Open AccessMonolithic FFF-Printed, Biocompatible, Biodegradable, Dielectric-Conductive Microsystems
Author(s) -
Zhumei Sun,
Luis Fernando Velasquez-Garcia
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of microelectromechanical systems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1941-0158
pISSN - 1057-7157
DOI - 10.1109/jmems.2017.2746627
Subject(s) - engineered materials, dielectrics and plasmas , components, circuits, devices and systems
We report additively manufactured biodegradable microsystems composed of dielectric and electrically conductive layers. The devices were made via fused filament fabrication (FFF), which is arguably the simplest and cheapest commercial 3-D printing technology, done with the most inexpensive printing hardware. The base constitutive material is polylactic acid (PLA)-a biodegradable polymer made of cornstarch that can be doped with micro and nanoparticles to change its physical properties, e.g., become electrically conductive. The devices were monolithically manufactured using a commercial dual extruder 3-D-printer. The feature resolution and surface topography of the printing technology was characterized for both dielectric and conductive materials; their outgassing rates were measured and their cytotoxicity was investigated. The gauge factor of the conductive PLA was measured. Basic electrical components, cantilevers, and electrohydrodynamic liquid ionizers with integrated extractor electrode and threaded microfluidic port were demonstrated.