Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows

Focusing of sample cells or particles to a single-particle stream in miniature flow cytometers is achieved using pressure-driven hydrodynamic focusing in microfluidic channels. Hydrodynamic focusing models predict the focused sample stream width in the low Reynolds number regime (Re 1) of the Navier...

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Main Authors: Panwar, Nishtha, Song, Peiyi, Tjin, Swee Chuan, Yong, Ken-Tye
Other Authors: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2020
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/139927
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Institution: Nanyang Technological University
Language: English
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spelling sg-ntu-dr.10356-1399272020-05-22T08:49:43Z Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows Panwar, Nishtha Song, Peiyi Tjin, Swee Chuan Yong, Ken-Tye School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering Hydrodynamic Focusing Sheath Flow Focusing of sample cells or particles to a single-particle stream in miniature flow cytometers is achieved using pressure-driven hydrodynamic focusing in microfluidic channels. Hydrodynamic focusing models predict the focused sample stream width in the low Reynolds number regime (Re 1) of the Navier-Stokes equations, wherein the viscous forces dominate the inertial forces. Nonetheless, operating in the viscous regime of the laminar microfluidic flow results in high relative focused stream width, and also limits the efficiency of microfluidic flow cytometers as sample throughput is low due to extremely low flow rates. Hence, to enhance the power of microfluidic cell focusing, study of the hydrodynamic focusing mechanism at high Re, and thus, the effect of inertial forces in sheath-assisted flows is required. This work presents a comparative analysis of sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in both the viscous and inertial regimes. Experimental results for pressure-driven hydrodynamic focusing inside microchannels in the higher Re (60 < Re < 130) laminar regime are presented along with particle trajectory simulations. Furthermore, we present a comparison of the focusing performance of sheath-assisted hydrodynamic focusing at lower and higher Re. These studies underline the conditions for single-particle focusing for a range of flow parameters and relative particle sizes, particularly for microfluidic flow cytometry. Such analyses constitute an essential aspect of engineering miniature flow cytometers or other cell manipulation techniques. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) 2020-05-22T08:49:42Z 2020-05-22T08:49:42Z 2018 Journal Article Panwar, N., Song, P., Tjin, S. C., & Yong, K.-T. (2018). Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 28, 105018-. doi:10.1088/1361-6439/aad493 0960-1317 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/139927 10.1088/1361-6439/aad493 2-s2.0-85052501217 28 en Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The definitive publisher authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6439/aad493
institution Nanyang Technological University
building NTU Library
country Singapore
collection DR-NTU
language English
topic Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
Hydrodynamic Focusing
Sheath Flow
spellingShingle Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
Hydrodynamic Focusing
Sheath Flow
Panwar, Nishtha
Song, Peiyi
Tjin, Swee Chuan
Yong, Ken-Tye
Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
description Focusing of sample cells or particles to a single-particle stream in miniature flow cytometers is achieved using pressure-driven hydrodynamic focusing in microfluidic channels. Hydrodynamic focusing models predict the focused sample stream width in the low Reynolds number regime (Re 1) of the Navier-Stokes equations, wherein the viscous forces dominate the inertial forces. Nonetheless, operating in the viscous regime of the laminar microfluidic flow results in high relative focused stream width, and also limits the efficiency of microfluidic flow cytometers as sample throughput is low due to extremely low flow rates. Hence, to enhance the power of microfluidic cell focusing, study of the hydrodynamic focusing mechanism at high Re, and thus, the effect of inertial forces in sheath-assisted flows is required. This work presents a comparative analysis of sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in both the viscous and inertial regimes. Experimental results for pressure-driven hydrodynamic focusing inside microchannels in the higher Re (60 < Re < 130) laminar regime are presented along with particle trajectory simulations. Furthermore, we present a comparison of the focusing performance of sheath-assisted hydrodynamic focusing at lower and higher Re. These studies underline the conditions for single-particle focusing for a range of flow parameters and relative particle sizes, particularly for microfluidic flow cytometry. Such analyses constitute an essential aspect of engineering miniature flow cytometers or other cell manipulation techniques.
author2 School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
author_facet School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Panwar, Nishtha
Song, Peiyi
Tjin, Swee Chuan
Yong, Ken-Tye
format Article
author Panwar, Nishtha
Song, Peiyi
Tjin, Swee Chuan
Yong, Ken-Tye
author_sort Panwar, Nishtha
title Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
title_short Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
title_full Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
title_fullStr Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
title_full_unstemmed Sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher Reynolds number flows
title_sort sheath-assisted hydrodynamic particle focusing in higher reynolds number flows
publishDate 2020
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/139927
_version_ 1681057978078199808