An IB-LBM design of a microfluidics-based cell capture system

Abstract

The capture of cells in a microfluidic device based on U-shaped sieves is numerically investigated by the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method (IB-LBM). The effects of the width of the inlet ( h), the radius of sieves ([Formula: see text]), and the radius of posts ([Formula: see text]) on the efficiency of the device on trapping cells are studied. It is found that a narrower inlet improves the capability of the device to capture cells and promotes the uniform trapping of cells. In addition, the device is not sufficiently efficient in capturing cells when the radius [Formula: see text] is small. By increasing [Formula: see text] gradually, the cells trapped in the device are found to grow up first and then decrease. This can be explained as an optimal size of apertures between posts to induce the cells to enter the sieve, and then the cells can plug up these apertures. Finally, the effects of the post size on the cell-capturing are studied. It is found that more cells can be captured as [Formula: see text] experiences a slight increase, while the capturing efficiency will not improve if continuing to increase [Formula: see text].

Acoustofluidic cell micro-dispenser for single cell trajectory control

“…); further facilitated by the optical accessibility of the chips. Microfluidic capabilities such as enrichment, [18][19][20] focusing, [21][22][23] trapping, 24,25 or sorting 26,27 could be used to prepare samples, perform assays, and count cells all within a single platform. 28 Although these devices have demonstrated their capabilities in many applications, what is currently lacking is the ability to trap, release and direct known, small numbers of cells in a controllable manner, especially down to the single cell level.…”

“…); further facilitated by the optical accessibility of the chips. Microfluidic capabilities such as enrichment, 18–20 focusing, 21–23 trapping, 24,25 or sorting 26,27 could be used to prepare samples, perform assays, and count cells all within a single platform. 28…”

Numerical simulations of biological flows and their engineering applications

“…From the topic of blood and cell flows, Ma et al. 15 investigate cell capture in a U-shaped sieve-based microfluidic device by using an immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method; Wu et al. 16 present the effect of turbulent inlet conditions on the prediction of flow field and hemolysis in the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) ideal medical device; Ji et al.…”

“…Regarding numerical tools used, there are seven papers using immersed boundary methods, 5,7,11,13–15,18 nine papers using body-fitted mesh methods 6,8–10,12,16,17,19,21 and two papers using other methods. 20,22 Among the applications involving moving boundaries, there are seven papers using immersed boundary methods, 5,7,11,13–15,18 one paper using an open source finite element software Elmer, 6 and three papers using commercial software Ansys/Fluent, 8–10,12 indicating that the immersed boundary method is an emerging alternative in solving flows involving moving boundaries and fluid-structure interaction (see also a recent review paper 23 ).…”