Asymmetric sifter-shaped microchannel network in biological MEMS for size- and mass-based mammalian cell sorting and separation using hydrodynamic technique

Abstract

A peculiar method used for particle separation device in microfluidics is hydrodynamic filtration. To achieve the filtration of sample fluid with particle, this is the technique which concedes two-input (with buffer inlet) sheath fluid to conflow at distinct velocity rates in a sifter-shaped microchannel network demonstrated. The objective is to assure the separation of particles based on size and mass in microflow network with grooves or rectangular cross section by hydrodynamic filtration. However, simulation is done to examine the particle tracing with mass by sifter-shaped microchannel network using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The size, mass and density of the particle are related to the properties of K. pneumoniae and blood particles samples. During the experiments, different networks were designed and simulated to acquire a better filtration effect and particle separation based on size and mass. After the simulation done for the networks, it resulted that sifter-shaped microchannel network shows a precise separation of K. pneumoniae particle. Analysis of a microchannel having distinct angles (90°, 15°, 25° and 35°) with individual inflow velocity for sample with particle and buffer inflow velocity without particle at 3000 µl/s and with various other flow rates for blood and 50 µl/s and with various other flow rates for water was performed, where sifter-shaped microchannel device consisting of 90° and 25° sifter structure provides a preferable separation through the targeted outlet 4 and outlet 1 of microchannel for a larger bioparticles and smaller particles (blood cells) through the other outlets of device.