Design of high-throughput microfluidic device for individual entrapment of micro-particles

Abstract

Today, microfluidic devices have gained popularity in the areas of biology, chemistry, biomedical, bio-engineering, etc., as these can perform the functions of a complete laboratory in a very small space. This project aims to design, create and test a microfluidic device capable of effectively entrapping many particles (15µm dia.) individually; in order to later use this device to isolate and study cells. First, to achieve this goal, the controversial slipcondition at the micro-scale was studied and its effects in the design of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micro-devices were determined. Next, using the Hardy-Cross Method (HCM) for a network of channels, the maximum possible number of traps in series that guaranteed an effective trapping of particles was investigated. Finally, the determined series arrangement was expanded to a parallel arrangement. After these considerations, the main objective was achieved and a new device was designed with a total of 800 trap-sites.