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Effect of Flow Rate Modulation on Alginate Emulsification in Multistage Microfluidics
Yudan Whulanza1,2, Rithwik Chandur Nathani1, Klaugusta Adimillenva1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia.
Micromachines
|October 28, 2023
Summary
A new multistage microfluidic method rapidly encapsulates stem cells in alginate microspheres. This technique offers precise control over droplet size for improved tissue engineering and bioprinting applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Microfluidics
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Stem cell encapsulation in alginate microspheres is crucial for tissue engineering and bioprinting.
- Conventional methods like hanging drops are time-consuming and yield small volumes.
- Efficient and scalable methods are needed for stem cell encapsulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an experimental approach for rapid alginate emulsification using multistage microfluidics.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of encapsulating stem cells in alginate microspheres via microfluidic emulsification.
- To analyze the influence of flow rates on droplet formation using non-dimensional numbers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a two-step droplet emulsification process in polycarbonate and polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chips.
- Manipulated alginate emulsification in oil by tuning flow rates of both phases.
- Employed fundamental non-dimensional numbers (Reynolds and Capillary) to characterize the process.
Main Results:
- Successfully achieved multistage emulsification of alginate for stem cell encapsulation under specific flow rates.
- Demonstrated control over droplet size (500-1000 µm) by independently tuning flow rates in each stage.
- Achieved Reynolds numbers of 0.5-2.5 (alginate/water) and 0.05-0.2 (oil), with a maximum Capillary number of 0.018 for plug flow.
Conclusions:
- Multistage microfluidic emulsification provides a rapid and controllable method for alginate microsphere production.
- This technique enhances efficiency and scalability for stem cell encapsulation in tissue engineering.
- The study validates the use of microfluidics for generating tailored alginate microspheres for bioprinting.
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