High throughput microfluidic nanobubble generation by microporous membrane integration and controlled bubble
Ali A Paknahad1, Intesar O Zalloum2, Raffi Karshafian2
1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (iBEST), A Partnership Between Toronto Metropolitan University and St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8, Canada; Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|September 16, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a new microfluidic chip using a silicon membrane to produce bulk nanobubbles. This method significantly increases nanobubble concentration for potential medical applications.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Microfluidics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microfluidics offers precise fluid control for nanobubble generation.
- Current microfluidic methods face challenges with low throughput and nanobubble concentration.
- Bulk nanobubbles have potential applications in various fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidic system for high-concentration bulk nanobubble production.
- To investigate the characteristics of nanobubbles generated using the new method.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a microporous silicon membrane into a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chip.
- Characterization of nanobubble size and morphology using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), resonance mass measurement (RMM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the Tyndall effect.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of bulk nanobubbles in the 100-140 nm diameter range.
- Achieved nanobubble concentrations up to 10^8 mL^-1, a ~23-fold increase over previous microfluidic platforms.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of producing concentrated nanobubbles suitable for further applications.
Conclusions:
- The novel microfluidic chip with a silicon membrane significantly enhances nanobubble concentration.
- This advancement improves the potential for translating microfluidic nanobubble generation to practical applications, particularly in medicine.
