Microfluidics for generation and characterization of liquid and gaseous micro- and nanojets

Naik, Nisarga; Courcimault, Christophe; Hunter, Hanif; Berg, John C.; Lee, Jungchul; Naeli, Kianoush; Wright, Tanya L.; Allen, Mark G.; Brand, Oliver; Glezer, Ari; King, William P.

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2006.04.053

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…In those studies, nozzles with dimensions as low as several micrometers can be fabricated, the droplet size can be reduced to several micrometers, and sample consumption rate can be reduced to sub-microliters per minute. Most of the micro sprayers utilize high-voltage electro spraying techniques (Deng et al, 2006) or ultra high pressure (up to tens of MPa) atomization methods (Naik et al, 2007; Yang et al, 2004) to generate microdroplets, and these techniques could be damaging to biological macromolecular complexes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monolithic microfluidic mixing–spraying devices for time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy

Shaikh

Barnard

et al. 2009

Journal of Structural Biology

104

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The goal of time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy is to determine structural models for transient functional states of large macromolecular complexes such as ribosomes and viruses. The challenge of time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy is to rapidly mix reactants, and then, following a defined time interval, to rapidly deposit them as a thin film and freeze the sample to the vitreous state. Here we describe a methodology in which reaction components are mixed and allowed to react, and are then sprayed onto an EM grid as it is being plunged into cryogen. All steps are accomplished by a monolithic, microfabricated silicon device that incorporates a mixer, reaction channel, and pneumatic sprayer in a single chip. We have found that microdroplets produced by air atomization spread to sufficiently thin films on a millisecond time scale provided that the carbon supporting film is made suitably hydrophilic. The device incorporates two T-mixers flowing into a single channel of four butterfly-shaped mixing elements that ensure effective mixing, followed by a microfluidic reaction channel whose length can be varied to achieve the desired reaction time. The reaction channel is flanked by two ports connected to compressed humidified nitrogen gas (at 50 psi) to generate the spray. The monolithic mixer-sprayer is incorporated into a computer-controlled plunging apparatus. To test the mixing performance and the suitability of the device for preparation of biological macromolecules for cryo-EM, ribosomes and ferritin were mixed in the device and sprayed onto grids. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the ribosomes demonstrated retention of native structure, and 30S and 50S subunits were shown to be capable of reassociation into ribosomes after passage through the device.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monolithic microfluidic mixing–spraying devices for time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy

Shaikh

Barnard

et al. 2009

Journal of Structural Biology

104

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“…borosilicate glass or fluorinated repellant coating, have been demonstrated. 89,92,94,96,106 Further, the described device fabrication procedures can be transferred to other elastomer materials and other microfluidic production techniques such as (hot) soft embossing, including materials such as Teflon®, [97][98][99] Kapton®, 75 THV®, 104 COC/TOPAS®, 80 PS, 106 PE, 106 PMMA, 89,106 NOA81, 112,113 glass 114 and silicon. 114 Combined with the herein described integrated snap-in structure for device alignment, this enables the use of a broad range of solvents in microfluidic liquid jet devices.…”

Section: Solvent Compatibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microfluidic liquid jet system with compatibility for atmospheric and high-vacuum conditions

et al. 2014

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We present microfluidic chip based devices that produce liquid jets with micrometer diameters while operating at very low flow rates. The chip production is based on established soft-lithographical techniques employing a three-layer design protocol. This allows the exact, controlled and reproducible design of critical parts such as nozzles and the production of nozzle arrays. The microfluidic chips reproducibly generate liquid jets exiting at perfect right angles with diameters between 20 μm and 2 μm, and under special circumstances, even down to 0.9 μm. Jet diameter, jet length, and the domain of the jetting/dripping instability can be predicted and controlled based on the theory for liquid jets in the plate-orifice configuration described by Gañán-Calvo et al. Additionally, conditions under which the device produces highly reproducible monodisperse droplets at exact and predictable rates can be achieved. The devices operate under atmospheric and under vacuum conditions making them highly relevant for a wide range of applications, for example, for free-electron lasers. Further, the straightforward integration of additional features such as a jet-in-jet is demonstrated. This device design has the potential to integrate more features based on established microfluidic components and may become a standard device for small liquid jet production.

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“…Outlet channels have the function of concentrating and regulating the airflow direction [14]. Passing through a channel, the distribution of the air in the channel becomes even and the flow direction is focused.…”

Section: Analysis and Design Of Outlet Nozzlementioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling and optimization of a pneumatic microfeeder system

Xue

Bailey

Turitto

et al. 2009

Int. J. Simul. Multidisci. Des. Optim.

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-This paper presents modelling and design optimization of a microfeeder which, as part of a microassembly system, is used for contactless object delivery. The microfeeder consists of an array of microactuators which are controlled by electrostatic actuation and used for maneuvering outcoming air jet for object hovering and delibery. The airflow behaviour in the microactuator is analysed by means of fluid mechanics and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation from three aspects, theoretical analysis, initial design assessment, and design modifications. The focus is put on the basic types of the microfeeder structure and the effects of structural details to the systematic performance. The structural pattern of the microactuator for forming airflow nozzle is identified and two design plans are proposed as basic structure patterns of pneumatic microactuators. The optimized design numerically shows the ability of delivering objects. This paper analyses the flow distribution pattern in microactuators and points out a way for effective design of pneumatic microfeeder systems. The optimization strategy provided by the present paper has close relevance to the design and manufacture of pneumatic microfeeder systems.

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Microfluidics for generation and characterization of liquid and gaseous micro- and nanojets

Cited by 16 publications

References 11 publications

Monolithic microfluidic mixing–spraying devices for time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy

Monolithic microfluidic mixing–spraying devices for time-resolved cryo-electron microscopy

Microfluidic liquid jet system with compatibility for atmospheric and high-vacuum conditions

Modelling and optimization of a pneumatic microfeeder system

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