Low-cost multi-core inertial microfluidic centrifuge for high-throughput cell concentration

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microfluidics
• Cell Separation

Background:

• Traditional cell concentration methods can be expensive and time-consuming.
• There is a need for cost-effective, high-throughput solutions, especially in resource-limited environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, disposable inertial microfluidic centrifuge (IM-centrifuge) for continuous-flow cell and particle concentration.
• To achieve high throughput (up to 20 mL/min) using a multiplexed design and novel sample distribution strategy.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a multilayer film-based inertial microfluidic (MFIM) chip using low-cost materials (polymer films and tape).
• Integration of multiplexed spiral inertial microfluidic channels for increased throughput.
• Development of a sample distribution strategy for uniform sample flow across multiple channels.
• Characterization of particle/cell focusing performance across a range of flow rates.

Main Results:

• The IM-centrifuge successfully focused and concentrated various-sized particles and cells, achieving volume reduction.
• The sample distribution strategy ensured consistent performance across all integrated microfluidic cores.
• Demonstrated successful concentration of irregularly shaped and polydisperse microalgae cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed IM-centrifuge offers a low-cost, high-throughput solution for continuous cell concentration.
• Its disposable MFIM chip design and efficient concentration capabilities make it suitable for applications in low-resource settings.
• This technology has potential for broad use in cell analysis and bioprocessing where cost and efficiency are critical.