Abstract
This paper describes the computationally informed design and experimental validation of a microfluidic chip device with multi-axial stretching capabilities. The device, based on PDMS soft-lithography, consisted of a thin porous membrane, mounted between two fluidic compartments, and tensioned via a set of vacuum-driven actuators. A finite element analysis solver implementing a set of different nonlinear elastic and hyperelastic material models was used to drive the design and optimization of chip geometry and to investigate the resulting deformation patterns under multi-axial loading. Computational results were cross-validated by experimental testing of prototypal devices featuring the in silico optimized geometry. The proposed methodology represents a suite of computationally handy simulation tools that might find application in the design and in silico mechanical characterization of a wide range of stretchable microfluidic devices.
Highlights
In the present contribution, we propose a novel vacuum-actuated multi-axial microfluidic chip device (MCD) obtained as the result of mathematical modeling, computationally informed design, and optimization strategies in closed loop with microfabrication processes and experimental analyses
The MCD is based on elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and its main components consist of a porous membrane (PM), actuated by four vacuum chambers (VC) at its sides, and perfused through a set of perfusion channels (PC)
The above reported results underline the modularity and adaptability of our MCD to provide truly multi-axial strain states toward multiple and diverse mechanobiology applications. This device would give the possibility to modulate the intensity of cell culture experienced stretching over time, and to modify its spatial distribution—according to a priori established patterns—mimicking, e.g., the insurgence of pathologic conditions on in vitro tissue models
Summary
We propose a novel vacuum-actuated multi-axial microfluidic chip device (MCD) obtained as the result of mathematical modeling, computationally informed design, and optimization strategies in closed loop with microfabrication processes and experimental analyses. We based our numerical model and in silico analyses on a solid theoretical description of the materials undergoing mechanical deformation in the large strain regime. Numerical analyses were conducted via parametric optimization of the MCD structural features with the aim to tailor the induced multi-axial deformation field. The computational model of the MCD was
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