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Wang S, Zhang Z, Xu Q, Chen Y, Wang Q, Lu B, Luo X, Wang D, Jiang X. Branch-convergence structure based on double-layer chip: a universal method for enhancing microfluidic mixing. LAB ON A CHIP 2024. [PMID: 39193997 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00405a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic mixing has significant applications in various fields, including materials synthesis and biochemical analysis. In this study, we propose a universal strategy to enhance mixing efficiency in microfluidic chips. This strategy initially divides the liquid into branches, which then converge in an interdigitated manner at the beginning of the mixing segment. This branch-convergence structure reduces the flow width of each liquid, thereby decreasing the diffusion distances required for mixing. Under the conditions of this study, the mixing efficiency could be improved by approximately 10 times. Importantly, this enhancement strategy only requires changing the structure of the liquid inflow channel without changing the structure of the mixing segment. Thus, this strategy has broad applicability, any mixing section with different principles and structures can be connected downstream of the branch-convergence structure. In addition, we applied this universal mixing enhancement strategy to the continuous synthesis of lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles, resulting in a higher uniformity of synthesized nanoparticles compared to unenhanced devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saijie Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Zhihan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Quanchen Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Yao Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Qian Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Boxi Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Xueqing Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Dou Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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Agha A, Abu-Nada E, Alazzam A. Integration of acoustic micromixing with cyclic olefin copolymer microfluidics for enhanced lab-on-a-chip applications in nanoscale liposome synthesis. Biofabrication 2024; 16:045004. [PMID: 38942007 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad5d19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
The integration of acoustic wave micromixing with microfluidic systems holds great potential for applications in biomedicine and lab-on-a-chip technologies. Polymers such as cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) are increasingly utilized in microfluidic applications due to its unique properties, low cost, and versatile fabrication methods, and incorporating them into acoustofluidics significantly expands their potential applications. In this work, for the first time, we demonstrated the integration of polymer microfluidics with acoustic micromixing utilizing oscillating sharp edge structures to homogenize flowing fluids. The sharp edge mixing platform was entirely composed of COC fabricated in a COC-hydrocarbon solvent swelling based microfabrication process. As an electrical signal is applied to a piezoelectric transducer bonded to the micromixer, the sharp edges start to oscillate generating vortices at its tip, mixing the fluids. A 2D numerical model was implemented to determine the optimum microchannel dimensions for experimental mixing assessment. The system was shown to successfully mix fluids at flow rates up to 150µl h-1and has a modest effect even at the highest tested flow rate of 600µl h-1. The utility of the fabricated sharp edge micromixer was demonstrated by the synthesis of nanoscale liposomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman Agha
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eiyad Abu-Nada
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anas Alazzam
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- System on Chip Lab, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
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3
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Khorsand Ahmadi M, Liu W, Groenewold J, den Toonder JMJ, Henzen A, Wyss HM. Interplay of electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents for electronic paper displays. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 665:263-273. [PMID: 38485631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.02.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Electronic paper displays rely on electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents to drive the displacement of colloidal particles within a fluidic cell. While Electrophoresis (EP) is a well-established and frequently employed phenomenon, electro-osmosis (EO), which drives fluid flow along charged solid surfaces, has not been studied as extensively. We hypothesize that by exploiting the interplay between these effects, an enhanced particle transport can be achieved. EXPERIMENTS In this study, we experimentally investigate the combined effects of EP and EO for colloidal particles in non-polar solvents, driven by an electric field. We use astigmatism micro-particle tracking velocimetry (A-μPTV) to measure the motion of charged particles within model fluidic cells. Using a simple approach that relies on basic fluid flow properties we extract the contributions due to EP and EO, finding that EO contributes significantly to particle transport. The validity of our approach is confirmed by measurements on particles with different magnitudes of charge, and by comparison to numerical simulations. FINDINGS We find that EO flows can play a dominant role in the transport of particles in electrokinetic display devices. This can be exploited to speed up particle transport, potentially yielding displays with significantly faster switching times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Khorsand Ahmadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems [ICMS], Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems [ICMS], Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands; South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, Electronic Paper Display Institute, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jan Groenewold
- South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, Electronic Paper Display Institute, Guangzhou 510006, China; Department of Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, Netherlands
| | - Jaap M J den Toonder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems [ICMS], Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands
| | - Alex Henzen
- South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, Electronic Paper Display Institute, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hans M Wyss
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands; Institute for Complex Molecular Systems [ICMS], Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, Netherlands.
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Takayama T, Maki H. Independent Concentration Manipulation Using Sidewall-Driven Micromixer. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:869. [PMID: 39064379 PMCID: PMC11278770 DOI: 10.3390/mi15070869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip technology has been developed to streamline biochemical experiments by providing experimental environments in microscopic areas. Due to the difficulty of mixing chemicals in such small channels, various micromixers have been created. Our proposed sidewall-driven micromixer offers easy fabrication and precise control over mixing concentrations. In our previous study, we successfully generated concentration gradients by simultaneously mixing multiple chambers using a single actuator. However, it is not possible to mix different chemicals in each chamber. In this study, we developed a sidewall-driven micromixer that enables independent mixing in each chamber by installing one actuator per chamber. Experimental results showed that different conditions were achieved in each chamber using both microbead-mixture water and colored water. Thus, this mixer can be used to manipulate concentrations regardless of whether the mixing targets are particles or fluids.
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Mehta SK, Mondal PK. AC Electrothermal Effect Promotes Enhanced Solute Mixing in a Wavy Microchannel. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:16797-16806. [PMID: 37882459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
For liquids used in biological applications, a smaller diffusion coefficient results in a longer mixing time. We discuss, in this endeavor, the promising potential of the AC electrothermal (ACET) effect toward modulating enhanced mixing of electrolytic liquids with higher convective strength in a novel wavy micromixer. To this end, we develop a modeling framework and numerically solve the pertinent transport equations in a three-dimensional (3D) configuration numerically. By benchmarking the developed modeling framework with the experimental results available in this paradigm, we aptly demonstrate the maximum temperature rise, flow topology, species concentration field, and mixing efficiency in the proposed configuration for a set of parameters pertinent to this analysis. We find that the maximum temperature increase in the wavy micromixer, owing to the electrothermal effect, is less than 10 K even for the higher strength of the applied voltage, implying nondegradation of biological substances within the liquid sample. We report that the formation of significant lateral flow closer to the electrodes leads to a highly three-dimensional ACET flow field, which has a significant impact on the mixing efficiency for the range of diffusive Peclet numbers considered. We also report that the wave amplitude of the mixer, when intervening with the diffusive Peclet number, strongly impacts the mixing efficiency. As witnessed in this endeavor, for the smaller diffusive Peclet number, the mixing efficiency increases with amplitude, while the effect becomes the opposite for the higher Peclet number. The results of this study seem to provide an adequate basis for the design of a novel micromixer intended for enhanced solute mixing in realistic microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Kumar Mehta
- Microfluidics and Microscale Transport Processes Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Pranab Kumar Mondal
- Microfluidics and Microscale Transport Processes Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
- School of Agro and Rural Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
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Hagness DE, Yang Y, Tilley RD, Gooding JJ. The application of an applied electrical potential to generate electrical fields and forces to enhance affinity biosensors. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 238:115577. [PMID: 37579531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Affinity biosensors play a crucial role in clinical diagnosis, pharmaceuticals, immunology, and other areas of human health. Affinity biosensors rely on the specific binding between target analytes and biological ligands such as antibodies, nucleic acids, aptamers, or other receptors to primarily generate electrochemical or optical signals. Considerable effort has been put into improving the performance of the affinity technologies to make them more sensitive, efficient and reproducible, of the many approaches electrokinetic phenomena are a viable option. In this perspective, studies that combine electrokinetic phenomena with affinity biosensor are discussed about their promise for achieving higher sensitivity and lower detection limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Hagness
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia; Australia Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - Richard D Tilley
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia; Electron Microscope Unit, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia
| | - J Justin Gooding
- School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia; Australia Centre for Nanomedicine, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.
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Choi I, Ahn GY, Kim ES, Hwang SH, Park HJ, Yoon S, Lee J, Cho Y, Nam JH, Choi SW. Microfluidic Bioreactor with Fibrous Micromixers for In Vitro mRNA Transcription. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:7897-7905. [PMID: 37435905 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
A new type of microfluidic bioreactor with fibrous micromixers for the ingredient mixing and a long macrochannel for the in vitro transcription reaction was fabricated for the continuous production of mRNA. The diameter of the fibrous microchannels in the micromixers was tuned by using an electrospun microfibrous disc with different microfiber diameters. The micromixer with a larger diameter of fibrous microchannels exhibited a better mixing performance than the others. The mixing efficiency was increased to 0.95 while the mixture was passed through the micromixers, suggesting complete mixing. To demonstrate the continuous production of mRNA, the ingredients for in vitro transcription were introduced into the perfluoropolyether microfluidic bioreactor. The mRNA synthesized by the microfluidic bioreactor had the same sequence and in vitro/in vivo performances as those prepared by the bulk reaction. The continuous reaction in the microfluidic bioreactor with efficient mixing performance can be used as a powerful platform for various microfluidic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inseong Choi
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Guk-Young Ahn
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Seo Kim
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hee Hwang
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jung Park
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Subin Yoon
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisun Lee
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngran Cho
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Hwan Nam
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Wook Choi
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
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Nai J, Zhang F, Dong P, Bai F, Fu T, Wang J, Ge A. Effect of Multiple Structural Parameters on the Performance of a Micromixer with Baffles, Obstacles, and Gaps. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1750. [PMID: 37763914 PMCID: PMC10534435 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
As an essential component of chip laboratories and microfluidic systems, micromixers are widely used in fields such as chemical and biological analysis. In this work, a square cavity micromixer with multiple structural parameters (baffles, obstacles, and gaps) has been proposed to further improve the mixing performance of micromixers. This study examines the comprehensive effects of various structural parameters on mixing performance. The impact of baffle length, obstacle length-to-width ratio, gap width, and obstacle shape on the mixing index and pressure drop were numerically studied at different Reynolds numbers (Re). The results show that the mixing index increases with baffle length and obstacle length-to-width ratio and decreases with gap width at Re = 0.1, 1, 10, 20, 40, and 60. The mixing index can reach more than 0.98 in the range of Re ≥ 20 when the baffle length is 150 μm, the obstacle length-to-width ratio is 600/100, and the gap width is 200 μm. The pressure drop of the microchannel is proportional to baffle length and obstacle length-to-width ratio. Combining baffles and obstacles can further improve the mixing performance of square cavity micromixers. A longer baffle length, larger obstacle length-to-width ratio, narrower gap width, and a more symmetrical structure are conducive to improving the mixing index. However, the impact of pressure drop must also be considered comprehensively. The research results provide references and new ideas for passive micromixer structural design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Nai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission and Manufacturing Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission and Manufacturing Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Peng Dong
- Key Laboratory of Metallurgical Equipment and Control Technology, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Fan Bai
- School of Science, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Ting Fu
- Precision Manufacturing Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Jiangbo Wang
- Precision Manufacturing Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Anle Ge
- Single-Cell Center, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
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9
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Khandelwal A, Li X. Strain-induced self-rolled-up microtubes for multifunctional on-chip microfluidic applications. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:051501. [PMID: 37720301 PMCID: PMC10505069 DOI: 10.1063/5.0170958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
On-chip microfluidics are characterized as miniaturized devices that can be either integrated with other components on-chip or can individually serve as a standalone lab-on-a-chip system for a variety of applications ranging from biochemical sensing to macromolecular manipulation. Heterogenous integration with various materials and form factors is, therefore, key to enhancing the performance of such microfluidic systems. The fabrication of complex three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic components that can be easily integrated with other material systems and existing state-of-the-art microfluidics is of rising importance. Research on producing self-assembled 3D architectures by the emerging self-rolled-up membrane (S-RuM) technology may hold the key to such integration. S-RuM technology relies on a strain-induced deformation mechanism to spontaneously transform stacked thin-film materials into 3D cylindrical hollow structures virtually on any kind of substrate. Besides serving as a compact microfluidic chamber, the S-RuM-based on-chip microtubular architecture exhibits several other advantages for microfluidic applications including customizable geometry, biocompatibility, chemical stability, ease of integration, uniform field distributions, and increased surface area to volume ratio. In this Review, we will highlight some of the applications related to molecule/particle sensing, particle delivery, and manipulation that utilized S-RuM technology to their advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apratim Khandelwal
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Xiuling Li
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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10
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Wu J, Fang H, Zhang J, Yan S. Modular microfluidics for life sciences. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:85. [PMID: 36906553 PMCID: PMC10008080 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01846-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement of microfluidics has enabled numerous discoveries and technologies in life sciences. However, due to the lack of industry standards and configurability, the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices require highly skilled technicians. The diversity of microfluidic devices discourages biologists and chemists from applying this technique in their laboratories. Modular microfluidics, which integrates the standardized microfluidic modules into a whole, complex platform, brings the capability of configurability to conventional microfluidics. The exciting features, including portability, on-site deployability, and high customization motivate us to review the state-of-the-art modular microfluidics and discuss future perspectives. In this review, we first introduce the working mechanisms of the basic microfluidic modules and evaluate their feasibility as modular microfluidic components. Next, we explain the connection approaches among these microfluidic modules, and summarize the advantages of modular microfluidics over integrated microfluidics in biological applications. Finally, we discuss the challenge and future perspectives of modular microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Wu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Fang
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Sheng Yan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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11
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Yin B, Yue W, Sohan ASMMF, Wan X, Zhou T, Shi L, Qian C, Lin X. Construction of a desirable hyperbolic microfluidic chip for ultrasensitive determination of PCT based on chemiluminescence. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:1978-1986. [PMID: 36752153 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb02338e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Since procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific inflammation indicator of severe bacterial inflammation and fungal infection, it is of great significance to construct a sensitive and rapid microfluidic chip to detect PCT in clinical application. The design of micromixers using a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) device is the premise to realizing the adequate mixing of analytical samples and reagents and is an important measure to improve the accuracy and efficiency of determination. In this research study, we investigate the mixing characteristics of hyperbolic micromixers and explore the effects of different hyperbolic curvatures, different Reynolds numbers (Re) and different channel widths on the mixing performance of the micromixers. Then, an optimal micromixer was integrated into a microfluidic chip to fabricate a desirable hyperbolic microfluidic chip (DHMC) for the sensitive determination of inflammation marker PCT with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.17 ng mL-1via a chemiluminescence signal, which can be used as a promising real-time platform for early clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binfeng Yin
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China.
| | - Wenkai Yue
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China.
| | | | - Xinhua Wan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China.
| | - Teng Zhou
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Liuyong Shi
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Changcheng Qian
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China.
| | - Xiaodong Lin
- University of Macau Zhuhai UM Science and Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai 519080, China.
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12
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Agha A, Waheed W, Stiharu I, Nerguizian V, Destgeer G, Abu-Nada E, Alazzam A. A review on microfluidic-assisted nanoparticle synthesis, and their applications using multiscale simulation methods. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2023; 18:18. [PMID: 36800044 PMCID: PMC9936499 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-023-03792-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed an increased interest in the development of nanoparticles (NPs) owing to their potential use in a wide variety of biomedical applications, including drug delivery, imaging agents, gene therapy, and vaccines, where recently, lipid nanoparticle mRNA-based vaccines were developed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19. NPs typically fall into two broad categories: organic and inorganic. Organic NPs mainly include lipid-based and polymer-based nanoparticles, such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymersomes, dendrimers, and polymer micelles. Gold and silver NPs, iron oxide NPs, quantum dots, and carbon and silica-based nanomaterials make up the bulk of the inorganic NPs. These NPs are prepared using a variety of top-down and bottom-up approaches. Microfluidics provide an attractive synthesis alternative and is advantageous compared to the conventional bulk methods. The microfluidic mixing-based production methods offer better control in achieving the desired size, morphology, shape, size distribution, and surface properties of the synthesized NPs. The technology also exhibits excellent process repeatability, fast handling, less sample usage, and yields greater encapsulation efficiencies. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the microfluidic-based passive and active mixing techniques for NP synthesis, and their latest developments. Additionally, a summary of microfluidic devices used for NP production is presented. Nonetheless, despite significant advancements in the experimental procedures, complete details of a nanoparticle-based system cannot be deduced from the experiments alone, and thus, multiscale computer simulations are utilized to perform systematic investigations. The work also details the most common multiscale simulation methods and their advancements in unveiling critical mechanisms involved in nanoparticle synthesis and the interaction of nanoparticles with other entities, especially in biomedical and therapeutic systems. Finally, an analysis is provided on the challenges in microfluidics related to nanoparticle synthesis and applications, and the future perspectives, such as large-scale NP synthesis, and hybrid formulations and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman Agha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Waqas Waheed
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- System on Chip Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | | | - Ghulam Destgeer
- Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eiyad Abu-Nada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Anas Alazzam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
- System on Chip Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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13
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K K, Kandasamy SK, P S, Alodhayb A. Numerical simulation and parameter optimization of micromixer device using fuzzy logic technique. RSC Adv 2023; 13:4504-4522. [PMID: 36760289 PMCID: PMC9893881 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra07992e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study is the design, simulation, and performance optimization of a micromixer device using the three input parameters of device structure, flow rate and diffusion coefficient of gold nanoparticles while the output parameters are concentration, velocity, pressure and time domain analysis. Each input parameter in the microfluidic chip influences the system output. The data were gathered through extensive study in order to optimize the diffusion control. The fuzzy logic approach is used to optimize the performance of the device with respect to the input parameters. In this study, we have chosen three different flow rates of 1, 5, and 10 μL min-1, three different diffusion coefficient values of low, average and high diffusivity gold nanofluids (15.3 e-12, 15.3 e-11, 15.3 e-10 m2 s-1) which are used in three different shapes of micromixer device, Y-shaped straight channel micromixer, herringbone-shaped micromixer, and herringbone shape with obstacles micromixer, and we measured the output performance, such as mixing efficiency, pressure drop, concentration across the microchannel and time domain. The data were obtained by fuzzy logic analysis and it was found that the herringbone shape with obstacles micromixer shows 100% mixing efficiency within a short duration of 5000 μm, and complete mixing was achieved within 10 seconds with a low pressure drop of 128 Pa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan K
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, M.Kumarasamy College of Engineering Karur Tamil Nadu India
| | - Senthil Kumar Kandasamy
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Kongu Engineering College Erode Tamil Nadu India
| | - Saravanan P
- Department of Self Development Skills, CFY Deanship, King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alodhayb
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia
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14
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Lu Y, Tan W, Mu S, Zhu G. A multi-vortex micromixer based on the synergy of acoustics and inertia for nanoparticle synthesis. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1239:340742. [PMID: 36628735 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.340742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mixing is one of the most important steps in chemical reaction, sample preparation and emulsification. However, achieving complete mixing of fluids at high throughput is still a challenge for acoustic micromixers, which are limited by the intensity of the acoustic streaming. In this study, we proposed an acoustic-inertial micromixer based on multi-vortex synergy by introducing inertia into acoustic micromixer. The device contains side-wall sharp-edge structure and contraction-expansion array structure (SCEA) in the microchannel to enhance the acoustic streaming with inertial vortices. The mixing mechanism of SCEA was explored and the mixing process showed three modes: acoustic streaming dominant mode, acoustic-inertial synergy mode and inertial vortex dominant mode. On the basis of the "vortex seed" provided by the contraction-expansion structure, stronger chaotic advection was produced by the synergy of acoustic streaming and inertial vortices (including Dean vortex and horizontal vortex). Rapider mixing (0.20 m s) and wider operating ranges (0-3000 μL/min) were achieved in SCEA at lower driving voltages compared with conventional acoustic micromixers. Finally, more homogeneous and tunable chitosan nanoparticles and shellac nanoparticles were synthesized based on this device. The micromorphology, particle size distribution and drug loading properties of the products were measured and compared. This work provides a platform for control of mixing process in specific application environments with high operational flexibility, indicating potentially wider application of SCEA in multi-functional integration of lab-on-a-chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Lu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, China
| | - Wei Tan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, China; Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, China
| | - Shuoshuo Mu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, China
| | - Guorui Zhu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, China; Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, China.
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15
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Zhang J, Li M, Xu R, Kapur S, Bombard A, Song Y. Electrokinetics in antimicrobial resistance analysis: A review. Electrophoresis 2023; 44:323-336. [PMID: 35940104 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by antimicrobial resistance are a serious problem in the world. Currently, commercial devices for antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistant bacteria identification are time-consuming. There is an urgent need to develop fast and accurate methods, especially in the process of sample pretreatment. Electrokinetic (EK) is a family of electric-field-based kinetic phenomena of fluid or embedded objects, and EK applications have been found in various fields. In this paper, EK bacteria manipulation, including enrichment and separation, is reviewed. Focus is given to the rapid electric-based minimum inhibitory concentration measurement. The future directions and major challenges in this field are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Zhang
- Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, P. R. China
| | - Mengqi Li
- Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, P. R. China
| | - Runxin Xu
- Department of Navigation, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, P. R. China
| | - Suman Kapur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Antonio Bombard
- Physics and Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Itajubá, Itajubá, Brazil
| | - Yongxin Song
- Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, P. R. China
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16
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Gharib G, Bütün İ, Muganlı Z, Kozalak G, Namlı İ, Sarraf SS, Ahmadi VE, Toyran E, van Wijnen AJ, Koşar A. Biomedical Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12111023. [PMID: 36421141 PMCID: PMC9688231 DOI: 10.3390/bios12111023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Both passive and active microfluidic chips are used in many biomedical and chemical applications to support fluid mixing, particle manipulations, and signal detection. Passive microfluidic devices are geometry-dependent, and their uses are rather limited. Active microfluidic devices include sensors or detectors that transduce chemical, biological, and physical changes into electrical or optical signals. Also, they are transduction devices that detect biological and chemical changes in biomedical applications, and they are highly versatile microfluidic tools for disease diagnosis and organ modeling. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the significant advances that have been made in the development of microfluidics devices. We will discuss the function of microfluidic devices as micromixers or as sorters of cells and substances (e.g., microfiltration, flow or displacement, and trapping). Microfluidic devices are fabricated using a range of techniques, including molding, etching, three-dimensional printing, and nanofabrication. Their broad utility lies in the detection of diagnostic biomarkers and organ-on-chip approaches that permit disease modeling in cancer, as well as uses in neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, and pulmonary diseases. Biosensor applications allow for point-of-care testing, using assays based on enzymes, nanozymes, antibodies, or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). An anticipated development in the field includes the optimization of techniques for the fabrication of microfluidic devices using biocompatible materials. These developments will increase biomedical versatility, reduce diagnostic costs, and accelerate diagnosis time of microfluidics technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Gharib
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Centre (SUNUM), Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Center of Excellence for Functional Surfaces and Interfaces for Nano Diagnostics (EFSUN), Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - İsmail Bütün
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Zülâl Muganlı
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Gül Kozalak
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Center of Excellence for Functional Surfaces and Interfaces for Nano Diagnostics (EFSUN), Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - İlayda Namlı
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | | | | | - Erçil Toyran
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
| | - Andre J. van Wijnen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, 89 Beaumont Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Ali Koşar
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Centre (SUNUM), Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Center of Excellence for Functional Surfaces and Interfaces for Nano Diagnostics (EFSUN), Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul 34956, Turkey
- Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), Çankaya, Ankara 06700, Turkey
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17
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Sun H, Li Z, Wu Y, Fan X, Zhu M, Chen T, Sun L. Analysis of Sequential Micromixing Driven by Sinusoidally Shaped Induced-Charge Electroosmotic Flow. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1985. [PMID: 36422414 PMCID: PMC9695967 DOI: 10.3390/mi13111985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Multi-fluid micromixing, which has rarely been explored, typically represents a highly sought-after technique in on-chip biochemical and biomedical assays. Herein, we propose a novel micromixing approach utilizing induced-charge electroosmosis (ICEO) to implement multicomplex mixing between parallel streams. The variations of ICEO microvortices above a sinusoidally shaped floating electrode (SSFE) are first investigated to better understand the microvortex development and the resultant mixing process within a confined channel. On this basis, a mathematical model of the vortex index is newly developed to predict the mixing degree along the microchannel. The negative exponential distribution obtained between the vortex index and mixing index demonstrates an efficient model to describe the mixing performance without solving the coupled diffusion and momentum equations. Specifically, sufficient mixing with a mixing index higher than 0.9 can be achieved when the vortex index exceeds 51, and the mixing efficiency reaches a plateau at an AC frequency close to 100 Hz. Further, a rectangle floating electrode (RFE) is deposited before SSFE to enhance the controlled sequence for three-fluid mixing. One side fluid can fully mix with the middle fluid with a mixing index of 0.623 above RFE in the first mixing stage and achieve entire-channel mixing with a mixing index of 0.983 above SSFE in the second mixing stage, thereby enabling on-demand sequential mixing. As a proof of concept, this work can provide a robust alternative technique for multi-objective issues and structural design related to mixers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhen Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yongji Wu
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xinjian Fan
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Minglu Zhu
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- School of Future Science and Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
| | - Lining Sun
- School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215299, China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Robotics, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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18
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Khandelwal A, Athreya N, Tu MQ, Janavicius LL, Yang Z, Milenkovic O, Leburton JP, Schroeder CM, Li X. Self-assembled microtubular electrodes for on-chip low-voltage electrophoretic manipulation of charged particles and macromolecules. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:27. [PMID: 35310513 PMCID: PMC8882674 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00354-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
On-chip manipulation of charged particles using electrophoresis or electroosmosis is widely used for many applications, including optofluidic sensing, bioanalysis and macromolecular data storage. We hereby demonstrate a technique for the capture, localization, and release of charged particles and DNA molecules in an aqueous solution using tubular structures enabled by a strain-induced self-rolled-up nanomembrane (S-RuM) platform. Cuffed-in 3D electrodes that are embedded in cylindrical S-RuM structures and biased by a constant DC voltage are used to provide a uniform electrical field inside the microtubular devices. Efficient charged-particle manipulation is achieved at a bias voltage of <2-4 V, which is ~3 orders of magnitude lower than the required potential in traditional DC electrophoretic devices. Furthermore, Poisson-Boltzmann multiphysics simulation validates the feasibility and advantage of our microtubular charge manipulation devices over planar and other 3D variations of microfluidic devices. This work lays the foundation for on-chip DNA manipulation for data storage applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apratim Khandelwal
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Nagendra Athreya
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Michael Q. Tu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Lukas L. Janavicius
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Zhendong Yang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Microelectronics Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78758 USA
| | - Olgica Milenkovic
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Leburton
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Charles M. Schroeder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
| | - Xiuling Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Nick Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Microelectronics Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78758 USA
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19
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Yin B, Yue W, Sohan ASMM, Zhou T, Qian C, Wan X. Micromixer with Fine-Tuned Mathematical Spiral Structures. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:30779-30789. [PMID: 34805706 PMCID: PMC8600618 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Micromixers with the microchannel structure can enable rapid and efficient mixing of multiple types of fluids on a microfluidic chip. Herein, we report the mixing performance of three passive micromixers based on the different mathematical spiral structures. We study the fluid flow characteristics of Archimedes spiral, Fermat spiral, and hyperbolic spiral structures with various channel widths and Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 0 to 10 via numerical simulation and visualization experiments. In addition, we analyze the mechanism of streamlines and Dean vortices at different cross sections during fluid flows. As the fluid flows in the Fermat spiral channel, the centrifugal force induces the Dean vortex to form a chaotic advection, enhancing the fluid mixing performance. By integrating the Fermat spiral channel into a microfluidic chip, we successfully detect acute myocardial infarction (AMI) marker with the double-antibody sandwich method and reduce the detection time to 10 min. This method has a low reagent consumption and a high reaction efficiency and demonstrates great potential in point-of-care testing (POCT).
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Affiliation(s)
- Binfeng Yin
- School
of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Wenkai Yue
- School
of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | | | - Teng Zhou
- Mechanical
and Electrical Engineering College, Hainan
University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Changcheng Qian
- School
of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
| | - Xinhua Wan
- School
of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
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20
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Yuan S, Jiang B, Peng T, Li Q, Zhou M. An Investigation of Flow Patterns and Mixing Characteristics in a Cross-Shaped Micromixer within the Laminar Regime. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:462. [PMID: 33923993 PMCID: PMC8072938 DOI: 10.3390/mi12040462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
A fast mixing is critical for subsequent practical development of microfluidic devices, which are often used for assays in the detection of reagents and samples. The present work sets up computational fluid dynamics simulations to explore the flow characteristic and mixing mechanism of fluids in cross-shaped mixers within the laminar regime. First, the effects of increasing an operating parameter on local mixing quality along the microchannels are investigated. It is found that sufficient diffusion cannot occur even though the concentration gradient is large at a high Reynolds number. Meanwhile, a method for calculating local mixing efficiency is also characterized. The mixing efficiency varies exponentially with the flow distance. Second, in order to optimize the cross-shaped mixer, the effects of design parameters, namely aspect ratio, mixing angle and blockage, on mixing quality are captured and the visualization of velocity and concentration distribution are demonstrated. The results show that the aspect ratio and the blockage play an important role in accelerating the mixing process. They can improve the mixing efficiency by increasing the mass transfer area and enhancing the chaotic advection, respectively. In contrast, the inflow angle that affects dispersion length is not an effective parameter. Besides, the surface roughness, which makes the disturbance of fluid flow by roughness more obvious, is considered. Three types of rough elements bring benefits for enhancing mixing quality due to the convection induced by the lateral velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Yuan
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (S.Y.); (B.J.); (T.P.); (Q.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Bingyan Jiang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (S.Y.); (B.J.); (T.P.); (Q.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Tao Peng
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (S.Y.); (B.J.); (T.P.); (Q.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Qiang Li
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (S.Y.); (B.J.); (T.P.); (Q.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Mingyong Zhou
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; (S.Y.); (B.J.); (T.P.); (Q.L.)
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
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