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Updated: May 26, 2026
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A Microfluidic Chip for the Versatile Chemical Analysis of Single Cells
Published on: October 15, 2013
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Computational and experimental microfluidics: Total analysis system for mixing, sorting, and concentrating particles
David Coral1, Matthew Attard1, Eric Pedrol2
1University Rovira i Virgili (URV), Physics and Crystallography of Materials (FiCMA), Marcel⋅lí Domingo 1, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
APL Bioengineering
|April 18, 2024
Summary
This study developed a microfluidic system for analyzing body fluids to detect cancer cells. The system successfully separates particles by size, aiding in cancer detection and monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microfluidics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Body fluids offer potential biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer detection.
- Microfluidics enables microscopic fluid analysis, crucial for developing advanced diagnostic tools.
- Early cancer detection and treatment monitoring are critical areas in healthcare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidic total analysis system for mixing, classifying, concentrating, and isolating particles mimicking cancer and normal cells.
- To optimize the system's performance using COMSOL Multiphysics software for specific fluid inputs.
- To validate the numerical models through experimental testing and apply the system to biological samples.
Main Methods:
- Development of an integrated microfluidic system with interconnected structures for particle manipulation.
- Optimization of pressure inputs for water, serum, and mixed samples using COMSOL Multiphysics.
- Experimental validation using polystyrene particles (5 and 20 µm) and observation of red blood cell behavior.
- Application of Dean flow fractionation for particle size classification and environmental scanning electron microscopy for size analysis.
Main Results:
- Optimized pressure inputs determined for water (35 kPa), serum (35 kPa), and mixed samples (29.4 kPa).
- Successful validation of numerical models with experimental data for particle separation.
- Demonstrated capability for fluid mixing, particle size classification, and recovery of labeled particles.
- Achieved complete size separation of 20 µm particles from smaller ones, confirmed by electron microscopy.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic system effectively mixes, classifies, and isolates particles based on size.
- The system shows promise for applications in cancer cell detection and monitoring treatment effectiveness.
- This technology advances microfluidic applications in biological fluid analysis and diagnostics.
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