Microfluidic Device for the Manipulation of Microparticles for Flow Cytometry Application

Identifier:  imarina:9320438

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9320438

Authors:  Attard, Matthew; Coral, David; Pedrol, Eric; Aguilo, Magdalena; Diaz, Francesc; Mateos, Xavier

Abstract:
This work produces a unique microfluidic device that acts as a “lab on a chip,” conducting separation, mixing, and concentration of microparticles similar to that required by cell sorting flow cytometry applications. The passive two-dimensional device shows to be successful at separating polystyrene (PS) beads between 5 and 20 µm in diameter, mixing them with an external media, and concentrating them by 250% continuously with minimal sample preparation, while still being inexpensive, and effective. By implementing the microfluidic device, the processing steps are done within seconds due to its high throughput of 2 mL min−1, wherein different hydrodynamic phenomena such as Dean's forces, inertial lift forces, and enhanced diffusion are taken advantage of.