MEMS Device for Molecular Sorting and Pumping with Moving Boundaries

基于移动边界的分子分选和抽运MEMS器件本研究的目的是设计、制造和优化一种用于微流体抽运和分子分选的有源MEMS器件。该方法是使用级联移动边界与喷嘴和扩散器元件的特定几何设计相结合，以创建高效的单向流动。对于过滤，表面声波发生器将集成在该装置中，以主动调节特定化合物的传输和表面粘附。基于设计的计算模拟，该装置将使用聚二甲基硅氧烷聚合物、静电驱动和压电技术进行微制造。原型装置将用于验证初始数值设计，然后计算模型将用于进一步优化装置。智力优势：该研究将通过耦合流体结构模拟和原型制造，在设计和合成具有有效泵送和分子分选的移动边界的MEMS器件方面做出基础发展。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着改进现有技术。这项研究将扩展当前在计算模拟，MEMS器件设计和制造以及优化领域的最新技术。更广泛的影响：在计算模拟的帮助下，MEMS器件的发展将导致芯片上生物流体诊断系统、靶向药物输送和生物人工器官免疫分离的微/纳米级系统的设计。芯片实验室系统将受益于这项工作，最终将为临床环境或偏远、农村和服务差地区的医疗、环境和军事人员提供廉价和快速的实验室诊断和评估工具。参与本研究的研究生和本科生将获得计算建模、微型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.