Date of Graduation

12-2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science & Engineering (PhD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Materials Science & Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Stenken, Julie A.

Committee Member

Coridan, Robert H.

Second Committee Member

Tung, Chao-Hung Steve

Third Committee Member

Leftwich, Matthew B.

Fourth Committee Member

Fritsch, Ingrid

Fifth Committee Member

Wickramasinghe, S. Ranil

Keywords

3D Printing; Microdialysis; Microfluidics; Microsampling; Stereolithography

Abstract

This work will show the development of a fully 3D printed device platform in which a complex microsampling probe geometry is fabricated in a simple two-step process. This process includes the combination of 2-photon polymerization (2PP) and masked-stereolithography (MSLA). The cutting edge neurotechnology needed to monitor brain internal communication and will require multiple sensing modalities including temperature, pressure, electrophysiological, and optogenetics. Microsampling is an integrally important function for any future biosensing device platform as it allows for chemical delivery and unparalleled specificity through offline analysis of collection samples. Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing has emerged as a powerful fabrication method capable of manufacturing sub-micron features approaching those of standard photolithographic techniques, while offering nearly limitless geometric complexity. This dissertation will show the prototyping workflow for the fabrication of a fully 3D printed microsampling probe to include preliminary sampling performance. The Nanoscribe GT 2PP-SLA 3D printer, capable of 200 nm features, was used fabricate a 4 mm long microsampling needle with 6128 x 5 µm pores and a 250 µm by 225 µm triangular cross-section. This microsampling needle is mounted to a custom designed tubing adapter that is mechanically compatible with standard microdialysis rat stereotactic equipment. This tubing adapter was printed at 35 µm XY by 50 µm Z voxel resolution on the Anycubic Mono 4K MSLA 3D printer. The tubing adapter facilitates flow from standard microdialysis tubing into the 2PP-SLA 3D printed microsampling needle. These two prints are combined into a single device with a customized assembly method using a fully 3D printed linear rail and magnetic clamping system. This fully 3D printed microsampling probe was tested using push-pull sampling for the collection of caffeine and blue dye. The result of this work is a fully functional 3D printed microsampling probe development platform that will be used to create future highly customizable multi-modal and portable biosensors with sampling and delivery capabilities.

Available for download on Thursday, February 05, 2026

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