Clogging-free microfluidics for continuous size-based separation of microparticles

Yoon, Yousang; Kim, Seonil; Lee, Jusin; Choi, Jeong‐Ja; Kim, Rae Kwon; Lee, Su Jae; Sul, Onejae; Lee, Seung Beck

doi:10.1038/srep26531

Cited by 83 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Recent studies have investigated the deposition of particles prior to clogging [35][36][37][38]. Finally, a last possible mechanism is sieving: A single large particle blocks the channel through size exclusion [39,40]. Different strategies are now available to avoid, control, and/or leverage clogging by rigid or deformable particles such as dust particles, colloids, cells, or emulsions drops.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of clogs in parallel microchannels

Sauret

Somszor²,

Villermaux

et al. 2018

Phys. Rev. Fluids

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During the transport of colloidal suspensions in microchannels, the deposition of particles can lead to the formation of clogs, typically at constrictions. Once a clog is formed in a microchannel, advected particles form an aggregate upstream from the site of the blockage. This aggregate grows over time, which leads to a dramatic reduction of the flow rate. In this paper, we present a model that predicts the growth of the aggregate formed upon clogging of a microchannel. We develop an analytical description that captures the time evolution of the volume of the aggregate, as confirmed by experiments performed using a pressure-driven suspension flow in a microfluidic device. We show that the growth of the aggregate increases the hydraulic resistance in the channel and leads to a drop in the flow rate of the suspensions. We then derive a model for the growth of aggregates in multiple parallel microchannels where the clogging events are described using a stochastic approach. The aggregate growths in the different channels are coupled. Our work illustrates the critical influence of clogging events on the evolution of the flow rate in microchannels. The coupled dynamics of the aggregates described here for parallel channels is key to bridge clogging at the pore scale with macroscopic observations of the flow rate evolution at the filter scale.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth of clogs in parallel microchannels

Sauret

Somszor²,

Villermaux

et al. 2018

Phys. Rev. Fluids

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“…An ultrasonic method achieved a low separation efficiency, although the samples were separated under a high flow rate [13]. Unlike passive methods [17][18][19], no clogging effect was observed [20][21][22] when beads were trapped and accumulated, because there was no passive structure. The proposed method can be used in water pre-treatment for the extraction and concentration of suspended biological particles, as the operation method was not influenced by the physical particle properties.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such devices are simple to design and can be fabricated inexpensively. However, the micropillars may become clogged as particles accumulate; more complex clog-free devices have thus been developed [20][21][22]. Each device has unique advantages and disadvantages when used to separate microparticles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication of a Pneumatic Microparticle Concentrator

Jang

Jeong

2019

Micromachines

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We developed a microfluidic platform employing (normally open) pneumatic valves for particle concentration. The device features a three-dimensional network with a curved fluidic channel and three pneumatic valves (a sieve valve (Vs) that concentrates particles and two ON/OFF rubber-seal pneumatic valves that block the working fluid). Double-sided replication employing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was used to fabricate the network, channel, and chamber. Particles were blocked by deformation of the Vs diaphragm, and then accumulated in the curved microfluidic channel. The working fluid was discharged via operation of the two ON/OFF valves. After concentration, particles were released to an outlet port. The Vs pressure required to block solid particles varying in diameter was determined based on the height of the curved microchannel and a finite element method (FEM) simulation of Vs diaphragm displacement. Our method was verified according to the temporal response of the fluid flow rate controlled by the pneumatic valves. Furthermore, all particles with various diameters were successfully blocked, accumulated, and released. The operating pressure, time required for concentration, and concentration ratio were dependent on the particle diameter. The estimated concentration percentage of 24.9 µm diameter polystyrene particles was about 3.82% for 20 min of operation.Micromachines 2020, 11, 40 2 of 12 are lifted, and then the trapped cells are released. A microfiltration mechanism of particles using structural deformation of the thin membrane was developed [25]. The beads or cells are trapped at voids formed in the two corners of a microfluidic channel by the structural difference between the pneumatically inflated thin diaphragm and the microfluidic channel with a rectangular cross section. A pneumatic filtration system was also developed for the size-based separation of particles [26]. It consists of the pneumatic micropump for automatic liquid transport and normally closed valves for the separation of the particles. The filtration mechanism is based on adjustable deformation of the flexible membrane, defining the gap between the microchannel and the floating block structure, which determines the maximum diameter of the bead/cell that can pass through the filter structure. An integrated microfluidic device for dynamic trapping and high-throughput patterning of cells using pneumatic microstructures [27] was investigated. There are two kinds of membrane structures, that is, an array of active U-shaped microstructures for dynamic localization of cells and an umbrella structure for protecting trapped cells in the process of rinsing.In general, these methods are suitable for handling a limited number of particles when considering the operating methods and structures of the microfluidic platform. The operation conditions such as the flow rate and the magnitude of the compressed air pressure are carefully controlled to prevent unwanted damage to the cells. Further, additional microstructures are also needed to increase cell tr...

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“…A unique design that incorporates tightly stacked magnetic beads to trap the bacteria was employed, and the efficiency of bacteria-trapping depends on the configuration of particle stacking. Instead of using complicated micro-and nanofabrication to physically isolate the bacteria, 47,48 our approach simply relies on the beads stacking at various flow rates and does not need expensive and time-consuming nanolithography processes. 49,50 As the beads are pushed to the outlet of the channel, they begin to stack in the 3D space ( Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficient Escherichia coli (E. coli) Trapping and Retrieval from Bodily Fluids via a Three-Dimensional (3D) Microbeads Stacked Nano-Device

Chen¹,

Miller²,

Cao³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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<div>A micro- and nano-fluidic device stacked with magnetic beads is developed to efficiently trap, concentrate, and retrieve Escherichia coli (E. coli) from bacteria suspension</div><div>and pig plasma. The small voids between the magnetic beads are used to physically isolate the bacteria in the device. We use computational fluid dynamics (CFD), 3D</div><div>tomography technology, and machine learning to probe and explain the bead stacking in a small 3D space with various flow rates. A combination of beads with different sizes is utilized to achieve a high capture efficiency of ~86% with a flow rate of 50 μL/min. Leveraging the high deformability of this device, the E. coli sample is retrieved from the designated bacteria suspension by applying a higher flow rate, followed by rapid magnetic separation. This unique function is also utilized to concentrate E. coli from the original bacteria suspension. An on-chip concentration</div><div>factor of ~11× is achieved by inputting 1,300 μL of the E. coli sample and then concentrating it in 100 μL buffer.</div><div>Importantly, this multiplexed, miniaturized, inexpensive, and transparent device is easy to fabricate and operate, making it ideal for pathogen separation in both laboratory and pointof- care (POC) settings.</div>

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Clogging-free microfluidics for continuous size-based separation of microparticles

Cited by 83 publications

References 38 publications

Growth of clogs in parallel microchannels

Growth of clogs in parallel microchannels

Fabrication of a Pneumatic Microparticle Concentrator

Efficient Escherichia coli (E. coli) Trapping and Retrieval from Bodily Fluids via a Three-Dimensional (3D) Microbeads Stacked Nano-Device

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