Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics
• Bubble Dynamics
• Lab on a Chip (LOC) Technology

Background:

• Microbubbles offer a simple, effective method for advancing lab on a chip (LOC) applications.
• Controlling microbubbles is crucial for successful implementation in microfluidic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review active and passive techniques for capturing and controlling microbubbles in microfluidic applications.
• To discuss methods for controlling microbubble size, location, and stability.
• To highlight applications, advantages, challenges, and future prospects of microbubble control.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of active techniques based on external forces (optical, electric, acoustic, mechanical, thermal).
• Discussion of passive approaches focusing on surface tension, microgeometry optimization, and surface property modification.

Main Results:

• Detailed overview of various active and passive bubble trapping and control strategies.
• Exploration of how microbubbles are utilized across different LOC applications.
• Identification of current challenges and future directions in the field.

Conclusions:

• Both active and passive methods provide effective means for microbubble manipulation in microfluidics.
• Further research into optimizing these techniques will enhance the capabilities of LOC devices.
• The review provides a comprehensive outlook on the evolving landscape of microbubble control in microfluidic systems.