This study addresses the need to reduce the risk of clogging when preparing samples for cell concentration, i.e., the CaSki Cell-lines (epidermoid cervical carcinoma cells). Aiming to develop a non-clogging microconcentrator, we proposed a new counter-flow concentration unit characterized by the directions of penetrating flows being at an obtuse angle to the main flow, due to employment of streamlined turbine blade-like micropillars. Based on the optimization results of the counter-flow unit profile, a fractal arrangement for the counter-flow concentration unit was developed. A counter-flow microconcentrator chip was then designed and fabricated, with both the processing layer and collecting layer arranged in terms of the honeycomb structure. Visualized experiments using CaSki cell samples on the microconcentrator chip demonstrated that no cell-clogging phenomena occurred during the test and that no cells were found in the final filtrate. The test results show an excellent concentration performance for the microconcentrator chip, while a concentrating ratio of [4 with the flow rate being below 1.0 ml/min. As only geometrical structure is employed in the passive device, the counter-flow microconcentrator can be easily integrated into advanced microfluidic systems. Owing to the merit of non-clogging and continuous processing ability, the counter-flow microconcentrator is not only suitable for the sample preparation within biomedical field, but also applicable in water-particle separation.

A smart fully integrated micromachined separator with soft magnetic micro-pillar arrays has been developed and demonstrated, which can merely employ one independent lab-on-chip to realize cell isolation. The simulation, design, microfabrication and test for the new electromagnetic micro separator were executed. The simulation results of the electromagnetic field in the separator show that special soft magnetic micro-pillar arrays can amplify and redistribute the electromagnetic field generated by the micro-coils. The separator can be equipped with a strong magnetic field to isolate the target cells with a considerably low input current. The micro separator was fabricated by micro-processing technology. An electroplating bath was hired to deposit NiCo/NiFe to fabricate the micro-pillar arrays. An experimental system was set up to verify the function of the micro separator by isolating the lymphocytes, in which the human whole blood mixed with Dynabeads R FlowComp Flexi and monoclonal antibody MHCD2704 was used as the sample. The results show that the electromagnetic micro separator with an extremely low input current can recognize and capture the target lymphocytes with a high efficiency, the separation ratio reaching more than 90% at a lower flow rate. For the electromagnetic micro separator, there is no external magnetizing field required, and there is no extra cooling system because there is less Joule heat generated due to the lower current. The magnetic separator is totally reusable, and it can be used to separate cells or proteins with common antigens.

Clogging failure is common for microfilters in living cells concentration; for instance, the CaSki Cell-lines (Epidermoid cervical carcinoma cells) utilizing the flat membrane structure. In order to avoid the clogging, counter-flow concentration units with turbine blade-like micropillar are proposed in microconcentrator design. Due to the unusual geometrical-profiles and extraordinary microfluidic performance, the cells blocking does not occur even at permeate entrances. A counter-flow microconcentrator was designed, with both processing layer and collecting layer arranged in terms of the fractal based honeycomb structure. The device was optimized by coupling Artificial Neuron Network (ANN) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The excellent concentration ratio of a final microconcentrator was presented in numerical results.

A fully integrated micro-separator with soft-magnetic micro-pillar arrays has been developed, which merely employs one independent Lab-On-Chip to realize the lymphocytes isolation from the human whole blood. The simulation, fabrication and experiment are executed to realize this novel microseparator. The simulation results show that, the soft-magnetic micro-pillars array can amplify and redistribute the electromagnetic field generated by the microcoils. The tests certify desirable separation efficiency can be realized using this new separator at low current. No extra cooling system is required for such a micro-separator. This micro-separator can also be used to separate other target cells or particles with the same principle.