Continuous Size-Based Particle Separation Using Inertial Force and Deterministic Lateral Displacement.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Continuous, label-free particle separation is crucial for biochemical and biomedical applications.
• Existing methods often require external fields or labeling, limiting their applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microfluidic device integrating inertial focusing and deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) for size-based particle sorting.
• To achieve efficient and passive particle separation under laminar flow conditions.

Main Methods:

• A compact microfluidic channel architecture combining curved channels and micropillar-embedded curved channels.
• Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations to optimize channel geometry and micropillar arrangement.
• Experimental validation using distinct sizes of glass beads (8 μm and 15 μm).

Main Results:

• The device achieved size-based particle sorting with separation efficiency exceeding 93%.
• Performance was validated across various flow rates and particle concentrations.
• Predicted size-dependent lateral displacement driven by centrifugal forces and pillar constraints.

Conclusions:

• The developed microfluidic device provides a simple, cost-effective, and scalable solution for passive particle sorting.
• The design is adaptable for diverse applications, including extracellular vesicles and drug-delivery carriers.
• Enables label-free, continuous particle separation without external fields.