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Lee KCM, Chung BMF, Siu DMD, Ho SCK, Ng DKH, Tsia KK. Dispersion-free inertial focusing (DIF) for high-yield polydisperse micro-particle filtration and analysis. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:4182-4197. [PMID: 39101363 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00275j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Inertial focusing excels at the precise spatial ordering and separation of microparticles by size within fluid flows. However, this advantage, resulting from its inherent size-dependent dispersion, could turn into a drawback that challenges applications requiring consistent and uniform positioning of polydisperse particles, such as microfiltration and flow cytometry. To overcome this fundamental challenge, we introduce Dispersion-Free Inertial Focusing (DIF). This new method minimizes particle size-dependent dispersion while maintaining the high throughput and precision of standard inertial focusing, even in a highly polydisperse scenario. We demonstrate a rule-of-thumb principle to reinvent an inertial focusing system and achieve an efficient focusing of particles ranging from 6 to 30 μm in diameter onto a single plane with less than 3 μm variance and over 95% focusing efficiency at highly scalable throughput (2.4-30 mL h-1) - a stark contrast to existing technologies that struggle with polydispersity. We demonstrated that DIF could be applied in a broad range of applications, particularly enabling high-yield continuous microparticle filtration and large-scale high-resolution single-cell morphological analysis of heterogeneous cell populations. This new technique is also readily compatible with the existing inertial microfluidic design and thus could unleash more diverse systems and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin C M Lee
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Bob M F Chung
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Dickson M D Siu
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Sam C K Ho
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Daniel K H Ng
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Kevin K Tsia
- The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
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2
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Wei YJ, Wei X, Zhang X, Wu CX, Cai JY, Chen ML, Wang JH. A hydrodynamic-based dual-function microfluidic chip for high throughput discriminating tumor cells. Talanta 2024; 273:125884. [PMID: 38508128 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125884] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
A hydrodynamic-based microfluidic chip consisted of two function units that could not only separate tumor cells (TCs) from whole blood but also remove residual blood cells was designed. The separation of TCs was achieved by a straight contraction-expansion array (CEA) microchannel on the front end of the chip. The addition of contractive structure brought a micro-vortex like Dean vortex that promoted cell focusing in the channel, while when cells entered the dilated region, the wall-induced lift force generated by the channel wall gave cells a push away from the wall. As the wall-induced lift force is proportional to the third power of the cell diameter, TCs with larger diameter will have a larger lateral migration under the wall-induced lift force, realizing the separation of TCs from blood sample. Fluorescent particles with diameters of 19.3 μm and 4.5 μm were used to simulate TCs and red blood cells, respectively, to verify the separation capacity of the proposed CEA microchannel for particles with different diameter. And a separation efficiency 98.7% for 19.3 μm particles and a removal rate 96.2% for 4.5 μm particles was observed at sample flow rate of 10 μL min-1 and sheath flow rate of 190 μL min-1. In addition, a separation efficiency about 96.1% for MCF-7 cells (stained with DiI) and removal rates of 96.2% for red blood cells (RBCs) and 98.7% for white blood cells (WBCs) were also obtained under the same condition. However, on account of the large number of blood cells in the blood, there will be a large number of blood cells remained in the isolated TCs, so a purification unit based on hydrodynamic filtration (HDF) was added after the separation microchannel. The purification channel is a size-dictated cell filter that can remove residual blood cells but retain TCs, thus achieving the purification of TCs. Combined the CEA microchannel and the purifier, the microchip facilitates sorting of MCF-7 cells from whole blood with a separation rate about 95.3% and a removal rate over 99.99% for blood cells at a sample flow rate of 10 μL min-1, sheath flow rate of 190 μL min-1 and washing flow rate of 63 μL min-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jia Wei
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Xing Wei
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Cheng-Xing Wu
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Ji-Ying Cai
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Ming-Li Chen
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China.
| | - Jian-Hua Wang
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Box 332, Shenyang, 110819, China.
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3
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Shen F, Gao J, Zhang J, Ai M, Gao H, Liu Z. Vortex sorting of rare particles/cells in microcavities: A review. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:021504. [PMID: 38571909 PMCID: PMC10987199 DOI: 10.1063/5.0174938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip technology has shown great potential for the separation of target particles/cells from heterogeneous solutions. Among current separation methods, vortex sorting of particles/cells in microcavities is a highly effective method for trapping and isolating rare target cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from flowing samples. By utilizing fluid forces and inertial particle effects, this passive method offers advantages such as label-free operation, high throughput, and high concentration. This paper reviews the fundamental research on the mechanisms of focusing, trapping, and holding of particles in this method, designs of novel microcavities, as well as its applications. We also summarize the challenges and prospects of this technique with the hope to promote its applications in medical and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Shen
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Jie Gao
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingzhu Ai
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Mechanics, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongkai Gao
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhaomiao Liu
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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4
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Ashkani A, Jafari A, Ghomsheh MJ, Dumas N, Funfschilling D. Enhancing particle focusing: a comparative experimental study of modified square wave and square wave microchannels in lift and Dean vortex regimes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2679. [PMID: 38302543 PMCID: PMC10834497 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52839-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Serpentine microchannels are known for their effective particle focusing through Dean flow-induced rotational effects, which are used in compact designs for size-dependent focusing in medical diagnostics. This study explores square serpentine microchannels, a geometry that has recently gained prominence in inertial microfluidics, and presents a modification of square wave microchannels for improved particle separation and focusing. The proposed modification incorporates an additional U-shaped unit to convert the square wave microchannel into a non-axisymmetric structure, which enhances the Dean flow and consequently increases the Dean drag force. Extensive experiments were conducted covering a wide range of Reynolds numbers and particle sizes (2.45 µm to 12 µm). The particle concentration capability and streak position dynamics of the two structures were compared in detail. The results indicate that the modified square-wave microchannel exhibits efficient particle separation in the lower part of the Dean vortex-dominated regime. With increasing Reynolds number, the particles are successively focused into two streaks in the lift force-dominated regime and into a single streak in the Dean vortex-dominated regime, in this modified square wave geometry. These streaks have a low standard deviation around a mean value. In the Dean vortex-dominated regime, the location of the particle stream is highly dependent on the particle size, which allows good particle separation. Particle focusing occurs at lower Reynolds numbers in both the lift-dominated and lift/Dean drag-dominated regions than in the square wave microchannel. The innovative serpentine channel is particularly useful for the Dean drag-dominated regime and introduces a unique asymmetry that affects the particle focusing dynamics. The proposed device offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, parallelization, footprint, and throughput over existing geometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ashkani
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azadeh Jafari
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran.
- ICube, UMR 7357-CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 1, Cours des Cigarières, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Mehryar Jannesari Ghomsheh
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Norbert Dumas
- ICube, UMR 7357-CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 1, Cours des Cigarières, 67000, Strasbourg, France
- ICube, UMR 7357-CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 300 bd Sébastien Brant, 67412, Illkirch, France
| | - Denis Funfschilling
- ICube, UMR 7357-CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 1, Cours des Cigarières, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
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Shen S, Zhao L, Bai H, Zhang Y, Niu Y, Tian C, Chan H. Spiral Large-Dimension Microfluidic Channel for Flow-Rate- and Particle-Size-Insensitive Focusing by the Stabilization and Acceleration of Secondary Flow. Anal Chem 2024; 96:1750-1758. [PMID: 38215439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Inertial microfluidics has demonstrated its ability to focus particles in a passive and straightforward manner. However, achieving flow-rate- and particle-size-insensitive focusing in large-dimension channels with a simple design remains challenging. In this study, we developed a spiral microfluidic with a large-dimension channel to achieve inertial focusing. By designing a unique "big buffering area" and a "small buffering area" in the spiral microchannel, we observed the stabilization and acceleration of secondary flow. Our optimized design allowed for efficient (>99.9%) focusing of 15 μm particles within a wide range of flow rates (0.5-4.5 mL/min) during a long operation duration (0-60 min). Additionally, we achieved effective (>95%) focusing of different-sized particles (7, 10, 15, and 30 μm) and three types of tumor cells (K562, HeLa, and MCF-7) near the inner wall of the 1 mm wide outlet when applying different flow rates (1-3 mL/min). Finally, successful 3D cell focusing was achieved within an optimized device, with the cells positioned at a distance of 50 μm from the wall. Our strategy of stabilizing and accelerating Dean-like secondary flow through the unique configuration of a "big buffering area" and a "small buffering area" proved to be highly effective in achieving inertial focusing that is insensitive to the flow rate and particle size, particularly in large-dimension channels. Consequently, it shows great potential for use in hand-operated microfluidic tools for flow cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofei Shen
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Lei Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710126, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Hanjie Bai
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yanbing Niu
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Chang Tian
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Henryk Chan
- Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, U.K
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Peng T, Qiang J, Yuan S. Sheathless inertial particle focusing methods within microfluidic devices: a review. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1331968. [PMID: 38260735 PMCID: PMC10801244 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1331968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to manipulate and focus particles within microscale fluidic environments is crucial to advancing biological, chemical, and medical research. Precise and high-throughput particle focusing is an essential prerequisite for various applications, including cell counting, biomolecular detection, sample sorting, and enhancement of biosensor functionalities. Active and sheath-assisted focusing techniques offer accuracy but necessitate the introduction of external energy fields or additional sheath flows. In contrast, passive focusing methods exploit the inherent fluid dynamics in achieving high-throughput focusing without external actuation. This review analyzes the latest developments in strategies of sheathless inertial focusing, emphasizing inertial and elasto-inertial microfluidic focusing techniques from the channel structure classifications. These methodologies will serve as pivotal benchmarks for the broader application of microfluidic focusing technologies in biological sample manipulation. Then, prospects for future development are also predicted. This paper will assist in the understanding of the design of microfluidic particle focusing devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Peng
- Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jun Qiang
- The School of Mechanical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Vishwanathan G, Juarez G. Synchronous oscillatory electro-inertial focusing of microparticles. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:064105. [PMID: 38098691 PMCID: PMC10718650 DOI: 10.1063/5.0162368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Here, results are presented on the focusing of 1 μ m polystyrene particle suspensions using a synchronous oscillatory pressure-driven flow and oscillatory electric field in a microfluidic device. The effect of the phase difference between the oscillatory fields on the focusing position and focusing efficiency was investigated. The focusing position of negatively charged polystyrene particles could be tuned anywhere between the channel centerline to the channel walls. Similarly, the focusing efficiency could range from 20% up to 90%, depending on the phase difference, for particle Reynolds numbers of order O ( 10 - 4 ) . The migration velocity profile was measured and the peak velocity was found to scale linearly with both the oscillatory pressure-driven flow amplitude and the oscillatory electric field amplitude. Furthermore, the average migration velocity was observed to scale with the cosine of the phase difference between the fields, indicating the coupled non-linear nature of the phenomenon. Last, the peak migration velocity was measured for different particle radii and found to have an inverse relation, where the velocity increased with decreasing particle radius for identical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giridar Vishwanathan
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Gabriel Juarez
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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8
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Saravanakumar SM, Cicek PV. Microfluidic Mixing: A Physics-Oriented Review. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1827. [PMID: 37893264 PMCID: PMC10609072 DOI: 10.3390/mi14101827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
This comprehensive review paper focuses on the intricate physics of microfluidics and their application in micromixing techniques. Various methods for enhancing mixing in microchannels are explored, with a keen emphasis on the underlying fluid dynamics principles. Geometrical micromixers employ complex channel designs to induce fluid-fluid interface distortions, yielding efficient mixing while retaining manufacturing simplicity. These methods synergize effectively with external techniques, showcasing promising potential. Electrohydrodynamics harnesses electrokinetic phenomena like electroosmosis, electrophoresis, and electrothermal effects. These methods offer dynamic control over mixing parameters via applied voltage, frequency, and electrode positioning, although power consumption and heating can be drawbacks. Acoustofluidics leverages acoustic waves to drive microstreaming, offering localized yet far-reaching effects. Magnetohydrodynamics, though limited in applicability to certain fluids, showcases potential by utilizing magnetic fields to propel mixing. Selecting an approach hinges on trade-offs among complexity, efficiency, and compatibility with fluid properties. Understanding the physics of fluid behavior and rationalizing these techniques aids in tailoring the most suitable micromixing solution. In a rapidly advancing field, this paper provides a consolidated understanding of these techniques, facilitating the informed choice of approach for specific microfluidic mixing needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul-Vahe Cicek
- Microtechnologies Integration & Convergence Research Group, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
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Ebrahimi S, Alishiri M, Pishbin E, Afjoul H, Shamloo A. A curved expansion-contraction microfluidic structure for inertial based separation of circulating tumor cells from blood samples. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1705:464200. [PMID: 37429078 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The rare presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream has made their recording and separation one of the major challenges in the recent decade. Inertia-based microfluidic systems have received more attention in CTCs separation due to their feasibility and low cost. In this research, an inertial microfluidic system is proposed using a curved expansion-contraction array (CEA) microchannel to separate CTCs from white blood cells (WBCs). First, the optimal flow rate of the proposed microfluidic device was determined to maximize the separation efficiency of the target cells (CTCs) from the non-target ones (WBCs). Then, the efficiency and purity of the straight and curved-CEA microchannels were assessed. The experimental results indiated that the proposed system (curved-CEA microchannel) can offer the highest efficiency (-80.31%) and purity (-91.32%) at the flow rate of -7.5 ml/min, exhibiting ∼11.48% increment in the efficiency compared to its straight peer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Ebrahimi
- Nano-Bioengineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365-11155, Iran; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
| | - Mojgan Alishiri
- Nano-Bioengineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365-11155, Iran
| | - Esmail Pishbin
- Nano-Bioengineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365-11155, Iran; Bio-microfluidics lab, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Homa Afjoul
- Nano-Bioengineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365-11155, Iran; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Nano-Bioengineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11365-11155, Iran; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran.
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Mohamadsharifi A, Hajghassem H, Kalantar M, Karimi A, Tabatabaei Asl M, Hosseini S, Badieirostami M. High-Efficiency Inertial Separation of Microparticles Using Elevated Columned Reservoirs and Vortex Technique for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:28628-28639. [PMID: 37576636 PMCID: PMC10413478 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has envisioned an excellent outlook for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Among numerous efforts proposed for CTCs isolation, vortex separation is a well-known method for capturing CTCs from blood due to its applicability, low sample volume requirement, and ability to retain cell viability. It is a label-free, passive, low-cost, and automated method, making it an ideal solution for lab-on-a-chip applications. The previous designs that employed vortex technology have shown reaching high throughput and 70% separation efficiency although it was after three processing cycles which are not desired. Inspired by our earlier design, in this work, we redesigned the chip geometry by elevating the columned reservoir height to capture more particles and consequently reduce particle-particle collision, eventually improving efficiency. So, a height-variable chip with fewer elevated columned reservoirs (ECRs) was employed to isolate 20 μm microparticles representing CTCs from 8 μm microparticles. Also, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the third axis contribution to the separation mechanism. The new design with ECRs resulted in a 14% increase in average efficiency, reaching ∼80% ± 8.3% in microparticle separation and 61% purity. Moreover, the proposed chip geometry demonstrated more than three times higher capacity in retaining orbiting particles up to 1300 in peak performance without sacrificing efficiency compared to earlier single-layer designs. We came up with an upgraded injection system to facilitate this chip characterization. We also presented an effortless and straightforward approach for purging air bubbles trapped inside the reservoirs to preserve regular chip operation, especially where there is a mismatch between channel and reservoir heights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Mohamadsharifi
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Hassan Hajghassem
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Mahsa Kalantar
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Ali Karimi
- Department
of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif
University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
| | | | - Seyedmajid Hosseini
- Division
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-2804, United States
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- School
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 14399-57131, Iran
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11
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Islam MS, Chen X. Continuous CTC separation through a DEP-based contraction-expansion inertial microfluidic channel. Biotechnol Prog 2023; 39:e3341. [PMID: 36970770 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The efficient isolation of viable and intact circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood is critical for the genetic analysis of cancer cells, prediction of cancer progression, development of drugs, and evaluation of therapeutic treatments. While conventional cell separation devices utilize the size difference between CTCs and other blood cells, they fail to separate CTCs from white blood cells (WBCs) due to significant size overlap. To overcome this issue, we present a novel approach that combines curved contraction-expansion (CE) channels with dielectrophoresis (DEP) and inertial microfluidics to isolate CTCs from WBCs regardless of size overlap. This label-free and continuous separation method utilizes dielectric properties and size variation of cells for the separation of CTCs from WBCs. The results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid microfluidic channel can effectively isolate A549 CTCs from WBCs regardless of their size with a throughput of 300 μL/min, achieving a high separation distance of 233.4 μm at an applied voltage of 50 Vp-p . The proposed method allows for the modification of cell migration characteristics by controlling the number of CE sections of the channel, applied voltage, applied frequency, and flow rate. With its unique features of a single-stage separation, simple design, and tunability, the proposed method provides a promising alternative to the existing label-free cell separation techniques and may have a wide range of applications in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sadiqul Islam
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave, Vancouver, Washington, 98686, USA
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- School of Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave, Vancouver, Washington, 98686, USA
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12
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Farahinia A, Zhang W, Badea I. Recent Developments in Inertial and Centrifugal Microfluidic Systems along with the Involved Forces for Cancer Cell Separation: A Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23115300. [PMID: 37300027 DOI: 10.3390/s23115300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of cancers is a significant challenge in the healthcare context today. Spreading circulating tumor cells (CTCs) throughout the body will eventually lead to cancer metastasis and produce new tumors near the healthy tissues. Therefore, separating these invading cells and extracting cues from them is extremely important for determining the rate of cancer progression inside the body and for the development of individualized treatments, especially at the beginning of the metastasis process. The continuous and fast separation of CTCs has recently been achieved using numerous separation techniques, some of which involve multiple high-level operational protocols. Although a simple blood test can detect the presence of CTCs in the blood circulation system, the detection is still restricted due to the scarcity and heterogeneity of CTCs. The development of more reliable and effective techniques is thus highly desired. The technology of microfluidic devices is promising among many other bio-chemical and bio-physical technologies. This paper reviews recent developments in the two types of microfluidic devices, which are based on the size and/or density of cells, for separating cancer cells. The goal of this review is to identify knowledge or technology gaps and to suggest future works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Farahinia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Ildiko Badea
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
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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; 12:1023. [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] [Grants] [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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14
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Viscoelastic Particle Focusing and Separation in a Spiral Channel. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13030361. [PMID: 35334653 PMCID: PMC8954746 DOI: 10.3390/mi13030361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As one type of non-Newtonian fluid, viscoelastic fluids exhibit unique properties that contribute to particle lateral migration in confined microfluidic channels, leading to opportunities for particle manipulation and separation. In this paper, particle focusing in viscoelastic flow is studied in a wide range of polyethylene glycol (PEO) concentrations in aqueous solutions. Polystyrene beads with diameters from 3 to 20 μm are tested, and the variation of particle focusing position is explained by the coeffects of inertial flow, viscoelastic flow, and Dean flow. We showed that particle focusing position can be predicted by analyzing the force balance in the microchannel, and that particle separation resolution can be improved in viscoelastic flows.
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15
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Xiang N, Ni Z. High-throughput concentration of rare malignant tumor cells from large-volume effusions by multistage inertial microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:757-767. [PMID: 35050294 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00944c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
On-chip concentration of rare malignant tumor cells (MTCs) in malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) with a large volume is challenging. Previous microfluidic concentrators suffer from a low concentration factor (CF) and a limited processing throughput. This study describes a low-cost multiplexed microfluidic concentrator that can enable high-throughput (up to 16 mL min-1) and high CF (over 40-fold for single run) concentration of rare cells from large-volume biofluids (up to hundreds of milliliters). The multiplexed device was fabricated using inexpensive polymer-film materials using a quick non-clean-room process within 30 min. The multiplexing and flow distribution approaches applied in the device achieved high-throughput processing. By adopting serial cascading, an ultrahigh CF of approximately 1400 was achieved. Moreover, the microfluidic concentrator was successfully applied for the concentration and purification of rare MTCs within MPEs collected from patients with advanced metastatic lung and breast cancers. The provision of concentrated samples with low background cells could improve the sensitivity of cytology and thus reduce the time required for cytological examination. This novel concentrator offers the distinct advantages of a remarkable CF, high throughput, low device cost, and label-free processing and can therefore be readily integrated with other on-chip cell sorters to enhance the identification of MPEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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16
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Bordhan P, Razavi Bazaz S, Jin D, Ebrahimi Warkiani M. Advances and enabling technologies for phase-specific cell cycle synchronisation. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:445-462. [PMID: 35076046 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00724f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell cycle synchronisation is the process of isolating cell populations at specific phases of the cell cycle from heterogeneous, asynchronous cell cultures. The process has important implications in targeted gene-editing and drug efficacy of cells and in studying cell cycle events and regulatory mechanisms involved in the cell cycle progression of multiple cell species. Ideally, cell cycle synchrony techniques should be applicable for all cell types, maintain synchrony across multiple cell cycle events, maintain cell viability and be robust against metabolic and physiological perturbations. In this review, we categorize cell cycle synchronisation approaches and discuss their operational principles and performance efficiencies. We highlight the advances and technological development trends from conventional methods to the more recent microfluidics-based systems. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities and challenges for implementing high throughput cell synchronisation and provide future perspectives on synchronisation platforms, specifically hybrid cell synchrony modalities, to allow the highest level of phase-specific synchrony possible with minimal alterations in diverse types of cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Bordhan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Sajad Razavi Bazaz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Dayong Jin
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
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17
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Hatori MN, Modavi C, Xu P, Weisgerber D, Abate AR. Dual-layered hydrogels allow complete genome recovery with nucleic acid cytometry. Biotechnol J 2022; 17:e2100483. [PMID: 35088927 PMCID: PMC9208836 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202100483] [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: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Targeting specific cells for sequencing is important for applications in cancer, microbiology, and infectious disease. Nucleic acid cytometry is a powerful approach for accomplishing this because it allows specific cells to be isolated based on sequence biomarkers that are otherwise impossible to detect. However, existing methods require specialized microfluidic devices, limiting adoption. Here, we describe a modified workflow that uses particle-templated emulsification and flow cytometry to conduct the essential steps of cell detection and sorting normally accomplished by microfluidics. Our microfluidic-free workflow allows facile isolation and sequencing of cells, viruses, and nucleic acids and thus provides a powerful enrichment approach for targeted sequencing applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko N Hatori
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Cyrus Modavi
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Daniel Weisgerber
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Adam R Abate
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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18
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Xiang N, Ni Z. Hand-Powered Inertial Microfluidic Syringe-Tip Centrifuge. BIOSENSORS 2021; 12:14. [PMID: 35049644 PMCID: PMC8774109 DOI: 10.3390/bios12010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Conventional sample preparation techniques require bulky and expensive instruments and are not compatible with next-generation point-of-care diagnostic testing. Here, we report a manually operated syringe-tip inertial microfluidic centrifuge (named i-centrifuge) for high-flow-rate (up to 16 mL/min) cell concentration and experimentally demonstrate its working mechanism and performance. Low-cost polymer films and double-sided tape were used through a rapid nonclean-room process of laser cutting and lamination bonding to construct the key components of the i-centrifuge, which consists of a syringe-tip flow stabilizer and a four-channel paralleled inertial microfluidic concentrator. The unstable liquid flow generated by the manual syringe was regulated and stabilized with the flow stabilizer to power inertial focusing in a four-channel paralleled concentrator. Finally, we successfully used our i-centrifuge for manually operated cell concentration. This i-centrifuge offers the advantages of low device cost, simple hand-powered operation, high-flow-rate processing, and portable device volume. Therefore, it holds potential as a low-cost, portable sample preparation tool for point-of-care diagnostic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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19
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Xiang N, Ni Z. Electricity-free hand-held inertial microfluidic sorter for size-based cell sorting. Talanta 2021; 235:122807. [PMID: 34517664 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Conventional batch-top cell sorters are often bulky and expensive, and miniaturized microfluidic sorters available mostly require field generators and electricity-powered pumping systems. Therefore, the development of a low-cost, portable cell sorter that can be used in low resource settings is essential. In this study, we propose such an electricity-free hand-held inertial microfluidic sorter that can be used for the high-efficiency sorting of differently sized cells in a continuous and passive manner. The proposed hand-held sorter is composed of a wheel-shaped all-in-one syringe inertial microfluidic sorter (i-sorter) with flow stabilizer units and two spring-driven mechanical syringe drivers. The release of the compression spring in the mechanical syringe driver through a one-click operation provides the flow driving force. Passive flow stabilizer units in the i-sorter enable flow-rate-sensitive inertial cell separation for the unstable driving flow rate generated by the low-cost mechanical syringe driver. We successfully achieved sorting of differently sized particles and high-efficiency separation of rare tumor cells from the blood using the fabricated prototype. Our hand-held inertial microfluidic cell sorter has many advantages, including low device cost, simple electricity-free operation, compactness, and portability; additionally, samples do not need to be pre-labelled. Therefore, it has potential for use in low-resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China
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20
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Raihan MK, Wu S, Song Y, Xuan X. Constriction length dependent instabilities in the microfluidic entry flow of polymer solutions. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:9198-9209. [PMID: 34590651 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01325d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transport phenomena of fluids and particles through contraction and/or expansion geometries have relevance in many applications. Polymer solutions are often the transporter in these processes, giving rise to flow complexities. The separation distance between a contraction and a following expansion in microfluidic entry flow can affect the interplay between the shear and extension force dominated flow regimes, but the process is still little understood. We investigate the rheological responses of such constriction length dependent instabilities with three different polymer solutions and water in planar contraction-expansion microchannels differing only in the constriction length. The viscoelastic polyethylene oxide (PEO) solution is found to exhibit strong constriction length-dependent instabilities in both the contraction and expansion flows. Such a dependence is, however, completely absent from the flow of shear-thinning xanthan gum (XG) solution and Newtonian water. Interestingly, it is only present in the expansion flow of the both shear thinning and viscoelastic polyacrylamide (PAA) solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmud Kamal Raihan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921, USA.
| | - Sen Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921, USA.
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, P. R. China.
| | - Yongxin Song
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, P. R. China.
| | - Xiangchun Xuan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0921, USA.
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