A Microfluidic Chip for Single-Cell Capture Based on Stagnation Point Flow and Boundary Effects

Abstract

The capture of individual cells using microfluidic chips represents a widely adopted and efficient approach for investigating the biochemical microenvironment of singular cells. While conventional methods reliant on boundary effects pose challenges in precisely manipulating individual cells, single-cell capture grounded in the principle of stagnation point flow offers a solution to this limitation. Nevertheless, such capture mechanisms encounter inconsistency due to the instability of the flow field and stagnation point. In this study, a microfluidic device for the stable capture of single cells was designed, integrating the principle of fluid mechanics by amalgamating stagnation point flow and boundary effects. This innovative microfluidic chip transcended the limitations associated with single methodologies, leveraging the strengths of both stagnation point flow and boundary effects to achieve reliable single-cell capture. Notably, the incorporation of capture ports at the stagnation point not only harnessed boundary effects but also enhanced capture efficiency significantly, elevating it from 31.9% to 83.3%, thereby augmenting capture stability. Furthermore, computational simulations demonstrated the efficacy of the capture ports in entrapping particles of varying diameters, including 9 μm, 14 μm, and 18 μm. Experiment validation underscored the capability of this microfluidic system to capture single cells within the chip, maintaining stability even under flow rate perturbations spanning from 60 μL/min to 120 μL/min. Consequently, cells with dimensions between 8 μm and 12 μm can be reliably captured. The designed microfluidic system not only furnishes a straightforward and efficient experimental platform but also holds promise for facilitating deeper investigations into the intricate interplay between individual cells and their surrounding microenvironment.