Showing papers on "Microfluidics published in 2014"

Inertial microfluidic physics

Abstract: Microfluidics has experienced massive growth in the past two decades, and especially with advances in rapid prototyping researchers have explored a multitude of channel structures, fluid and particle mixtures, and integration with electrical and optical systems towards solving problems in healthcare, biological and chemical analysis, materials synthesis, and other emerging areas that can benefit from the scale, automation, or the unique physics of these systems. Inertial microfluidics, which relies on the unconventional use of fluid inertia in microfluidic platforms, is one of the emerging fields that make use of unique physical phenomena that are accessible in microscale patterned channels. Channel shapes that focus, concentrate, order, separate, transfer, and mix particles and fluids have been demonstrated, however physical underpinnings guiding these channel designs have been limited and much of the development has been based on experimentally-derived intuition. Here we aim to provide a deeper understanding of mechanisms and underlying physics in these systems which can lead to more effective and reliable designs with less iteration. To place the inertial effects into context we also discuss related fluid-induced forces present in particulate flows including forces due to non-Newtonian fluids, particle asymmetry, and particle deformability. We then highlight the inverse situation and describe the effect of the suspended particles acting on the fluid in a channel flow. Finally, we discuss the importance of structured channels, i.e. channels with boundary conditions that vary in the streamwise direction, and their potential as a means to achieve unprecedented three-dimensional control over fluid and particles in microchannels. Ultimately, we hope that an improved fundamental and quantitative understanding of inertial fluid dynamic effects can lead to unprecedented capabilities to program fluid and particle flow towards automation of biomedicine, materials synthesis, and chemical process control.

Surface Acoustic Wave Microfluidics

Abstract: Fluid manipulations at the microscale and beyond are powerfully enabled through the use of 10–1,000-MHz acoustic waves. A superior alternative in many cases to other microfluidic actuation techniques, such high-frequency acoustics is almost universally produced by surface acoustic wave devices that employ electromechanical transduction in wafer-scale or thin-film piezoelectric media to generate the kinetic energy needed to transport and manipulate fluids placed in adjacent microfluidic structures. These waves are responsible for a diverse range of complex fluid transport phenomena—from interfacial fluid vibration and drop and confined fluid transport to jetting and atomization—underlying a flourishing research literature spanning fundamental fluid physics to chip-scale engineering applications. We highlight some of this literature to provide the reader with a historical basis, routes for more detailed study, and an impression of the field's future directions.

Liquid metal enabled pump

Abstract: Small-scale pumps will be the heartbeat of many future micro/nanoscale platforms. However, the integration of small-scale pumps is presently hampered by limited flow rate with respect to the input power, and their rather complicated fabrication processes. These issues arise as many conventional pumping effects require intricate moving elements. Here, we demonstrate a system that we call the liquid metal enabled pump, for driving a range of liquids without mechanical moving parts, upon the application of modest electric field. This pump incorporates a droplet of liquid metal, which induces liquid flow at high flow rates, yet with exceptionally low power consumption by electrowetting/deelectrowetting at the metal surface. We present theory explaining this pumping mechanism and show that the operation is fundamentally different from other existing pumps. The presented liquid metal enabled pump is both efficient and simple, and thus has the potential to fundamentally advance the field of microfluidics.

Wettability patterning for high-rate, pumpless fluid transport on open, non-planar microfluidic platforms

Abstract: Surface tension driven transport of liquids on open substrates offers an enabling tool for open micro total analysis systems that are becoming increasingly popular for low-cost biomedical diagnostic devices. The present study uses a facile wettability patterning method to produce open microfluidic tracks that – due to their shape, surface texture and chemistry – are capable of transporting a wide range of liquid volumes (~1–500 μL) on-chip, overcoming viscous and other opposing forces (e.g., gravity) at the pertinent length scales. Small volumes are handled as individual droplets, while larger volumes require repeated droplet transport. The concept is developed and demonstrated with coatings based on TiO2 filler particles, which, when present in adequate (~80 wt.%) quantities within a hydrophobic fluoroacrylic polymer matrix, form composites that are intrinsically superhydrophobic. Such composite coatings become superhydrophilic upon exposure to UV light (390 nm). A commercial laser printer-based photo-masking approach is used on the coating for spatially selective wettability conversion from superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic. Carefully designed wedge-patterned surface tension confined tracks on the open-air devices move liquid on them without power input, even when acting against gravity. Simple designs of wettability patterning are used on versatile substrates (e.g., metals, polymers, paper) to demonstrate complex droplet handling tasks, e.g., merging, splitting and metered dispensing, some of which occur in 3-D geometries. Fluid transport rates of up to 350 μL s−1 are attained. Applicability of the design on metal substrates allows these devices to be used also for other microscale engineering applications, e.g., water management in fuel cells.

Rare cell isolation and analysis in microfluidics

Abstract: Rare cells are low-abundance cells in a much larger population of background cells. Conventional benchtop techniques have limited capabilities to isolate and analyze rare cells because of their generally low selectivity and significant sample loss. Recent rapid advances in microfluidics have been providing robust solutions to the challenges in the isolation and analysis of rare cells. In addition to the apparent performance enhancements resulting in higher efficiencies and sensitivity levels, microfluidics provides other advanced features such as simpler handling of small sample volumes and multiplexing capabilities for high-throughput processing. All of these advantages make microfluidics an excellent platform to deal with the transport, isolation, and analysis of rare cells. Various cellular biomarkers, including physical properties, dielectric properties, as well as immunoaffinities, have been explored for isolating rare cells. In this Focus article, we discuss the design considerations of representative microfluidic devices for rare cell isolation and analysis. Examples from recently published works are discussed to highlight the advantages and limitations of the different techniques. Various applications of these techniques are then introduced. Finally, a perspective on the development trends and promising research directions in this field are proposed.

Point-of-care biochemical assays using gold nanoparticle-implemented microfluidics

Abstract: One of the goals of point-of-care (POC) is a chip-based, miniaturized, portable, self-containing system that allows the assay of proteins, nucleic acids, and cells in complex samples The integration of nanomaterials and microfluidics can help achieve this goal This tutorial review outlines the mechanism of assaying biomarkers by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and the implementation of AuNPs for microfluidic POC devices In line with this, we discuss some recent advances in AuNP-coupled microfluidic sensors with enhanced performance Portable and automated instruments for device operation and signal readout are also included for practical applications of these AuNP-combined microfluidic chips

25th Anniversary Article: Double Emulsion Templated Solid Microcapsules: Mechanics And Controlled Release

Abstract: How droplet microfluidics can be used to fabricate solid-shelled microcapsules having precisely controlled release behavior is described. Glass capillary devices enable the production of monodisperse double emulsion drops, which can then be used as templates for microcapsule formation. The exquisite control afforded by microfluidics can be used to tune the compositions and geometrical characteristics of the microcapsules with exceptional precision. The use of this approach to fabricate microcapsules that only release their contents when exposed to a specific stimulus--such as a change in temperature, exposure to light, a change in the chemical environment, or an external stress--only after a prescribed time delay, and at a prescribed rate is reviewed.

Cell culture monitoring for drug screening and cancer research: a transparent, microfluidic, multi-sensor microsystem

Abstract: We present a novel, multiparametric microphysiometry system for the dynamic online monitoring of human cancer cell metabolism. The optically transparent, modular, hybrid microsystem is based on a glass chip and combines a cell cultivation chamber, microfluidics and metabolic monitoring with fully integrated chemo- and biosensors. pH and oxygen are measured in the cell culture area, and biosensors for lactate and glucose are connected downstream by microfluidics. The wafer-level fabrication features thin-film platinum and iridium oxide microelectrodes on a glass chip, microfluidics in an epoxy resist, a hybrid assembly and an on-chip reference electrode. The reliable analytical performance of the sensors in cell culture medium was demonstrated. The pH sensors exhibit a long-term stable, linear response. The oxygen sensors show a linear behaviour, which is also observed for low oxygen concentrations. Glucose and lactate measurements show a linear, long-term stable, selective and reversible behaviour in the desired range. T98G human brain cancer cells were cultivated and cell culture metabolism was measured on-chip. Stop/flow cycles were applied and extracellular acidification, respiration, glucose consumption and lactate production were quantified. Long-term metabolic rates were determined and all parameters could be measured in the outlet channel. A placement downstream of the cell cultivation area for biosensors was realised. A highly effective medium exchange and undiluted sampling from the cell culture chamber with low flow rates (2 μl min−1) and low volumes (15 μl per cycle) were achieved. The drug screening application was demonstrated by detecting alteration and recovery effects of cellular metabolism induced by the addition of substances to the medium.

Bioinspired Multicompartmental Microfibers from Microfluidics

Abstract: Bioinspired multicompartmental microfibers are generated by novel capillary microfluidics. The resultant microfibers possess multicompartment body-and-shell compositions with specifically designed geometries. Potential use of these microfibers for tissue-engineering applications is demonstrated by creating multifunctional fibers with a spatially controlled encapsulation of cells.

Droplet microfluidics for producing functional microparticles.

Abstract: Isotropic microparticles prepared from a suspension that undergoes polymerization have long been used for a variety of applications. Bulk emulsification procedures produce polydisperse emulsion droplets that are transformed into spherical microparticles through chemical or physical consolidation. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics have enabled the production of monodisperse emulsions that yield highly uniform microparticles, albeit only on a drop-by-drop basis. In addition, microfluidic devices have provided a variety of means for particle functionalization through shaping, compartmentalizing, and microstructuring. These functionalized particles have significant potential for practical applications as a new class of colloidal materials. This feature article describes the current state of the art in the microfluidic-based synthesis of monodisperse functional microparticles. The three main sections of this feature article discuss the formation of isotropic microparticles, engineered microparticles, an...

A review of microfabrication techniques and dielectrophoretic microdevices for particle manipulation and separation

Abstract: The development of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices over the past decade has attracted growing interest. LOC devices aim to achieve the miniaturization, integration, automation and parallelization of biological and chemical assays. One of the applications, the ability to effectively and accurately manipulate and separate micro- and nano-scale particles in an aqueous solution, is particularly appealing in biological, chemical and medical fields. Among the technologies that have been developed and implemented in microfluidic microsystems for particle manipulation and separation (such as mechanical, inertial, hydrodynamic, acoustic, optical, magnetic and electrical methodologies), dielectrophoresis (DEP) may prove to be the most popular because of its label-free nature, ability to manipulate neutral bioparticles, analyse with high selectivity and sensitivity, compatibility with LOC devices, and easy and direct interface with electronics. The required spatial electric non-uniformities for the DEP effect can be generated by patterning microelectrode arrays within microchannels, or placing insulating obstacles within a microchannel and curving the microchannels. A wide variety of electrode- and insulator-based DEP microdevices have been developed, fabricated, and successfully employed to manipulate and separate bioparticles (i.e. DNA, proteins, bacteria, viruses, mammalian and yeast cells). This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of microfabrication techniques and of the structures of dielectrophoretic microdevices aimed towards different applications. The techniques used for particle manipulation and separation based on microfluidics are provided in this paper. In addition, we also present the theoretical background of DEP.

The intersection of flow cytometry with microfluidics and microfabrication.

Abstract: A modern flow cytometer can analyze and sort particles on a one by one basis at rates of 50 000 particles per second. Flow cytometers can also measure as many as 17 channels of fluorescence, several angles of scattered light, and other non-optical parameters such as particle impedance. More specialized flow cytometers can provide even greater analysis power, such as single molecule detection, imaging, and full spectral collection, at reduced rates. These capabilities have made flow cytometers an invaluable tool for numerous applications including cellular immunophenotyping, CD4+ T-cell counting, multiplex microsphere analysis, high-throughput screening, and rare cell analysis and sorting. Many bio-analytical techniques have been influenced by the advent of microfluidics as a component in analytical tools and flow cytometry is no exception. Here we detail the functions and uses of a modern flow cytometer, review the recent and historical contributions of microfluidics and microfabricated devices to field of flow cytometry, examine current application areas, and suggest opportunities for the synergistic application of microfabrication approaches to modern flow cytometry.

Microfluidic fuel cells on paper: meeting the power needs of next generation lateral flow devices

Abstract: Lateral flow test strips have dominated the rapid diagnostics landscape for decades. Recently, the emergence of paper microfluidics has brought new functionalities to these porous materials, and the search for instrument-free point-of-care devices has driven the development of different types of energy sources to fulfill their power needs. This work presents the development of microfluidic fuel cells as paper-based power sources in a standard lateral flow test format. These fuel cells benefit from the laminar flow occurring in a porous material by capillarity to separately react with two parallel streams, anolyte and catholyte, without an ionic exchange membrane or external pumps. It has been shown that the devices are capable of delivering power densities in the range of 1–5 mW cm−2 using solutions of methanol and KOH. The incorporation of a conjugate pad to store the KOH electrolyte in a solid form and a methanol-rich agar gel on top of the reaction membrane allows the fuel cell to function soaking a single sample pad with just water. The presented microfluidic fuel cell approach would enable a more straightforward integration with typical lateral flow test strips and a cost-effective manufacturing. This work represents the starting point in the development of a power source for capillary-based autonomous sensing systems capable of harvesting the energy needed for the measurement from the biological sample to be analyzed.

Nanoliter-droplet acoustic streaming via ultra high frequency surface acoustic waves.

Abstract: The relevant length scales in sub-nanometer amplitude surface acoustic wave-driven acoustic streaming are demonstrated. We demonstrate the absence of any physical limitations preventing the downscaling of SAW-driven internal streaming to nanoliter microreactors and beyond by extending SAW microfluidics up to operating frequencies in the GHz range. This method is applied to nanoliter scale fluid mixing.

Microfluidic on-demand droplet merging using surface acoustic waves

Abstract: Individual droplets can be isolated within microfluidic systems by use of an immiscible carrier layer. This type of two phase systems, often termed “digital microfluidics”, find wide ranging applications in chemical synthesis and analysis. To conduct on-chip biochemical analysis, a key step is to be able to merge droplets selectively in order to initiate the required reactions. In this paper, a novel microfluidic chip integrating interdigital transducers is designed to merge multiple droplets on-demand. The approach uses surface acoustic wave induced acoustic radiation forces to immobilize droplets as they pass from a channel into a small expansion chamber, there they can be held until successive droplets arrive. Hence, no requirement is placed on the initial spacing between droplets. When the merged volume reaches a critical size, drag forces exerted by the flowing oil phase act to overcome the retaining acoustic radiation forces, causing the merged volume to exit the chamber. This will occur after a predetermined number of droplets have merged depending on the initial droplet size and selected actuation power.

Active digital microfluidic paper chips with inkjet-printed patterned electrodes.

Abstract: Active, paper-based, microfluidic chips driven by electrowetting are fabricated and demonstrated for reagent transport and mixing. Instead of using the passive capillary force on the pulp to actuate a flow of a liquid, a group of digital drops are transported along programmed trajectories above the electrodes printed on low-cost paper, which should allow point-of-care production and diagnostic activities in the future.

An acoustofluidic micromixer via bubble inception and cavitation from microchannel sidewalls

Abstract: During the deep reactive ion etching process, the sidewalls of a silicon mold feature rough wavy structures, which can be transferred onto a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel through the soft lithography technique. In this article, we utilized the wavy structures of PDMS microchannel sidewalls to initiate and cavitate bubbles in the presence of acoustic waves. Through bubble cavitation, this acoustofluidic approach demonstrates fast, effective mixing in microfluidics. We characterized its performance by using viscous fluids such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). When two PEG solutions with a resultant viscosity 54.9 times higher than that of water were used, the mixing efficiency was found to be 0.92, indicating excellent, homogeneous mixing. The acoustofluidic micromixer presented here has the advantages of simple fabrication, easy integration, and capability to mix high-viscosity fluids (Reynolds number: ∼0.01) in less than 100 ms.

Finger-powered microfluidic systems using multilayer soft lithography and injection molding processes

Abstract: Point-of-care (POC) and disposable biomedical applications demand low-power microfluidic systems with pumping components that provide controlled pressure sources. Unfortunately, external pumps have hindered the implementation of such microfluidic systems due to limitations associated with portability and power requirements. Here, we propose and demonstrate a ‘finger-powered’ integrated pumping system as a modular element to provide pressure head for a variety of advanced microfluidic applications, including finger-powered on-chip microdroplet generation. By utilizing a human finger for the actuation force, electrical power sources that are typically needed to generate pressure head were obviated. Passive fluidic diodes were designed and implemented to enable distinct fluids from multiple inlet ports to be pumped using a single actuation source. Both multilayer soft lithography and injection molding processes were investigated for device fabrication and performance. Experimental results revealed that the pressure head generated from a human finger could be tuned based on the geometric characteristics of the pumping system, with a maximum observed pressure of 7.6 ± 0.1 kPa. In addition to the delivery of multiple, distinct fluids into microfluidic channels, we also employed the finger-powered pumping system to achieve the rapid formation of both water-in-oil droplets (106.9 ± 4.3 μm in diameter) and oil-in-water droplets (75.3 ± 12.6 μm in diameter) as well as the encapsulation of endothelial cells in droplets without using any external or electrical controllers.

All-plastic, low-power, disposable, continuous-flow PCR chip with integrated microheaters for rapid DNA amplification

Abstract: The design, fabrication and evaluation of a low-cost and low-power, continuous-flow microfluidic device for DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with integrated heating elements, on a commercially available thin polymeric substrate (Pyralux® Polyimide), is presented. The small thermal mass of the chip, in combination with the low thermal diffusivity of the polymeric substrate on which the heating elements reside, yields a low power consumption PCR chip with fast amplification rates. A flow-through μPCR device is designed and fabricated using flexible printed circuit (FPC) technology on a foot-print area of 8 cm × 6 cm with a meandering microchannel realized at a very small distance (50 μm) above 3 independently operating resistive (copper) serpentine microheaters, each one defining one of the three PCR temperature zones. The 145 cm-long microchannel is appropriately designed to cross the alternating temperature zones as many times as necessary for the DNA sample to perform 30 PCR cycles. Numerical computations lead the design so that there is no thermal crosstalk between the 3 zones of our chip and indicate excellent temperature uniformity in each zone. In addition, the total power consumption during the chip operation is calculated to be in the order of a few Watts, verified experimentally by means of thermal characterization of our heaters. Thermal camera measurements also verified the excellent temperature uniformity in the three thermal zones. An external, home-made temperature control system was utilized to maintain the heater temperatures in the designated values (±0.2 °C). The PCR chip was validated by a successful amplification of a 90 base-pairs DNA template of the mouse GAPDH housekeeping gene within 5 min.

Paper Microfluidics Goes Digital

Abstract: The first example of so-called "digital microfluidics" (DMF) implemented on paper by inkjet printing is reported. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is demonstrated as an example of a complex, multistep protocol that would be difficult to achieve with capillary-driven paper microfluidics. Furthermore, it is shown that paper-based DMF devices have comparable performance to traditional photolithographically patterned DMF devices at a fraction of the cost.

Droplet-Based Microfluidics Enabling Impact on Drug Discovery

Abstract: Over the past two decades, the application of microengineered systems in the chemical and biological sciences has transformed the way in which high-throughput experimentation is performed. The ability to fabricate complex microfluidic architectures has allowed scientists to create new experimental formats for processing ultra-small analytical volumes in short periods and with high efficiency. The development of such microfluidic systems has been driven by a range of fundamental features that accompany miniaturization. These include the ability to handle small sample volumes, ultra-low fabrication costs, reduced analysis times, enhanced operational flexibility, facile automation, and the ability to integrate functional components within complex analytical schemes. Herein we discuss the impact of microfluidics in the area of high-throughput screening and drug discovery and highlight some of the most pertinent studies in the recent literature.

Grooved Organogel Surfaces towards Anisotropic Sliding of Water Droplets

Abstract: Periodic micro-grooved organogel surfaces can easily realize the anisotropic sliding of water droplets attributing to the formed slippery water/oil/solid interface. Different from the existing anisotropic surfaces, this novel surface provides a versatile candidate for the anisotropic sliding of water droplets and might present a promising way for the easy manipulation of liquid droplets for water collection, liquid-directional transportation, and microfluidics.

Microfluidic platforms: a mainstream technology for the preparation of crystals.

Abstract: Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field of science based on the manipulation of fluids in sub-millimeter dimensions where the fundamental fluid physics changes dramatically when compared to macroscale fluid physical phenomena Therefore, the conditions that microfluidic technologies offer are completely different from those of bulk set-ups, and thus they are very interesting for the study of crystallisation because diffusion, mixing and mass and heat transport are all finely controlled, and are easily modulated This tutorial review is intended to give a broad and up-to-date overview of the distinct microfluidic approaches that have been employed so far for crystallisation studies for the uninitiated in these techniques Main emphasis will be given to microfluidic platforms operating under continuous flow regimes, droplet-based methods, valve-based approaches, well-based methods, and digital microfluidics This tutorial does not intend to give detailed methodology, but rather provides illustrative examples which capture the attention of the reader and allow them to appreciate the unique features that microfluidic technologies can offer towards the study of different crystallisation processes Indeed, crystallisation studies of different types of crystalline matter including organic, inorganic and metal–organic materials are presented

Paper-Based Microfluidics: Fabrication Technique and Dynamics of Capillary-Driven Surface Flow

Abstract: Paper-based devices provide an alternative technology for simple, low-cost, portable, and disposable diagnostic tools for many applications, including clinical diagnosis, food quality control, and environmental monitoring. In this study we report a two-step fabrication process for creating two-dimensional microfluidic channels to move liquids on a hydrophobized paper surface. A highly hydrophobic surface was created on paper by TiO2 nanoparticle coating using a high-speed, roll-to-roll liquid flame spray technique. The hydrophilic pattern was then generated by UV irradiation through a photomask utilizing the photocatalytic property of TiO2. The flow dynamics of five model liquids with differing surface tensions 48–72 mN·m–1 and viscosities 1–15 mN·m–2 was studied. The results show that the liquid front (l) in a channel advances in time (t) according to the power law l = Zt0.5 (Z is an empirical constant which depend on the liquid properties and channel dimensions). The flow dynamics of the liquids with lo...

Encyclopedia of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics

Abstract: The first € price and the £ and $ price are net prices, subject to local VAT. Prices indicated with * include VAT for books; the €(D) includes 7% for Germany, the €(A) includes 10% for Austria. Prices indicated with ** include VAT for electronic products; 19% for Germany, 20% for Austria. All prices exclusive of carriage charges. Prices and other details are subject to change without notice. All errors and omissions excepted. D. Li (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Microfluidics and Nanofluidics

Inkjet patterned superhydrophobic paper for open-air surface microfluidic devices

Abstract: We present a facile approach for the fabrication of low-cost surface biomicrofluidic devices on superhydrophobic paper created by drop-casting a fluoroacrylic copolymer onto microtextured paper. Wettability patterning is performed with a common household printer, which produces regions of varying wettability by simply controlling the intensity of ink deposited over prespecified domains. The procedure produces surfaces that are capable of selective droplet sliding and adhesion, when inclined. Using this methodology, we demonstrate the ability to tune the sliding angles of 10 μL water droplets in the range from 13° to 40° by printing lines of constant ink intensity and varied width from 0.1 mm to 2 mm. We also formulate a simple model to predict the onset of droplet sliding on printed lines of known width and wettability. Experiments demonstrate open-air surface microfluidic devices that are capable of pumpless transport, mixing and rapid droplet sampling (~0.6 μL at 50 Hz). Lastly, post treatment of printed areas with pH indicator solutions exemplifies the utility of these substrates in point-of-care diagnostics, which are needed at geographical locations where access to sophisticated testing equipment is limited or non-existent.