Cook Sophie R, Lawrence Erin E, Sakinejad Parastoo, Pompano Rebecca R
Department of Chemistry, University of VA (UVA), VA, USA.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of VA (UVA), VA, USA.
HardwareX. 2025 Jul 4;23:e00673. doi: 10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00673. eCollection 2025 Sep.
Fluid flow is utilized in many microscale technologies, including microfluidic chemical reactors, diagnostics, and organs-on-chip (OOCs). In particular, OOCs may rely on fluid flow for nutrient delivery, cellular communication, and application of shear stress. In order for microscale flow systems to be readily adopted by non-experts, a tubing-free, user-friendly pump would be useful, particularly one that is simple to use, affordable, and compatible with cell culture incubators. To address these needs, here we share the design and fabrication of an impeller pump platform that provides recirculating fluid flow through a microfluidic loop without the need for tubing connections. Flow is driven by rotating a magnetic stir bar or 3D-printed impeller in a pump well, using magnets mounted on a DC motor. The DC motors used produce negligible heat output in a compact system, making it compatible with cell culture incubators. The pump platform accommodates user-defined microfluidic or OOC device geometries, which may be easily customized by 3D printing. Furthermore, the system is easily assembled from low-cost materials and simple circuitry by someone with no prior training. We demonstrate the ability of the platform to drive recirculating fluid flow in a microfluidic device at well-characterized flow velocities ranging from µm/s to mm/s for use with microfluidic technologies. Though designed with OOCs in mind, we envision that this platform will enable users from ranging disciplines to incorporate fluid flow in customized microscale technologies.
流体流动在许多微尺度技术中都有应用，包括微流控化学反应器、诊断技术和芯片器官（OOC）。特别是，芯片器官可能依赖流体流动来输送营养物质、进行细胞通讯以及施加剪切应力。为了使非专业人员能够轻松采用微尺度流动系统，一种无需管道、用户友好的泵将很有用，尤其是一种易于使用、价格实惠且与细胞培养箱兼容的泵。为了满足这些需求，在此我们分享一种叶轮泵平台的设计与制造，该平台可通过微流控回路提供循环流体流动，而无需管道连接。通过使用安装在直流电机上的磁铁在泵池中旋转磁搅拌棒或3D打印的叶轮来驱动流体流动。所使用的直流电机在紧凑系统中产生的热量输出可忽略不计，使其与细胞培养箱兼容。该泵平台可容纳用户定义的微流控或芯片器官设备几何形状，这些形状可通过3D打印轻松定制。此外，该系统由未经事先培训的人员使用低成本材料和简单电路即可轻松组装。我们展示了该平台在微流控设备中以从微米/秒到毫米/秒的特征流速驱动循环流体流动的能力，以用于微流控技术。尽管该平台的设计考虑了芯片器官，但我们设想它将使来自不同学科的用户能够在定制的微尺度技术中纳入流体流动。
