Scientists at the University of Strathclyde have built what they claim is the world’s first fully 3D printed microscope in under three hours, and for less than £50 – a fraction of the cost of traditional devices.

The researchers produced the microscope’s frame, along with clear plastic lenses they designed themselves, using only low-cost, accessible 3D printers, relying on publicly available designs from OpenFlexure, a Glasgow University headquartered project which uses 3D printers and off the shelf components to build open-source, lab-grade microscopes.   

The Strathclyde team’s microscope was then completed by adding a shop-bought camera and light, with the whole device controlled by a Raspberry Pi processor.

To test the imaging performance of the system, the team used standard test samples, including a stained blood smear and a thin section of mouse kidney, with the microscope demonstrating sub-cellular resolution, clearly imaging individual red blood cells and detailed structures in the kidney sample.

According to the researchers, the key element to the scope is the plastic, 3D lenses, which have taken three years to perfect, but cost only 11 pence each to make.

The frame the device was built from is already used for diagnostic imaging in low-income settings, but the unique combination of this with the 3D-printed lenses is what makes the microscope more accessible, cheaper and quicker to build.

According to the research team, a critical step in getting to this point was being able to ensure control over the shape of the lens and removing any ‘stepping artefacts’, caused when 3D printers add layer upon layer of plastic to build up a structure.

Recommended reading

• New 3D Printing Technique Could Bring an End to Animal Testing
• Scots Research on 3D-printing Has Huge Potential
• Glasgow Team Develops 3D Printing for Space Fabrication

The resulting microscope uses a single lens with a 2.9x magnification, which is on the lower end of the spectrum, but its resolving power – essentially how clearly a sample can be seen – shows that cheaper kits can be used instead of traditional diagnostic microscopes, which typically cost between £10,000 – £15,000.

Dr Liam Rooney, who co-created the device with Professor Gail McConnell at the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, said: “This opens the doors to democratised access, rapid prototyping, and bespoke design of microscopes and optics at a fraction of the price of traditional microscopes.

“It could help scientists and medics in low-income countries around the world, as well as enabling students to learn more about science through accessible, cheap kit.”