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Microfluidics application note

How to perform fast sample switch or a controlled medium switch inside a microfluidic device

How to perform an automated & fast sample switch

[TS-VCSC-Youtube content_youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1p48oMm2M”]

Fast sample or medium switch – Real time video

Changing the injected liquid inside a microfluidic device has numerous applications, such as sequential sample injection for biochemistry and flow chemistry, or medium switch for cell biology and 3D cell culture on chip. The easiest solution is to replace the liquid injected, but it is often not possible.

In addition to introduce bubbles in the experiment, this solution doesn’t allow a fast switch. In this application note, we will describe how to perform an automated and fast medium switch thanks to the OB1 MK3+ pressure controller and a MUX Distributor.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

Setup diagram

This following diagram and pictures shows the microfluidic setup used in this application note.

The reservoirs are connected to the OB1 Mk3, for the pressure control and also to the MUX distributor. The aim is to have all the liquids already plugged in to prevent any bubble during the experiment and obtain a fast medium switch.

The valve outlet is connected to the chip, this configuration allows to inject liquids sequentially. The use of a flow sensor is optional, but it allows to know in real time the injected volume for each liquid.

Sample or medium switch for flow chemistry microfluidics

You will find some pictures of the fluidic setup in the following gallery:

Sample switch for microfluidics setup 1

Sample switch for microfluidics setup 2

Protocol and results

The MUX distributor enables the ability to have a simple control of the fast sample switch or medium switch. You enter your different solutions inside the software and ask for which one to inject inside the chip. The rotative valve will select your medium in less than one second. If a flow sensor is used in the setup, the software automatically displays the volume of injected liquid for each sample.

Medium or sample switch on a microfluidic chip for biochemistry or flow chemistry

The fast sample switch can be done by hand but can also be automated thanks to the sequences programmer of the Elveflow software. This allows to obtain a better reproducibility and to plan long experiments. In the following video, a switch every 3 seconds between two liquids has been programmed. Note that no perturbation or air bubble have been introduced during the medium switches.

[TS-VCSC-Youtube content_youtube=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX1p48oMm2M”]

Medium swich with microfluidic flow controller sequence programming 3

Advantages for flow chemistry:

  • Excellent chemical compatibility with the wetted material
  • No dead volume
  • Compatible with all kind of microfluidic devices (micro mixers, micro reactors…)
  • Large range of flow rate: from 70 nL/min to 5 mL/min
  • Plug & Play and versatile system
  • Automated experiments
  • Also works for fraction collection
Want to run a similar experiment? Feel free to contact us at: contact@elveflow.com
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