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A microfluidic-based gas sensor was chosen as an alternative method to gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy systems because of its small size, high accuracy, low cost, etc. Generally, there are some parameters, such as microchannel geometry, that affect the gas response and selectivity of the microfluidic-based gas sensors. In this study, we simulated and compared 3D numerical models in both simple and serpentine forms using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 to investigate the effects of microchannel geometry on the performance of microfluidic-based gas sensors using multiphysics modeling of diffusion, surface adsorption/desorption and surface reactions. These investigations showed the simple channel has about 50% more response but less selectivity than the serpentine channel. In addition, we showed that increasing the length of the channel and decreasing its height improves the selectivity of the microfluidic-based gas sensor. According to the simulated models, a serpentine microchannel with the dimensions W = 3 mm, H = 80 µm and L = 22.5 mm is the optimal geometry with high selectivity and gas response. Further, for fabrication feasibility, a polydimethylsiloxane serpentine microfluidic channel was fabricated by a 3D printing mold and tested according to the simulation results.

In this paper, we design and propose a compact label-free microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device to separate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from red blood cells (RBCs) at low voltage to minimize cell damage. With the aim of developing a mm-long device to perform cell separation, we used 3D finite element simulation modeling and investigated separation efficiency for different electrode configurations, electrode shapes, and channel heights. Our results show that configuring the electrodes as two arrays, consisting of only five pairs of top and bottom planar electrodes shifted relative to each other and energized with ± 6 V at 70 kHz, generates sufficient non-uniform electric fields to separate CTCs and RBCs in a 2 mm long channel. The advantage of the proposed design is the simplicity of the electrode arrangement and that the electrodes do not cover the central part of the channel, thus allowing for brightfield imaging of the channel. In addition, the low voltage needed and the 50 µm high channel reduce the Joule heating effect and improve the device's separation and throughput efficiency. We suggest that the proposed design would be effective for separating CTCs and RBCs and, thus, used as a device for the early detection of CTCs.

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