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As a biologist focusing on biomedical science, particularly in gene therapies for monogenetic diseases, I enjoy exploring 3D printing as a hobby. I've recently developed an affordable 3D printed liquid aspiration unit for laboratory use, aimed at efficiently removing supernatant from biological samples. I'm pleased to share that these designs have been published in the peer reviewed scientific journal HardwareX, contributing to the accessibility and affordability of laboratory equipment for research. It’s a open access journal, therefore no paywall barrier, you can read the article here https://www.hardware-x.com/article/S2468-0672(24)00003-8/fulltext

This page holds the following models described in the article.

1. M01-1: Main handheld unit: The main handheld controller unit of the HYKYHT aspirator enables operators to precisely control suction strength, interchange nozzles effortlessly using a screw-on mechanism, and incorporate an ejection mechanism for micropipette tip removal. Importantly, this component remains isolated from liquid waste contact, serving solely as a conduit for silicone tubing to facilitate pressure regulation.
2. M01-2: Regulator button: The regulator button comfortably accommodates the operator’s thumb or index finger during suction strength adjustment. It is securely attached to the M01-1 main handheld unit using adhesive bonding.

Removing liquid waste is a simple, but essential daily task in a wet laboratory setting. Each washing step within a given protocol requires the removal of supernatant. Typically, there are three methods for supernatant removal: a) direct pouring from the vessel, b) utilizing pipettes (e.g., Pasteur pipette, micropipette, or pipette aid), or c) employing a vacuum-driven aspirator. The first two methods often fail to achieve complete supernatant removal, potentially leading to interference with subsequent reaction steps. Using an aspirator can maximize supernatant removal efficiency, but introduces the risk of 1) accidentally discarding the actual samples and 2) potential sample cross-contamination if the same nozzle is reused. Commercial aspiration units commonly feature finger-operated mechanisms to adjust vacuum strength and nozzles compatible with most micropipette tips to mitigate these challenges. However, commercial aspirators can be prohibitively expensive, costing over €200 (Table 1), and the process of replacing micropipette tips often involves manual removal or suboptimal ejector mechanisms, compromising biosafety and raising contamination risks. Moreover, the option of simultaneous multi-well suction devices is frequently sold separately or bundled for a higher price, increasing expenses for laboratories with diverse research needs. Underfunded laboratories might opt to forgo aspirators, resorting to manual pipetting of liquid waste, which results in an increased workload for researchers and a heightened risk of developing pipetting-related repetitive strain injuries, including conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and De Quervain’s syndrome [1–4]. With the success of the RepRap project [5] in popularizing 3D printers among the general public, the open science community has partially addressed this price gap. In 2016, Marco Ciro published an 8-channel vacuum aspirator (Thing: 1486294) on Thingiverse [6]. Later, Julia Gala de Pablo adapted and modified this into a 6-channel aspirator suitable for 96- and 24-well plates, sharing the model on Printables.com (Model: 399373) [7]. However, these early adaptations include an ejector mechanism that resembles the suboptimal commercial solution. In this study, we present the concept of a fully 3D-printable open-source liquid aspiration system, aptly named ’HYKYHT’ (an abbreviation of ’開源吸液系統’ in Yale Romanization Cantonese; [hoi1] [yun4] [kap1] [yik6] [hai6] [tung2]). This system seeks to provide an affordable, adaptable, and convenient alternative to commercial aspirators, that caters to laboratories with varying resource levels.