MEMS Device for Molecular Sorting and Pumping with Moving Boundaries

用于分子分选和分子分选的MEMS器件本研究的目的是设计、制造和优化一种用于微流控分选和分子分选的有源MEMS器件。该方法是使用级联移动边界加上喷嘴和扩散器元件的特定几何设计来创建高效的单向流动。对于过滤，将在设备中集成一个表面声波发生器，以主动调节特定化合物的传输和表面附着。根据设计的计算模拟，将使用聚二甲基硅氧烷聚合物、静电驱动和压电技术进行器件的微制造。原型装置将被用来验证最初的数值设计，然后计算模型将被用来进一步优化装置。智能优点：所提出的研究将有助于通过流固耦合模拟和原型制造在设计和综合具有有效泵浦和分子分类的移动边界的MEMS装置中的基础开发。拟议的装置将通过从微流控移动边界系统产生单向流动来显著改进现有技术。这项研究将在计算模拟、MEMS器件设计和制造以及优化领域扩展当前的最先进技术。广泛的影响：在计算模拟的辅助下开发MEMS器件将导致微/纳米级系统的设计，用于芯片上生物流体诊断系统、靶向药物输送和生物人造器官的免疫隔离。将从这项工作中受益的单芯片实验室系统最终将为临床环境中或偏远、农村和服务较差地点的医疗、环境和军事人员提供廉价而快速的实验室诊断和评估工具。参与这项研究的研究生和本科生将在计算建模、微器件制造和生物应用领域获得多学科培训。

MEMS Device for Molecular Sorting and Pumping with Moving BoundariesThe objective of this research is to design, fabricate, and optimize an active MEMS device for microfluidic pumping and molecular sorting. The approach is to use cascaded moving boundaries coupled with a specific geometric design of nozzle and diffuser elements to create a highly efficient unidirectional flow. For filtering, a surface acoustic wave generator will be integrated in the device to actively modulate the transport and surface adhesion of specific compounds. Microfabrication of the device will be performed using polydimethylsiloxane polymer, electrostatic actuation, and piezoelectric technology, based on computational simulations of the design. The prototype device will be used to validate the initial numerical design and the computational model will then be used to further optimize the device.Intellectual Merit: The proposed research will contribute to basic developments through coupled fluid-structure simulations and prototype fabrication in the design and synthesis of MEMS devices with moving boundaries for effective pumping and molecular sorting. The proposed device will significantly improve existing technology by creating unidirectional flow from a microfluidic moving boundary system. This research will extend the current state-of-the-art in the areas of computational simulations, MEMS device design and fabrication, and optimization.Broader Impacts: Development of a MEMS device aided by computational simulations will lead to the design of micro-/nanoscale systems for on-chip biological fluid diagnostic systems, targeted drug delivery, and immunoisolation of bio-artificial organs. Lab-on-a-chip systems that will benefit from this work will ultimately provide inexpensive and fast laboratory diagnostic and assessment tools to medical, environmental, and military personnel in clinical settings or in remote, rural, and poorly served locations. Graduate and undergraduate students involved in this research will acquire multidisciplinary training in the fields of computational modeling, micro-device fabrication, and biological applications.