Inertial lift enhanced phase partitioning for continuous microfluidic surface energy based sorting of particles

A new microfluidics technique that exploits the selectivity of phase partitioning and high-speed focusing capabilities of the inertial effects in flow was developed for continuous label-free sorting of particles and cells. Separations were accomplished by introducing particles at the interface of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran (DEX) phases in rectangular high aspect-ratio microfluidic channels and allowing them to partition to energetically favorable locations within the PEG phase, DEX phase or interface at the center of the microchannel. Separation of partitioned particles was further enhanced via inertial lift forces that develop in high aspect-ratio microchannels that move particles to equilibrium positions close to the outer wall. Combining phase partitioning with inertial focusing ensures selectivity is possible using phase partitioning with sufficient throughput (at least an order of magnitude greater than phase partitioning alone) for application in the clinical and research setting. Using this system we accomplished separation of 15 μm polystyrene (PS) particles from 1-20 μm polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles. Results confirm the feasibility of separation based on phase partitioning and enhancement of separation via inertial focusing. Approximately 86% of PS particles were isolated within the PEG phase whereas 78% of PMMA particles were isolated within the DEX phase. When a binary mixture of PS and PMMA was introduced within the device, ~83% of PS particles were isolated in the PEG phase and ~74% of PMMA particles were isolated in the DEX phase. These results confirm the feasibility of this technique for rapid and reliable separation of particles and potentially cells.