An open-source, 3D-printable droplet microfluidics platform with strobe-enhanced microscopy
- 1Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago,
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics underpins many single-cell, precision biomedical, and nanomaterial techniques. However, implementing these methods reproducibly remains challenging outside specialised laboratories due to high equipment costs, operational inflexibility, mechanical impracticality at the microscope stage, as well as open-source pumping solutions that are inadequately validated for low-flow stability. We present an accessible, research-grade, open-source droplet microfluidics platform integrating a compact, microfluidics-optimised microscopy stage with networked syringe-pump control. Designed for local digital fabrication, primarily 3D printing, and widely available components, the platform supports reproducible builds across diverse settings. This setup enables stable droplet generation, observation of rapid droplet dynamics, and automation-ready networked workflows. The microscopy module uses a Raspberry Pi camera and microsecond stroboscopic illumination to capture sharp images of fast-moving droplets without the need for a high-speed camera. A modular hardware interface and extensible, web-accessible software stack provide a path to integrate additional modules and laboratory automation beyond the configuration evaluated here. For infusion, we introduce an open-source syringe pump optimised for low reliable flow rather than maximum rates, combining gearbox-assisted stepper mechanics with workflow-centric control that enables manual intervention (keypad control) and remote operation (web interface and automation hooks). We benchmark droplet regimes, size tuning, and time-stability under low-flow conditions (between 25 and 2500 uL/h) relevant to advanced assays and demonstrate biomedical readiness through the encapsulation and incubation of cells, beads, and bacteria in monodisperse droplets. The platform has been replicated across laboratories in Latin America and globally, including independent builds, supporting reproducibility. All design files, firmware/software, analysis notebooks, and benchmark datasets are openly released.
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BibTeX
@misc{padillahuamantinco2026opensource,
title = {{An open-source, 3D-printable droplet microfluidics platform with strobe-enhanced microscopy}},
author = {P. Padilla-Huamantinco and M. Hurtado-Labarca and C. Nel and T. Astudillo and W. Araya and J. J. Leon and J. B. Reyes Arroyo and T. Wenzel},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.19.758223},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.19.758223v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - An open-source, 3D-printable droplet microfluidics platform with strobe-enhanced microscopy
AU - P. Padilla-Huamantinco
AU - M. Hurtado-Labarca
AU - C. Nel
AU - T. Astudillo
AU - W. Araya
AU - J. J. Leon
AU - J. B. Reyes Arroyo
AU - T. Wenzel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.19.758223
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.19.758223v1
AB - Droplet microfluidics underpins many single-cell, precision biomedical, and nanomaterial techniques. However, implementing these methods reproducibly remains challenging outside specialised laboratories due to high equipment costs, operational inflexibility, mechanical impracticality at the microscope stage, as well as open-source pumping solutions that are inadequately validated for low-flow stability. We present an accessible, research-grade, open-source droplet microfluidics platform integrating a compact, microfluidics-optimised microscopy stage with networked syringe-pump control. Designed for local digital fabrication, primarily 3D printing, and widely available components, the platform supports reproducible builds across diverse settings. This setup enables stable droplet generation, observation of rapid droplet dynamics, and automation-ready networked workflows. The microscopy module uses a Raspberry Pi camera and microsecond stroboscopic illumination to capture sharp images of fast-moving droplets without the need for a high-speed camera. A modular hardware interface and extensible, web-accessible software stack provide a path to integrate additional modules and laboratory automation beyond the configuration evaluated here. For infusion, we introduce an open-source syringe pump optimised for low reliable flow rather than maximum rates, combining gearbox-assisted stepper mechanics with workflow-centric control that enables manual intervention (keypad control) and remote operation (web interface and automation hooks). We benchmark droplet regimes, size tuning, and time-stability under low-flow conditions (between 25 and 2500 uL/h) relevant to advanced assays and demonstrate biomedical readiness through the encapsulation and incubation of cells, beads, and bacteria in monodisperse droplets. The platform has been replicated across laboratories in Latin America and globally, including independent builds, supporting reproducibility. All design files, firmware/software, analysis notebooks, and benchmark datasets are openly released.
ER -