Fluid flow in curvilinear microchannels for stem cell purification- understanding the deformability-induced lift force.

Oct24Wed

Fluid flow in curvilinear microchannels for stem cell purification- understanding the deformability-induced lift force.

Wed, 24/10/2018 - 14:30 to 15:30

Location:

Speaker: 
Ewa Guzniczak
Synopsis: 

Traditionally, fluid flow in microscale confined channels has been associated with a negligible inertia since fluid flow in microchannel occurs at low Reynold’s numbers (Re=ρUL/µ, a dimensionless parameter describing the ration between inertial and viscous forces). However previous work (Di Carlo 2009) has shown interesting useful physical phenomena occurring at commonly neglected intermediate flow regimes, namely secondary flow and inertial migration of particles. Both of them are determined by channel geometry, particle size and flow rate. The interplay between fluid flow pattern and particles, if fine-tuned, leads to particles ordering and separation, and the effect has been exploited in a range of applications. However, biological particles due to their deformable nature add complexity to the focusing mechanism and it is challenging to predict their behaviour.
The main goal of our research is to develop a label-free alternative to commonly used Fluorescent and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting for cell separation. Specifically, we exploit inertial focusing in curvilinear microchannels to purify manufactured red blood cells, which are the end-products of stem cell differentiation. Separation is based on their physical properties, namely size and deformability. Thus, we are also exploring how deformability-induced lift force affects and contribute to particles separation in the spiral microchannel.

Institute: