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Numerical and experimental evaluation of microfluidic sorting devices
Author(s) -
Taylor Jay K.,
Ren Carolyn L.,
Stubley G. D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biotechnology progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.572
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6033
pISSN - 8756-7938
DOI - 10.1002/btpr.7
Subject(s) - sorting , microfluidics , reliability (semiconductor) , chip , computer science , lab on a chip , channel (broadcasting) , flow control (data) , electrokinetic phenomena , flow (mathematics) , design of experiments , cell sorting , electronic engineering , process engineering , materials science , nanotechnology , engineering , power (physics) , chemistry , telecommunications , computer network , statistics , physics , geometry , mathematics , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , cell , programming language
The development of lab‐on‐a‐chip devices calls for the isolation or separation of specific bioparticles or cells. The design of a miniaturized cell‐sorting device for handheld operation must follow the strict parameters associated with lab‐on‐a‐chip technology. The limitations include applied voltage, high efficiency of cell‐separation, reliability, size, flow control, and cost, among others. Currently used designs have achieved successful levels of cell isolation; however, further improvements in the microfluidic chip design are important to incorporate into larger systems. This study evaluates specific design modifications that contribute to the reduction of required applied potential aiming for developing portable devices, improved operation reliability by minimizing induced pressure disturbance when electrokinetic pumping is employed, and improved flow control by incorporating directing streams achieving dynamic sorting and counting. The chip designs fabricated in glass and polymeric materials include asymmetric channel widths for sample focusing, nonuniform channel depth for minimizing induced pressure disturbance, directing streams to assist particle flow control, and online filters for reducing channel blockage. Fluorescence‐based visualization experimental results of electrokinetic focusing, flow field phenomena, and dynamic sorting demonstrate the advantages of the chip design. Numerical simulations in COMSOL are validated by the experimental data and used to investigate the effects of channel geometry and fluid properties on the flow field.