38 research outputs found
Hydrodynamic metamaterials: Microfabricated arrays to steer, refract, and focus streams of biomaterials
We show that it is possible to direct particles entrained in a fluid along trajectories much like rays of light in classical optics. A microstructured, asymmetric post array forms the core hydrodynamic element and is used as a building block to construct microfluidic metamaterials and to demonstrate refractive, focusing, and dispersive pathways for flowing beads and cells. The core element is based on the concept of deterministic lateral displacement where particles choose different paths through the asymmetric array based on their size: Particles larger than a critical size are displaced laterally at each row by a post and move along the asymmetric axis at an angle to the flow, while smaller particles move along streamline paths. We create compound elements with complex particle handling modes by tiling this core element using multiple transformation operations; we show that particle trajectories can be bent at an interface between two elements and that particles can be focused into hydrodynamic jets by using a single inlet port. Although particles propagate through these elements in a way that strongly resembles light rays propagating through optical elements, there are unique differences in the paths of our particles as compared with photons. The unusual aspects of these modular, microfluidic metamaterials form a rich design toolkit for mixing, separating, and analyzing cells and functional beads on-chip
Crossing microfluidic streamlines to lyse, label and wash cells
We present a versatile method for continuous-flow, on-chip biological processing of cells, large bio-particles, and functional beads. Using an asymmetric post array in pressure-driven microfluidic flow, we can move particles of interest across multiple, independent chemical streams, enabling sequential chemical operations. With this method, we demonstrate on-chip cell treatments such as labeling and washing, and bacterial lysis and chromosomal extraction. The washing capabilities of this method are particularly valuable because they allow many analytical or treatment procedures to be cascaded on a single device while still effectively isolating their reagents from cross-contamination.6 page(s
Asymmetrical Deterministic Lateral Displacement Gaps for Dual Functions of Enhanced Separation and Throughput of Red Blood Cells
Rotational separation of non-spherical bioparticles using I-shaped pillar arrays in a microfluidic device
10.1038/ncomms2653Nature Communications4