Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "E:Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 February 2024) | Viewed by 11784

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA
Interests: fluid mechanics; mass transfer; unsteady state reactors; fluid-fluid reactions; nanoparticle synthesis; sensors and actuators; microfluidics; lab on a chip; microfabrication
Institute for Basic Science, IBS Center for Soft and Living Matter, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
Interests: colloid/droplet manipulation; electrohydrodynamics; small-scale printing; microreactors
College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: microfabrication; lab on a chip; microfluidics; heat and mass transfer; granular sample manipulation; microfluidic sensors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Micro/nanofluidic devices, such as micromixers, microreactors, microseparators, microsprayers and micro/nano sensors, rely on the integration of multiple physical fields (including flow, electric, magnetic, thermal, optical, and acoustic) to control and manipulate particles or fluids in channels and chambers that typically range in size from hundreds of micrometers down to a few nanometers.

In recent years, such devices have attracted significant attention for their potential in various applications, ranging from biochemical reaction, biosensing and single-cell analysis to next-generation sequencing, microparticle synthesis, drug delivery, energy harvesting, and sample deposition, among others. One of the most significant advances in micro/nanofluidic devices is the integration of multiple functionalities into a single device, such as the combination of mixing, sensing, and separation, which enables the development of highly miniaturized and portable systems with unprecedented levels of performance.

The rapid advances in materials science and fabrication techniques have further expanded the application of micro/nanofluidic devices. This Special Issue of Micromachines is devoted to recent developments in the modeling, design, and fabrication of novel micro/nanofluidic devices, as well as their practical applications in various contexts. The issue will focus on micro/nanofluidic devices that enable microfluid pumping, mixing; particle/droplet manipulation (e.g., particle sorting, separation, droplet generation, droplet capsule release); small-scale reactions (e.g., particle synthesis, immunodetection, PCR); and cell analysis (such as cell culture, cancer cell screening and single-cell imaging). While these topics are of particular interest, we welcome all contributions that explore advances in micro/nanofluidics, micro/nano fabrication methods and their potential applications.

Dr. Xiangsong Feng
Dr. Yankai Jia
Dr. Kailiang Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • micromixer
  • microreactor
  • microseparator
  • microsprayer
  • micro/nano sensor
  • micro/nano fabrication
  • droplet manipulation
  • lab on a chip

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 4185 KiB  
Article
Effect of Eccentricity Difference on the Mechanical Response of Microfluidics-Derived Hollow Silica Microspheres during Nanoindentation
by Hao Wu, Juzheng Chen, Tianyi Jiang, Wenlong Wu, Ming Li, Shanguo Zhang, Ziyong Li, Haitao Ye, Mengya Zhu, Jingzhuo Zhou, Yang Lu and Hongyuan Jiang
Micromachines 2024, 15(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15010109 - 08 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 827
Abstract
Hollow microspheres as the filler material of syntactic foams have been adopted in extensive practical applications, where the physical parameters and their homogeneity have been proven to be critical factors during the design process, especially for high-specification scenarios. Based on double-emulsion droplet templates, [...] Read more.
Hollow microspheres as the filler material of syntactic foams have been adopted in extensive practical applications, where the physical parameters and their homogeneity have been proven to be critical factors during the design process, especially for high-specification scenarios. Based on double-emulsion droplet templates, hollow microspheres derived from microfluidics-enabled soft manufacturing have been validated to possess well-controlled morphology and composition with a much narrower size distribution and fewer defects compared to traditional production methods. However, for more stringent requirements, the innate density difference between the core–shell solution of the double-emulsion droplet template shall result in the wall thickness heterogeneity of the hollow microsphere, which will lead to unfavorable mechanical performance deviations. To clarify the specific mechanical response of microfluidics-derived hollow silica microspheres with varying eccentricities, a hybrid method combining experimental nanoindentation and a finite element method (FEM) simulation was proposed. The difference in eccentricity can determine the specific mechanical response of hollow microspheres during nanoindentation, including crack initiation and the evolution process, detailed fracture modes, load-bearing capacity, and energy dissipation capability, which should shed light on the necessity of optimizing the concentricity of double-emulsion droplets to improve the wall thickness homogeneity of hollow microspheres for better mechanical performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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11 pages, 5491 KiB  
Communication
Local Microbubble Removal in Polydimethylsiloxane Microchannel by Balancing Negative and Atmospheric Pressures
by Yasunori Tokuoka and Tadashi Ishida
Micromachines 2024, 15(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15010037 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 813
Abstract
Long-term experiments using organoids and tissues are crucial for drug development. Microfluidic devices have been regularly used in long-term experiments. However, microbubbles often form in these devices, and they may damage and starve cells. A method involving the application of negative pressure has [...] Read more.
Long-term experiments using organoids and tissues are crucial for drug development. Microfluidic devices have been regularly used in long-term experiments. However, microbubbles often form in these devices, and they may damage and starve cells. A method involving the application of negative pressure has been reported to remove microbubbles from microfluidic devices composed of polydimethylsiloxane; however, negative pressure affects the cells and tissues in microfluidic devices. In this study, a local microbubble removal method was developed using a microfluidic device with 0.5 mm thin polydimethylsiloxane sidewalls. The thin sidewalls counterbalanced the negative and atmospheric pressures, thereby localizing the negative pressure near the negatively pressurized chamber. Microbubbles were removed within 5 mm of the negatively pressurized chamber; however, those in an area 7 mm and more from the chamber were not removed. Using the local removal method, a long-term perfusion test was performed, and no contact was confirmed between the bubbles and the simulated tissue for 72 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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10 pages, 2306 KiB  
Article
Design and Application of Portable Centrifuge Inspired by a Hand-Powered Spinning Top
by Dongbao Tang, Ziwei Duan, Luxuan Liu, Zhaoyuan Jia, Lijun Lang and Yuyu Tan
Micromachines 2023, 14(10), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101968 - 22 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1256
Abstract
Traditional centrifuges, extensively employed in biology, chemistry, medicine, and other domains for tasks such as blood separation and pathogen extraction, have certain limitations. Their high cost, substantial size, and reliance on electricity restrict their range of application. Contemporary centrifuges, inspired by everyday items [...] Read more.
Traditional centrifuges, extensively employed in biology, chemistry, medicine, and other domains for tasks such as blood separation and pathogen extraction, have certain limitations. Their high cost, substantial size, and reliance on electricity restrict their range of application. Contemporary centrifuges, inspired by everyday items like paper trays and egg beaters, boast characteristics such as ease of operation, independence from electricity, and portability. These features offer unique advantages in specific situations, such as electricity shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and challenging medical conditions. Consequently, we designed a hand-powered portable centrifuge driven by pulling a rope. Our experiments revealed significant performance factors, including load capacity, rope length, and frequency of rope pulling. The results demonstrated that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of a hand-powered portable centrifuge were directly proportional to the length of the rope and the frequency of pulling, up to a certain limit, while inversely proportional to the load. When used for separating and washing polystyrene microspheres, the portable centrifuge’s performance equaled that of traditional centrifuges. According to relevant calculations, this centrifuge could be capable of meeting the application of blood separation. Therefore, we believe this portable centrifuge will find meaningful applications in similar areas, particularly in resource-poor settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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17 pages, 4674 KiB  
Article
Model-Based Feedback Control for an Automated Micro Liquid Dispensing System Based on Contacting Droplet Generation through Image Sensing
by Qing Qian, Wenchang Xu, Haoran Tian, Wenbo Cheng, Lianqun Zhou and Jishuai Wang
Micromachines 2023, 14(10), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101938 - 18 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1115
Abstract
Over the past few decades, micro liquid dispensing technology has been widely used in biology, chemistry, material and environmental sciences due to its efficacy in processing multiple samples. For practical applications, precise and effective droplet generation is very important. Despite numerous droplet generation [...] Read more.
Over the past few decades, micro liquid dispensing technology has been widely used in biology, chemistry, material and environmental sciences due to its efficacy in processing multiple samples. For practical applications, precise and effective droplet generation is very important. Despite numerous droplet generation methods, the implementation of droplet-on-demand still faces challenges concerning system complexity, precision, cost, and robustness. In this work, a novel on-demand contacting droplet generation method incorporated with model-based feedback control with an image processing unit as a sensor was proposed. By studying droplet identification using image processing techniques, the model of droplet formation was simplified. Then model-based feedback control was implemented using volumes of dispensed samples as sensing signals by tuning related parameters adaptively to resist disturbances. The proposed method was integrated and applied to a homebuilt automated micro liquid dispensing system with droplets ranging from 20 nanoliter to 200 nanoliter. The experimental results demonstrated a high degree of accuracy and precision. Additionally, the proposed system’s practical utility was evaluated by analyzing mutations in genes associated with sensorineural hearing loss, verifying its effectiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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0 pages, 8171 KiB  
Article
RETRACTED: Preparation and Analysis of Structured Color Janus Droplets Based on Microfluidic 3D Droplet Printing
by Chuang Wu, Hanqi Jia, Haithm Yahya Mohammed Almuaalemi, A. S. M. Muhtasim Fuad Sohan and Binfeng Yin
Micromachines 2023, 14(10), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101911 - 07 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1416 | Retraction
Abstract
The microfluidic technique for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of Janus droplets offers precise control over their size, orientation, and positioning. The proposed approach investigates the impact of variables such as the volume ratio of the oil phase, droplet size, and the ratio of [...] Read more.
The microfluidic technique for the three-dimensional (3D) printing of Janus droplets offers precise control over their size, orientation, and positioning. The proposed approach investigates the impact of variables such as the volume ratio of the oil phase, droplet size, and the ratio of nonionic surfactants on the dimensions of the structured color apertures of Janus droplets. The findings reveal that structured color apertures modulate accurately. Furthermore, fabricating color patterns facilitates cat, fish, and various other specific shapes using structured color Janus droplets. The color patterns exhibit temperature-sensitive properties, enabling them to transition between display and concealed states. Herein, the adopted microfluidic technique creates Janus droplets with customizable characteristics and uniform size, solving orientation as well as space arrangement problems. This approach holds promising applications for optical devices, sensors, and biomimetic systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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13 pages, 5960 KiB  
Article
Centrifugal Microfluidic Synthesis of Nickel Sesquioxide Nanoparticles
by Jiayou Mou, Chenxi Wang, Hongyi Zhao, Chuwei Xiong, Yong Ren, Jing Wang, Dan Jiang and Zansheng Zheng
Micromachines 2023, 14(9), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14091741 - 06 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 892
Abstract
Nickel sesquioxide (Ni2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using centrifugal microfluidics in the present study. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized using SEM to investigate their morphology and microstructure, and XRD was employed to analyze their purity. The nanoparticle size data were [...] Read more.
Nickel sesquioxide (Ni2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using centrifugal microfluidics in the present study. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized using SEM to investigate their morphology and microstructure, and XRD was employed to analyze their purity. The nanoparticle size data were measured and analyzed using ImageJ (v1.8.0) software. The flow process and mixing procedure were monitored through computational fluid dynamics simulation. Among the synthesized Ni2O3 nanoparticles, those obtained at the rotation speed of 1000 rpm for 10 min with angular acceleration of 4.2 rad/s2 showed the best performance in terms of high purity, complete shape and microstructure, small diameter, and narrow diameter distribution. The experimental results demonstrate that the rotation speed of the microfluidic chip and reaction time contribute to a decrease in particle diameter and a narrower diameter distribution range. In contrast, an increase in acceleration of the rotation speed leads to an expanded nanoparticle size range and, thus, a wider distribution. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the effects exerted by various factors in centrifugal microfluidics and will provide new insights into nanoparticle synthesis using centrifugal microfluidic technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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14 pages, 3404 KiB  
Article
Structural Optimization Design of Microfluidic Chips Based on Fast Sequence Pair Algorithm
by Chuang Wu, Jiju Sun, Haithm Yahya Mohammed Almuaalemi, A. S. M. Muhtasim Fuad Sohan and Binfeng Yin
Micromachines 2023, 14(8), 1577; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14081577 - 10 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1500
Abstract
The market for microfluidic chips is experiencing significant growth; however, their development is hindered by a complex design process and low efficiency. Enhancing microfluidic chips’ design quality and efficiency has emerged as an integral approach to foster their advancement. Currently, the existing structural [...] Read more.
The market for microfluidic chips is experiencing significant growth; however, their development is hindered by a complex design process and low efficiency. Enhancing microfluidic chips’ design quality and efficiency has emerged as an integral approach to foster their advancement. Currently, the existing structural design schemes lack careful consideration regarding the impact of chip area, microchannel length, and the number of intersections on chip design. This inadequacy leads to redundant chip structures resulting from the separation of layout and wiring design. This study proposes a structural optimization method for microfluidic chips to address these issues utilizing a simulated annealing algorithm. The simulated annealing algorithm generates an initial solution in advance using the fast sequence pair algorithm. Subsequently, an improved simulated annealing algorithm is employed to obtain the optimal solution for the device layout. During the wiring stage, an advanced wiring method is used to designate the high wiring area, thereby increasing the success rate of microfluidic chip wiring. Furthermore, the connection between layout and routing is reinforced through an improved layout adjustment method, which reduces the length of microchannels and the number of intersections. Finally, the effectiveness of the structural optimization approach is validated through six sets of test cases, successfully achieving the objective of enhancing the design quality of microfluidic chips. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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15 pages, 3673 KiB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of Droplet Impacting on an Immiscible Liquid via Three-Phase Field Method
by Qingming Hu, Fengshi Hu, Donghui Xu and Kailiang Zhang
Micromachines 2023, 14(5), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14050951 - 27 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1267
Abstract
In this work, we establish a two-dimensional axisymmetric simulation model to numerically study the impacting behaviors between oil droplets and an immiscible aqueous solution based on the three-phase field method. The numerical model is established by using the commercial software of COMSOL Multiphysics [...] Read more.
In this work, we establish a two-dimensional axisymmetric simulation model to numerically study the impacting behaviors between oil droplets and an immiscible aqueous solution based on the three-phase field method. The numerical model is established by using the commercial software of COMSOL Multiphysics first and then validated by comparing the numerical results with the previous experimental study. The simulation results show that under the impact of oil droplets, a crater will form on the surface of the aqueous solution, which firstly expands and then collapses with the transfer and dissipation of kinetic energy of this three-phase system. As for the droplet, it flattens, spreads, stretches, or immerses on the crater surface and finally achieves an equilibrium state at the gas–liquid interface after experiencing several sinking-bouncing circles. The impacting velocity, fluid density, viscosity, interfacial tension, droplet size, and the property of non-Newtonian fluids all play important roles in the impact between oil droplets and aqueous solution. The conclusions can help to cognize the mechanism of droplet impact on an immiscible fluid and provide useful guidelines for those applications concerning droplet impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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Review

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25 pages, 3436 KiB  
Review
Microfluidic Wearable Devices for Sports Applications
by Fangyuan Ju, Yujie Wang, Binfeng Yin, Mengyun Zhao, Yupeng Zhang, Yuanyuan Gong and Changgeng Jiao
Micromachines 2023, 14(9), 1792; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14091792 - 19 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
This study aimed to systematically review the application and research progress of flexible microfluidic wearable devices in the field of sports. The research team thoroughly investigated the use of life signal-monitoring technology for flexible wearable devices in the domain of sports. In addition, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to systematically review the application and research progress of flexible microfluidic wearable devices in the field of sports. The research team thoroughly investigated the use of life signal-monitoring technology for flexible wearable devices in the domain of sports. In addition, the classification of applications, the current status, and the developmental trends of similar products and equipment were evaluated. Scholars expect the provision of valuable references and guidance for related research and the development of the sports industry. The use of microfluidic detection for collecting biomarkers can mitigate the impact of sweat on movements that are common in sports and can also address the issue of discomfort after prolonged use. Flexible wearable gadgets are normally utilized to monitor athletic performance, rehabilitation, and training. Nevertheless, the research and development of such devices is limited, mostly catering to professional athletes. Devices for those who are inexperienced in sports and disabled populations are lacking. Conclusions: Upgrading microfluidic chip technology can lead to accurate and safe sports monitoring. Moreover, the development of multi-functional and multi-site devices can provide technical support to athletes during their training and competitions while also fostering technological innovation in the field of sports science. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development of Micro/Nanofluidic Devices)
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