Inertial particle separation by differential equilibrium positions in a symmetrical serpentine micro-channel

Zhang, Jun; Yan, Sheng; Sluyter, Ronald; Li, Weihua; Alici, Gürsel; Nguyen, Nam‐Trung

doi:10.1038/srep04527

Cited by 177 publications

(206 citation statements)

References 54 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

193

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Besides asymmetric serpentine channel, our group have investigated the focusing patterns and corresponding mechanisms in symmetric serpentine channels [106][107][108] . Three focusing patterns were observed by increasing the flow rate: (i) two-sided focusing, (ii) the transitional focusing, and (iii) single central focusing.…”

Section: Serpentine Channelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamentals and applications of inertial microfluidics: a review

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the last decade, inertial microfluidics has attracted significant attention and a wide variety of channel designs that focus, concentrate and separate particles and fluids have been demonstrated. In contrast to conventional microfluidic technologies, where fluid inertia is negligible and flow remains almost within the Stokes flow region with very low Reynolds number (Re < 1), inertial microfluidics works in the intermediate Reynolds number range (~1 < Re < ~100) between Stokes and turbulent regimes. In this intermediate range, both inertia and fluid viscosity are finite and bring about several intriguing effects that form the basis of inertial microfluidics including (i) inertial migration and (ii) secondary flow. Due to the superior features of high-throughput, simplicity, precise manipulation and low cost, inertial microfluidics is a very promising candidate for cellular sample processing, especially for samples with low abundant targets. In this review, we first discuss the fundamental kinematics of particles in microchannels to familiarise readers with the mechanisms and underlying physics in inertial microfluidic systems. We then present a comprehensive review of recent developments and key applications of inertial microfluidic systems according to their microchannel structures. Finally, we discuss the perspective of employing fluid inertia in microfluidics for particle manipulation. Due to the superior benefits of inertial microfluidics, this promising technology will still be an attractive topic in the near future, with more novel designs and further applications in biology, medicine and industry on the horizon. ABSTRACT:In the last decade, inertial microfluidics has attracted significant attention and a wide variety of channel designs that focus, concentrate and separate particles and fluids have been demonstrated. In contrast to conventional microfluidic technologies, where fluid inertia is negligible and flow remains almost within Stokes flow region with very low Reynolds number Re <<1, inertial microfluidics works in the intermediate Reynolds number range (~1 < Re < ~100) between Stokes and turbulent regimes. In this intermediate range, both inertia and fluid viscosity are finite, and bring about several intriguing effects that form the basis of inertial microfluidics including: (i) inertial migration and (ii) secondary flow. Due to the superior features of high-throughput, simplicity, precise manipulation and low cost, inertial microfluidics is a very promising candidate for cellular sample processing, especially for sample with low abundant targets. In this review, we first discuss the fundamental kinematics of particles in microchannels to familiarise readers with mechanisms and underlying physics in inertial microfluidic systems. We then present a comprehensive review of recent developments and key applications of inertial microfluidic systems according to their microchannel structures. Finally, we discuss the perspective of employing fluid inertia in microfluidics for particle manipu...

show abstract

Section: Serpentine Channelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fundamentals and applications of inertial microfluidics: a review

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…27 Three inertial effects (or forces) are exerted onto micro-particles flowing in a serpentine channel: the inertial lift forces, secondary flow drag, and centrifugal force. 28 When the medium density is very close to the particles, the effect of centrifugal force is negligible because the inertial lift forces focus cells towards the two sidewalls, while secondary flow in the serpentine channel with alternating curvature pinches cells into the centre of the channel.…”

Section: B Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 99%

A label-free and high-throughput separation of neuron and glial cells using an inertial microfluidic platform

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While neurons and glial cells both play significant roles in the development and therapy of schizophrenia, their specific contributions are difficult to differentiate because the methods used to separate neurons and glial cells are ineffective and inefficient. In this study, we reported a high-throughput microfluidic platform based on the inertial microfluidic technique to rapidly and continuously separate neurons and glial cells from dissected brain tissues. The optimal working condition for an inertial biochip was investigated and evaluated by measuring its separation under different flow rates. Purified and enriched neurons in a primary neuron culture were verified by confocal immunofluorescence imaging, and neurons performed neurite growth after separation, indicating the feasibility and biocompatibility of an inertial separation. Phencyclidine disturbed the neuroplasticity and neuron metabolism in the separated and the unseparated neurons, with no significant difference. Apart from isolating the neurons, purified and enriched viable glial cells were collected simultaneously. This work demonstrates that an inertial microchip can provide a label-free, high throughput, and harmless tool to separate neurological primary cells. Published by AIP Publishing. [http://dx

show abstract

“…The resulting hydrodynamic drag enhances the lateral migration of particles across the channel. There are two major classes of curved channels: a spiral geometry18, 25, 26 and a serpentine channel geometry with asymmetric14, 15, 27 or symmetric configurations 28, 29. In this design, a serpentine channel is used to reduce the number of focused particle streams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐Throughput Inertial Focusing of Micrometer‐ and Sub‐Micrometer‐Sized Particles Separation

Wang

Dandy

2017

Advanced Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability to study individual bacteria or subcellular organelles using inertial microfluidics is still nascent. This is due, in no small part, to the significant challenges associated with concentrating and separating specific sizes of micrometer and sub‐micrometer bioparticles in a microfluidic format. In this study, using a rigid polymeric microfluidic network with optimized microchannel geometry dimensions, it is demonstrated that 2 µm, and even sub‐micrometer, particles can be continuously and accurately focused to stable equilibrium positions. Suspensions have been processed at flow rates up to 1400 µL min−1 in an ultrashort 4 mm working channel length. A wide range of suspension concentrations—from 0.01 to 1 v/v%—have been systematically investigated, with yields greater than 97%, demonstrating the potential of this technology for large‐scale implementation. Additionally, the ability of this chip to separate micrometer‐ and sub‐micrometer‐sized particles and to focus bioparticles (cyanobacteria) has been demonstrated. This study pushes the microfluidic inertial focusing particle range down to sub‐micrometer length scales, enabling novel routes for investigation of individual microorganisms and subcellular organelles.

show abstract

Inertial particle separation by differential equilibrium positions in a symmetrical serpentine micro-channel

Cited by 177 publications

References 54 publications

Fundamentals and applications of inertial microfluidics: a review

Fundamentals and applications of inertial microfluidics: a review

A label-free and high-throughput separation of neuron and glial cells using an inertial microfluidic platform

High‐Throughput Inertial Focusing of Micrometer‐ and Sub‐Micrometer‐Sized Particles Separation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About