Simulation and Design of a Cell-Based Digital Microfluidic Chip for Continuous Monitoring of Acute Toxic Chemicals

Abstract:

In this study, a lab-on-chip (LOC) system is designed for the cell sensors to provide a high-efficient continuous analysis platform of acute toxicants in water environment. The chip is composed of three domains, including counter-flow micromixers, a T-junction droplet generator and time delay channels (TD-Cs). Water sample and bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio Fischeri (VF) are imported into the micromixers before that the droplet generator encapsulates them inside aqueous droplets separated by air. Air flow is the disperse medium, which can guarantee sufficient oxygen supply for the cells in droplets. The system shows high reliability and stability through numerical and experimental investigations.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 336-338)
• Pages: 523-527
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.336-338.523
• Online since: July 2013
• Authors: Tao Dong*, Matteo Molino, Danilo Demarchi
• Keywords: Cell-Based Sensor, Digital Microfluidic, Micro-Mixer, Two-Phase Flow Simulation

References

[1] C. M. Waters and B. L. Bassler, "Quorum sensing: cell-to-cell communication in bacteria," Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, vol. 21, pp.319-46, 2005.

DOI: 10.1146/annurev.cellbio.21.012704.131001

[2] E. Vetrova, E. Esimbekova, N. Remmel, S. Kotova, N. Beloskov, V. Kratasyuk, and I. Gitelson, "A bioluminescent signal system: detection of chemical toxicants in water," Luminescence, vol. 22, pp.206-14, May-Jun 2007.

DOI: 10.1002/bio.951

[3] T. Ward, M. Faivre, M. Abkarian and H. A. Stone, "Microfluidic flow focusing: drop size and scaling in pressure versus flow-rate-driven pumping," Electrophoresis, vol. 26, pp.3716-24, 2005.

DOI: 10.1002/elps.200500173

[4] Tao Dong, Matteo M., Danilo Demarchi, "Cell-based Digital Microfluidic Chip for Drug Mixing and Droplets Generation: Design and Simulation," vol. The 5th IEEE International Conference on BioMedical Engineering and Informatics, ed. Chongqing, China: IEEE, 2012.

DOI: 10.1109/bmei.2012.6513008

[5] C. H. Choi, K. J. A. Westin, and K. S. Breuer, "Apparent slip flows in hydrophilic and hydrophobic microchannels," Physics of Fluids, vol. 15, pp.2897-2902, Oct 2003.

DOI: 10.1063/1.1605425

[6] T. Glawdel, C. Elbuken, and C. L. Ren, "Droplet formation in microfluidic T-junction generators operating in the transitional regime. I. Experimental observations," Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys, vol. 85, p.016322, Jan 2012.

DOI: 10.1103/physreve.85.016322

[7] A. S. Utada, A. Fernandez-Nieves, H. A. Stone, and D. A. Weitz, "Dripping to jetting transitions in coflowing liquid streams," Phys Rev Lett, vol. 99, p.094502, Aug 31 2007.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.99.094502