Dean flow-coupled inertial focusing in curved channels |
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Authors: | Harisha Ramachandraiah Sahar Ardabili Asim M Faridi Jesper Gantelius Jacob M Kowalewski Gustaf M?rtensson Aman Russom |
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Institution: | 1.Division of Proteomics and Nanobiotechnology, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden;2.Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Karolinska
Institute, Stockholm, Sweden;3.BioNano Systems Laboratory, MC2, Chalmers University of
Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Passive particle focusing based on inertial microfluidics was recently introduced as a
high-throughput alternative to active focusing methods that require an external force field to
manipulate particles. In inertial microfluidics, dominant inertial forces cause particles to move
across streamlines and occupy equilibrium positions along the faces of walls in flows through
straight micro channels. In this study, we systematically analyzed the addition of secondary Dean
forces by introducing curvature and show how randomly distributed particles entering a simple
u-shaped curved channel are focused to a fixed lateral position exiting the curvature. We found the
lateral particle focusing position to be fixed and largely independent of radius of curvature and
whether particles entering the curvature are pre-focused (at equilibrium) or randomly distributed.
Unlike focusing in straight channels, where focusing typically is limited to channel cross-sections
in the range of particle size to create single focusing point, we report here particle focusing in a
large cross-section area (channel aspect ratio 1:10). Furthermore, we describe a simple u-shaped
curved channel, with single inlet and four outlets, for filtration applications. We demonstrate
continuous focusing and filtration of 10 μm particles (with >90% filtration
efficiency) from a suspension mixture at throughputs several orders of magnitude higher than flow
through straight channels (volume flow rate of 4.25 ml/min). Finally, as an example of high
throughput cell processing application, white blood cells were continuously processed with a
filtration efficiency of 78% with maintained high viability. We expect the study will aid in the
fundamental understanding of flow through curved channels and open the door for the development of a
whole set of bio-analytical applications. |
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