top equipment for providing this capability are syringe pumps. However, high cost of these systems limit their availability in low resourced laboratories. There are various open-sourced alternative syringe pump systems that can be fabricated and assembled using 3D printing, but they lack versatile control and flow rate characterization that are required for microfluidic applications. We report a simple and cost-effective approach to control an open-source multi-channel syringe pump. Simultaneous and adjustable flow control, and detailed characterization of the volume flow rates for different syringe volumes are also demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Fatih AKKOYUN","given":"Fatih","family":"AKKOYUN","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1432-8926","affiliations":["AYDIN ADNAN MENDERES ÜNİVERSİTESİ"]},{"name":"Adem ÖZÇELİK","given":"Adem","family":"ÖZÇELİK","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3124-795X","affiliations":["Aydın Adnan Menderes University"]}],"publisher":"European Mechanical Science","journal":"European Mechanical Science","publishedDate":"2020-12-20","type":"journal-article","language":"","volume":"4","issue":"4","pages":"166-170","issn":["2587-1110"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":21,"citedByCount":20,"licenses":[],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3120332694","doi":"10.26701/ems.769837","url":"https://openalex.org/W3120332694","title":"A Simple Approach for Controlling an Open-Source Syringe Pump","abstract":"Precise control of fluid flows in microfluidic applications is crucial for various applications in lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnostics. Standard bench-top equipment for providing this capability are syringe pumps. However, high cost of these systems limit their availability in low resourced laboratories. There are various open-sourced alternative syringe pump systems that can be fabricated and assembled using 3D printing, but they lack versatile control and flow rate characterization that are required for microfluidic applications. We report a simple and cost-effective approach to control an open-source multi-channel syringe pump. Simultaneous and adjustable flow control, and detailed characterization of the volume flow rates for different syringe volumes are also demonstrated.","authors":[{"name":"Fatih Akkoyun","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1432-8926","institutions":["Engineering (Italy)","Adnan Menderes University"],"countries":["IT","TR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adem Özçelik","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3124-795X","institutions":["Engineering (Italy)","Adnan Menderes University"],"countries":["IT","TR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-12-20","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":21,"referencesCount":21,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"diamond","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"European Mechanical Science","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Intravenous Infusion Technology and Safety"],"keywords":["Syringe driver","Syringe","Microfluidics","Computer science","Flow control (data)","Peristaltic pump","Process engineering","Infusion pump","Volumetric flow rate","Open source","Nanotechnology","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.26701/ems.769837","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0.5 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":2,"rationale":"Cycle time appears slower or hours-scale."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-113","slug":"113-the-fast-pump-a-low-cost-easy-to-fabricate-sla-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-multi-channel-systems-in-any-lab","title":"The FAST Pump, a low-cost, easy to fabricate, SLA-3D-printed peristaltic pump for multi-channel systems in any lab","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","publication":{"paperTitle":"The FAST Pump, a low-cost, easy to fabricate, SLA-3D-printed peristaltic pump for multi-channel systems in any lab","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:02.647Z","abstract":"With the increasing interest in high throughput screening and parallel assays, laboratories around the world inevitably find themselves in need of driving a multitude of fluid lines to facilitate their large scale studies. The comparatively low cost and no-fluid-contact design of peristaltic pumps make them the go-to systems for such ventures, but using commercially available pumping systems this still becomes a costly endeavor at typically $250-$1000 per pump line. Here we have developed an alternative, a peristaltic pump that can be fabricated in most research laboratories using 3D-printing and readily available off-the-shelf parts. The pump features 8 parallel channels with linear ranges spanning from 0.7 µL/min to 6 mL/min. The pump can be fabricated and assembled by anyone with access to a 3D-printer at a cost of less than $45 per channel and is driven by a stepper motor that connects directly to any computer. This device has the potential to be disruptive in areas such as drug screening and assay development, as well as lab-on-a-chip applications and cell cultivation, where it significantly reduces hardware expenses and allows for construction of more comprehensive fluidic systems at a fraction of current costs.","authors":[{"name":"Alexander Jönsson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9412-0745","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Arianna Toppi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3025-555X","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Martin Dufva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5449-0189","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","title":"The FAST Pump, a low-cost, easy to fabricate, SLA-3D-printed peristaltic pump for multi-channel systems in any lab","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Alexander Jönsson","given":"Alexander","family":"Jönsson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Arianna Toppi","given":"Arianna","family":"Toppi","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Martin Dufva","given":"Martin","family":"Dufva","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2020-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"8","issue":"","pages":"e00115","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":36,"citedByCount":33,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions","doi":"10.13039/100010665","awards":[]},{"name":"Innovationsfonden","doi":"10.13039/100012774","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3033059868","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","url":"https://openalex.org/W3033059868","title":"The FAST Pump, a low-cost, easy to fabricate, SLA-3D-printed peristaltic pump for multi-channel systems in any lab","abstract":"With the increasing interest in high throughput screening and parallel assays, laboratories around the world inevitably find themselves in need of driving a multitude of fluid lines to facilitate their large scale studies. The comparatively low cost and no-fluid-contact design of peristaltic pumps make them the go-to systems for such ventures, but using commercially available pumping systems this still becomes a costly endeavor at typically $250-$1000 per pump line. Here we have developed an alternative, a peristaltic pump that can be fabricated in most research laboratories using 3D-printing and readily available off-the-shelf parts. The pump features 8 parallel channels with linear ranges spanning from 0.7 µL/min to 6 mL/min. The pump can be fabricated and assembled by anyone with access to a 3D-printer at a cost of less than $45 per channel and is driven by a stepper motor that connects directly to any computer. This device has the potential to be disruptive in areas such as drug screening and assay development, as well as lab-on-a-chip applications and cell cultivation, where it significantly reduces hardware expenses and allows for construction of more comprehensive fluidic systems at a fraction of current costs.","authors":[{"name":"Alexander Jönsson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9412-0745","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Arianna Toppi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3025-555X","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Martin Dufva","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5449-0189","institutions":["Technical University of Denmark"],"countries":["DK"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-06-07","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":39,"referencesCount":39,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"http://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468067220300249/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"HardwareX","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Peristaltic pump","Computer science","Channel (broadcasting)","Computer hardware","Microfluidics","Fluidics","Throughput","Process engineering","Embedded system","Nanotechnology","Engineering","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00115","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"The FAST Pump","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record","The FAST Pump"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-the-fast-pump-a-low-cost-easy-to-fabricate-sla-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-multi-channel-systems-in-an"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-the-fast-pump-a-low-cost-easy-to-fabricate-sla-3d-printed-peristaltic-pump-for-multi-channel-systems-in-an"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 700 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-the-fast-pump"],"toolSlugs":["the-fast-pump"],"toolNames":["The FAST Pump"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-114","slug":"114-principles-of-open-source-bioinstrumentation-applied-to-the-poseidon-syringe-pump-system","title":"Principles of open source bioinstrumentation applied to the poseidon syringe pump system","doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","publication":{"paperTitle":"Principles of open source bioinstrumentation applied to the poseidon syringe pump system","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:03.213Z","abstract":"The poseidon syringe pump and microscope system is an open source alternative to commercial systems. It costs less than $400 and can be assembled in under an hour using the instructions and source files available at https://pachterlab.github.io/poseidon . We describe the poseidon system and use it to illustrate design principles that can facilitate the adoption and development of open source bioinstruments. The principles are functionality, robustness, safety, simplicity, modularity, benchmarking, and documentation.","authors":[{"name":"A. Sina Booeshaghi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6442-4502","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Eduardo da Veiga Beltrame","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1529-9207","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dylan Bannon","orcid":"","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jase Gehring","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-9495","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lior Pachter","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9164-6231","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","title":"Principles of open source bioinstrumentation applied to the poseidon syringe pump system","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract The poseidon syringe pump and microscope system is an open source alternative to commercial systems. It costs less than $400 and can be assembled in under an hour using the instructions and source files available at https://pachterlab.github.io/poseidon . We describe the poseidon system and use it to illustrate design principles that can facilitate the adoption and development of open source bioinstruments. The principles are functionality, robustness, safety, simplicity, modularity, benchmarking, and documentation.","authors":[{"name":"A. Sina Booeshaghi","given":"A. Sina","family":"Booeshaghi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6442-4502","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Eduardo da Veiga Beltrame","given":"Eduardo da Veiga","family":"Beltrame","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1529-9207","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dylan Bannon","given":"Dylan","family":"Bannon","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jase Gehring","given":"Jase","family":"Gehring","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Lior Pachter","given":"Lior","family":"Pachter","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9164-6231","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2019-08-27","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":32,"citedByCount":60,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2970349652","doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","url":"https://openalex.org/W2970349652","title":"Principles of open source bioinstrumentation applied to the poseidon syringe pump system","abstract":"The poseidon syringe pump and microscope system is an open source alternative to commercial systems. It costs less than $400 and can be assembled in under an hour using the instructions and source files available at https://pachterlab.github.io/poseidon . We describe the poseidon system and use it to illustrate design principles that can facilitate the adoption and development of open source bioinstruments. The principles are functionality, robustness, safety, simplicity, modularity, benchmarking, and documentation.","authors":[{"name":"A. Sina Booeshaghi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6442-4502","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Eduardo da Veiga Beltrame","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1529-9207","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dylan Bannon","orcid":"","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jase Gehring","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-9495","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Lior Pachter","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9164-6231","institutions":["California Institute of Technology"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-08-27","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":72,"referencesCount":17,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Cell Image Analysis Techniques","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Open source","Documentation","Computer science","Benchmarking","Syringe driver","Robustness (evolution)","Syringe","Modularity (biology)","Software engineering","Operating system","Software","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48815-9","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pumping"],"systemOrTechnology":"Poseidon syringe pump system","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pumping","Supplemental corpus record","Poseidon syringe pump system"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":4,"rationale":"Open resources include several build or operation artifacts."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-poseidon-syringe-pump-system"],"toolSlugs":["poseidon-syringe-pump-system"],"toolNames":["Poseidon syringe pump system"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-115","slug":"115-an-automated-and-parallelised-diy-dosing-unit-for-individual-and-complex-feeding-profiles-construction-validation-and-ap","title":"An automated and parallelised DIY-dosing unit for individual and complex feeding profiles: Construction, validation and applications","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","publication":{"paperTitle":"An automated and parallelised DIY-dosing unit for individual and complex feeding profiles: Construction, validation and applications","requestedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","resolvedDoi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.255Z","abstract":"Since biotechnological research becomes more and more important for industrial applications, there is an increasing need for scalable and controllable laboratory procedures. A widely used approach in biotechnological research to improve the performance of a process is to vary the growth rates in order to find the right balance between growth and the production. This can be achieved by the application of a suitable feeding strategy. During this initial bioprocess development, it is beneficial to have at hand cheap and easy setups that work in parallel (e.g. in shaking flasks). Unfortunately, there is a gap between these easy setups and defined and controllable processes, which are necessary for up-scaling to an industrial relevant volume. One prerequisite to test and evaluate different process strategies apart from batch-mode is the availability of pump systems that allow for defined feeding profiles in shaking flasks. To our knowledge, there is no suitable dosing device on the market which fulfils the requirements of being cheap, precise, programmable, and parallelizable. Commercially available dosing units are either already integrated in bioreactors and therefore inflexible, or not programmable, or expensive, or a combination of those. Here, we present a LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based syringe pump, which has the potential of being widely used in daily laboratory routine due to its low price, programmability, and parallelisability. The acquisition costs do not exceed 350 € for up to four dosing units, that are independently controllable with one EV3 block. The system covers flow rates ranging from 0.7 μL min-1 up to 210 mL min-1 with a reliable flux. One dosing unit can convey at maximum a volume of 20 mL (using all 4 units even up to 80 mL in total) over the whole process time. The design of the dosing unit enables the user to perform experiments with up to four different growth rates in parallel (each measured in triplicates) per EV3-block used. We estimate, that the LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based dosing unit with 12 syringes in parallel is reducing the costs up to 50-fold compared to a trivial version of a commercial pump system (~1500 €) which fits the same requirements. Using the pump, we set the growth rates of a E. coli HMS174/DE3 culture to values between 0.1 and 0.4 h-1 with a standard deviation of at best 0.35% and an average discrepancy of 13.2%. Additionally, we determined the energy demand of a culture for the maintenance of the pTRA-51hd plasmid by quantifying the changes in biomass yield with different growth rates set. Around 25% of total substrate taken up is used for plasmid maintenance. To present possible applications and show the flexibility of the system, we applied a constant feed to perform microencapsulation of Pseudomonas putida and an individual dosing profile for the purification of a his-tagged eGFP via IMAC. This smart and versatile dosing unit, which is ready-to-use without any prior knowledge in electronics and control, is affordable for everyone and due to its flexibility and broad application range a valuable addition to the laboratory routine.","authors":[{"name":"Sabine Gabriele Wagner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9750-6996","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christoph Mähler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2752-8940","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ingmar Polte","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy von Poschinger","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hannes Löwe","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3867-6391","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andreas Kremling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9533-6786","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Katharina Pflüger‐Grau","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8334-353X","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","url":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","title":"An automated and parallelised DIY-dosing unit for individual and complex feeding profiles: Construction, validation and applications","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Sabine G. Wagner","given":"Sabine G.","family":"Wagner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9750-6996","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Christoph Mähler","given":"Christoph","family":"Mähler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2752-8940","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ingmar Polte","given":"Ingmar","family":"Polte","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jeremy von Poschinger","given":"Jeremy","family":"von Poschinger","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Hannes Löwe","given":"Hannes","family":"Löwe","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Andreas Kremling","given":"Andreas","family":"Kremling","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Katharina Pflüger-Grau","given":"Katharina","family":"Pflüger-Grau","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","journal":"PLOS ONE","publishedDate":"2019-06-19","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"6","pages":"e0217268","issn":["1932-6203"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":49,"citedByCount":5,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2951148048","doi":"10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","url":"https://openalex.org/W2951148048","title":"An automated and parallelised DIY-dosing unit for individual and complex feeding profiles: Construction, validation and applications","abstract":"Since biotechnological research becomes more and more important for industrial applications, there is an increasing need for scalable and controllable laboratory procedures. A widely used approach in biotechnological research to improve the performance of a process is to vary the growth rates in order to find the right balance between growth and the production. This can be achieved by the application of a suitable feeding strategy. During this initial bioprocess development, it is beneficial to have at hand cheap and easy setups that work in parallel (e.g. in shaking flasks). Unfortunately, there is a gap between these easy setups and defined and controllable processes, which are necessary for up-scaling to an industrial relevant volume. One prerequisite to test and evaluate different process strategies apart from batch-mode is the availability of pump systems that allow for defined feeding profiles in shaking flasks. To our knowledge, there is no suitable dosing device on the market which fulfils the requirements of being cheap, precise, programmable, and parallelizable. Commercially available dosing units are either already integrated in bioreactors and therefore inflexible, or not programmable, or expensive, or a combination of those. Here, we present a LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based syringe pump, which has the potential of being widely used in daily laboratory routine due to its low price, programmability, and parallelisability. The acquisition costs do not exceed 350 € for up to four dosing units, that are independently controllable with one EV3 block. The system covers flow rates ranging from 0.7 μL min-1 up to 210 mL min-1 with a reliable flux. One dosing unit can convey at maximum a volume of 20 mL (using all 4 units even up to 80 mL in total) over the whole process time. The design of the dosing unit enables the user to perform experiments with up to four different growth rates in parallel (each measured in triplicates) per EV3-block used. We estimate, that the LEGO-MINDSTORMS-based dosing unit with 12 syringes in parallel is reducing the costs up to 50-fold compared to a trivial version of a commercial pump system (~1500 €) which fits the same requirements. Using the pump, we set the growth rates of a E. coli HMS174/DE3 culture to values between 0.1 and 0.4 h-1 with a standard deviation of at best 0.35% and an average discrepancy of 13.2%. Additionally, we determined the energy demand of a culture for the maintenance of the pTRA-51hd plasmid by quantifying the changes in biomass yield with different growth rates set. Around 25% of total substrate taken up is used for plasmid maintenance. To present possible applications and show the flexibility of the system, we applied a constant feed to perform microencapsulation of Pseudomonas putida and an individual dosing profile for the purification of a his-tagged eGFP via IMAC. This smart and versatile dosing unit, which is ready-to-use without any prior knowledge in electronics and control, is affordable for everyone and due to its flexibility and broad application range a valuable addition to the laboratory routine.","authors":[{"name":"Sabine Gabriele Wagner","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9750-6996","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Christoph Mähler","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2752-8940","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ingmar Polte","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jeremy von Poschinger","orcid":"","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Hannes Löwe","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3867-6391","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Andreas Kremling","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9533-6786","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Katharina Pflüger‐Grau","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8334-353X","institutions":["Technical University of Munich"],"countries":["DE"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"2019-06-19","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":5,"referencesCount":47,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PLoS ONE","topics":["Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Bioprocess","Laboratory flask","Scalability","Computer science","Process engineering","Process (computing)","Syringe driver","Automation","Batch processing","Process development","Engineering","Syringe"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217268","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0.7 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-116","slug":"116-an-open-source-programmable-smart-pipette-for-portable-cell-separation-and-counting","title":"An open-source programmable smart pipette for portable cell separation and counting","doi":"10.1039/c9ra08368e","publication":{"paperTitle":"An open-source programmable smart pipette for portable cell separation and counting","requestedDoi":"10.1039/c9ra08368e","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/c9ra08368e","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:06.115Z","abstract":"Microfluidics offers great potential for biomedical applications, but the complexity, inconvenience, and low pumping equipment accessibility of operating microfluidic devices have limited their widespread use. Here we describe an open-source, programmable smart (OS) pipette as an easy-to-use, simple, handheld microfluidic pump that overcomes the major limitations of previous commercial- or research-level pumps for microfluidics. The OS pipette pumps fluid into a microfluidic device by precisely controlling the position of the plunger of a positive-displacement micropipette with stepper motor control. The intuitive pumping mechanism of the OS pipette enables the novel features of simple fabrication, straightforward device operation, and precise, predictable, and programmable flow-rate generation as an open-source pumping tool. Controlling the OS pipette using an open-source microcontroller board not only allows straightforward generation of constant flow rates with simple source code commands, but also permits varying flow rates to be programmed (including stepwise increase and decrease of the flow rate over time, and flow-rate pulse generation). We successfully validate the OS pipette's capabilities for portable microfluidic cell separation and counting. The OS pipette has promise as a rapidly evolving and potentially transformative pumping tool that freely allows unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, and modification even by non-expert users, and further enables diverse usages, even beyond microfluidics.","authors":[{"name":"Eunjung Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1792-2840","institutions":["Yong In University","Government of the Republic of Korea","Kyung Hee University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Byeongyeon Kim","orcid":"","institutions":["Government of the Republic of Korea","The Seoul Institute","Hanyang University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sungyoung Choi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-6278","institutions":["Government of the Republic of Korea","The Seoul Institute","Hanyang University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/c9ra08368e","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ra08368e","title":"An open-source programmable smart pipette for portable cell separation and counting","subtitle":"","abstract":"We present an open-source, programmable smart pipette that enables portable operation of microfluidic devices while maintaining the functionalities of commercial syringe pumps.","authors":[{"name":"Eunjung Lee","given":"Eunjung","family":"Lee","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering","Kyung Hee University","Yongin-si","Republic of Korea"]},{"name":"Byeongyeon Kim","given":"Byeongyeon","family":"Kim","orcid":"","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering","Hanyang University","Seoul 04763","Republic of Korea"]},{"name":"Sungyoung Choi","given":"Sungyoung","family":"Choi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-6278","affiliations":["Department of Biomedical Engineering","Hanyang University","Seoul 04763","Republic of Korea"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"RSC Advances","publishedDate":"2019-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"71","pages":"41877-41885","issn":["2046-2069"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":46,"citedByCount":8,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Research Foundation of Korea","doi":"10.13039/501100003725","awards":["2016R1A5A1010148"]},{"name":"National Research Foundation of Korea","doi":"10.13039/501100003725","awards":["2019R1H1A1079944"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2996322221","doi":"10.1039/c9ra08368e","url":"https://openalex.org/W2996322221","title":"An open-source programmable smart pipette for portable cell separation and counting","abstract":"Microfluidics offers great potential for biomedical applications, but the complexity, inconvenience, and low pumping equipment accessibility of operating microfluidic devices have limited their widespread use. Here we describe an open-source, programmable smart (OS) pipette as an easy-to-use, simple, handheld microfluidic pump that overcomes the major limitations of previous commercial- or research-level pumps for microfluidics. The OS pipette pumps fluid into a microfluidic device by precisely controlling the position of the plunger of a positive-displacement micropipette with stepper motor control. The intuitive pumping mechanism of the OS pipette enables the novel features of simple fabrication, straightforward device operation, and precise, predictable, and programmable flow-rate generation as an open-source pumping tool. Controlling the OS pipette using an open-source microcontroller board not only allows straightforward generation of constant flow rates with simple source code commands, but also permits varying flow rates to be programmed (including stepwise increase and decrease of the flow rate over time, and flow-rate pulse generation). We successfully validate the OS pipette's capabilities for portable microfluidic cell separation and counting. The OS pipette has promise as a rapidly evolving and potentially transformative pumping tool that freely allows unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, and modification even by non-expert users, and further enables diverse usages, even beyond microfluidics.","authors":[{"name":"Eunjung Lee","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1792-2840","institutions":["Yong In University","Government of the Republic of Korea","Kyung Hee University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Byeongyeon Kim","orcid":"","institutions":["Government of the Republic of Korea","The Seoul Institute","Hanyang University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Sungyoung Choi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9262-6278","institutions":["Government of the Republic of Korea","The Seoul Institute","Hanyang University"],"countries":["KR"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-01-01","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":9,"referencesCount":47,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2019/ra/c9ra08368e","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"RSC Advances","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Pipette","Microfluidics","Computer science","Positive displacement meter","Volumetric flow rate","Nanotechnology","Computer hardware","Materials science","Chemistry","Engineering","Mechanical engineering","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ra08368e","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Pipetting and dispensing","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-an-open-source-programmable-smart-pipette-for-portable-cell-separation-and-counting"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-an-open-source-programmable-smart-pipette-for-portable-cell-separation-and-counting"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling"]},{"id":"paper-117","slug":"117-adapting-a-low-cost-and-open-source-commercial-pipetting-robot-for-nanoliter-liquid-handling","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","doi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","publication":{"paperTitle":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","requestedDoi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","resolvedDoi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:03.563Z","abstract":"Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.","authors":[{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thy Truong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6675-7685","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yiran Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-9984","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kei G. I. Webber","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Zhu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-0566","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-1734","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ryan Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","url":"https://doi.org/10.1177/2472630320973591","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"E. Enoch A.W. Councill","given":"E. Enoch A.W.","family":"Councill","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","given":"Nathanial B.","family":"Axtell","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Thy Truong","given":"Thy","family":"Truong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yiran Liang","given":"Yiran","family":"Liang","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","given":"Adam L.","family":"Aposhian","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kei G.I. Webber","given":"Kei G.I.","family":"Webber","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ying Zhu","given":"Ying","family":"Zhu","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","given":"Yongzheng","family":"Cong","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","given":"Richard H.","family":"Carson","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Ryan T. Kelly","given":"Ryan T.","family":"Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"SLAS Technology","publishedDate":"2021-06-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"26","issue":"3","pages":"311-319","issn":["2472-6303"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":30,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Cancer Institute","doi":"10.13039/100000054","awards":["R33CA225248"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3101555713","doi":"10.1177/2472630320973591","url":"https://openalex.org/W3101555713","title":"Adapting a Low-Cost and Open-Source Commercial Pipetting Robot for Nanoliter Liquid Handling","abstract":"Low-volume liquid handling capabilities in bioanalytical workflows can dramatically improve sample processing efficiency and reduce reagent costs, yet many commercial nanoliter liquid handlers cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. We have successfully adapted a low-cost and open-source commercial pipetting robot, the Opentrons OT-1, to accurately aspirate and dispense nanoliter volumes. Based on fluorescence measurements, the modified OT-1 was able to reproducibly transfer 50 nL of water with less than 3% measurement error and 5% coefficient of variation (CV). For 15 nL transfers, the volume measurements indicated less than 4% error and 4% CV. We applied this platform to the preparation of low-nanogram proteomic samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, demonstrating that the modified OT-1 is an effective platform for nanoliter liquid handling. At a total materials cost of less than $6000, including the commercial liquid handler and all modifications, this system is also far less expensive than other platforms with similar capabilities, placing automated nanoliter handling within reach of a far broader scientific community.","authors":[{"name":"Nathanial B. Axtell","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Thy Truong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6675-7685","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yiran Liang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8071-9984","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam L. Aposhian","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Kei G. I. Webber","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ying Zhu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5416-0566","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yongzheng Cong","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-1734","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Richard H. Carson","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ryan Kelly","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3339-4443","institutions":["Brigham Young University","Pacific Northwest National Laboratory","Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2020-11-20","publicationYear":2020,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":33,"referencesCount":24,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"http://slas-technology.org/article/S2472630322011086/pdf","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc-nd","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"SLAS TECHNOLOGY","topics":["Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies","Biosensors and Analytical Detection","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation"],"keywords":["Pipette","Workflow","Volume (thermodynamics)","Bioanalysis","Open source","Process engineering","Computer science","Chromatography","Reagent","Chemistry","Engineering","Physics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1177/2472630320973591","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation","Pipetting and dispensing","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-adapting-a-low-cost-and-open-source-commercial-pipetting-robot-for-nanoliter-liquid-handling"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-adapting-a-low-cost-and-open-source-commercial-pipetting-robot-for-nanoliter-liquid-handling"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0.015 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-118","slug":"118-3d-printing-of-individualized-microfluidic-chips-with-dlp-based-printer","title":"3D Printing of Individualized Microfluidic Chips with DLP-Based Printer","doi":"10.3390/ma16216984","publication":{"paperTitle":"3D Printing of Individualized Microfluidic Chips with DLP-Based Printer","requestedDoi":"10.3390/ma16216984","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/ma16216984","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:03.784Z","abstract":"Microfluidic chips have shown their potential for applications in fields such as chemistry and biology, and 3D printing is increasingly utilized as the fabrication method for microfluidic chips. To address key issues such as the long printing time for conventional 3D printing of a single chip and the demand for rapid response in individualized microfluidic chip customization, we have optimized the use of DLP (digital light processing) technology, which offers faster printing speeds due to its surface exposure method. In this study, we specifically focused on developing a fast-manufacturing process for directly printing microfluidic chips, addressing the high cost of traditional microfabrication processes and the lengthy production times associated with other 3D printing methods for microfluidic chips. Based on the designed three-dimensional chip model, we utilized a DLP-based printer to directly print two-dimensional and three-dimensional microfluidic chips with photosensitive resin. To overcome the challenge of clogging in printing microchannels, we proposed a printing method that combined an open-channel design with transparent adhesive tape sealing. This method enables the rapid printing of microfluidic chips with complex and intricate microstructures. This research provides a crucial foundation for the development of microfluidic chips in biomedical research.","authors":[{"name":"Jingjiang Qiu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9225-8273","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Junfu Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6088-2072","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhongwei Guo","orcid":"","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yudong Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5690-6467","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Bangbang Nie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1187-8292","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guochen Qi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2687-2918","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiang Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6416-558X","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiong Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-6252","institutions":["City University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ronghan Wei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7571-8223","institutions":["Zhengzhou University","Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/ma16216984","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216984","title":"3D Printing of Individualized Microfluidic Chips with DLP-Based Printer","subtitle":"","abstract":"Microfluidic chips have shown their potential for applications in fields such as chemistry and biology, and 3D printing is increasingly utilized as the fabrication method for microfluidic chips. To address key issues such as the long printing time for conventional 3D printing of a single chip and the demand for rapid response in individualized microfluidic chip customization, we have optimized the use of DLP (digital light processing) technology, which offers faster printing speeds due to its surface exposure method. In this study, we specifically focused on developing a fast-manufacturing process for directly printing microfluidic chips, addressing the high cost of traditional microfabrication processes and the lengthy production times associated with other 3D printing methods for microfluidic chips. Based on the designed three-dimensional chip model, we utilized a DLP-based printer to directly print two-dimensional and three-dimensional microfluidic chips with photosensitive resin. To overcome the challenge of clogging in printing microchannels, we proposed a printing method that combined an open-channel design with transparent adhesive tape sealing. This method enables the rapid printing of microfluidic chips with complex and intricate microstructures. This research provides a crucial foundation for the development of microfluidic chips in biomedical research.","authors":[{"name":"Jingjiang Qiu","given":"Jingjiang","family":"Qiu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9225-8273","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Junfu Li","given":"Junfu","family":"Li","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Zhongwei Guo","given":"Zhongwei","family":"Guo","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Yudong Zhang","given":"Yudong","family":"Zhang","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Bangbang Nie","given":"Bangbang","family":"Nie","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Guochen Qi","given":"Guochen","family":"Qi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2687-2918","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Xiang Zhang","given":"Xiang","family":"Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6416-558X","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]},{"name":"Jiong Zhang","given":"Jiong","family":"Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-6252","affiliations":["Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China"]},{"name":"Ronghan Wei","given":"Ronghan","family":"Wei","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanics and Safety Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Engineering Technology Research Center of Henan Province for MEMS Manufacturing and Applications, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Institute of Intelligent Sensing, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China","Industrial Technology Research Institute, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Materials","publishedDate":"2023-10-31","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"16","issue":"21","pages":"6984","issn":["1996-1944"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":37,"citedByCount":25,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["52171193"]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["HNGD2023001"]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["201901011"]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["HZKY20220283"]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["GZKF-202014"]},{"name":"High-level Foreign Expert Introduction Plan of Henan Province","doi":"","awards":["52171193"]},{"name":"High-level Foreign Expert Introduction Plan of Henan Province","doi":"","awards":["HNGD2023001"]},{"name":"High-level Foreign Expert Introduction Plan of Henan Province","doi":"","awards":["201901011"]},{"name":"High-level Foreign Expert Introduction Plan of Henan Province","doi":"","awards":["HZKY20220283"]},{"name":"High-level Foreign Expert Introduction Plan of Henan Province","doi":"","awards":["GZKF-202014"]},{"name":"Henan Postdoctoral Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017699","awards":["52171193"]},{"name":"Henan Postdoctoral Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017699","awards":["HNGD2023001"]},{"name":"Henan Postdoctoral Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017699","awards":["201901011"]},{"name":"Henan Postdoctoral Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017699","awards":["HZKY20220283"]},{"name":"Henan Postdoctoral Science Foundation","doi":"10.13039/501100017699","awards":["GZKF-202014"]},{"name":"Chunhui Plan of Ministry of Education of China","doi":"","awards":["52171193"]},{"name":"Chunhui Plan of Ministry of Education of China","doi":"","awards":["HNGD2023001"]},{"name":"Chunhui Plan of Ministry of Education of China","doi":"","awards":["201901011"]},{"name":"Chunhui Plan of Ministry of Education of China","doi":"","awards":["HZKY20220283"]},{"name":"Chunhui Plan of Ministry of Education of China","doi":"","awards":["GZKF-202014"]},{"name":"Open Foundation of the State Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems","doi":"","awards":["52171193"]},{"name":"Open Foundation of the State Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems","doi":"","awards":["HNGD2023001"]},{"name":"Open Foundation of the State Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems","doi":"","awards":["201901011"]},{"name":"Open Foundation of the State Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems","doi":"","awards":["HZKY20220283"]},{"name":"Open Foundation of the State Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems","doi":"","awards":["GZKF-202014"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4388041202","doi":"10.3390/ma16216984","url":"https://openalex.org/W4388041202","title":"3D Printing of Individualized Microfluidic Chips with DLP-Based Printer","abstract":"Microfluidic chips have shown their potential for applications in fields such as chemistry and biology, and 3D printing is increasingly utilized as the fabrication method for microfluidic chips. To address key issues such as the long printing time for conventional 3D printing of a single chip and the demand for rapid response in individualized microfluidic chip customization, we have optimized the use of DLP (digital light processing) technology, which offers faster printing speeds due to its surface exposure method. In this study, we specifically focused on developing a fast-manufacturing process for directly printing microfluidic chips, addressing the high cost of traditional microfabrication processes and the lengthy production times associated with other 3D printing methods for microfluidic chips. Based on the designed three-dimensional chip model, we utilized a DLP-based printer to directly print two-dimensional and three-dimensional microfluidic chips with photosensitive resin. To overcome the challenge of clogging in printing microchannels, we proposed a printing method that combined an open-channel design with transparent adhesive tape sealing. This method enables the rapid printing of microfluidic chips with complex and intricate microstructures. This research provides a crucial foundation for the development of microfluidic chips in biomedical research.","authors":[{"name":"Jingjiang Qiu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9225-8273","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Junfu Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6088-2072","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhongwei Guo","orcid":"","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yudong Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5690-6467","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Bangbang Nie","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1187-8292","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Guochen Qi","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2687-2918","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Xiang Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6416-558X","institutions":["Zhengzhou University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jiong Zhang","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-6252","institutions":["City University of Hong Kong"],"countries":["HK"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ronghan Wei","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7571-8223","institutions":["Zhengzhou University","Zhengzhou University of Industrial Technology"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-10-31","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":26,"referencesCount":38,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/21/6984/pdf?version=1698759326","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Materials","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Microfabrication","3D printing","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Digital printing","3d printer","Microfluidic chip","Inkwell","Fabrication","Computer science","Engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216984","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":["Vat photopolymerization","Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Vat photopolymerization","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":4,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 20 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-119","slug":"119-melt-electrowriting-of-nylon-12-microfibers-with-an-open-source-3d-printer","title":"Melt Electrowriting of Nylon‐12 Microfibers with an Open‐Source 3D Printer","doi":"10.1002/marc.202300424","publication":{"paperTitle":"Melt Electrowriting of Nylon‐12 Microfibers with an Open‐Source 3D Printer","requestedDoi":"10.1002/marc.202300424","resolvedDoi":"10.1002/marc.202300424","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:03.703Z","abstract":"This study demonstrates how either a heated flat or cylindrical collector enables defect-free melt electrowriting (MEW) of complex geometries from high melting temperature polymers. The open-source \"MEWron\" printer uses nylon-12 filament and combined with a heated flat or cylindrical collector, produces well-defined fibers with diameters ranging from 33 ± 4 to 95 ± 3 µm. Processing parameters for stable jet formation and minimal defects based on COMSOL thermal modeling for hardware design are optimized. The balance of processing temperature and collector temperature is achieved to achieve auxetic patterns, while showing that annealing nylon-12 tubes significantly alters their mechanical properties. The samples exhibit varied pore sizes and wall thicknesses influenced by jet dynamics and fiber bridging. Tensile testing shows nylon-12 tubes are notably stronger than poly(ε-caprolactone) ones and while annealing has limited impact on tensile strength, yield, and elastic modulus, it dramatically reduces elongation. The equipment described and material used broadens MEW applications for high melting point polymers and highlights the importance of cooling dynamics for reproducible samples.","authors":[{"name":"Ander Reizabal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7583-8364","institutions":["University of Oregon","Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures"],"countries":["ES","US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Brenna L. Devlin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0868-8271","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Naomi C. Paxton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3052-4764","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","University of Oregon"],"countries":["AU","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paula G. Saiz","orcid":"","institutions":["University of the Basque Country","University of Oregon"],"countries":["ES","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ievgenii Liashenko","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1238-8327","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Simon Luposchainsky","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0111-7708","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"S. Lanceros‐Méndez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6791-7620","institutions":["Ikerbasque","Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul D. Dalton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9602-4151","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1002/marc.202300424","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202300424","title":"Melt Electrowriting of Nylon‐12 Microfibers with an Open‐Source 3D Printer","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract This study demonstrates how either a heated flat or cylindrical collector enables defect‐free melt electrowriting (MEW) of complex geometries from high melting temperature polymers. The open‐source “MEWron” printer uses nylon‐12 filament and combined with a heated flat or cylindrical collector, produces well‐defined fibers with diameters ranging from 33 ± 4 to 95 ± 3 µm. Processing parameters for stable jet formation and minimal defects based on COMSOL thermal modeling for hardware design are optimized. The balance of processing temperature and collector temperature is achieved to achieve auxetic patterns, while showing that annealing nylon‐12 tubes significantly alters their mechanical properties. The samples exhibit varied pore sizes and wall thicknesses influenced by jet dynamics and fiber bridging. Tensile testing shows nylon‐12 tubes are notably stronger than poly(ε‐caprolactone) ones and while annealing has limited impact on tensile strength, yield, and elastic modulus, it dramatically reduces elongation. The equipment described and material used broadens MEW applications for high melting point polymers and highlights the importance of cooling dynamics for reproducible samples.","authors":[{"name":"Ander Reizabal","given":"Ander","family":"Reizabal","orcid":"","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA","BCMaterials Basque Center for Materials Applications and Nanostructures UPV/EHU Science Park Leioa 48940 Spain"]},{"name":"Brenna L. Devlin","given":"Brenna L.","family":"Devlin","orcid":"","affiliations":["Centre for Biomedical Technologies Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Kelvin Grove 4059 Australia"]},{"name":"Naomi C. Paxton","given":"Naomi C.","family":"Paxton","orcid":"","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA","Centre for Biomedical Technologies Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Kelvin Grove 4059 Australia"]},{"name":"Paula G. Saiz","given":"Paula G.","family":"Saiz","orcid":"","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA","Macromolecular Chemistry Research Group (LABQUIMAC) Department of Physical Chemistry Faculty of Science and Technology UPV/EHU Leioa 48940 Spain"]},{"name":"Ievgenii Liashenko","given":"Ievgenii","family":"Liashenko","orcid":"","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA"]},{"name":"Simon Luposchainsky","given":"Simon","family":"Luposchainsky","orcid":"","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA"]},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","given":"Maria A.","family":"Woodruff","orcid":"","affiliations":["Centre for Biomedical Technologies Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Kelvin Grove 4059 Australia"]},{"name":"Senentxu Lanceros‐Mendez","given":"Senentxu","family":"Lanceros‐Mendez","orcid":"","affiliations":["BCMaterials Basque Center for Materials Applications and Nanostructures UPV/EHU Science Park Leioa 48940 Spain","Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science Bilbao 48009 Spain"]},{"name":"Paul D. Dalton","given":"Paul D.","family":"Dalton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9602-4151","affiliations":["Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact University of Oregon Eugene OR 97405 USA"]}],"publisher":"Wiley","journal":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","publishedDate":"2023-12-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"44","issue":"24","pages":"","issn":["1022-1336","1521-3927"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":23,"citedByCount":21,"licenses":["http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor"],"funders":[{"name":"Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science","doi":"10.13039/501100003989","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4387524394","doi":"10.1002/marc.202300424","url":"https://openalex.org/W4387524394","title":"Melt Electrowriting of Nylon‐12 Microfibers with an Open‐Source 3D Printer","abstract":"This study demonstrates how either a heated flat or cylindrical collector enables defect-free melt electrowriting (MEW) of complex geometries from high melting temperature polymers. The open-source \"MEWron\" printer uses nylon-12 filament and combined with a heated flat or cylindrical collector, produces well-defined fibers with diameters ranging from 33 ± 4 to 95 ± 3 µm. Processing parameters for stable jet formation and minimal defects based on COMSOL thermal modeling for hardware design are optimized. The balance of processing temperature and collector temperature is achieved to achieve auxetic patterns, while showing that annealing nylon-12 tubes significantly alters their mechanical properties. The samples exhibit varied pore sizes and wall thicknesses influenced by jet dynamics and fiber bridging. Tensile testing shows nylon-12 tubes are notably stronger than poly(ε-caprolactone) ones and while annealing has limited impact on tensile strength, yield, and elastic modulus, it dramatically reduces elongation. The equipment described and material used broadens MEW applications for high melting point polymers and highlights the importance of cooling dynamics for reproducible samples.","authors":[{"name":"Ander Reizabal","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7583-8364","institutions":["University of Oregon","Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures"],"countries":["ES","US"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Brenna L. Devlin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0868-8271","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Naomi C. Paxton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3052-4764","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","University of Oregon"],"countries":["AU","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paula G. Saiz","orcid":"","institutions":["University of the Basque Country","University of Oregon"],"countries":["ES","US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ievgenii Liashenko","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1238-8327","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Simon Luposchainsky","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0111-7708","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Maria A. Woodruff","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4909-5288","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"S. Lanceros‐Méndez","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6791-7620","institutions":["Ikerbasque","Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures"],"countries":["ES"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Paul D. Dalton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9602-4151","institutions":["University of Oregon"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":20,"referencesCount":22,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202300424","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Macromolecular Rapid Communications","topics":["Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies","Recycling and Waste Management Techniques","Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials"],"keywords":["Microfiber","3d printer","Materials science","Nylon 6","Polymer science","Open source","Composite material","Computer graphics (images)","Computer science","Engineering","Polymer","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202300424","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":["Electrospinning and electrowriting"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Electrospinning and electrowriting","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-melt-electrowriting-of-nylon-12-microfibers-with-an-open-source-3d-printer"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-melt-electrowriting-of-nylon-12-microfibers-with-an-open-source-3d-printer"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 0.41 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-120","slug":"120-building-an-arduino-based-open-source-programmable-multichannel-syringe-pump-a-useful-tool-for-fluid-delivery-in-microfl","title":"Building an Arduino-Based Open-Source Programmable Multichannel Syringe Pump: A Useful Tool for Fluid Delivery in Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","publication":{"paperTitle":"Building an Arduino-Based Open-Source Programmable Multichannel Syringe Pump: A Useful Tool for Fluid Delivery in Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry","requestedDoi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","resolvedDoi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.274Z","abstract":"Microfluidics has attracted widespread interest in the fields of chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, biology, etc. Integrating low-cost automation based on open-source hardware/software to improve lab security and reduce time consumption is demanded in microchemical processing. In this work, we developed a “do it yourself” multichannel syringe pump by using easily available low-cost components and microcontrollers, which can be used for educational and/or research purposes in the study of microfluidics and flow chemistry. An Arduino UNO board with CNC shield expansion board and A4988 stepper motor driver is used to control the injection volume and rate of the four syringes. The Arduino-based open-source community minimizes the technical knowledge required to build the system and makes it readily shareable. Detailed fabrication guidelines are provided for the device, which is priced well below commercial alternatives and promotes the development of open hardware for microprocess engineering. The operation of the syringe pump can be controlled by the Arduino IDE or other software through the serial port, which is very beneficial for integration with other devices. Moreover, this multichannel syringe pump is also programmable and can be automatically operated. In order to verify the utility of the platform, we have carried out relevant demonstration experiments of microcapsule preparation for functioning cosmetic product and droplet generation based on microfluidic technique. From an educational point of view, students in the lab have the opportunity to learn how to design and build chemistry experimental devices from principles and demands in a hands-on learning environment, preparing them to work in modern and intelligent laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Yuting Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2057-3510","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yuxin Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4622-8516","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Cheng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0711-1884","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","title":"Building an Arduino-Based Open-Source Programmable Multichannel Syringe Pump: A Useful Tool for Fluid Delivery in Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Yuting Wu","given":"Yuting","family":"Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2057-3510","affiliations":["Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China"]},{"name":"Yuxin Chen","given":"Yuxin","family":"Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4622-8516","affiliations":["Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China"]},{"name":"Yi Cheng","given":"Yi","family":"Cheng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0711-1884","affiliations":["Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China"]}],"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","journal":"Journal of Chemical Education","publishedDate":"2024-05-14","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"101","issue":"5","pages":"1951-1958","issn":["0021-9584","1938-1328"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":58,"citedByCount":20,"licenses":["https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-029","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-037","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-045"],"funders":[{"name":"Tsinghua University","doi":"10.13039/501100004147","awards":[]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi":"10.13039/501100001809","awards":["21991104"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4394603540","doi":"10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","url":"https://openalex.org/W4394603540","title":"Building an Arduino-Based Open-Source Programmable Multichannel Syringe Pump: A Useful Tool for Fluid Delivery in Microfluidics and Flow Chemistry","abstract":"Microfluidics has attracted widespread interest in the fields of chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, biology, etc. Integrating low-cost automation based on open-source hardware/software to improve lab security and reduce time consumption is demanded in microchemical processing. In this work, we developed a “do it yourself” multichannel syringe pump by using easily available low-cost components and microcontrollers, which can be used for educational and/or research purposes in the study of microfluidics and flow chemistry. An Arduino UNO board with CNC shield expansion board and A4988 stepper motor driver is used to control the injection volume and rate of the four syringes. The Arduino-based open-source community minimizes the technical knowledge required to build the system and makes it readily shareable. Detailed fabrication guidelines are provided for the device, which is priced well below commercial alternatives and promotes the development of open hardware for microprocess engineering. The operation of the syringe pump can be controlled by the Arduino IDE or other software through the serial port, which is very beneficial for integration with other devices. Moreover, this multichannel syringe pump is also programmable and can be automatically operated. In order to verify the utility of the platform, we have carried out relevant demonstration experiments of microcapsule preparation for functioning cosmetic product and droplet generation based on microfluidic technique. From an educational point of view, students in the lab have the opportunity to learn how to design and build chemistry experimental devices from principles and demands in a hands-on learning environment, preparing them to work in modern and intelligent laboratories.","authors":[{"name":"Yuting Wu","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2057-3510","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yuxin Chen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4622-8516","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi Cheng","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0711-1884","institutions":["Tsinghua University"],"countries":["CN"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2024-04-09","publicationYear":2024,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":20,"referencesCount":53,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Journal of Chemical Education","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Arduino","Syringe driver","Computer science","Microcontroller","Automation","Microfluidics","Syringe","Embedded system","Software","Open source hardware","Perl","Process engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00033","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"],"modality":["Pumping","Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Pumping","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-building-an-arduino-based-open-source-programmable-multichannel-syringe-pump-a-useful-tool-for-fluid-deliv"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-building-an-arduino-based-open-source-programmable-multichannel-syringe-pump-a-useful-tool-for-fluid-deliv"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 1000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":2,"rationale":"Application scope appears narrow or proof-of-concept."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-121","slug":"121-a-user-centric-3d-printed-modular-peristaltic-pump-for-microfluidic-perfusion-applications","title":"A User-Centric 3D-Printed Modular Peristaltic Pump for Microfluidic Perfusion Applications","doi":"10.3390/mi14050930","publication":{"paperTitle":"A User-Centric 3D-Printed Modular Peristaltic Pump for Microfluidic Perfusion Applications","requestedDoi":"10.3390/mi14050930","resolvedDoi":"10.3390/mi14050930","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:05.378Z","abstract":"Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology has enabled studies on dynamic physiological conditions as well as being deployed in drug testing applications. A microfluidic pump is an essential component to perform perfusion cell culture in OoC devices. However, it is challenging to have a single pump that can fulfil both the customization function needed to mimic a myriad of physiological flow rates and profiles found in vivo and multiplexing requirements (i.e., low cost, small footprint) for drug testing operations. The advent of 3D printing technology and open-source programmable electronic controllers presents an opportunity to democratize the fabrication of mini-peristaltic pumps suitable for microfluidic applications at a fraction of the cost of commercial microfluidic pumps. However, existing 3D-printed peristaltic pumps have mainly focused on demonstrating the feasibility of using 3D printing to fabricate the structural components of the pump and neglected user experience and customization capability. Here, we present a user-centric programmable 3D-printed mini-peristaltic pump with a compact design and low manufacturing cost (~USD 175) suitable for perfusion OoC culture applications. The pump consists of a user-friendly, wired electronic module that controls the operation of a peristaltic pump module. The peristaltic pump module comprises an air-sealed stepper motor connected to a 3D-printed peristaltic assembly, which can withstand the high-humidity environment of a cell culture incubator. We demonstrated that this pump allows users to either program the electronic module or use different-sized tubing to deliver a wide range of flow rates and flow profiles. The pump also has multiplexing capability as it can accommodate multiple tubing. The performance and user-friendliness of this low-cost, compact pump can be easily deployed for various OoC applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jorge Alberto Amaya Catano","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8304-0582","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Steven Farthing","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zeus Mascarenhas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8131-2502","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nathaniel Lake","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0879-9256","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prasad Yarlagadda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-4795","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","University of Southern Queensland"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhiyong Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6814-9165","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi‐Chin Toh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-4852","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.3390/mi14050930","url":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14050930","title":"A User-Centric 3D-Printed Modular Peristaltic Pump for Microfluidic Perfusion Applications","subtitle":"","abstract":"Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology has enabled studies on dynamic physiological conditions as well as being deployed in drug testing applications. A microfluidic pump is an essential component to perform perfusion cell culture in OoC devices. However, it is challenging to have a single pump that can fulfil both the customization function needed to mimic a myriad of physiological flow rates and profiles found in vivo and multiplexing requirements (i.e., low cost, small footprint) for drug testing operations. The advent of 3D printing technology and open-source programmable electronic controllers presents an opportunity to democratize the fabrication of mini-peristaltic pumps suitable for microfluidic applications at a fraction of the cost of commercial microfluidic pumps. However, existing 3D-printed peristaltic pumps have mainly focused on demonstrating the feasibility of using 3D printing to fabricate the structural components of the pump and neglected user experience and customization capability. Here, we present a user-centric programmable 3D-printed mini-peristaltic pump with a compact design and low manufacturing cost (~USD 175) suitable for perfusion OoC culture applications. The pump consists of a user-friendly, wired electronic module that controls the operation of a peristaltic pump module. The peristaltic pump module comprises an air-sealed stepper motor connected to a 3D-printed peristaltic assembly, which can withstand the high-humidity environment of a cell culture incubator. We demonstrated that this pump allows users to either program the electronic module or use different-sized tubing to deliver a wide range of flow rates and flow profiles. The pump also has multiplexing capability as it can accommodate multiple tubing. The performance and user-friendliness of this low-cost, compact pump can be easily deployed for various OoC applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jorge A. Cataño","given":"Jorge","family":"A. Cataño","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia","Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia"]},{"name":"Steven Farthing","given":"Steven","family":"Farthing","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia"]},{"name":"Zeus Mascarenhas","given":"Zeus","family":"Mascarenhas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8131-2502","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia"]},{"name":"Nathaniel Lake","given":"Nathaniel","family":"Lake","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0879-9256","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia"]},{"name":"Prasad K. D. V. Yarlagadda","given":"Prasad K. D. V.","family":"Yarlagadda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-4795","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia","Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia","School of Engineering, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central 4300, Australia"]},{"name":"Zhiyong Li","given":"Zhiyong","family":"Li","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia","Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia"]},{"name":"Yi-Chin Toh","given":"Yi-Chin","family":"Toh","orcid":"","affiliations":["School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia","Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia","Max Planck Queensland Centre (MPQC) for the Materials Science of Extracellular Matrices, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove 4059, Australia","Centre for Microbiome Research, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia"]}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","journal":"Micromachines","publishedDate":"2023-04-25","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"14","issue":"5","pages":"930","issn":["2072-666X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":58,"citedByCount":8,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"Australian Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["FT180100157"]},{"name":"Australian Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["DP200101658"]},{"name":"Australian Research Council","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["DP200103942"]},{"name":"QUT Centre","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["FT180100157"]},{"name":"QUT Centre","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["DP200101658"]},{"name":"QUT Centre","doi":"10.13039/501100000923","awards":["DP200103942"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W4367052656","doi":"10.3390/mi14050930","url":"https://openalex.org/W4367052656","title":"A User-Centric 3D-Printed Modular Peristaltic Pump for Microfluidic Perfusion Applications","abstract":"Microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology has enabled studies on dynamic physiological conditions as well as being deployed in drug testing applications. A microfluidic pump is an essential component to perform perfusion cell culture in OoC devices. However, it is challenging to have a single pump that can fulfil both the customization function needed to mimic a myriad of physiological flow rates and profiles found in vivo and multiplexing requirements (i.e., low cost, small footprint) for drug testing operations. The advent of 3D printing technology and open-source programmable electronic controllers presents an opportunity to democratize the fabrication of mini-peristaltic pumps suitable for microfluidic applications at a fraction of the cost of commercial microfluidic pumps. However, existing 3D-printed peristaltic pumps have mainly focused on demonstrating the feasibility of using 3D printing to fabricate the structural components of the pump and neglected user experience and customization capability. Here, we present a user-centric programmable 3D-printed mini-peristaltic pump with a compact design and low manufacturing cost (~USD 175) suitable for perfusion OoC culture applications. The pump consists of a user-friendly, wired electronic module that controls the operation of a peristaltic pump module. The peristaltic pump module comprises an air-sealed stepper motor connected to a 3D-printed peristaltic assembly, which can withstand the high-humidity environment of a cell culture incubator. We demonstrated that this pump allows users to either program the electronic module or use different-sized tubing to deliver a wide range of flow rates and flow profiles. The pump also has multiplexing capability as it can accommodate multiple tubing. The performance and user-friendliness of this low-cost, compact pump can be easily deployed for various OoC applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jorge Alberto Amaya Catano","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8304-0582","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Steven Farthing","orcid":"","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zeus Mascarenhas","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8131-2502","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nathaniel Lake","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0879-9256","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Prasad Yarlagadda","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-4795","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology","University of Southern Queensland"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Zhiyong Li","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6814-9165","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Yi‐Chin Toh","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4105-4852","institutions":["Queensland University of Technology"],"countries":["AU"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2023-04-25","publicationYear":2023,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":8,"referencesCount":57,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/5/930/pdf?version=1682417644","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Micromachines","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications"],"keywords":["Peristaltic pump","Microfluidics","Hydraulic pump","3D printing","Footprint","Peristalsis","Engineering","Computer science","Mechanical engineering","Nanotechnology","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14050930","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"],"modality":["Pumping","Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Pumping","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.6,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 0 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Moderate scalability via modularity, batching, or partial automation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Requires accessible but nontrivial lab/maker equipment."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-122","slug":"122-utility-of-low-cost-miniaturized-peristaltic-and-venturi-pumps-in-droplet-microfluidics","title":"Utility of low-cost, miniaturized peristaltic and Venturi pumps in droplet microfluidics","doi":"10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","publication":{"paperTitle":"Utility of low-cost, miniaturized peristaltic and Venturi pumps in droplet microfluidics","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.393Z","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Joshua J. Davis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6168-4405","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Melanie A. Padalino","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8936-5468","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander S. Kaplitz","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Greggory Murray","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel W. Foster","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonathan Maturano","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6951-6916","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"James P. Grinias","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9872-9630","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","title":"Utility of low-cost, miniaturized peristaltic and Venturi pumps in droplet microfluidics","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Joshua J. Davis","given":"Joshua J.","family":"Davis","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Melanie Padalino","given":"Melanie","family":"Padalino","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Alexander S. Kaplitz","given":"Alexander S.","family":"Kaplitz","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Greggory Murray","given":"Greggory","family":"Murray","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Samuel W. Foster","given":"Samuel W.","family":"Foster","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jonathan Maturano","given":"Jonathan","family":"Maturano","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"James P. Grinias","given":"James P.","family":"Grinias","orcid":"","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"Analytica Chimica Acta","publishedDate":"2021-03-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"1151","issue":"","pages":"338230","issn":["0003-2670"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":49,"citedByCount":26,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-017","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-037","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-012","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-029","https://doi.org/10.15223/policy-004"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3125783654","doi":"10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","url":"https://openalex.org/W3125783654","title":"Utility of low-cost, miniaturized peristaltic and Venturi pumps in droplet microfluidics","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Joshua J. Davis","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6168-4405","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Melanie A. Padalino","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8936-5468","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Alexander S. Kaplitz","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Greggory Murray","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Samuel W. Foster","orcid":"","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonathan Maturano","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6951-6916","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"James P. Grinias","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9872-9630","institutions":["Rowan University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-01-25","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":30,"referencesCount":50,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"green","url":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/7897340","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"submittedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"PubMed Central","topics":["Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Venturi effect","Microfluidics","Syringe driver","Peristaltic pump","Chemistry","Reproducibility","Volumetric flow rate","Syringe","Nanotechnology","Chromatography","Materials science","Mechanical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"],"modality":["Pumping","Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Pumping","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-utility-of-low-cost-miniaturized-peristaltic-and-venturi-pumps-in-droplet-microfluidics"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-utility-of-low-cost-miniaturized-peristaltic-and-venturi-pumps-in-droplet-microfluidics"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.4,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 7000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-123","slug":"123-spatially-and-optically-tailored-3d-printing-for-highly-miniaturized-and-integrated-microfluidics","title":"Spatially and optically tailored 3D printing for highly miniaturized and integrated microfluidics","doi":"10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","publication":{"paperTitle":"Spatially and optically tailored 3D printing for highly miniaturized and integrated microfluidics","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.513Z","abstract":"Traditional 3D printing based on Digital Light Processing Stereolithography (DLP-SL) is unnecessarily limiting as applied to microfluidic device fabrication, especially for high-resolution features. This limitation is due primarily to inherent tradeoffs between layer thickness, exposure time, material strength, and optical penetration that can be impossible to satisfy for microfluidic features. We introduce a generalized 3D printing process that significantly expands the accessible spatially distributed optical dose parameter space to enable the fabrication of much higher resolution 3D components without increasing the resolution of the 3D printer. Here we demonstrate component miniaturization in conjunction with a high degree of integration, including 15 μm × 15 μm valves and a 2.2 mm × 1.1 mm 10-stage 2-fold serial diluter. These results illustrate our approach's promise to enable highly functional and compact microfluidic devices for a wide variety of biomolecular applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jose L. Sanchez Noriega","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicholas Chartrand","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2388-7770","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonard Corpuz Valdoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-1009","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Collin G. Cribbs","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dallin A. Jacobs","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P. Daniel Poulson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-1378","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Viglione","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9744-0464","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam T. Woolley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4699-8094","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pam M. Van Ry","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0195-7229","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ken Christensen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3736-5500","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gregory P. Nordin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7241-5764","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","title":"Spatially and optically tailored 3D printing for highly miniaturized and integrated microfluidics","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Traditional 3D printing based on Digital Light Processing Stereolithography (DLP-SL) is unnecessarily limiting as applied to microfluidic device fabrication, especially for high-resolution features. This limitation is due primarily to inherent tradeoffs between layer thickness, exposure time, material strength, and optical penetration that can be impossible to satisfy for microfluidic features. We introduce a generalized 3D printing process that significantly expands the accessible spatially distributed optical dose parameter space to enable the fabrication of much higher resolution 3D components without increasing the resolution of the 3D printer. Here we demonstrate component miniaturization in conjunction with a high degree of integration, including 15 μm × 15 μm valves and a 2.2 mm × 1.1 mm 10-stage 2-fold serial diluter. These results illustrate our approach’s promise to enable highly functional and compact microfluidic devices for a wide variety of biomolecular applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jose L. Sanchez Noriega","given":"Jose L.","family":"Sanchez Noriega","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nicholas A. Chartrand","given":"Nicholas A.","family":"Chartrand","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2388-7770","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jonard Corpuz Valdoz","given":"Jonard Corpuz","family":"Valdoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-1009","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Collin G. Cribbs","given":"Collin G.","family":"Cribbs","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Dallin A. Jacobs","given":"Dallin A.","family":"Jacobs","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Daniel Poulson","given":"Daniel","family":"Poulson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-1378","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Matthew S. Viglione","given":"Matthew S.","family":"Viglione","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Adam T. Woolley","given":"Adam T.","family":"Woolley","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Pam M. Van Ry","given":"Pam M.","family":"Van Ry","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Kenneth A. Christensen","given":"Kenneth A.","family":"Christensen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3736-5500","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Gregory P. Nordin","given":"Gregory P.","family":"Nordin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7241-5764","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Nature Communications","publishedDate":"2021-09-17","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"12","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2041-1723"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":40,"citedByCount":139,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health","doi":"10.13039/100000002","awards":["R01EB027096"]},{"name":"U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences","doi":"10.13039/100000057","awards":["R15GM123405-02"]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W3201209914","doi":"10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","url":"https://openalex.org/W3201209914","title":"Spatially and optically tailored 3D printing for highly miniaturized and integrated microfluidics","abstract":"Traditional 3D printing based on Digital Light Processing Stereolithography (DLP-SL) is unnecessarily limiting as applied to microfluidic device fabrication, especially for high-resolution features. This limitation is due primarily to inherent tradeoffs between layer thickness, exposure time, material strength, and optical penetration that can be impossible to satisfy for microfluidic features. We introduce a generalized 3D printing process that significantly expands the accessible spatially distributed optical dose parameter space to enable the fabrication of much higher resolution 3D components without increasing the resolution of the 3D printer. Here we demonstrate component miniaturization in conjunction with a high degree of integration, including 15 μm × 15 μm valves and a 2.2 mm × 1.1 mm 10-stage 2-fold serial diluter. These results illustrate our approach's promise to enable highly functional and compact microfluidic devices for a wide variety of biomolecular applications.","authors":[{"name":"Jose L. Sanchez Noriega","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nicholas Chartrand","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2388-7770","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Jonard Corpuz Valdoz","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7106-1009","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Collin G. Cribbs","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Dallin A. Jacobs","orcid":"","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P. Daniel Poulson","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-1378","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Matthew Viglione","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9744-0464","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Adam T. Woolley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4699-8094","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Pam M. Van Ry","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0195-7229","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Ken Christensen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3736-5500","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Gregory P. Nordin","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7241-5764","institutions":["Brigham Young University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2021-09-17","publicationYear":2021,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":152,"referencesCount":39,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Nature Communications","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Miniaturization","Stereolithography","Fabrication","3D printing","Nanotechnology","Limiting","Computer science","Microfabrication","Materials science","3d printed","Biomedical engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25788-w","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":["Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":5,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 7.6 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":3,"rationale":"Throughput not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":2,"rationale":"Multiple advanced technical skills appear required."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":5,"rationale":"Build/setup evidence indicates same-day or <4 h setup."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-124","slug":"124-pump-an-open-source-pressure-pump-for-precision-fluid-handling-in-microfluidics","title":"µPump: An open-source pressure pump for precision fluid handling in microfluidics","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","publication":{"paperTitle":"µPump: An open-source pressure pump for precision fluid handling in microfluidics","requestedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","resolvedDoi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":0.13,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.524Z","abstract":"An open-source precision pressure pump system and control software is presented, primarily designed for the experimental microfluidics community, although others may find additional uses for this precision pressure source. This mechatronic system is coined 'µPump,' and its performance rivals that of commercially available systems, at a fraction of the cost. The pressure accuracy, stability, and resolution are 0.09%, 0.02%, and 0.02% of the full span, respectively. The settling time to reach 2 bar from zero and stabilize is less than 2 s. Material for building a four-channel µPump (approx. $3000 USD) or an eight-channel µPump (approx. $5000 USD) is approximately a quarter, or a third of the cost of buying a high-end commercial system, respectively. The design rationale is presented, together with documented design details and software, so that the system may be replicated or customized to particular applications. µPump can be used for two-phase droplet microfluidics, single-phase microfluidics, gaseous flow microfluidics and any other applications requiring precise fluid handling. µPump provides researchers, students, and startups with a cost-effective solution for precise fluid control.","authors":[{"name":"Toru Mitsuta","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takaharu Fukuzaki","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takashi Kiguchi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"M. Sakurai","orcid":"","institutions":["Hitachi (Japan)"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","title":"µPump: An open-source pressure pump for precision fluid handling in microfluidics","subtitle":"","abstract":"","authors":[{"name":"Run Ze Gao","given":"Run Ze","family":"Gao","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Marie Hébert","given":"Marie","family":"Hébert","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Jan Huissoon","given":"Jan","family":"Huissoon","orcid":"","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Carolyn L. Ren","given":"Carolyn L.","family":"Ren","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9249-7397","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Elsevier BV","journal":"HardwareX","publishedDate":"2020-04-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"7","issue":"","pages":"e00096","issn":["2468-0672"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":20,"citedByCount":34,"licenses":["https://www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/","https://www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license","http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"University of Waterloo","doi":"10.13039/501100004490","awards":[]},{"name":"Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo","doi":"10.13039/501100008411","awards":[]},{"name":"Ontario Centres of Excellence","doi":"10.13039/100009011","awards":[]},{"name":"Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada","doi":"10.13039/501100000038","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W35495202","doi":"10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","url":"https://openalex.org/W35495202","title":"Core performance calculation program for on-line core management","abstract":"An open-source precision pressure pump system and control software is presented, primarily designed for the experimental microfluidics community, although others may find additional uses for this precision pressure source. This mechatronic system is coined 'µPump,' and its performance rivals that of commercially available systems, at a fraction of the cost. The pressure accuracy, stability, and resolution are 0.09%, 0.02%, and 0.02% of the full span, respectively. The settling time to reach 2 bar from zero and stabilize is less than 2 s. Material for building a four-channel µPump (approx. $3000 USD) or an eight-channel µPump (approx. $5000 USD) is approximately a quarter, or a third of the cost of buying a high-end commercial system, respectively. The design rationale is presented, together with documented design details and software, so that the system may be replicated or customized to particular applications. µPump can be used for two-phase droplet microfluidics, single-phase microfluidics, gaseous flow microfluidics and any other applications requiring precise fluid handling. µPump provides researchers, students, and startups with a cost-effective solution for precise fluid control.","authors":[{"name":"Toru Mitsuta","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takaharu Fukuzaki","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Takashi Kiguchi","orcid":"","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":false},{"name":"M. Sakurai","orcid":"","institutions":["Hitachi (Japan)"],"countries":["JP"],"corresponding":false}],"publicationDate":"1984-06-01","publicationYear":1984,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":0,"referencesCount":0,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":false,"status":"closed","url":"https://inis.iaea.org/search/search.aspx?orig_q=RN:16021829","pdfUrl":"","license":"","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":false},"source":"Transactions of the American Nuclear Society","topics":["Technology and Data Analysis"],"keywords":["Core (optical fiber)","Nuclear engineering","Line (geometry)","Engineering","Telecommunications","Mathematics"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ohx.2020.e00096","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"],"modality":["Pumping","Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"µPump","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Pumping","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record","µPump"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-pump-an-open-source-pressure-pump-for-precision-fluid-handling-in-microfluidics"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-pump-an-open-source-pressure-pump-for-precision-fluid-handling-in-microfluidics"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":2,"rationale":"Open build documentation is not clearly identified."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-pump"],"toolSlugs":["pump"],"toolNames":["µPump"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-125","slug":"125-micrio-an-open-source-autosampler-and-fraction-collector-for-automated-microfluidic-input-output","title":"micrIO: an open-source autosampler and fraction collector for automated microfluidic input–output","doi":"10.1039/c9lc00512a","publication":{"paperTitle":"micrIO: an open-source autosampler and fraction collector for automated microfluidic input–output","requestedDoi":"10.1039/c9lc00512a","resolvedDoi":"10.1039/c9lc00512a","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:05.078Z","abstract":"Microfluidic devices are an enabling technology for many labs, facilitating a wide range of applications spanning high-throughput encapsulation, molecular separations, and long-term cell culture. In many cases, however, their utility is limited by a 'world-to-chip' barrier that makes it difficult to serially interface samples with these devices. As a result, many researchers are forced to rely on low-throughput, manual approaches for managing device input and output (IO) of samples, reagents, and effluent. Here, we present a hardware-software platform for automated microfluidic IO (micrIO). The platform, which is uniquely compatible with positive-pressure microfluidics, comprises an 'AutoSipper' for input and a 'Fraction Collector' for output. To facilitate widespread adoption, both are open-source builds constructed from components that are readily purchased online or fabricated from included design files. The software control library, written in Python, allows the platform to be integrated with existing experimental setups and to coordinate IO with other functions such as valve actuation and assay imaging. We demonstrate these capabilities by coupling both the AutoSipper and Fraction Collector to two microfluidic devices: a simple, valved inlet manifold and a microfluidic droplet generator that produces beads with distinct spectral codes. Analysis of the collected materials in each case establishes the ability of the platform to draw from and output to specific wells of multiwell plates with negligible cross-contamination between samples.","authors":[{"name":"Scott A. Longwell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-0400","institutions":["Stanford Medicine","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Polly M. Fordyce","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-0638","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)","Stanford Medicine","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1039/c9lc00512a","url":"https://doi.org/10.1039/c9lc00512a","title":"micrIO: an open-source autosampler and fraction collector for automated microfluidic input–output","subtitle":"","abstract":"MicrIO is a low-cost, open-source hardware and software solution for automated sample input/output, bridging the gap between microfluidic devices and standard multiwell plates.","authors":[{"name":"Scott A. Longwell","given":"Scott A.","family":"Longwell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-0400","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Stanford University","Stanford","USA"]},{"name":"Polly M. Fordyce","given":"Polly M.","family":"Fordyce","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-0638","affiliations":["Department of Bioengineering","Stanford University","Stanford","USA","Department of Genetics"]}],"publisher":"Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)","journal":"Lab on a Chip","publishedDate":"2020-01-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"20","issue":"1","pages":"93-106","issn":["1473-0197","1473-0189"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":64,"citedByCount":36,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/"],"funders":[{"name":"National Institute of General Medical Sciences","doi":"10.13039/100000057","awards":["1DP2GM123641"]},{"name":"National Institute of General Medical Sciences","doi":"10.13039/100000057","awards":["R01GM107132"]},{"name":"Alfred P. Sloan Foundation","doi":"10.13039/100000879","awards":[]}],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2986054053","doi":"10.1039/c9lc00512a","url":"https://openalex.org/W2986054053","title":"micrIO: an open-source autosampler and fraction collector for automated microfluidic input–output","abstract":"Microfluidic devices are an enabling technology for many labs, facilitating a wide range of applications spanning high-throughput encapsulation, molecular separations, and long-term cell culture. In many cases, however, their utility is limited by a 'world-to-chip' barrier that makes it difficult to serially interface samples with these devices. As a result, many researchers are forced to rely on low-throughput, manual approaches for managing device input and output (IO) of samples, reagents, and effluent. Here, we present a hardware-software platform for automated microfluidic IO (micrIO). The platform, which is uniquely compatible with positive-pressure microfluidics, comprises an 'AutoSipper' for input and a 'Fraction Collector' for output. To facilitate widespread adoption, both are open-source builds constructed from components that are readily purchased online or fabricated from included design files. The software control library, written in Python, allows the platform to be integrated with existing experimental setups and to coordinate IO with other functions such as valve actuation and assay imaging. We demonstrate these capabilities by coupling both the AutoSipper and Fraction Collector to two microfluidic devices: a simple, valved inlet manifold and a microfluidic droplet generator that produces beads with distinct spectral codes. Analysis of the collected materials in each case establishes the ability of the platform to draw from and output to specific wells of multiwell plates with negligible cross-contamination between samples.","authors":[{"name":"Scott A. Longwell","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-0400","institutions":["Stanford Medicine","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Polly M. Fordyce","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9505-0638","institutions":["Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (United States)","Stanford Medicine","Stanford University"],"countries":["US"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-11-04","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":35,"referencesCount":59,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2020/lc/c9lc00512a","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Lab on a Chip","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Python (programming language)","Software","Computer science","Computer hardware","Throughput","Interface (matter)","Embedded system","Nanotechnology","Operating system","Materials science"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1039/c9lc00512a","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Laboratory Automation"],"modality":["Microfluidics","Robotics and automation"],"systemOrTechnology":"micrIO","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Laboratory Automation","Microfluidics","Robotics and automation","Supplemental corpus record","micrIO"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-micrio-an-open-source-autosampler-and-fraction-collector-for-automated-microfluidic-input-output"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-micrio-an-open-source-autosampler-and-fraction-collector-for-automated-microfluidic-input-output"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.7,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":1,"rationale":"Minimum volume evidence about 15000 uL."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Mostly off-the-shelf or kit-based components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":4,"rationale":"Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":5,"rationale":"Multiple open resources named: files/code/BOM/protocol documentation."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":["tool-micrio"],"toolSlugs":["micrio"],"toolNames":["micrIO"],"topicIds":["topic-liquid-handling","topic-microfabrication","topic-laboratory-automation"],"topicSlugs":["liquid-handling","microfabrication","laboratory-automation"],"topicNames":["Liquid Handling","Microfabrication","Laboratory Automation"]},{"id":"paper-126","slug":"126-functional-3d-printing-for-microfluidic-chips","title":"Functional 3D Printing for Microfluidic Chips","doi":"10.1002/admt.201900275","publication":{"paperTitle":"Functional 3D Printing for Microfluidic Chips","requestedDoi":"10.1002/admt.201900275","resolvedDoi":"10.1002/admt.201900275","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.765Z","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidics enables the downscaling of biochemical applications from a lab setting to a portable format. With the field's recent switch from replica molding to 3D printing, complex geometries can be created and a diverse range of functional elements has been reported. Recent advancements in the development of 3D‐printed sensors, actuators, and other valuable elements for microfluidic devices are summarized. Using movable parts, such as valves or pumps, fluid flow can be precisely controlled and directed. Sensors, in turn, allow for the detection of changes in the engineered microenvironment in real time. Additional elements, such as mixers or gradient generators, facilitate changes within the fluid itself. Together, these functional elements promote the movement of fluids and facilitate the sensing of physicochemical changes in the environment. It is predicted that the widespread adoption of 3D printing in microfluidics will ultimately allow the creation of a new generation of increasingly smart, responsive, and autonomous devices, able to sense and act upon their environment in complex ways and with reduced human intervention.","authors":[{"name":"Gregor Weisgrab","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4856-2208","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Aleksandr Ovsianikov","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5846-0198","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pedro F. Costa","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3114-9417","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1002/admt.201900275","url":"https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201900275","title":"Functional 3D Printing for Microfluidic Chips","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidics enables the downscaling of biochemical applications from a lab setting to a portable format. With the field's recent switch from replica molding to 3D printing, complex geometries can be created and a diverse range of functional elements has been reported. Recent advancements in the development of 3D‐printed sensors, actuators, and other valuable elements for microfluidic devices are summarized. Using movable parts, such as valves or pumps, fluid flow can be precisely controlled and directed. Sensors, in turn, allow for the detection of changes in the engineered microenvironment in real time. Additional elements, such as mixers or gradient generators, facilitate changes within the fluid itself. Together, these functional elements promote the movement of fluids and facilitate the sensing of physicochemical changes in the environment. It is predicted that the widespread adoption of 3D printing in microfluidics will ultimately allow the creation of a new generation of increasingly smart, responsive, and autonomous devices, able to sense and act upon their environment in complex ways and with reduced human intervention.","authors":[{"name":"Gregor Weisgrab","given":"Gregor","family":"Weisgrab","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4856-2208","affiliations":["3D Printing &amp; Biofabrication Institute of Materials Science and Technology TU Wien Getreidemarkt 9 1060 Vienna Austria"]},{"name":"Aleksandr Ovsianikov","given":"Aleksandr","family":"Ovsianikov","orcid":"","affiliations":["3D Printing &amp; Biofabrication Institute of Materials Science and Technology TU Wien Getreidemarkt 9 1060 Vienna Austria"]},{"name":"Pedro F. Costa","given":"Pedro F.","family":"Costa","orcid":"","affiliations":["BIOFABICS – 3D Biotissue Analogues Rua Alfredo Allen 455 4200‐135 Porto Portugal"]}],"publisher":"Wiley","journal":"Advanced Materials Technologies","publishedDate":"2019-10-01","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"4","issue":"10","pages":"","issn":["2365-709X"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":90,"citedByCount":186,"licenses":["http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2966899298","doi":"10.1002/admt.201900275","url":"https://openalex.org/W2966899298","title":"Functional 3D Printing for Microfluidic Chips","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidics enables the downscaling of biochemical applications from a lab setting to a portable format. With the field's recent switch from replica molding to 3D printing, complex geometries can be created and a diverse range of functional elements has been reported. Recent advancements in the development of 3D‐printed sensors, actuators, and other valuable elements for microfluidic devices are summarized. Using movable parts, such as valves or pumps, fluid flow can be precisely controlled and directed. Sensors, in turn, allow for the detection of changes in the engineered microenvironment in real time. Additional elements, such as mixers or gradient generators, facilitate changes within the fluid itself. Together, these functional elements promote the movement of fluids and facilitate the sensing of physicochemical changes in the environment. It is predicted that the widespread adoption of 3D printing in microfluidics will ultimately allow the creation of a new generation of increasingly smart, responsive, and autonomous devices, able to sense and act upon their environment in complex ways and with reduced human intervention.","authors":[{"name":"Gregor Weisgrab","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4856-2208","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Aleksandr Ovsianikov","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5846-0198","institutions":["TU Wien"],"countries":["AT"],"corresponding":true},{"name":"Pedro F. Costa","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3114-9417","institutions":[],"countries":[],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-08-13","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":202,"referencesCount":90,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"hybrid","url":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/admt.201900275","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by-nc","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Advanced Materials Technologies","topics":["Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications","Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation","3D Printing in Biomedical Research"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","3D printing","Computer science","Nanotechnology","Actuator","3d printed","Mechanical engineering","Engineering","Materials science","Artificial intelligence","Manufacturing engineering"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.201900275","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication"],"modality":["Microfluidics"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"manual","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microfluidics","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":["asset-documentation-functional-3d-printing-for-microfluidic-chips"],"assetSlugs":["documentation-functional-3d-printing-for-microfluidic-chips"],"assetTypes":["documentation"],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Liquid Handling","averageScore":3.5,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Quantitative handling accuracy reported, but minimum volume unclear."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":3,"rationale":"Equipment requirements not explicit; assigned moderate default."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":4,"rationale":"Speed evidence suggests rapid, real-time, or automated operation."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication"]},{"id":"paper-127","slug":"127-modular-microfluidic-systems-cast-from-3d-printed-molds-for-imaging-leukocyte-adherence-to-differentially-treated-endoth","title":"Modular microfluidic systems cast from 3D-printed molds for imaging leukocyte adherence to differentially treated endothelial cultures","doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","publication":{"paperTitle":"Modular microfluidic systems cast from 3D-printed molds for imaging leukocyte adherence to differentially treated endothelial cultures","requestedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","resolvedDoi":"10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","matchMethod":"doi","matchScore":1,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:04.919Z","abstract":"Microfluidic systems are very useful for in vitro studies of interactions between blood cells and vascular endothelial cells under flow, and several commercial solutions exist. However, the availability of customizable, user-designed devices is largely restricted to researchers with expertise in photolithography and access to clean room facilities. Here we describe a strategy for producing tailor-made modular microfluidic systems, cast in PDMS from 3D-printed molds, to facilitate studies of leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. A dual-chamber barrier module was optimized for culturing two endothelial cell populations, separated by a 250 μm wide dividing wall, on a glass slide. In proof-of-principle experiments one endothelial population was activated by TNFα, while the other served as an internal control. The barrier module was thereafter replaced with a microfluidic flow module, enclosing both endothelial populations in a common channel. A suspension of fluorescently-labeled leukocytes was then perfused through the flow module and leukocyte interactions with control and TNFα-treated endothelial populations were monitored in the same field of view. Time-lapse microscopy analysis confirmed the preferential attachment of leukocytes to the TNFα-activated endothelial cells. We conclude that the functionality of these modular microfluidic systems makes it possible to seed and differentially activate adherent cell types, and conduct controlled side-by-side analysis of their capacity to interact with cells in suspension under flow. Furthermore, we outline a number of practical considerations and solutions associated with connecting and switching between the microfluidic modules, and the advantages of simultaneously and symmetrically analyzing control and experimental conditions in such a microfluidic system.","authors":[{"name":"Rodrigo Hernández Vera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4241-2113","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P.W. O’Callaghan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3117-5367","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nikos Fatsis-Kavalopoulos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5081-0138","institutions":["Uppsala University","Gradientech (Sweden)"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-7776","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true}],"crossref":{"doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","url":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","title":"Modular microfluidic systems cast from 3D-printed molds for imaging leukocyte adherence to differentially treated endothelial cultures","subtitle":"","abstract":"Abstract Microfluidic systems are very useful for in vitro studies of interactions between blood cells and vascular endothelial cells under flow, and several commercial solutions exist. However, the availability of customizable, user-designed devices is largely restricted to researchers with expertise in photolithography and access to clean room facilities. Here we describe a strategy for producing tailor-made modular microfluidic systems, cast in PDMS from 3D-printed molds, to facilitate studies of leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. A dual-chamber barrier module was optimized for culturing two endothelial cell populations, separated by a 250 μm wide dividing wall, on a glass slide. In proof-of-principle experiments one endothelial population was activated by TNFα, while the other served as an internal control. The barrier module was thereafter replaced with a microfluidic flow module, enclosing both endothelial populations in a common channel. A suspension of fluorescently-labeled leukocytes was then perfused through the flow module and leukocyte interactions with control and TNFα-treated endothelial populations were monitored in the same field of view. Time-lapse microscopy analysis confirmed the preferential attachment of leukocytes to the TNFα-activated endothelial cells. We conclude that the functionality of these modular microfluidic systems makes it possible to seed and differentially activate adherent cell types, and conduct controlled side-by-side analysis of their capacity to interact with cells in suspension under flow. Furthermore, we outline a number of practical considerations and solutions associated with connecting and switching between the microfluidic modules, and the advantages of simultaneously and symmetrically analyzing control and experimental conditions in such a microfluidic system.","authors":[{"name":"Rodrigo Hernández Vera","given":"Rodrigo","family":"Hernández Vera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4241-2113","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Paul O’Callaghan","given":"Paul","family":"O’Callaghan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3117-5367","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Nikos Fatsis-Kavalopoulos","given":"Nikos","family":"Fatsis-Kavalopoulos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5081-0138","affiliations":[]},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","given":"Johan","family":"Kreuger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-7776","affiliations":[]}],"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","journal":"Scientific Reports","publishedDate":"2019-08-05","type":"journal-article","language":"en","volume":"9","issue":"1","pages":"","issn":["2045-2322"],"subjects":[],"referencesCount":31,"citedByCount":23,"licenses":["https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0"],"funders":[],"fullTextLinks":[]},"openAlex":{"id":"https://openalex.org/W2966287793","doi":"10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","url":"https://openalex.org/W2966287793","title":"Modular microfluidic systems cast from 3D-printed molds for imaging leukocyte adherence to differentially treated endothelial cultures","abstract":"Microfluidic systems are very useful for in vitro studies of interactions between blood cells and vascular endothelial cells under flow, and several commercial solutions exist. However, the availability of customizable, user-designed devices is largely restricted to researchers with expertise in photolithography and access to clean room facilities. Here we describe a strategy for producing tailor-made modular microfluidic systems, cast in PDMS from 3D-printed molds, to facilitate studies of leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. A dual-chamber barrier module was optimized for culturing two endothelial cell populations, separated by a 250 μm wide dividing wall, on a glass slide. In proof-of-principle experiments one endothelial population was activated by TNFα, while the other served as an internal control. The barrier module was thereafter replaced with a microfluidic flow module, enclosing both endothelial populations in a common channel. A suspension of fluorescently-labeled leukocytes was then perfused through the flow module and leukocyte interactions with control and TNFα-treated endothelial populations were monitored in the same field of view. Time-lapse microscopy analysis confirmed the preferential attachment of leukocytes to the TNFα-activated endothelial cells. We conclude that the functionality of these modular microfluidic systems makes it possible to seed and differentially activate adherent cell types, and conduct controlled side-by-side analysis of their capacity to interact with cells in suspension under flow. Furthermore, we outline a number of practical considerations and solutions associated with connecting and switching between the microfluidic modules, and the advantages of simultaneously and symmetrically analyzing control and experimental conditions in such a microfluidic system.","authors":[{"name":"Rodrigo Hernández Vera","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4241-2113","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"P.W. O’Callaghan","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3117-5367","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Nikos Fatsis-Kavalopoulos","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5081-0138","institutions":["Uppsala University","Gradientech (Sweden)"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":false},{"name":"Johan Kreuger","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2055-7776","institutions":["Uppsala University"],"countries":["SE"],"corresponding":true}],"publicationDate":"2019-08-05","publicationYear":2019,"type":"article","language":"en","citedByCount":24,"referencesCount":31,"isRetracted":false,"openAccess":{"isOpen":true,"status":"gold","url":"","pdfUrl":"","license":"cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","repositoryHasFullText":true},"source":"Scientific Reports","topics":["3D Printing in Biomedical Research","Platelet Disorders and Treatments","Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies"],"keywords":["Microfluidics","Modular design","Endothelial stem cell","Cell biology","Suspension culture","Biomedical engineering","In vitro","Nanotechnology","Materials science","Computer science","Cell culture","Biology"],"grants":[]}},"primaryLink":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47475-z","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"],"modality":["Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging"],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"csv_oa_pdf_url","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"medium","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging","Microfluidics","Microscopy and imaging","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":true,"rubricMapped":true,"technologyType":"Microfabrication","averageScore":3.3,"scoredCriteriaCount":10,"criteria":[{"id":"resolution","name":"Resolution","value":3,"rationale":"Smallest feature/positioning evidence about 100 um."},{"id":"scalability-throughput","name":"Scalability/Throughput","value":4,"rationale":"Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation."},{"id":"build-and-part-sourcing-complexity","name":"Build and Part Sourcing Complexity","value":3,"rationale":"Mix of common parts and custom/printed components."},{"id":"skill-complexity","name":"Skill Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly."},{"id":"equipment-cosumable-facility-requirement-accessibility","name":"Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility","value":2,"rationale":"Requires specialized facilities, equipment, or consumables."},{"id":"application-level","name":"Application Level","value":4,"rationale":"Presented as modular or usable across multiple workflows."},{"id":"accessibility-to-documentation","name":"Accessibility to documentation","value":3,"rationale":"Some open documentation or files are available."},{"id":"validation-troubleshooting-complexity","name":"Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity","value":4,"rationale":"Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests."},{"id":"speed-cycle-time","name":"Speed/Cycle Time","value":3,"rationale":"No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score."},{"id":"build-time","name":"Build Time","value":3,"rationale":"Build time not reported; assigned neutral score."}]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":2,"documentationTier":"moderate","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-microfabrication","topic-microscopy-imaging"],"topicSlugs":["microfabrication","microscopy-imaging"],"topicNames":["Microfabrication","Microscopy & Imaging"]},{"id":"paper-128","slug":"128-unresolved-hardwarex-record-s2468-0672-18-30087-7","title":"Unresolved HardwareX record (S2468-0672(18)30087-7)","doi":"","publication":{"paperTitle":"Unresolved HardwareX record (S2468-0672(18)30087-7)","requestedDoi":"","resolvedDoi":"","matchMethod":"none","matchScore":0,"fetchedAt":"2026-07-21T18:29:05.161Z","abstract":"","authors":[],"crossref":null,"openAlex":null},"primaryLink":"","year":null,"venue":"","type":"Supplemental corpus record","category":["Open Hardware Methods"],"modality":[],"systemOrTechnology":"","inclusionFit":"Supplemental paper list","summary":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","whyItMatters":"Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.","motivationUseCase":"","limitation":"Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.","function":"","keySources":"","openSourceResources":"","sourceWorkbooks":["download_manifest"],"sourceScope":"supplemental","mappingConfidence":"low","buildComplexity":"","technicalSkillsNeeded":[],"approximateCost":"","openSource":null,"lowCost":null,"easyToBuild":null,"easyToUse":null,"repo":null,"tags":["Open Hardware Methods","Supplemental corpus record"],"democratizingFeatures":[],"assetIds":[],"assetSlugs":[],"assetTypes":[],"eventIds":[],"eventSlugs":[],"eventNames":[],"criteriaAssessment":{"assessed":false,"rubricMapped":false,"technologyType":"","averageScore":null,"scoredCriteriaCount":0,"criteria":[]},"derived":{"skillLevel":"medium","engineeringBarrier":"medium","documentationScore":0,"documentationTier":"limited","workshopReady":"","evidenceRich":false},"toolIds":[],"toolSlugs":[],"toolNames":[],"topicIds":["topic-open-hardware-methods"],"topicSlugs":["open-hardware-methods"],"topicNames":["Open Hardware Methods"]}]}