Numerical Analysis of Hydrodynamic Flow in Microfluidic Biochip for Single-Cell Trapping Application

Abstract

Single-cell analysis has become the interest of a wide range of biological and biomedical engineering research. It could provide precise information on individual cells, leading to important knowledge regarding human diseases. To perform single-cell analysis, it is crucial to isolate the individual cells before further manipulation is carried out. Recently, microfluidic biochips have been widely used for cell trapping and single cell analysis, such as mechanical and electrical detection. This work focuses on developing a finite element simulation model of single-cell trapping system for any types of cells or particles based on the hydrodynamic flow resistance (Rh) manipulations in the main channel and trap channel to achieve successful trapping. Analysis is carried out using finite element ABAQUS-FEA™ software. A guideline to design and optimize single-cell trapping model is proposed and the example of a thorough optimization analysis is carried out using a yeast cell model. The results show the finite element model is able to trap a single cell inside the fluidic environment. Fluid’s velocity profile and streamline plots for successful and unsuccessful single yeast cell trapping are presented according to the hydrodynamic concept. The single-cell trapping model can be a significant important guideline in designing a new chip for biomedical applications.

Advances in Microfluidics for Single Red Blood Cell Analysis

“…PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) has been the primary choice as the material. Various geometries for efficient cell capturing have been tested, including U-shaped constructs, flow shortcut structures, micro-cavity-based traps [304], patch-clamp-based array chips [305], microwell arrays or microarrays [306], and microfluidic-based hydrodynamic trapping [307][308][309]. Other single-cell trapping methodologies include dielectrophoretic-, chemical-, gel-, magnetic-, acoustic-and optical-trapping schemes [308].…”

A Microfluidic Device for Hydrodynamic Trapping and Manipulation Platform of a Single Biological Cell

“…This was probably due to a higher Rh Main /Rh Trap ratio that enables velocity distribution in a shorter time compared to the lower Rh Main /Rh Trap . A greater Rh Main /Rh Trap ratio could produce lower hydrodynamic resistance in the trap channel and could transfer the fluid at a faster rate [58,59]. The velocity distribution produced different pressure inside the main channel and trap channel, causing the fluid's stream to be directed to the trap channel and bringing the cell into a lower flow resistance area for trapping.…”

Beyond the bulk: disclosing the life of single microbial cells

“… 2014 ; Riordon et al. 2014 ; Khalili and Ahmad 2015 ). Many trapping structures restrict cell growth to a monolayer in one focal plane for optical analysis by matching channel heights and dimensions of microbial cells (Gruenberger et al.…”