Supporting scientific discovery through precision micromachining
Minitech micromilling systems are used by researchers developing microfluidic devices, biomedical platforms, lab-on-chip systems, pharmaceutical screening tools, and precision micro-machined components.
The following examples are selected from independent peer-reviewed research and technical publications where Minitech systems were used in fabrication, testing, or experimental workflows.
Selected Publications
1. SMILE Platform: An Innovative Microfluidic Approach for On-Chip Sample Manipulation and Analysis in Oral Cancer Diagnosis
This study presents a microfluidic platform for oral cancer diagnostic research. The work includes PMMA microfluidic device fabrication using a Mini-Mill/GX micromilling machine.
Application area: Oral cancer diagnostics, microfluidics, PMMA microchannels 2. Microfluidic Chips for Life Sciences—A Comparison of Low Entry Manufacturing Technologies
This paper compares accessible manufacturing methods for microfluidic chip fabrication. The study includes PMMA structures produced by micromilling using a Mini Mill GX from Minitech Machinery.
Application area: Microfluidic chip manufacturing, PMMA fabrication, life sciences
3. A Protocol Guide to Micro Milling for Bio-Microfluidics
This protocol article provides a practical guide to micro milling for bio-microfluidic device fabrication. The CNC Mini-Mill/GX from Minitech is listed as the micro mill used in the workflow.
4. Lab on chips for liquid biopsy: a flexible and customized approach through microfabrication
Biomedical Microdevices, 2025 — Valeria Garzarelli et al. Link to publication
This research describes customized lab-on-chip devices for liquid biopsy applications, including cancer-cell detection and extracellular vesicle work. The devices were fabricated using a Mini-Mill/GX micromilling machine.
Application area: Liquid biopsy, cancer research, lab-on-chip fabrication
5. Design of a Thermal Stress Microfluidic Platform to Screen Stability of Therapeutic Proteins in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Current Research in Biotechnology, 2025 — O. Bortone et al. Link to publication
This study presents a microfluidic thermal-stress platform for screening therapeutic protein stability in pharmaceutical formulations. The PMMA device was produced through micromilling using a Minitech CNC Mini-Mill/GX.
This paper demonstrates rapid prototyping of PMMA microfluidic spheroid-on-a-chip models for cancer research. Microstructures were milled directly into PMMA using a benchtop Minitech CNC Mini-Mill/GX.
Application area: Spheroid-on-chip, cancer models, PMMA micromilling
7. A microfluidic device to study neuronal and motor responses to acute chemical stimuli in zebrafish
Published in Scientific Reports, this study describes a microfluidic platform for studying zebrafish responses to chemical stimuli. The device fabrication used a computer-controlled Minitech Mini-Mill/GX micromilling machine.
This work presents a disposable passive microfluidic device for cell culture applications. The PMMA layers were manufactured using micro-milling fabrication techniques with a Mini-Mill/GX from Minitech Machinery Corporation.
This study presents 3D microfluidic tools for on-chip fluid and particle manipulation. The PMMA layers were fabricated using a Mini-Mill/GX micromilling machine from Minitech Machinery.
This technical micromachining study evaluated cutting fluid effects in micromilling Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy. The tests were performed using a CNC Mini-Mill/GX 4-axis machine manufactured by Minitech Machinery Corporation.
Research Applications Represented: These publications show Minitech systems being used across several research areas, including:
Microfluidic chip fabrication
Lab-on-chip and organ-on-chip development
Biomedical diagnostic platforms
Cancer research and liquid biopsy
Cell culture devices
Pharmaceutical formulation research
PMMA and polymer microfabrication
Titanium alloy micromachining
This list is not exhaustive. It is intended to highlight selected examples of published research where Minitech systems have supported scientific and engineering work.
Explore More Minitech Research References
The publications listed above are selected examples. Additional references to Minitech systems can be found through independent scientific search tools and publication databases. Suggested searches: