Dynamics of Deformable Drops and Biomimetic Capsules in Microfluidic Systems

1066904PI：Osuji近年来，人们清楚地认识到，提高对高度受限的可变形颗粒的流体动力学的了解对于充分发挥微流控技术的潜力非常重要。特别有希望的是开发微流控设备来分析细胞膜的机械参数，用于某些疾病的筛查。原则上，这种装置可以使用当前的微流体制造技术来构建，但它们还没有被开发出来，至少部分原因是缺乏关于典型微流体结构中可变形颗粒的微观流体动力学的基本知识，并且缺乏合适的数值公式。该项目的目标是促进对微流体网络中可变形颗粒集体动力学的基本理解，并探索使用微流体装置根据颗粒的变形能力来区分颗粒的可行性。研究包括紧密耦合的实验和数值模拟。具体目标包括：(1)开发控制合成具有特定变形特性的囊泡、胶囊和水滴的可靠方法；使用这些颗粒进行实验以探索颗粒动力学对变形参数的依赖；(2)设计和制造新型微流体装置，以探索基于变形性参数对囊泡和水滴进行分选的可行性；以及(3)开发对微通道中和通道之间连接处高度受限的可变形颗粒的多粒子计算机模拟。长期以来，了解微通道中可变形颗粒的动力学一直被认为是石油回收和炼油作业、环境修复和微循环中血液流动等各种现象的一个重要方面。对这一问题的基本了解是开发用于生物分析应用的微流控设备的核心，这种设备通常涉及微观可变形颗粒的流动。拟议的研究将进一步加深对受限可变形粒子集体动力学的基本理解。因此，该项目将为广泛应用的微流控器件的设计和优化提供一个合理的框架。此外，该项目可能会导致新的生物医学装置，基于细胞的力学性质对细胞进行分类，并基于变形能力分析细胞种群。参与这项研究的研究生将获得广泛的工程科学和数学背景。这项拟议的研究将通过与该项目相关的REU项目为本科生提供接触研究的机会。

1066904PI: OsujiIn recent years it has become clear that improved understanding of the hydrodynamics of highly-confined deformable particles is important for exploiting the full potential of microfluidic technology. Particularly promising is the development of microfluidic devices to assay the mechanical parameters of cell membranes for use in screening for certain diseases. In principle, such devices could be constructed using the current microfluidic fabrication techniques, yet they have not been developed, at least in part because of a lack of fundamental knowledge about the micro-hydrodynamics of deformable particles in typical microfluidic architectures and the absence of a suitable numerical formulation.The goal of this project is to advance a fundamental understanding of the collective dynamics of deformable particles in microfluidic networks and to explore the feasibility of using microfluidic devices to differentiate particles based on their deformability. The investigation involves closely coupled experiments and numerical simulations. The specific objectives include: (1) to develop robust methods for controlled synthesis of vesicles, capsules, and drops with tailored deformation properties; to conduct experiments using these particles to explore the dependence of particle dynamics on deformation parameters; (2) to design and fabricate novel microfluidic devices to explore the feasibility of sorting vesicles and drops based on deformability parameters; and (3) to develop many-particle computer simulation of highly-confined deformable particles in microfluidic channels and at junctions between channels. Understanding the dynamics of deformable particles in microchannels has long been recognized an important aspect of diverse phenomena such as oil recovery and refining operations, environmental remediation, and blood flow in the microcirculation. A fundamental understanding of this problem is central to the development of microfluidic devices for bio-analytical applications that often involve flows of microscopic deformable particles. The proposed investigation will further a basic understanding of the collective dynamics of confined deformable particles. This project will thus advance a rational framework for the design and optimization of microfluidic devices for a broad class of applications. Moreover, this project may lead to new biomedical devices for sorting cells based on their mechanical properties as well as assaying cell populations for diseased states based on deformability.Graduate students involved in this study will acquire a broad engineering science and mathematics background. The proposed study will provide undergraduates with exposure to research through REU projects related to the project.