A groundbreaking new high-resolution 3D printer is revolutionizing the field of complex microfluidic filters, offering efficient recovery of cancer cells from patients’ blood without damaging the cells. The Nanoscribe Quantum X Shape printer, recently acquired by the University of Missouri College of Engineering, has the ability to print at resolutions smaller than the fundamental length scale of many engineering problems, including biological cells.
“This printer showed that it can accomplish [printing a new microfluidic filter design] in 20 seconds during a demonstration,” said Elliott Leinauer, an electrical engineering Ph.D. student at the University of Missouri. The printer’s speed and precision make it a powerful tool for a wide range of applications, from life sciences to microelectronics and advanced optics for security and defense.
One application of this new technology is in the field of oncology. Presently, cancer treatment is based on past successful methods, such as chemotherapy and radiation. However, the Nanoscribe printer opens up possibilities for personalized treatment by allowing doctors to extract live cancer cells from a simple blood draw. By studying a patient’s metastasizing cancer cells, doctors can recommend the most effective treatment based on that individual’s specific needs.
The unique feature of the Nanoscribe printer lies in its ability to fabricate complex designs that can change shapes, enabling the captured cancer cells to be released easily without damage. This advancement overcomes a major barrier in the field, as previous methods caused damage to the extracted cancer cells during the extraction process.
Beyond cancer treatment, the printer has the potential for various other applications, such as semiconductor device patterning and creating geometric designs for growing carbon nanotube films. It can also be used for enhanced heat transfer applications by manipulating liquid droplets.
The acquisition of the Nanoscribe Quantum X Shape printer cements the University of Missouri as a leader in research and innovation. The printer’s capabilities have opened up new avenues of exploration that were previously unfeasible, liberating researchers from the limitations of traditional fabrication processes and accelerating innovation.
The source of the article is from the blog bitperfect.pe