Developing a novel centrifugal-based microfluidic particle focusing device; a microhydrocyclone

开发新型离心式微流控粒子聚焦装置；

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04402
• 负责人: Sabbagh, Reza
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=739946
• 关键词: Developing; novel; centrifugal; based; microfluidic

Microfluidic devices are becoming an inevitable part of future technologies in many industries such as diagnostics, screening, drug discovery, cosmetic, surgical equipment, and rapid and efficient experiments on small-sample volumes. Flow and particle focusing are technologies used to form emulsions, encapsulated particles or classifying particles. Currently, centrifugal-based focusing technologies are dominant in microfluidic device development which in turn are divided into two main classes of centrifugal platforms and inertial platforms. These technologies, however, are suffering from issues such as limited throughput, working as batch and flow or particle blockage. This research program, propose a solution for the mentioned issues by introducing a microhydrocyclone microfluidic device. Microhydrocyclone is a centrifugal screening and separation device, which is proposed in this research program as an alternative technology for particle focusing. The device works on the principle using centrifugal force to separate particles from the main stream according to their density difference. Comparing the current technologies of focusing, microhydrocyclones will have significantly higher centrifugal force and at the same time work as a continuous flow unit. In fact, microhydrocyclone technology combines the main advantage of centrifugal microfluidic platforms (i.e. high centrifugal acceleration) with the main advantage of microfluidic inertial devices (i.e. continuous flow). This research program will aim in developing technical protocols for microhydrocyclones design and operation for commercial applications. In doing such, we will take steps in this discovery grant research toward developing fundamental knowledge required to bring the microhydrocyclones to practice. These are including assessing and developing correlations that a microhydrocyclone will be designed based on them. Design and fabrication of the device using advanced microscale manufacturing techniques as well as and its active control will be another important part of the research. Design and active control, however, require fundamental understanding of the device operation and flow and particle dynamics inside the microhydrocyclone. This understanding is another objective of this research program. To cover this objective, imaging techniques will be undertaken to measure the flow inside the device. The formation and dynamics of secondary vortices and the interactions between the flow element and particles that are carried with the main stream will be evaluated. To undertake this proposed research program, we will train PhD and MSc students who will be able to contribute to the further advances of the microfluidics sciences and industrial applications. The research outcomes and the associated trainings, will elevate Canada's research profile and help further progress in related microfluidics industry.

微流体设备正在成为许多行业未来技术的必然组成部分，例如诊断，筛选，药物发现，化妆品，手术设备以及小样品体积的快速有效实验。流动和颗粒聚焦是用于形成乳液、包封颗粒或分类颗粒的技术。目前，基于离心的聚焦技术在微流体装置开发中占主导地位，微流体装置开发又分为离心平台和惯性平台两大类。然而，这些技术正遭受诸如有限的吞吐量、作为批次和流动或颗粒堵塞工作的问题。本研究计画针对上述问题，提出一种微水力旋流器微流控装置。微水力旋流器是一种离心筛选和分离装置，本研究计划提出作为颗粒聚集的替代技术。该设备的工作原理是利用离心力根据颗粒的密度差将颗粒从主流中分离出来。与目前的聚焦技术相比，微水力旋流器将具有显著更高的离心力，同时作为连续流单元工作。事实上，微水力旋流器技术结合了离心微流体平台的主要优点（即高离心加速度）和微流体惯性装置的主要优点（即连续流动）。 该研究计划旨在为商业应用开发微水力旋流器设计和操作的技术协议。在这样做的过程中，我们将采取措施，在这个发现赠款研究发展所需的基础知识，使微型水力旋流器的实践。这些包括评估和开发相关性，微水力旋流器将基于它们设计。利用先进的微尺度制造技术设计和制造这种器件，并对其进行主动控制将是研究的另一个重要部分。然而，设计和主动控制需要对微水力旋流器内的装置操作和流动以及颗粒动力学有基本的了解。这是本研究计划的另一个目标。为了实现这一目标，将采用成像技术来测量装置内的流量。将评估二次涡流的形成和动力学以及流动元件与主流携带的颗粒之间的相互作用。 为了开展这项拟议的研究计划，我们将培养博士和硕士学生，他们将能够为微流体科学和工业应用的进一步发展做出贡献。研究成果和相关培训将提升加拿大的研究水平，并有助于相关微流体行业的进一步发展。