Abstract
Crystal-like structures find application in several fields ranging from biomedical engineering to material science. For instance, droplet crystals are critical for high throughput assays and material synthesis, while particle crystals are important for particles and cell encapsulation, Drop-seq technologies, and single-cell analysis. Formation of crystal-like structures relies entirely on the possibility of manipulating with great accuracy the micrometer-size objects forming the crystal. In this context, microfluidic devices offer versatile tools for the precise manipulation of droplets and particles, thus enabling fabrication of crystal-like structures that form due to hydrodynamic interactions among droplets or particles. In this review, we aim at providing an holistic representation of crystal-like structure formation mediated by hydrodynamic interactions in microfluidic devices. We also discuss the physical origin of these hydrodynamic interactions and their relation to parameters such as device geometry, fluid properties, and flow conditions.
Highlights
Crystal-like structures in microfluidic devices, hereafter microfluidic crystals, can either be formed thanks to external fields or because of hydrodynamic interactions among the different objects forming the crystal
Edd et al.[93] were among the firsts to introduce this concept and demonstrated that inertially-formed particle trains flowing on two equilibrium lines (2D particle crystal) coupled to a flow focusing droplet geometry for the generation of 1D droplet crystals led to the controlled encapsulation of particles in droplets with an efficiency of over 80%
A significant amount of literature has been published on microfluidic crystals
Summary
Crystal-like structures in microfluidic devices, hereafter microfluidic crystals, can either be formed thanks to external fields (e.g., electric or magnetic field) or because of hydrodynamic interactions among the different objects forming the crystal. Francesco obtained BEng, MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering at University of Naples Federico II. Critical review that the local concentration should be sufficiently large to enable hydrodynamic interactions to take place In such conditions, hydrodynamic interactions can promote the selfassembly of individual objects in crystal-like structures depending on several parameters such as channel geometry, fluid properties, and flow rate. We aim at providing a holistic view of microfluidic crystals formed as results of droplet and particle self-assembly promoted by hydrodynamic interactions (Fig. 1). Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II in 1993 His main research activity is focused on modeling and simulation of the flow behavior of soft matter as suspensions, liquid crystals, Pier Luca Maffettone polymer blends and emulsions. Society of Rheology (2014–20) and has been nominated fellow of the Society of Rheology (class 2018)
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