(Bio)Analytical chemistry enabled by 3D printing: Sensors and biosensors

3D printing has revolutionized the concept of object manufacturing, making an enormous impact on industry and economy. The technology has found a niche in countless fields, including scientific research. It has rendered practical solutions to scientific problems by offering tailored-shaped devices with exquisite control in design and geometry and through the versatility of printable materials. Applications in analytical and bioanalytical chemistry have been on the rise, with microfluidics being one of the most represented areas of 3D printing towards this chemistry branch. Most stages of the analytical workflow comprising sample collection, pre-treatment and readout, have been enabled by 3D-printed components. Sensor fabrication for detecting explosives and nerve agents, the construction of microfluidic platforms for pharmacokinetic profiling, bacterial separation and genotoxicity screening, the assembly of parts for an on-site equipment for nucleic acid-based detection, the manufacturing of an online device for in vivo detection of metabolites, represent just a few examples of how additive manufacturing technologies have aided the field of (bio)analytical chemistry. In this review, we summarize the most relevant trends of 3D printing applications in this field. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.