A Rubik’s microfluidic cube

A Rubik’s cube as a reconfigurable microfluidic system is presented in this work. Composed of physically interlocking microfluidic blocks, the microfluidic cube enables the on-site design and configuration of custom microfluidics by twisting the faces of the cube. The reconfiguration of the microfluidics could be done by solving an ordinary Rubik’s cube with the help of Rubik’s cube algorithms and computer programs. An O-ring-aided strategy is used to enable self-sealing and the automatic alignment of the microfluidic cube blocks. Owing to the interlocking mechanics of cube blocks, the proposed microfluidic cube exhibits good reconfigurability and robustness in versatile applications and proves to be a promising candidate for the rapid deployment of microfluidic systems in resource-limited settings. A modular system modeled on the Rubik’s Cube could give researchers a versatile framework for designing and reconfiguring microfluidic systems. Many groups have pursued microfluidic building blocks that can be arranged in diverse conformations depending on the needs of the experiment. Dachao Li and colleagues at Tianjin University in China have drawn inspiration from a popular puzzle toy to develop a 3D-printed microfluidic system that can be easily twisted and turned to change its function. They mimicked the Rubik’s Cube design with modular pieces that contain distinct microchannel layouts, flanked with O-rings that achieve a tight leakproof seal regardless of how the device is arranged. Li’s team use a single device to perform fluid mixing and droplet-based microbial culture, and foresee the potential to introduce diverse functions including pumps, sensors, and valves in future iterations.