An IB-LBM design of a microfluidics-based cell capture system

Abstract

The capture of cells in a microfluidic device based on U-shaped sieves is numerically investigated by the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method (IB-LBM). The effects of the width of the inlet ( h), the radius of sieves ([Formula: see text]), and the radius of posts ([Formula: see text]) on the efficiency of the device on trapping cells are studied. It is found that a narrower inlet improves the capability of the device to capture cells and promotes the uniform trapping of cells. In addition, the device is not sufficiently efficient in capturing cells when the radius [Formula: see text] is small. By increasing [Formula: see text] gradually, the cells trapped in the device are found to grow up first and then decrease. This can be explained as an optimal size of apertures between posts to induce the cells to enter the sieve, and then the cells can plug up these apertures. Finally, the effects of the post size on the cell-capturing are studied. It is found that more cells can be captured as [Formula: see text] experiences a slight increase, while the capturing efficiency will not improve if continuing to increase [Formula: see text].