Microfluidic Device for the Manipulation of Microparticles for Flow Cytometry Application

Abstract

AbstractThis work produces a unique microfluidic device that acts as a “lab on a chip,” conducting separation, mixing, and concentration of microparticles similar to that required by cell sorting flow cytometry applications. The passive two‐dimensional device shows to be successful at separating polystyrene (PS) beads between 5 and 20 µm in diameter, mixing them with an external media, and concentrating them by 250% continuously with minimal sample preparation, while still being inexpensive, and effective. By implementing the microfluidic device, the processing steps are done within seconds due to its high throughput of 2 mL min−1, wherein different hydrodynamic phenomena such as Dean's forces, inertial lift forces, and enhanced diffusion are taken advantage of.