Generation of dynamic vortices in a microfluidic system incorporating stenosis barrier by tube oscillation

Microfluidic systems incorporating sudden expansions are widely used for generation of vortex flow patterns. However, the formation of vortices requires high flow rates to induce inertial effects. Here, we introduce a new method for generating dynamic vortices in microfluidics at low static flow rat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lab on a chip 2022-05, Vol.22 (1), p.1917-1928
Main Authors: Thurgood, Peter, Chheang, Chanly, Needham, Scott, Pirogova, Elena, Peter, Karlheinz, Baratchi, Sara, Khoshmanesh, Khashayar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Audio equipment
Constriction, Pathologic
Flow distribution
Flow velocity
Fluid dynamics
Fluid flow
Humans
Immune system
Microfluidics
Microfluidics - methods
Reynolds number
Unsteady flow
Vortices
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Summary:Microfluidic systems incorporating sudden expansions are widely used for generation of vortex flow patterns. However, the formation of vortices requires high flow rates to induce inertial effects. Here, we introduce a new method for generating dynamic vortices in microfluidics at low static flow rates. Human blood is driven through a microfluidic channel incorporating a semi-circular stenosis barrier. The inlet tube of the channel is axially oscillated using a computer-controlled audio-speaker. The tube oscillation induces high transient flow rates in the channel, which generates dynamic vortices across the stenosis barrier. The size of the vortices can be modulated by varying the frequency and amplitude of tube oscillation. Various vortex flow patterns can be generated by varying the flow rate. The formation and size of the vortices can be predicted using the Reynolds number of the oscillating tube. We demonstrate the potential application of the system for investigating the adhesion and phagocytosis of circulating immune cells under pathologically high shear rates induced at the stenosis. This approach facilitates the development of versatile and controllable inertial microfluidic systems for performing various cellular assays while operating at low static flow rates and low sample volumes. This work reports a new class of inertial microfluidic systems capable of generating dynamic vortex patterns at low static flow rates via tube oscillation.
ISSN:1473-0197
1473-0189
DOI:10.1039/d2lc00135g