Issue 20, 2009

Inertial microfluidics for continuous particle separation in spiral microchannels

Abstract

In this work we report on a simple inertial microfluidic device that achieves continuous multi-particle separation using the principle of Dean-coupled inertial migration in spiral microchannels. The dominant inertial forces coupled with the Dean rotational force due to the curvilinear microchannel geometry cause particles to occupy a single equilibrium position near the inner microchannel wall. The position at which particles equilibrate is dependent on the ratio of the inertial lift to Dean drag forces. Using this concept, we demonstrate, for the first time, a spiral lab-on-a-chip (LOC) for size-dependant focusing of particles at distinct equilibrium positions across the microchannel cross-section from a multi-particle mixture. The individual particle streams can be collected with an appropriately designed outlet system. To demonstrate this principle, a 5-loop Archimedean spiral microchannel with a fixed width of 500 µm and a height of 130 µm was used to simultaneously and continuously separate 10 µm, 15 µm, and 20 µm polystyrene particles. The device exhibited 90% separation efficiency. The versatility of the device was demonstrated by separating neuroblastoma and glioma cells with 80% efficiency and high relative viability (>90%). The achieved throughput of ∼1 million cells/min is substantially higher than the sorting rates reported by other microscale sorting methods and is comparable to the rates obtained with commercial macroscale flow cytomerty techniques. The simple planar structure and high throughput offered by this passive microfluidic approach make it attractive for LOC devices in biomedical and environmental applications.

Graphical abstract: Inertial microfluidics for continuous particle separation in spiral microchannels

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Apr 2009
Accepted
09 Jul 2009
First published
21 Jul 2009

Lab Chip, 2009,9, 2973-2980

Inertial microfluidics for continuous particle separation in spiral microchannels

S. S. Kuntaegowdanahalli, A. A. S. Bhagat, G. Kumar and I. Papautsky, Lab Chip, 2009, 9, 2973 DOI: 10.1039/B908271A

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