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Enhanced size-dependent trapping of particles using microvortices

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Abstract

Inertial microfluidics has been attracting considerable interest for size-based separation of particles and cells. The inertial forces can be manipulated by expanding the microchannel geometry, leading to formation of microvortices for selective isolation and trapping of particles or cells from a mixture. In this work, we aim to enhance our understanding of particle trapping in such microvortices by developing a model of selective particle entrapment. Design and operational parameters including flow conditions, size of the trapping region, and target particle concentration are explored to elucidate their influence on trapping behavior. Our results show that the size dependence of trapping is characterized by a threshold Reynolds number, which governs the selective entry of particles into microvortices from the main flow. We show that concentration enhancement on the order of 100,000× and isolation of targets at concentrations as low as 1/mL is possible. Ultimately, the insights gained from our systematic investigation suggest optimization solutions that enhance device performance (efficiency, size selectivity, and yield) and are applicable to selective isolation and trapping of large rare cells as well as other applications.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) N/MEMS S&T Fundamentals Program under grant no. N66001-1-4003 issued by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR) to the Micro/nano Fluidics Fundamentals Focus (MF3) Center and a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, R01DK060957).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BioMicroSystems Lab, School of Electronic and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati, 812 Rhodes Hall, ML030, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Jian Zhou & Ian Papautsky

  2. Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    Susan Kasper

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  1. Jian Zhou
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  2. Susan Kasper
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  3. Ian Papautsky
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Correspondence to Ian Papautsky.

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Zhou, J., Kasper, S. & Papautsky, I. Enhanced size-dependent trapping of particles using microvortices. Microfluid Nanofluid 15, 611–623 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-013-1176-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-013-1176-y

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