MEMS Device for Molecular Sorting and Pumping with Moving Boundaries

本研究的目的是设计、制作和优化一种用于微流体泵送和分子分选的有源MEMS器件。 该方法是使用级联的移动边界，再加上一个特定的几何设计的喷嘴和扩散元件，以创建一个高效的单向流动。 为了过滤，表面声波发生器将集成在设备中，以主动调节特定化合物的传输和表面粘附。将使用聚二甲基硅氧烷聚合物，静电致动和压电技术，基于设计的计算模拟，进行器件的微制造。 原型装置将用于验证初始的数值设计和计算模型，然后将用于进一步优化device.Intellectual优点：拟议的研究将有助于通过耦合的流体结构模拟和原型制造的MEMS器件的设计和合成的基本发展与移动边界的有效泵送和分子分选。 所提出的装置将通过从微流体移动边界系统产生单向流动来显著改进现有技术。 这项研究将扩大目前的国家的最先进的领域的计算模拟，MEMS器件的设计和制造，和optimization.Broader的影响：发展的MEMS器件的辅助计算模拟将导致微/纳米级系统的设计芯片上的生物流体诊断系统，有针对性的药物输送，和免疫隔离的生物人工器官。受益于这项工作的芯片实验室系统最终将为临床环境或偏远、农村和服务水平低下地区的医疗、环境和军事人员提供廉价、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获得计算建模，微器件制造和生物应用领域的多学科培训。

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.