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Researchers’ opinion on flow control for microfluidics

Introduction

Researchers opinion about flow control in microfluidics - introductionOne of the greatest challenges for researchers using microfluidics is miniaturizing analysis processes in very small microchips. Whether it is named MEMS, lab on chip or microTAS, miniaturization presents several advantages in reducing the size of analysis processes: analysis is getting cheaper, faster and more efficient.

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Issues of having a suitable instrumentation

For on-chips applications, instrumentation for flow control is a key element, as assays’ performances mainly depend on the instruments used.

There are as many instruments available as there are applications. Since each instrument has specific strengths and weaknesses, researchers using microfluidics must be aware of all of the pros and cons of each instrument to pick the most suitable system for their applications. A hundred of researchers using on-chip microfluidics were interviewed about the microfluidics instruments they use, and their opinion about it.

Choice of technology for microfluidic flow control

The majority of researchers interviewed use syringe pumps technology for on-chip flow control. It is the most common device for flow control and the choice of using syringe pumps is mainly based on their habits and equipment of their lab.

microfluidic flow control - instruments used for microfluidics

(*)This study is based on the kind answers given by researchers using on-chip microfluidic instruments [1-36]

However, a significant portion of these researchers has also recently moved to pressure-driven flow for their on-chip application. Capillary and valves systems are valued for several reasons detailed in the next paragraph.

Vaccuums are systems used by researchers who want to control their experiments at the outlet of their channels[23], or researchers who intend to generate reverse flows.

Advantages & disadvantages of flow control instruments

1) Syringe pumps for flow control in microfluidics

A syringe pump is the most commonly used device for flow control. Inspired by medical devices, syringe pumps have been widely used for microfluidic applications. Most syringe pumps are based on a syringe driven by a motor and a rotary screw.

Advantages:

  • Easy to setup and control
  • Precise flow rate control at high flow rate
  • Wide commercial availability due to variety of providers
  • Good reproductivity of the assays

Disadvantages:

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2) Pressure controller for flow control in microfluidics

A pressure controller is an alternative to syringe pumps and is based on a simple concept. Reservoirs of fluids connected to the chip are pressurized, thanks to an on-air pressure controller. As fluids are incompressible, flow control is perfectly operated thanks to the pressure controller.

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

  • Using a pressure controller does not allow to know the flow rate (*)
  • Flow rate varies with fluidic resistance when controlling flow in pressure(*)

(*) this can be overcome with a pressure source including flow rate feedback loop (more information)

3) Microvalves for flow control in microfluidics

Micropumps are commonly based on valve systems. They usually result in a sequential opening and closing of various valves operated by a mechanical, pneumatical or electrokinetical system.

Advantages:

  • Low-cost and fast fabrication
  • Easy operation and maintenance
  • Little dead volume

Disadvantages:

  • Requires external hardware to control valve opening / closing sequences
  • Oscillating flow rate due to valve opening / closing sequences

4) Capillary for flow control in microfluidics

Capillary flow control does not require any external device. Thanks to their hydrophilic walls, microchannels of the chip spontaneously fill-up with liquids.

Advantages:

  • No need for any external pumping system
  • Useful to reduce the amount of external hardware
  • Little dead volume

Disadvantages:

  • Flow must already be preset
  • Lack of interactivity: it is almost impossible to change the flow rate
  1. Yu JQ et al., Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 2693-2700
  2. Chen Z et al., BioMed Research International, 2013, Article ID 543294
  3. Lim JM et al., Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 2013
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  12. Yu F et al., Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 1911-1918
  13. Buchanan CF et al., Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2013
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  17. Niman CS et al., Lab Chip, 2013,13, 2389-2396
  18. Ankrett DN et al., Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2013, 11:20
  19. Lee H et al., Integr. Biol., 2013,5, 372-380
  20. Shah P et al., Biomedical Microdevices, 2013
  21. Rasooly A et al., Methods in Molecular Biology, 451-471
  22. Arayanarakool A et al., Lab Chip, 2013,13, 1955-1962
  23. Oblath EA et al.,Lab Chip, 2013,13, 1325-1332
  24. Pegard NC et al., J. Biomed. Opt., 2013, 18 (4)
  25. Ibarlucea B et al., Analyst, 2013,138, 839-844
  26. Guldiken R et al., Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2013, vol. 196, 1-7
  27. Baker BM et al., Lab Chip, 2013,13, 3246-3252
  28. Guo J et al., Biomedical Engineering, 2013
  29. Phillips TM et al., ELECTROPHORESIS, 2013,34, 1530-1538
  30. Hitzbleck M et al., Micromachines, 2013, 4 (1)
  31. Huh D et al., Lab Chip, 2012,12, 2156-2164
  32. Esquivel JP et al.,
  33. Lab Chip, 2012,12, 74-79
  34. Mohan et al., Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2013, 49, 118–125
  35. Sagar DM et al., Scientific Reports, 2013, 2130
  36. Pamme N, Synthetic biology / Analytical techniques, 2012, 436-443
  37. De Haas TW et al., Lab Chip, 2013, 13(19):3832-9
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