Abstract
Label-free, size-dependent cell-sorting applications based on inertial focusing phenomena have attracted much interest during the last decade. The separation capability heavily depends on the precision of microparticle focusing. In this study, five-loop spiral microchannels with a height of 90 µm and a width of 500 µm are introduced. Unlike their original spiral counterparts, these channels have elliptic configurations of varying initial aspect ratios, namely major axis to minor axis ratios of 3:2, 11:9, 9:11, and 2:3. Accordingly, the curvature of these configurations increases in a curvilinear manner through the channel. The effects of the alternating curvature and channel Reynolds number on the focusing of fluorescent microparticles with sizes of 10 and 20 µm in the prepared suspensions were investigated. At volumetric flow rates between 0.5 and 3.5 mL/min (allowing separation), each channel was tested to collect samples at the designated outlets. Then, these samples were analyzed by counting the particles. These curved channels were capable of separating 20 and 10 µm particles with total yields up to approximately 95% and 90%, respectively. The results exhibited that the level of enrichment and the focusing behavior of the proposed configurations are promising compared to the existing microfluidic channel configurations.
Highlights
Inertial microfluidics, an emerging tool in scientific studies, offers rapid, continuous, and high-throughput particle focusing and separation and can be mainly utilized in various applications such as blood separation [1], the isolation of cancer cells (Circulating Tumor Cells) [2], disease diagnostics and monitoring [3], and biological processes [4]
Different microfluidic devices with elliptic configurations were tested in this study to determine the optimum flow rates to accomplish particle focusing with high purity
These devices can separate suspending particles effectively due to the integration of elliptic geometry into their design, which enhances the rate of lateral particle migration to equilibrium positions and is proven by large purity values
Summary
An emerging tool in scientific studies, offers rapid, continuous, and high-throughput particle focusing and separation and can be mainly utilized in various applications such as blood separation [1], the isolation of cancer cells (Circulating Tumor Cells) [2], disease diagnostics and monitoring [3], and biological processes [4]. Many active separation devices, which depend on external forces such as acoustophoresis [5], dielectrophoresis [6,7], magnetic manipulation [8], and optical interference [9], have been developed and tested Even though these methods provide more accurate results, they have disadvantages of processing small samples at low operating flow rates, complex integration, and expensive process requirements [10]. Passive techniques such as filtration by sieving structures [11], size and deformability-based trapping [12,13], deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) [14,15], pinched flow fractionation [16], and inertial focusing [2,17,18,19,20,21,22] are implemented by exploiting inherent hydrodynamic forces and offer cost-effective and high-throughput alternatives
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
