Advancements in microfluidics for nanoparticle separation

Abstract

Nanoparticles have been widely implemented for healthcare and nanoscience industrial applications. Thus, efficient and effective nanoparticle separation methods are essential for advancement in these fields. However, current technologies for separation, such as ultracentrifugation, electrophoresis, filtration, chromatography, and selective precipitation, are not continuous and require multiple preparation steps and a minimum sample volume. Microfluidics has offered a relatively simple, low-cost, and continuous particle separation approach, and has been well-established for micron-sized particle sorting. Here, we review the recent advances in nanoparticle separation using microfluidic devices, focusing on its techniques, its advantages over conventional methods, and its potential applications, as well as foreseeable challenges in the separation of synthetic nanoparticles and biological molecules, especially DNA, proteins, viruses, and exosomes.

Progress in Microfluidics‐Based Exosome Separation and Detection Technologies for Diagnostic Applications

“…Because of the merits of microfluidics, for example, high‐throughput capacity and low‐time requirements, microfluidics‐based devices are able to handle and analyze more/multiple samples in less time than conventional methods . Currently, microfluidic chips are widely applied in the separation and detection of micro/nanoparticles, biomarkers, cells, and proteins . A study conducted by Lin et al utilized a flyover microfluidic chip to separate white blood cells (WBCs) from mouse peripheral blood through a two‐stage magnetic separation methods ( Figure A) .…”

“…[76,77] Currently, microfluidic chips are widely applied in the separation and detection of micro/nanoparticles, biomarkers, cells, and proteins. [78][79][80][81][82][83][84] A study conducted by Lin et al utilized a flyover microfluidic chip to separate white blood cells (WBCs) from mouse peripheral blood through a two-stage magnetic separation methods (Figure 1A). [85] A local magnetically enhanced nickel microarray in the first separation stage and vertical cell separation in the second stage ensure high-purity WBC separation.…”

Manipulation of micro‐ and nanoparticles in viscoelastic fluid flows within microfluid systems

“…However, these methods are associated with challenges comprising high cost, complex sample preparation, low recovery yield, and low purity (Gholizadeh et al, 2017). Advances in microfluidic techniques allowed us to separate nanoparticles while minimizing the sample volume and providing high purity and elevated efficiency performance (Salafi, Zeming, & Zhang, 2017). The capability of VEFs has also been demonstrated for nanoparticle manipulation.…”

Portable Smartphone‐Based Platform for Real‐Time Particle Detection in Microfluidics

“…The microfluidics DLD based on the asymmetrical gap with a lateral gap of 9 µm and downstream gap of 3 µm from our previous work was used to demonstrate the microbeads separation and detection on the smartphone platform (Figure 9, Supporting Information). [21,47,48] The device was made from PDMS material and fabricated through soft lithography process from SU-8 on silicon master mold. [21,47,48] The device was made from PDMS material and fabricated through soft lithography process from SU-8 on silicon master mold.…”