Micromachined Clog-free Ejector Using Thin Liquid Film Valve for Reliable Bioink Delivery

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。本研究的目的是研究新型水芯嵌入式微流控阀门，以消除许多生物墨水材料蒸发造成的严重堵塞问题。方法是研究和利用各种具有良好生物墨水相容性的水芯材料。智能优点：这项建议解决了喷嘴微流控系统的历史和传统堵塞问题。消除微流控系统运行中的干燥问题是非常重要的。所提出的装置是一种无堵塞喷射器，带有一个薄液膜阀，利用不相容和惰性物质进入系统流体。蒸发速度可以忽略不计的薄液膜在系统流体的液-气界面处提供了分离和保护层。利用纳米技术可以显著提高超疏水表面液膜运动的可控性。通过将微流体与暴露在空气中的微流体完全分离，嵌入水芯的微流体阀将提供对蒸发速率的有效控制。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将克服非接触式微流控输送系统面临的历史挑战。拟议的研究结果还将在可靠的微流控输送系统领域开辟新的领域。拟议研究的变革性将成为许多其他研究界的宝贵资源，并将成为将经典问题与高度可靠的新解决方案捆绑在一起的基石。这项研究的教育计划将侧重于增加未被充分代表的少数群体的参与，向高中生提供微米/纳米技术的早期接触，并提供微米/纳米技术方面的学术职业发展机会。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The objective of this research is to study novel aqueous-core embedded microfluidic valves to eliminate serious clogging problems caused by evaporation of many bioink materials. The approach is to investigate and utilize various aqueous-core materials having good bioink compatibility. Intellectual merit: This proposal addresses historical and traditional clogging problems of nozzle-based microfluidic systems. It is very important to eliminate drying-out problems during operations of the microfluidic systems. The proposed device is a clog free ejector with a thin liquid-film valve using immiscible and inert material to the system fluid. A thin liquid-film with negligible evaporation speed provides a separation and protection layer at the liquid-air interface of the system fluid. Well-controlled movement of the liquid-film can be significantly enhanced on superhydrophobic surfaces by employing nanotechnology. Aqueous-core-embedded microfluidic valve will provide effective control of evaporation rate by the complete separation of the microfluids from the air exposure. Broader Impacts: The proposed research will overcome historical challenges being faced in contactless microfluidic delivery systems. The results of the proposed research will also forge new frontiers in the area of reliable microfluidic delivery systems. The transformative nature of the proposed research will be a valuable resource for many other research communities and will serve as a keystone for tying classical problems to high reliable novel solutions. The education program of the research will focus on increasing participation of underrepresented minorities, providing early exposure of micro/nanotechnology to high school students and providing academic career development opportunities in micro/nanotechnology.