EAGER: Transitioning to Millifluidics: 2D Microfluidic Controls for 3D Profile Manipulation

该项目的研究目标和方法集中在研究小尺度下的流体流动。随着将微流体系统扩展到毫流体对应物的想法获得更大的科学关注，而不是将大量工作缩小到纳米流体，这项工作侧重于一种简单的二维方法，用于微流体和毫流体，使用单层微流体模块创建三维化学轮廓。不仅可以产生三维图案，而且通过平面构型的简单改变，可以控制三维化学图案，包括通过流体的速度和通道的高度。未来更大规模的流体实验可能会受到限制，因为所产生的三维轮廓不明显，这取决于基本参数的选择。社会效益是，该项目的发现将是变革性的，并通过扩大胚胎发育和光流体学等领域的可能性而带来高风险/高回报。这项工作也将在小规模化学混合领域产生影响，通过了解疾病相关的生物系统以及工程，微流体，毫流体，细胞刺激，混合层，光学成像和化学制造方法的研究人员来开发未来的疗法。教育工作是建立一个教育和培训管道，为未来的工程和科学领导人做准备。这将通过与幼儿园到12年级的学生以及研究生的工作来完成。这些努力将包括与匹兹堡的林肯技术学院，这是在宾夕法尼亚州最具学术挑战的社区之一。

The research objectives and approaches of this project are focused on examining fluid flow at small scales. As the idea of scaling up microfluidics systems to millifluidic counterparts gains greater scientific attention, as opposed to the significant body of work scaling down to nanofluidics, this work focuses on a simple two-dimensional approach for micro- and milli-fluidics to create three-dimensional chemical profiles using single-layer microfluidic modules. Not only can a three-dimensional pattern be created, but with simple changes in the planar configuration, the three-dimensional chemical pattern can be controlled including through the speed of the fluid and the height of the channels. Future larger-scale fluidic experiments may have limitations due to resulting non-obvious three-dimensional profiles, which are dependent on basic parameter choices.The society benefits are that findings from this project will be transformative and result in high-risk/high-payoff by expanding possibilities in areas such as embryonic development and optofluidics. This work will also have an impact in fields from small scale chemical mixing to developing future therapies through understanding disease related biological systems as well as to researchers in engineering, microfluidics, millifluidics, cellular stimulation, mixing layers, optical imaging, and chemical fabrication approaches. The education effort is to build an education and training pipeline for preparing future leaders in engineering and science. This will be accomplished through work with kindergarten to 12th grade students as well as graduate students. These efforts will include working with Pittsburgh's Lincoln Technology Academy, which is in one of the most academically challenged neighborhoods in Pennsylvania.