Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, P R China.
Lab Chip. 2011 Dec 7;11(23):4117-21. doi: 10.1039/c1lc20494g. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
In this paper, we demonstrate a new type of microfluidic chip that can realize continuous-flow purification of hydrogel beads from a carrier oil into aqueous solution by using a laminar-like oil/water interface. The microfluidic chip is composed by two functional components: (1) a flow-focusing bead generation module that can control size and shape of beads, (2) a bead extraction module capable of purifying hydrogel beads from oil into aqueous solution. This module is featured with large branch channels on one side and small ones on the opposite side. Water is continuously infused into the bead extraction module through the large branch channels, resulting in a laminar-like oil/water interface between the branch junctions. Simulation and experimental data show that the efficiency of oil depletion is determined by the relative flow rates between infused water and carrier oil. By using such a microfluidic device, viable cells (HCT116, colon cancer cell line) can be encapsulated in the hydrogel beads and purified into a cell culture media. Significantly improved cell viability was achieved compared to that observed by conventional bead purification approaches. This facile microfluidic chip could be a promising candidate for sample treatment in lab-on-a-chip applications.
在本文中，我们展示了一种新型的微流控芯片，它可以通过使用类层流的油/水界面，将水凝胶珠从载体油中连续流净化到水溶液中。微流控芯片由两个功能组件组成：（1）一个可以控制珠粒大小和形状的流聚焦珠粒生成模块；（2）一个能够将水凝胶珠从油中净化到水溶液中的珠粒提取模块。该模块的特点是一侧有大的分支通道，另一侧有小的分支通道。水通过大的分支通道不断地注入珠粒提取模块，在分支连接处形成类层流的油/水界面。模拟和实验数据表明，油的耗尽效率取决于注入水和载体油之间的相对流速。通过使用这种微流控装置，可以将活细胞（HCT116，结肠癌细胞系）包封在水凝胶珠中，并将其净化到细胞培养基中。与传统的珠粒净化方法相比，细胞的活力显著提高。这种简单的微流控芯片可能是微流控芯片应用中样品处理的一个有前途的候选者。
