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Gande VV, Podupu PKR, Berry B, Nere NK, Pushpavanam S, Singh MR. Engineering advancements in microfluidic systems for enhanced mixing at low Reynolds numbers. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:011502. [PMID: 38298373 PMCID: PMC10827338 DOI: 10.1063/5.0178939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Mixing within micro- and millichannels is a pivotal element across various applications, ranging from chemical synthesis to biomedical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. The inherent low Reynolds number flow in these channels often results in a parabolic velocity profile, leading to a broad residence time distribution. Achieving efficient mixing at such small scales presents unique challenges and opportunities. This review encompasses various techniques and strategies to evaluate and enhance mixing efficiency in these confined environments. It explores the significance of mixing in micro- and millichannels, highlighting its relevance for enhanced reaction kinetics, homogeneity in mixed fluids, and analytical accuracy. We discuss various mixing methodologies that have been employed to get a narrower residence time distribution. The role of channel geometry, flow conditions, and mixing mechanisms in influencing the mixing performance are also discussed. Various emerging technologies and advancements in microfluidic devices and tools specifically designed to enhance mixing efficiency are highlighted. We emphasize the potential applications of micro- and millichannels in fields of nanoparticle synthesis, which can be utilized for biological applications. Additionally, the prospects of machine learning and artificial intelligence are offered toward incorporating better mixing to achieve precise control over nanoparticle synthesis, ultimately enhancing the potential for applications in these miniature fluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vamsi Vikram Gande
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Prem K. R. Podupu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Bianca Berry
- LaGrange Highlands Middle School, LaGrange Highlands, Illinois 60525, USA
| | | | - S. Pushpavanam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Meenesh R. Singh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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Yao Y, Yu S, Battiato I. Understanding flow dynamics in membrane distillation: Effects of reactor design on polarization. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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Pryazhnikov MI, Yakimov AS, Denisov IA, Pryazhnikov AI, Minakov AV, Belobrov PI. Fluid Viscosity Measurement by Means of Secondary Flow in a Curved Channel. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1452. [PMID: 36144075 PMCID: PMC9502554 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This article presents a new approach to determining the viscosity of Newtonian fluid. The approach is based on the analysis of the secondary Dean flow in a curved channel. The study of the flow patterns of water and aqueous solutions of glycerin in a microfluidic chip with a U-microchannel was carried out. The advantages of a microfluidic viscometer based on a secondary Dean flow are its simplicity, quickness, and high accuracy in determining the viscosity coefficient of a liquid. A viscosity image in a short movie represents fluid properties. It is revealed that the viscosity coefficient can be determined by the dependence of the recirculation angle of the secondary Dean flow. The article provides a correlation between the Dean number and the flow recirculation angle. The results of the field experiment, presented in the article, correlate with the data obtained using computational fluid dynamics and allow for selecting parameters to create microfluidic viscometers with a U-shaped microchannel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim I. Pryazhnikov
- Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Technologies for the Development of Hard-to-Recover Hydrocarbon Reserves, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Laboratory of Heat Exchange Control in Phase and Chemical Transformations, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anton S. Yakimov
- Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Technologies for the Development of Hard-to-Recover Hydrocarbon Reserves, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Ivan A. Denisov
- Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Technologies for the Development of Hard-to-Recover Hydrocarbon Reserves, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Andrey I. Pryazhnikov
- Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Technologies for the Development of Hard-to-Recover Hydrocarbon Reserves, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Andrey V. Minakov
- Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Technologies for the Development of Hard-to-Recover Hydrocarbon Reserves, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
- Laboratory of Heat Exchange Control in Phase and Chemical Transformations, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Peter I. Belobrov
- Department of Biophysics, Siberian Federal University, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
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Tang H, Niu J, Jin H, Lin S, Cui D. Geometric structure design of passive label-free microfluidic systems for biological micro-object separation. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:62. [PMID: 35685963 PMCID: PMC9170746 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00386-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Passive and label-free microfluidic devices have no complex external accessories or detection-interfering label particles. These devices are now widely used in medical and bioresearch applications, including cell focusing and cell separation. Geometric structure plays the most essential role when designing a passive and label-free microfluidic chip. An exquisitely designed geometric structure can change particle trajectories and improve chip performance. However, the geometric design principles of passive and label-free microfluidics have not been comprehensively acknowledged. Here, we review the geometric innovations of several microfluidic schemes, including deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), inertial microfluidics (IMF), and viscoelastic microfluidics (VEM), and summarize the most creative innovations and design principles of passive and label-free microfluidics. We aim to provide a guideline for researchers who have an interest in geometric innovations of passive label-free microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Tang
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan RD, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Jiaqi Niu
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan RD, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Han Jin
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan RD, Shanghai, 200240 China
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 28 Jiangchuan Easternroad, Shanghai, 200241 China
| | - Shujing Lin
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan RD, Shanghai, 200240 China
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 28 Jiangchuan Easternroad, Shanghai, 200241 China
| | - Daxiang Cui
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, Department of Instrument Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan RD, Shanghai, 200240 China
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 28 Jiangchuan Easternroad, Shanghai, 200241 China
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Flow Map for Hydrodynamics and Suspension Behavior in a Continuous Archimedes Tube Crystallizer. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11121466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Archimedes Tube Crystallizer (ATC) is a small-scale coiled tubular crystallizer operated with air-segmented flow. As individual liquid segments are moved through the apparatus by rotation, the ATC operates as a pump. Thus, the ATC overcomes pressure drop limitations of other continuous crystallizers, allowing for longer residence times and crystal growth phases. Understanding continuous crystallizer phenomena is the basis for a well-designed crystallization process, especially for small-scale applications in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industry. Hydrodynamics and suspension behavior, for example, affect agglomeration, breakage, attrition, and ultimately crystallizer blockage. In practice, however, it is time-consuming to investigate these phenomena experimentally for each new material system. In this contribution, a flow map is developed in five steps through a combination of experiments, CFD simulations, and dimensionless numbers. Accordingly, operating parameters can be specified depending on ATC design and material system used, where suspension behavior is suitable for high-quality crystalline products.
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Ajeel RK, Sopian K, Zulkifli R, Fayyadh SN, Kareem Hilo A. Assessment and analysis of binary hybrid nanofluid impact on new configurations for curved-corrugated channel. ADV POWDER TECHNOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2021.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Integration of microfluidic sample preparation with PCR detection to investigate the effects of simultaneous DNA-Inhibitor separation and DNA solution exchange. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1160:338449. [PMID: 33894958 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we applied a curved-channel microfluidic device to separate DNA from PCR-inhibitor-containing water and simultaneously wash them into clean water for detection using a portable PCR thermocycler. Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has become an effective surveying approach for detecting rare organisms. However, low concentration eDNA molecules may be masked by PCR inhibitors during amplification and detection, increasing the risk of false negatives. Therefore, technologies for on-site DNA separation and washing are urgently needed. Our device consisted of a half-circle microchannel with a DNA-inhibitor sample inlet, a clean buffer inlet, and multiple outlets. By using the flow-induced inertial forces, 10 μm DNA-conjugated microparticles were focused at the inner-wall of the curved microchannel while separation from 1 μm inhibitor-conjugated microparticles and DNA washing were achieved simultaneously with the Dean flow. We achieved singleplex focusing, isolation and washing of 10 μm particles at an efficiency of 94.5 ± 2.0%. In duplex experiments with 1 μm and 10 μm particles, larger particles were washed with an efficiency of 92.1 ± 1.6% and a purity of 79 ± 2%. By surface-functionalizing the microparticles with affinity groups against Atlantic salmon DNA and humic acid (HA), and processing samples of various concentrations in our device, we achieved an effective purification and detection of DNA molecules using the portable PCR thermocycler. Our method significantly decreased PCR quantitation cycles from Cq > 38 to Cq = 30.35 ± 0.5, which confirmed enhancement of PCR amplification. The proposed device takes a promising step forward in sample preparation towards an integrated device that can be used for simultaneous purification and solution exchange of DNA in point-of-need environmental monitoring applications.
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Gaddem MR, Ookawara S, Nigam KD, Yoshikawa S, Matsumoto H. Numerical modeling of segmented flow in coiled flow inverter: Hydrodynamics and mass transfer studies. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Chatterjee S, Ghanta KC, Hens A. Study of multiphase flow inside straight and spiral microchannel and effect of two phase flow on Dean’s vortices. Chem Eng Res Des 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2020.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Chen H, Zhang Z. An Inertia-Deformability Hybrid Circulating Tumor Cell Chip: Design, Clinical Test, and Numerical Analysis. J Med Device 2018. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4040986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection and capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with microfluidic chips hold significance in cancer prognosis, diagnosis, and anti-cancer treatment. The counting of CTCs provides potential tools to evaluate cancer stages as well as treatment progress. However, facing the challenge of rareness in blood, the precise enumeration of CTCs is challenging. In the present research, we designed an inertial-deformability hybrid microfluidic chip using a long spiral channel with trapezoid-circular pillars and a capture zone. To clinically validate the device, the microfluidic chip has been tested for the whole blood and lysed blood with a small number of CTCs (colorectal and nonsmall-cell lung cancer) spiked in. The capture efficiency reaches over 90% for three types of cancer cell lines at the flow rate of 1.5 mL/h. Following numerical modeling was conducted to explain the working principle and working condition (Reynolds number below 10 and Dean number around 1). This design extended the effective capture length, improved the capture efficiency, and made the CTC enumeration much easier. We believe that this hybrid chip is promising clinically in the CTCs enumeration, evaluation of cancer therapy, and pharmacological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Chen
- School of Mathematics and Physics of Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
- Division of Nanobionic Research, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhang
- Mem. ASME Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802 e-mails:
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Bayat P, Rezai P. Microfluidic curved-channel centrifuge for solution exchange of target microparticles and their simultaneous separation from bacteria. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:5356-5363. [PMID: 29781012 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm00162f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
One of the common operations in sample preparation is to separate specific particles (e.g. target cells, embryos or microparticles) from non-target substances (e.g. bacteria) in a fluid and to wash them into clean buffers for further processing like detection (called solution exchange in this paper). For instance, solution exchange is widely needed in preparing fluidic samples for biosensing at the point-of-care and point-of-use, but still conducted via the use of cumbersome and time-consuming off-chip analyte washing and purification techniques. Existing small-scale and handheld active and passive devices for washing particles are often limited to very low throughputs or require external sources of energy. Here, we integrated Dean flow recirculation of two fluids in curved microchannels with selective inertial focusing of target particles to develop a microfluidic centrifuge device that can isolate specific particles (as surrogates for target analytes) from bacteria and wash them into a clean buffer at high throughput and efficiency. We could process micron-size particles at a flow rate of 1 mL min-1 and achieve throughputs higher than 104 particles per second. Our results reveal that the device is capable of singleplex solution exchange of 11 μm and 19 μm particles with efficiencies of 86 ± 2% and 93 ± 0.7%, respectively. A purity of 96 ± 2% was achieved in the duplex experiments where 11 μm particles were isolated from 4 μm particles. Application of our device in biological assays was shown by performing duplex experiments where 11 μm or 19 μm particles were isolated from an Escherichia coli bacterial suspension with purities of 91-98%. We envision that our technique will have applications in point-of-care devices for simultaneous purification and solution exchange of cells and embryos from smaller substances in high-volume suspensions at high throughput and efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouriya Bayat
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, York University, BRG 433B, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
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