1
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Roshan U, Mudugamuwa A, Cha H, Hettiarachchi S, Zhang J, Nguyen NT. Actuation for flexible and stretchable microdevices. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2146-2175. [PMID: 38507292 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01086d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Flexible and stretchable microdevices incorporate highly deformable structures, facilitating precise functionality at the micro- and millimetre scale. Flexible microdevices have showcased extensive utility in the fields of biomedicine, microfluidics, and soft robotics. Actuation plays a critical role in transforming energy between different forms, ensuring the effective operation of devices. However, when it comes to actuating flexible microdevices at the small millimetre or even microscale, translating actuation mechanisms from conventional rigid large-scale devices is not straightforward. The recent development of actuation mechanisms leverages the benefits of device flexibility, particularly in transforming conventional actuation concepts into more efficient approaches for flexible devices. Despite many reviews on soft robotics, flexible electronics, and flexible microfluidics, a specific and systematic review of the actuation mechanisms for flexible and stretchable microdevices is still lacking. Therefore, the present review aims to address this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art actuation mechanisms for flexible and stretchable microdevices. We elaborate on the different actuation mechanisms based on fluid pressure, electric, magnetic, mechanical, and chemical sources, thoroughly examining and comparing the structure designs, characteristics, performance, advantages, and drawbacks of these diverse actuation mechanisms. Furthermore, the review explores the pivotal role of materials and fabrication techniques in the development of flexible and stretchable microdevices. Finally, we summarise the applications of these devices in biomedicine and soft robotics and provide perspectives on current and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uditha Roshan
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Amith Mudugamuwa
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Samith Hettiarachchi
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
- School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia.
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2
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Zhang T, Di Carlo D, Lim CT, Zhou T, Tian G, Tang T, Shen AQ, Li W, Li M, Yang Y, Goda K, Yan R, Lei C, Hosokawa Y, Yalikun Y. Passive microfluidic devices for cell separation. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108317. [PMID: 38220118 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108317] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The separation of specific cell populations is instrumental in gaining insights into cellular processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and advancing applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and cell therapies. Microfluidic methods for cell separation have propelled the field forward, benefitting from miniaturization, advanced fabrication technologies, a profound understanding of fluid dynamics governing particle separation mechanisms, and a surge in interdisciplinary investigations focused on diverse applications. Cell separation methodologies can be categorized according to their underlying separation mechanisms. Passive microfluidic separation systems rely on channel structures and fluidic rheology, obviating the necessity for external force fields to facilitate label-free cell separation. These passive approaches offer a compelling combination of cost-effectiveness and scalability when compared to active methods that depend on external fields to manipulate cells. This review delves into the extensive utilization of passive microfluidic techniques for cell separation, encompassing various strategies such as filtration, sedimentation, adhesion-based techniques, pinched flow fractionation (PFF), deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), inertial microfluidics, hydrophoresis, viscoelastic microfluidics, and hybrid microfluidics. Besides, the review provides an in-depth discussion concerning cell types, separation markers, and the commercialization of these technologies. Subsequently, it outlines the current challenges faced in the field and presents a forward-looking perspective on potential future developments. This work hopes to aid in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge in cell separation, guiding future research, and informing practical applications across diverse scientific disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlong Zhang
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Tianyuan Zhou
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China
| | - Guizhong Tian
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
| | - Tao Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Amy Q Shen
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Weihua Li
- School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Ming Li
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - Keisuke Goda
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ruopeng Yan
- The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Cheng Lei
- The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yoichiroh Hosokawa
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
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3
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Feng X, Qi F, Wang H, Li W, Gan Y, Qi C, Lin Z, Chen L, Wang P, Hu Z, Miao Y. Sorting Technology for Mesenchymal Stem Cells from a Single Tissue Source. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:524-537. [PMID: 38112926 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10635-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can be obtained, enriched and proliferated in vitro. They owned enormous potential in fields like regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and immunomodulation. However, though isolated from the same origin, MSCs are still essentially heterogeneous cell populations with different phenotypes and functions. This heterogeneity of MSCs significantly affects their therapeutic efficacy and brings obstacles to scientific research. Thus, reliable sorting technology which can isolate or purify MSC subpopulations with various potential and differentiation pathways is urgently needed. This review summarized principles, application status and clinical implications for these sorting methods, aiming at improving the understanding of MSC heterogeneity as well as providing fresh perspectives for subsequent clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Feng
- The First Clinical School of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Qi
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hailin Wang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhen Li
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuyang Gan
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Caiyu Qi
- The First Clinical School of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen Lin
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Piao Wang
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqi Hu
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yong Miao
- Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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4
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Feng H, Zhang J, Shu W, Bai X, Song L, Chen Y. Highly Accurate Pneumatically Tunable Optofluidic Distributed Feedback Dye Lasers. MICROMACHINES 2023; 15:68. [PMID: 38258186 PMCID: PMC10820426 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Optofluidic dye lasers integrated into microfluidic chips are promising miniature coherent light sources for biosensing. However, achieving the accurate and efficient tuning of lasers remains challenging. This study introduces a novel pneumatically tunable optofluidic distributed feedback (DFB) dye laser in a multilayer microfluidic chip. The dye laser device integrates microfluidic channels, grating structures, and vacuum chambers. A second-order DFB grating configuration is utilized to ensure single-mode lasing. The application of vacuum pressure to the chambers stretches the soft grating layer, enabling the sensitive tuning of the lasing wavelength at a high resolution of 0.25 nm within a 7.84 nm range. The precise control of pressure and laser tuning is achieved through an electronic regulator. Additionally, the integrated microfluidic channels and optimized waveguide structure facilitate efficient dye excitation, resulting in a low pump threshold of 164 nJ/pulse. This pneumatically tunable optofluidic DFB laser, with its high-resolution wavelength tuning range, offers new possibilities for the development of integrated portable devices for biosensing and spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yan Chen
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (H.F.); (J.Z.); (W.S.); (X.B.); (L.S.)
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5
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Torres-Castro K, Acuña-Umaña K, Lesser-Rojas L, Reyes DR. Microfluidic Blood Separation: Key Technologies and Critical Figures of Merit. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:2117. [PMID: 38004974 PMCID: PMC10672873 DOI: 10.3390/mi14112117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Blood is a complex sample comprised mostly of plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), and other cells whose concentrations correlate to physiological or pathological health conditions. There are also many blood-circulating biomarkers, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and various pathogens, that can be used as measurands to diagnose certain diseases. Microfluidic devices are attractive analytical tools for separating blood components in point-of-care (POC) applications. These platforms have the potential advantage of, among other features, being compact and portable. These features can eventually be exploited in clinics and rapid tests performed in households and low-income scenarios. Microfluidic systems have the added benefit of only needing small volumes of blood drawn from patients (from nanoliters to milliliters) while integrating (within the devices) the steps required before detecting analytes. Hence, these systems will reduce the associated costs of purifying blood components of interest (e.g., specific groups of cells or blood biomarkers) for studying and quantifying collected blood fractions. The microfluidic blood separation field has grown since the 2000s, and important advances have been reported in the last few years. Nonetheless, real POC microfluidic blood separation platforms are still elusive. A widespread consensus on what key figures of merit should be reported to assess the quality and yield of these platforms has not been achieved. Knowing what parameters should be reported for microfluidic blood separations will help achieve that consensus and establish a clear road map to promote further commercialization of these devices and attain real POC applications. This review provides an overview of the separation techniques currently used to separate blood components for higher throughput separations (number of cells or particles per minute). We present a summary of the critical parameters that should be considered when designing such devices and the figures of merit that should be explicitly reported when presenting a device's separation capabilities. Ultimately, reporting the relevant figures of merit will benefit this growing community and help pave the road toward commercialization of these microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Torres-Castro
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurements Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA;
- Theiss Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Katherine Acuña-Umaña
- Medical Devices Master’s Program, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR), Cartago 30101, Costa Rica
| | - Leonardo Lesser-Rojas
- Research Center in Atomic, Nuclear and Molecular Sciences (CICANUM), San José 11501, Costa Rica;
- School of Physics, Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), San José 11501, Costa Rica
| | - Darwin R. Reyes
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurements Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA;
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Suzuki T, Kalyan S, Berlinicke C, Yoseph S, Zack DJ, Hur SC. Deciphering viscoelastic cell manipulation in rectangular microchannels. PHYSICS OF FLUIDS (WOODBURY, N.Y. : 1994) 2023; 35:103117. [PMID: 37849975 PMCID: PMC10577600 DOI: 10.1063/5.0167285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Viscoelastic focusing has emerged as a promising method for label-free and passive manipulation of micro and nanoscale bioparticles. However, the design of microfluidic devices for viscoelastic particle focusing requires a thorough comprehensive understanding of the flow condition and operational parameters that lead to the desired behavior of microparticles. While recent advancements have been made, viscoelastic focusing is not fully understood, particularly in straight microchannels with rectangular cross sections. In this work, we delve into inertial, elastic, and viscoelastic focusing of biological cells in rectangular cross-section microchannels. By systematically varying degrees of fluid elasticity and inertia, we investigate the underlying mechanisms behind cell focusing. Our approach involves injecting cells into devices with a fixed, non-unity aspect ratio and capturing their images from two orientations, enabling the extrapolation of cross-sectional equilibrium positions from two dimensional (2D) projections. We characterized the changes in hydrodynamic focusing behaviors of cells based on factors, such as cell size, flow rate, and fluid characteristics. These findings provide insights into the flow characteristics driving changes in equilibrium positions. Furthermore, they indicate that viscoelastic focusing can enhance the detection accuracy in flow cytometry and the sorting resolution for size-based particle sorting applications. By contributing to the advancement of understanding viscoelastic focusing in rectangular microchannels, this work provides valuable insight and design guidelines for the development of devices that harness viscoelastic focusing. The knowledge gained from this study can aid in the advancement of viscoelastic particle manipulation technique and their application in various fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Suzuki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Srivathsan Kalyan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Cynthia Berlinicke
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
| | - Samantha Yoseph
- Department of Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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7
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Jia Z, Wu J, Wu X, Yuan Q, Chan Y, Liu B, Zhang J, Yan S. Size-Tunable Elasto-Inertial Sorting of Haematococcus pluvialis in the Ultrastretchable Microchannel. Anal Chem 2023; 95:13338-13345. [PMID: 37585740 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Haematococcus pluvialis is a good source of astaxanthin, which reduces oxidation in the human body, treats inflammation, and slows the growth of breast and skin cancer cells. Since the size of H. pluvialis is often closely related to astaxanthin yield, size-based microalgal separation has far-reaching significance for high-value algae extraction and algal directed evolution. In this work, we report a novel size-tunable elasto-inertial sorting of H. pluvialis in the Ecoflex ultrastretchable microfluidic devices. Ecoflex microfluidic chips can deform and be flexible, bringing flexibility and stretchability to microchannels as well as new possibilities for large-scale modulation of channel geometry. Here, the effects of velocity, channel elongation, and particle size on the elasto-inertial migration of particles are systematically studied. We found that channel elongation has a strong regulating effect on particle focusing. In addition, we verified the continuous regulation of the sorting threshold of microalgal cells by stretching the channel, providing technical support for the extraction and directed evolution of high-yield microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Jia
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jialin Wu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiuru Wu
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Qingwei Yuan
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yue Chan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Sheng Yan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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8
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Cha H, Fallahi H, Dai Y, Yadav S, Hettiarachchi S, McNamee A, An H, Xiang N, Nguyen NT, Zhang J. Tuning particle inertial separation in sinusoidal channels by embedding periodic obstacle microstructures. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:2789-2800. [PMID: 35587546 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Inertial microfluidics functions solely based on the fluid dynamics at relatively high flow speed. Thus, channel geometry is the critical design parameter that contributes to the performance of the device. Four basic channel geometries (i.e., straight, expansion-contraction, spiral and serpentine) have been proposed and extensively studied. To further enhance the performance, innovative channel design through combining two or more geometries is promising. This work explores embedding periodic concave and convex obstacle microstructures in sinusoidal channels and investigates their influence on particle inertial focusing and separation. The concave obstacles could significantly enhance the Dean flow and tune the flow range for particle inertial focusing and separation. Based on this finding, we propose a cascaded device by connecting two sinusoidal channels consecutively for rare cell separation. The concave obstacles are embedded in the second channel to adapt its operational flow rates and enable the functional operation of both channels. Polystyrene beads and breast cancer cells (T47D) spiking in the blood were respectively processed by the proposed device. The results indicate an outstanding separation performance, with 3 to 4 orders of magnitude enhancement in purity for samples with a primary cancer cells ratio of 0.01% and 0.001%, respectively. Embedding microstructures as obstacles brings more flexibility to the design of inertial microfluidic devices, offering a feasible new way to combine two or more serial processing units for high-performance separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Sharda Yadav
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Samith Hettiarachchi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Antony McNamee
- Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211189, PR China
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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9
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Alteration of Inertial Focusing Positions in Triangular Channels Using Flexible PDMS Microfluidics. BIOCHIP JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13206-022-00062-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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10
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Bhat MP, Thendral V, Uthappa UT, Lee KH, Kigga M, Altalhi T, Kurkuri MD, Kant K. Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platform for Physical and Immunological Detection and Capture of Circulating Tumor Cells. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12040220. [PMID: 35448280 PMCID: PMC9025399 DOI: 10.3390/bios12040220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
CTCs (circulating tumor cells) are well-known for their use in clinical trials for tumor diagnosis. Capturing and isolating these CTCs from whole blood samples has enormous benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. In general, various approaches are being used to separate malignant cells, including immunomagnets, macroscale filters, centrifuges, dielectrophoresis, and immunological approaches. These procedures, on the other hand, are time-consuming and necessitate multiple high-level operational protocols. In addition, considering their low efficiency and throughput, the processes of capturing and isolating CTCs face tremendous challenges. Meanwhile, recent advances in microfluidic devices promise unprecedented advantages for capturing and isolating CTCs with greater efficiency, sensitivity, selectivity and accuracy. In this regard, this review article focuses primarily on the various fabrication methodologies involved in microfluidic devices and techniques specifically used to capture and isolate CTCs using various physical and biological methods as well as their conceptual ideas, advantages and disadvantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Padmalaya Bhat
- Centre for Research in Functional Materials (CRFM), Jain Global Campus, Jain University, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India; (M.P.B.); (V.T.); (M.K.)
- Agricultural Automation Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea;
| | - Venkatachalam Thendral
- Centre for Research in Functional Materials (CRFM), Jain Global Campus, Jain University, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India; (M.P.B.); (V.T.); (M.K.)
| | | | - Kyeong-Hwan Lee
- Agricultural Automation Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea;
- Department of Convergence Biosystems Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Madhuprasad Kigga
- Centre for Research in Functional Materials (CRFM), Jain Global Campus, Jain University, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India; (M.P.B.); (V.T.); (M.K.)
| | - Tariq Altalhi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mahaveer D. Kurkuri
- Centre for Research in Functional Materials (CRFM), Jain Global Campus, Jain University, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India; (M.P.B.); (V.T.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: (M.D.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Krishna Kant
- Departamento de Química Física, Campus Universitario, CINBIO Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.D.K.); (K.K.)
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11
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Fallahi H, Cha H, Adelnia H, Dai Y, Ta HT, Yadav S, Zhang J, Nguyen NT. On-demand deterministic release of particles and cells using stretchable microfluidics. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2022; 7:414-424. [PMID: 35237777 DOI: 10.1039/d1nh00679g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic technologies have been widely used for single-cell studies as they provide facile, cost-effective, and high-throughput evaluations of single cells with great accuracy. Capturing single cells has been investigated extensively using various microfluidic techniques. Furthermore, cell retrieval is crucial for the subsequent study of cells in applications such as drug screening. However, there are no robust methods for the facile release of the captured cells. Therefore, we developed a stretchable microfluidic cell trapper for easy on-demand release of cells in a deterministic manner. The stretchable microdevice consists of several U-shaped microstructures to capture single cells. The gap at the bottom edge of the microstructure broadens when the device is stretched along its width. By tuning the horizontal elongation of the device, ample space is provided to release particle/cell sizes of interest. The performance of the stretchable microdevice was evaluated using particles and cells. A deterministic release of particles was demonstrated using a mixture of 15 μm and 20 μm particles. The retrieval of the 15 μm particles and the 20 μm particles was achieved with elongation lengths of 1 mm and 5 mm, respectively. Two different cell lines, T47D breast cancer cells and J774A.1 macrophages, were employed to characterise the cell release capability of the device. The proposed stretchable micro cell trapper provided a deterministic recovery of the captured cells by adjusting the elongation length of the device. We believe that this stretchable microfluidic platform can provide an alternative method to facilely release trapped cells for subsequent evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hossein Adelnia
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hang Thu Ta
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Sharda Yadav
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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12
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Sun M, Zhou X, Quan Y, Zhang L, Xie Y. Highly flexible elastomer microfluidic chip for single cell manipulation. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:024104. [PMID: 35310421 PMCID: PMC8923708 DOI: 10.1063/5.0086717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
New materials and fabrication technologies have significantly boosted the development of lab-on-a-chip technologies and functionalities. In this work, we developed a highly flexible elastomer microfluidic chip with a microchannel with a minimum width of ∼5 μm manufactured by imprinting onto an SU-8 template. We found that the deformation induced in the microstructures by manual stretching of the chip is higher than that for the chip itself, which we attribute to the stress concentration of microstructures. Here, we demonstrate that the elastomer enables the manipulation of single cells, such as dynamic trapping-releasing operations, by simply stretching and releasing the elastomer chip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Yi Quan
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Lianbing Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Space Bioscience & Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yanbo Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
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13
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Abdollahzadeh L, Seyfi Mazraeno M, Hosseini SN, Fazlali A, Khatami M. Application of a 3D printed miniaturized hydrocyclone in biopharmaceutical industry-numerical and experimental studies of yeast separation from fermentation culture media. Prep Biochem Biotechnol 2022; 53:31-39. [PMID: 35225162 DOI: 10.1080/10826068.2022.2035746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Various industries ranging from water purification to pharmaceutical production have experienced multi separation steps that impose more process time and contamination possibility by batch operation. We propose a developed microfluidic particle sorter (miniaturized hydrocyclone) that adopts centrifugal force as it has ability to decline the number of separation steps and the risk of extrinsic contamination in continuous process. While biological industries have not relied on mini hydrocyclones considerably because of low efficiency and microfabrication difficulties, current work has been planned to conquer these obstacles. In this research, biomass separation from fermentation broth by 3 mm hydrocyclones was investigated. The effect of apex size, feed flow rate, hydrocyclone geometry were analyzed numerically in four mini-hydrocyclones. The most efficient mini-hydrocyclone was chosen to be made by elegant additive manufacturing technology and studied experimentally. The separation efficiency was achieved up to 90% while the concentration ratio of heavy stream (apex) to dilute stream (vortex finder) was reached more than twofold. The mini hydrocyclone performance in view of energy target was studied by Euler-Reynolds-Efficiency plots. The 4 μm cut size was achieved that is promising high throughput separation for biological particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Abdollahzadeh
- Department of Hepatitis B Vaccine Production, Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Seyed Nezamedin Hosseini
- Department of Hepatitis B Vaccine Production, Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Fazlali
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran
| | - Maryam Khatami
- Department of Hepatitis B Vaccine Production, Production and Research Complex, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Dai Y, Cha H, Simmonds MJ, Fallahi H, An H, Ta HT, Nguyen NT, Zhang J, McNamee AP. Enhanced Blood Plasma Extraction Utilising Viscoelastic Effects in a Serpentine Microchannel. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12020120. [PMID: 35200380 PMCID: PMC8869685 DOI: 10.3390/bios12020120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasma extraction from blood is essential for diagnosis of many diseases. The critical process of plasma extraction requires removal of blood cells from whole blood. Fluid viscoelasticity promotes cell migration towards the central axis of flow due to differences in normal stress and physical properties of cells. We investigated the effects of altering fluid viscoelasticity on blood plasma extraction in a serpentine microchannel. Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) was dissolved into blood to increase its viscoelasticity. The influences of PEO concentration, blood dilution, and flow rate on the performance of cell focusing were examined. We found that focusing performance can be significantly enhanced by adding PEO into blood. The optimal PEO concentration ranged from 100 to 200 ppm with respect to effective blood cell focusing. An optimal flow rate from 1 to 15 µL/min was determined, at least for our experimental setup. Given less than 1% haemolysis was detected at the outlets in all experimental combinations, the proposed microfluidic methodology appears suitable for applications sensitive to haemocompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
| | - Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
| | - Michael J. Simmonds
- Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia;
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
| | - Hang T. Ta
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia;
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro-Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia; (Y.D.); (H.C.); (H.F.); (H.A.); (N.-T.N.)
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (A.P.M.)
| | - Antony P. McNamee
- Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia;
- Correspondence: (J.Z.); (A.P.M.)
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15
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Cha H, Fallahi H, Dai Y, Yuan D, An H, Nguyen NT, Zhang J. Multiphysics microfluidics for cell manipulation and separation: a review. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:423-444. [PMID: 35048916 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00869b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiphysics microfluidics, which combines multiple functional physical processes in a microfluidics platform, is an emerging research area that has attracted increasing interest for diverse biomedical applications. Multiphysics microfluidics is expected to overcome the limitations of individual physical phenomena through combining their advantages. Furthermore, multiphysics microfluidics is superior for cell manipulation due to its high precision, better sensitivity, real-time tunability, and multi-target sorting capabilities. These exciting features motivate us to review this state-of-the-art field and reassess the feasibility of coupling multiple physical processes. To confine the scope of this paper, we mainly focus on five common forces in microfluidics: inertial lift, elastic, dielectrophoresis (DEP), magnetophoresis (MP), and acoustic forces. This review first explains the working mechanisms of single physical phenomena. Next, we classify multiphysics techniques in terms of cascaded connections and physical coupling, and we elaborate on combinations of designs and working mechanisms in systems reported in the literature to date. Finally, we discuss the possibility of combining multiple physical processes and associated design schemes and propose several promising future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Dan Yuan
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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16
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Shao C, Chi J, Shang L, Fan Q, Ye F. Droplet microfluidics-based biomedical microcarriers. Acta Biomater 2022; 138:21-33. [PMID: 34718181 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic technology provides a new platform for controllable generation of microdroplets and droplet-derived materials. In particular, because of the ability in high-throughput production and accurate control of the size, structure, and function of these materials, droplet microfluidics presents unique advantages in the preparation of functional microcarriers, i.e., microsized liquid containers or solid particles that serve as substrates of biomolecules or cells. These microcarriers could be extensively applied in the areas of cell culture, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. In this review, we focus on the fabrication of microcarriers from droplet microfluidics, and discuss their applications in the biomedical field. We start with the basic principle of droplet microfluidics, including droplet generation regimes and its control methods. We then introduce the fabrication of biomedical microcarriers based on single, double, and multiple emulsion droplets, and emphasize the various applications of microcarriers in biomedical field, especially in 3D cell culture, drug development and biomedical detection. Finally, we conclude this review by discussing the limitations and challenges of droplet microfluidics in preparing microcarriers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Because of its precise control and high throughput, droplet microfluidics has been employed to generate functional microcarriers, which have been widely used in the areas of drug development, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. This review is significant because it emphasizes recent progress in research on droplet microfluidics in the preparation and application of biomedical microcarriers. In addition, this review suggests research directions for the future development of biomedical microcarriers based on droplet microfluidics by presenting existing shortcomings and challenges.
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17
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Hassanpour Tamrin S, Sanati Nezhad A, Sen A. Label-Free Isolation of Exosomes Using Microfluidic Technologies. ACS NANO 2021; 15:17047-17079. [PMID: 34723478 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c03469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes are cell-derived structures packaged with lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. They exist in diverse bodily fluids and are involved in physiological and pathological processes. Although their potential for clinical application as diagnostic and therapeutic tools has been revealed, a huge bottleneck impeding the development of applications in the rapidly burgeoning field of exosome research is an inability to efficiently isolate pure exosomes from other unwanted components present in bodily fluids. To date, several approaches have been proposed and investigated for exosome separation, with the leading candidate being microfluidic technology due to its relative simplicity, cost-effectiveness, precise and fast processing at the microscale, and amenability to automation. Notably, avoiding the need for exosome labeling represents a significant advance in terms of process simplicity, time, and cost as well as protecting the biological activities of exosomes. Despite the exciting progress in microfluidic strategies for exosome isolation and the countless benefits of label-free approaches for clinical applications, current microfluidic platforms for isolation of exosomes are still facing a series of problems and challenges that prevent their use for clinical sample processing. This review focuses on the recent microfluidic platforms developed for label-free isolation of exosomes including those based on sieving, deterministic lateral displacement, field flow, and pinched flow fractionation as well as viscoelastic, acoustic, inertial, electrical, and centrifugal forces. Further, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of these strategies with highlights of current challenges and outlook of label-free microfluidics toward the clinical utility of exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hassanpour Tamrin
- Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, CCIT 125, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Amir Sanati Nezhad
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, CCIT 125, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Arindom Sen
- Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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18
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Xu X, Huang X, Sun J, Wang R, Yao J, Han W, Wei M, Chen J, Guo J, Sun L, Yin M. Recent progress of inertial microfluidic-based cell separation. Analyst 2021; 146:7070-7086. [PMID: 34761757 DOI: 10.1039/d1an01160j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cell separation has consistently been a pivotal technology of sample preparation in biomedical research. Compared with conventional bulky cell separation technologies applied in the clinic, cell separation based on microfluidics can accurately manipulate the displacement of liquid or cells at the microscale, which has great potential in point-of-care testing (POCT) applications due to small device size, low cost, low sample consumption, and high operating accuracy. Among various microfluidic cell separation technologies, inertial microfluidics has attracted great attention due to its simple structure and high throughput. In recent years, many researchers have explored the principles and applications of inertial microfluidics and developed different channel structures, including straight channels, curved channels, and multistage channels. However, the recently developed multistage channels have not been discussed and classified in detail compared with more widely discussed straight and curved channels. Therefore, in this review, a comprehensive and detailed review of recent progress in the multistage channel is presented. According to the channel structure, the inertial microfluidic separation technology is divided into (i) straight channel, (ii) curved channel, (iii) composite channel, and (iv) integrated device. The structural development of straight and curved channels is discussed in detail. And based on straight and curved channels, the multistage cell separation structures are reviewed, with a special focus on a variety of latest structures and related innovations of composite and integrated channels. Finally, the future prospects for the existing challenges in the development of inertial microfluidic cell separation technology are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Xiwei Huang
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jingjing Sun
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Renjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jiangfan Yao
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Wentao Han
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Maoyu Wei
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jin Chen
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jinhong Guo
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Lingling Sun
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Ming Yin
- The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
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19
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Yuan D, Yadav S, Ta HT, Fallahi H, An H, Kashaninejad N, Ooi CH, Nguyen NT, Zhang J. Investigation of viscoelastic focusing of particles and cells in a zigzag microchannel. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:2230-2237. [PMID: 34396540 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic particle focusing has been a vital prerequisite step in sample preparation for downstream particle separation, counting, detection, or analysis, and has attracted broad applications in biomedical and chemical areas. Besides all the active and passive focusing methods in Newtonian fluids, particle focusing in viscoelastic fluids has been attracting increasing interest because of its advantages induced by intrinsic fluid property. However, to achieve a well-defined focusing position, there is a need to extend channel lengths when focusing micrometer-sized or sub-microsized particles, which would result in the size increase of the microfluidic devices. This work investigated the sheathless viscoelastic focusing of particles and cells in a zigzag microfluidic channel. Benefit from the zigzag structure of the channel, the channel length and the footprint of the device can be reduced without sacrificing the focusing performance. In this work, the viscoelastic focusing, including the focusing of 10 μm polystyrene particles, 5 μm polystyrene particles, 5 μm magnetic particles, white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and cancer cells, were all demonstrated. Moreover, magnetophoretic separation of magnetic and nonmagnetic particles after viscoelastic pre-focusing was shown. This focusing technique has the potential to be used in a range of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Yuan
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Sharda Yadav
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Hang T Ta
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Navid Kashaninejad
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Chin Hong Ooi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
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