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Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength

Surface tension-driven flow is widely used, owing to its spontaneous motion, in microfluidic devices with single channel structures. However, when multiple channels are used, unwanted backflow often occurs. This prevents precise and sophisticated solution flow, but has been rarely characterized. We...

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Autores principales: Lee, Yonghun, Seder, Islam, Kim, Sung-Jin
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9062321/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35520946
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8ra09756a
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author Lee, Yonghun
Seder, Islam
Kim, Sung-Jin
author_facet Lee, Yonghun
Seder, Islam
Kim, Sung-Jin
author_sort Lee, Yonghun
collection PubMed
description Surface tension-driven flow is widely used, owing to its spontaneous motion, in microfluidic devices with single channel structures. However, when multiple channels are used, unwanted backflow often occurs. This prevents precise and sophisticated solution flow, but has been rarely characterized. We hypothesize that, with an analytical model, the parameters that influence backflow can be systematically characterized to minimize the backflow. In a microfluidic network, inlet menisci and channels are modeled as variable pressure sources and fluidic conductors, respectively. Through the model and experiment, the influence of each network element on the backflow strength is studied. Backflow strength is affected by the interplay of multiple inlet-channel elements. With the decrease (increase) of the fluidic channel conductance (inlet size), the backflow pressure of the corresponding inlet decreases. On the other hand, backflow volume reaches its peak value during the radius change of the corresponding inlet. In networks consisting of five inlet-channel elements, backflow pressure decreases with increasing step number. Our results provide the foundations for microfluidic networks driven by the Laplace pressure of inlet menisci.
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spelling pubmed-90623212022-05-04 Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength Lee, Yonghun Seder, Islam Kim, Sung-Jin RSC Adv Chemistry Surface tension-driven flow is widely used, owing to its spontaneous motion, in microfluidic devices with single channel structures. However, when multiple channels are used, unwanted backflow often occurs. This prevents precise and sophisticated solution flow, but has been rarely characterized. We hypothesize that, with an analytical model, the parameters that influence backflow can be systematically characterized to minimize the backflow. In a microfluidic network, inlet menisci and channels are modeled as variable pressure sources and fluidic conductors, respectively. Through the model and experiment, the influence of each network element on the backflow strength is studied. Backflow strength is affected by the interplay of multiple inlet-channel elements. With the decrease (increase) of the fluidic channel conductance (inlet size), the backflow pressure of the corresponding inlet decreases. On the other hand, backflow volume reaches its peak value during the radius change of the corresponding inlet. In networks consisting of five inlet-channel elements, backflow pressure decreases with increasing step number. Our results provide the foundations for microfluidic networks driven by the Laplace pressure of inlet menisci. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019-04-02 /pmc/articles/PMC9062321/ /pubmed/35520946 http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8ra09756a Text en This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
spellingShingle Chemistry
Lee, Yonghun
Seder, Islam
Kim, Sung-Jin
Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title_full Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title_fullStr Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title_full_unstemmed Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title_short Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
title_sort influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength
topic Chemistry
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9062321/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35520946
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8ra09756a
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