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Rodríguez CF, Báez-Suárez M, Muñoz-Camargo C, Reyes LH, Osma JF, Cruz JC. Zweifach-Fung Microfluidic Device for Efficient Microparticle Separation: Cost-Effective Fabrication Using CO 2 Laser-Ablated PMMA. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:932. [PMID: 39064443 PMCID: PMC11278838 DOI: 10.3390/mi15070932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic separators play a pivotal role in the biomedical and chemical industries by enabling precise fluid manipulations. Traditional fabrication of these devices typically requires costly cleanroom facilities, which limits their broader application. This study introduces a novel microfluidic device that leverages the passive Zweifach-Fung principle to overcome these financial barriers. Through Lagrangian computational simulations, we optimized an eleven-channel Zweifach-Fung configuration that achieved a perfect 100% recall rate for particles following a specified normal distribution. Experimental evaluations determined 2 mL/h as the optimal total flow rate (TFR), under which the device showcased exceptional performance enhancements in precision and recall for micrometer-sized particles, achieving an overall accuracy of 94% ± 3%. Fabricated using a cost-effective, non-cleanroom method, this approach represents a significant shift from conventional practices, dramatically reducing production costs while maintaining high operational efficacy. The cost of each chip is less than USD 0.90 cents and the manufacturing process takes only 15 min. The development of this device not only makes microfluidic technology more accessible but also sets a new standard for future advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian F. Rodríguez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; (C.F.R.); (M.B.-S.); (C.M.-C.); (J.F.O.)
- Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Area, School of Medicine, SIU, University of Antioquia, Cl. 62 No. 52-59, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Mateo Báez-Suárez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; (C.F.R.); (M.B.-S.); (C.M.-C.); (J.F.O.)
| | - Carolina Muñoz-Camargo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; (C.F.R.); (M.B.-S.); (C.M.-C.); (J.F.O.)
| | - Luis H. Reyes
- Grupo de Diseño de Productos y Procesos (GDPP), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia;
| | - Johann F. Osma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; (C.F.R.); (M.B.-S.); (C.M.-C.); (J.F.O.)
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
| | - Juan C. Cruz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; (C.F.R.); (M.B.-S.); (C.M.-C.); (J.F.O.)
- Grupo de Diseño de Productos y Procesos (GDPP), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra. 1E No. 19a-40, Bogotá 111711, Colombia;
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