A self-convection conical microchannel and its design method

Abstract

This invention discloses a self-contained conical microchannel and its design method. The microchannel includes a conical channel with a biomimetic fishtail structure and a biomimetic spider silk structure on its surface. The biomimetic fishtail structure is a fishtail-shaped groove formed by bending the base of a triangle with a consistent orientation inward. The biomimetic spider silk structure is a spider silk-shaped groove composed of hemispherical and conical channels. Multiple biomimetic fishtail structures are arranged in an array, and multiple biomimetic spider silk structures are arranged in an array, alternating between the fishtail and spider silk arrays. This invention combines the biomimetic fishtail and spider silk structures on the surface of the conical channel. The fishtail structure enables self-collection of liquid within the conical microchannel, while the spider silk structure enables rapid self-transportation of liquid. This technology can be applied to micro-drug delivery without external force, microfluidic devices, and friction interfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a microchannel structure and its design method, and more particularly to a self-contained conical microchannel and its design method. Background Technology

[0002] In the medical field, microchannel self-delivery technology can be used for rapid, inexpensive, and highly sensitive medical testing, such as blood analysis, cell counting, DNA sequencing, and other biochemical analyses. It can also be used for unassisted micro-drug delivery. In environmental monitoring, microchannel self-delivery technology can be used to create miniaturized sensors for detecting water quality, air quality, and soil pollutants. In cell culture and tissue engineering, microchannel self-delivery technology enables microfluidics, providing cells with a precisely controlled growth environment, thus enabling targeted cell culture and tissue engineering. These applications are just a part of the potential applications of microchannel self-delivery technology. With technological advancements and innovations, even more application areas are expected to emerge.

[0003] Patent 202010972731.8 discloses a stretchable microfluidic system based on a biomimetic liquid interface, its preparation method, and its application. It constructs stretchable microchannels of the required size and shape, and then builds micro / nano structures or performs molecular modifications on the inner surface of these microchannels to form the stretchable microfluidic system based on a biomimetic liquid interface. Patent 202010807083.0 discloses a biomimetic blade integrating water absorption, self-transportation, and permeation, comprising an adsorption and self-transportation layer, a substrate, a permeation layer, and a petiole; it can adsorb water mist from the air, self-transport it to a certain area, and permeate it internally for easy storage. Patent 202211392004.X discloses a design method for a complex curved surface space cooling channel based on a spiderweb biomimetic structure. This scheme extracts the main geometric features of the spiderweb biomimetic structure based on the characteristics of the complex curved surface space structure to achieve the design of the internal cooling channel of the curved space.

[0004] However, current self-contained microchannel design methods are relatively limited and fail to achieve comprehensive design by combining multiple biomimetic structures and simultaneously optimizing channel geometry. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Purpose of the invention: The purpose of this invention is to provide a self-contained conical microchannel that enables rapid collection and transport of liquids;

[0006] A second objective of this invention is to provide a design method for the aforementioned self-contained conical microchannel.

[0007] Technical solution: The self-contained conical microchannel of the present invention includes a conical channel, the surface of which is provided with a biomimetic fish tail structure and a biomimetic spider silk structure; the biomimetic fish tail structure is a fish tail-shaped groove structure formed by bending the base of a triangle with the same orientation inward; the biomimetic spider silk structure is a spider silk-shaped groove structure composed of a hemispherical and a conical channel; multiple biomimetic fish tail structures are arranged at intervals to form a biomimetic fish tail structure array, and multiple biomimetic spider silk structures are arranged at intervals to form a biomimetic spider silk structure array, with the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array arranged alternately.

[0008] Among them, the bionic fish tail structures in the bionic fish tail structure array all face the same direction, and the bionic spider silk structures in the bionic spider silk structure array all face the same direction.

[0009] The biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array are both arranged along the length direction of the conical channel, and the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array are arranged alternately along the width direction of the conical channel.

[0010] The cone-shaped channel features biomimetic fish tail and spider silk structures on all three sides.

[0011] The cone angle θ of the tapered channel is 5°-30°.

[0012] The hemispherical radius R of the biomimetic spider silk structure is 10-100 μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel is 10°-40°, and the spacing L1 between the bi-directionally arranged elements in the biomimetic spider silk structure array is 10-50 μm.

[0013] The included angle θ2 of the biomimetic fish tail structure is 60°-80°, the included angle θ3 is 15°-45°, the width L2 is 20-200μm, the depth L4 of the fish tail-shaped groove structure is 20-100μm, and the spacing L3 of the biomimetic fish tail structure array is 10-50μm.

[0014] The above-mentioned design method for self-contained conical microchannels includes the following steps:

[0015] (1) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel were set to atmospheric pressure. The length of the conical channel, the diameter of the small end of the conical channel, and the solid-liquid interface contact angle were set. The fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction were analyzed during the movement of droplets along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array in the conical channel.

[0016] (2) The dimensionless energy analytical equation for the droplet in the conical channel is established as U = κ. 2(S1+S2-cosψS3); where S1 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the small end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S2 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the larger end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S3 represents the solid-liquid interface surface area of ​​the droplet within the conical channel, in mm. 2 ψ is the solid-liquid interface contact angle, in degrees; κ is the capillary length. γ is the liquid-gas interfacial tension, in mN / m;

[0017] (3) Establish the driving force equation for the droplet motion process as follows: U is the dimensionless energy of the droplet, and X is the dimensionless displacement. The driving force of the droplet motion process is solved, and the cone angle θ of the conical channel is optimized to be 5°-30° with the goal of maximizing the driving force. The hemispherical radius R of the biomimetic spider silk structure is 10-100μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel is 10°-40°, and the spacing L1 is 10-50μm.

[0018] (4) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel were set to atmospheric pressure. The length of the conical channel, the cone angle of the conical channel, and the solid-liquid contact angle were set to constant values.

[0019] (5) Based on the fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction during the movement of droplets along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and biomimetic spider silk structure array in the conical channel, establish the analytical equation of the driving force inside the microtexture;

[0020] (6) Solve for the driving force of the droplet motion process, and optimize the parameters of the biomimetic fish tail structure with the goal of maximizing the droplet flow speed.

[0021] Among them, the cone angle θ of the conical channel is 5°-30°; the hemispherical radius R of the biomimetic spider silk structure is 10-100μm; the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel is 10°-40°; and the spacing L1 between multiple biomimetic spider silk structures is 10-50μm.

[0022] Among them, the included angle θ2 of the biomimetic fish tail structure is 60°-80°, the included angle θ3 is 15°-45°, the width L2 is 20-200μm, the depth L4 of the fish tail-shaped groove structure is 20-100μm, and the spacing L3 between multiple biomimetic fish tail structures is 10-50μm.

[0023] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the present invention achieves the following significant effects: (1) The conical channel surface of the present invention combines the biomimetic fish tail structure and the biomimetic spider silk structure. The biomimetic fish tail structure can realize the self-collection of liquid in the conical microchannel, and the biomimetic spider silk structure can realize the rapid self-transport of liquid; (2) The design method of the present invention can optimize the cone angle of the conical channel, the angle of the biomimetic fish tail structure and the angle of the biomimetic spider silk structure θ*. Optimizing the included angles θ2 and θ3 can realize the rapid self-collection of liquid, and optimizing the cone angles θ and θ1 can realize the rapid self-transport of liquid, thereby achieving the maximum efficiency of liquid self-transport; (3) The conical channel designed by this method can be applied to micro-drug transport without external force, microfluidic devices, friction interfaces, etc. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the self-contained conical microchannel of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the conical channel of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the alternating array of biomimetic fish tail structures and biomimetic spider silk structures of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will now be described in further detail.

[0028] Example 1

[0029] like Figure 1-3 As shown, this invention provides a self-contained conical microchannel, including a conical channel 1. Each of the three surfaces of the conical channel 1 is provided with a biomimetic fishtail structure 2 and a biomimetic spider silk structure 3. The biomimetic fishtail structure 2 is a fishtail-shaped groove structure formed by bending the base of a triangle inwards. The biomimetic spider silk structure 3 is a spider silk-shaped groove structure composed of a hemispherical shape 31 and a conical channel 32. Multiple biomimetic fishtail structures 2 are arranged in a consistent orientation and spaced apart along the length of the conical channel to form a biomimetic fishtail structure array; multiple biomimetic spider silk structures 3 are arranged in a consistent orientation and spaced apart along the length of the conical channel to form a biomimetic spider silk structure array; both the biomimetic fishtail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array are arranged along the length of the three surfaces of the conical channel 1, and the biomimetic fishtail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array are alternately arranged on the three surfaces along the width of the conical channel 1.

[0030] In this embodiment, the cone angle θ of the conical channel 1 is 5°, the radius R of the hemispherical 31 of the biomimetic spider silk structure 3 is 10μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel 32 is 15°, the spacing L1 between two adjacent biomimetic spider silk structures 3 in the biomimetic spider silk structure array is 10μm; the included angle θ2 of the biomimetic fish tail structure 2 is 60°, the included angle θ3 is 15°, the width L2 is 20μm, the depth L4 of the fish tail-shaped groove structure is 20μm, and the spacing L3 between two adjacent biomimetic fish tail structures 2 in the biomimetic fish tail structure array is 10μm.

[0031] The specific steps of the above-mentioned design method for self-contained conical microchannels are as follows:

[0032] (1) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel 1 were set to atmospheric pressure. The length of the conical channel 1, the diameter of the small end of the conical channel 1, and the solid-liquid contact angle were set. The fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction of the droplet in the conical channel 1 during its movement along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array were analyzed. The dimensionless energy analytical equation of the droplet in the conical channel was established as U=κ2(S1+S2-cosψS3); where S1 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the small end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S2 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the larger end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S3 represents the solid-liquid interface surface area of ​​the droplet within the conical channel, in mm. 2 ψ is the solid-liquid interface contact angle, in degrees; κ is the capillary length. γ is the liquid-gas interfacial tension, unit: mN / m; the driving force equation for the droplet motion process is established as follows: U is the dimensionless energy of the droplet, and X is the dimensionless displacement. Solve for the driving force of the droplet motion process, with the goal of maximizing the driving force, and optimize the cone angle θ of the conical channel 1 to 5°; the radius R of the hemispherical 31 of the biomimetic spider silk structure 3 is 10μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel 32 is 15°, and the spacing L1 is 10μm.

[0033] (2) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel 1 were set to atmospheric pressure. The length, cone angle, and solid-liquid contact angle of the conical channel 1 were set to constant values. The fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction were analyzed during the movement of droplets along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array in the microchannel. The analytical equation of the driving force inside the microtexture was established. The driving force of the droplet movement process was solved. With the goal of maximizing the droplet flow speed, the biomimetic fish tail structure 2 was optimized to have an included angle θ2 of 60°, an included angle θ3 of 15°, a width L2 of 20μm, a depth L4 of 20μm, and a spacing L3 of 10μm.

[0034] Example 2

[0035] Based on Example 1, the difference from Example 1 is that the cone angle θ of the self-conveying conical microchannel 1 in this example is 30°, the radius R of the hemispherical 31 of the biomimetic spider silk structure 3 is 100μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel 32 is 40°, and the spacing L1 is 50μm; the included angle θ2 of the biomimetic fish tail structure 2 is 80°, the included angle θ3 is 45°, the width L2 is 200μm, the depth L4 is 100μm, and the spacing L3 is 50μm.

[0036] The specific steps of the above-mentioned design method for self-contained conical microchannels are as follows:

[0037] (1) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel 1 were set to atmospheric pressure. The length of the conical channel 1, the diameter of the small end of the conical channel 1, and the solid-liquid contact angle were set. The fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction were analyzed during the movement of droplets along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array in the microchannel. The dimensionless energy analytical equation of the droplets in the conical channel was established as U=κ. 2 (S1+S2-cosψS3); where S1 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the small end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S2 is the surface area of ​​the liquid-gas interface near the larger end of the conical channel, in mm. 2 S3 represents the solid-liquid interface surface area of ​​the droplet within the conical channel, in mm. 2 ψ is the solid-liquid interface contact angle, in degrees; κ is the capillary length. γ is the liquid-gas interfacial tension, unit: mN / m; the driving force equation for the droplet motion process is established as follows: U is the dimensionless energy of the droplet, and X is the dimensionless displacement. Solve for the driving force of the droplet motion process, with the goal of maximizing the driving force. Optimize the cone angle θ of the conical channel 1 to 30°. The radius R of the hemispherical 31 of the biomimetic spider silk structure 3 is 100μm, the cone angle θ1 of the conical channel 32 is 40°, and the spacing L1 is 50μm.

[0038] (2) A microchannel self-transport simulation model was established based on COMSOL simulation software. Both ends of the conical channel 1 were set to atmospheric pressure. The length, cone angle, and solid-liquid contact angle of the conical channel 1 were set to constant values. The fluid velocity distribution cloud map, air and droplet volume distribution cloud map, and droplet transport direction were analyzed during the movement of droplets along the biomimetic fish tail structure array and the biomimetic spider silk structure array in the microchannel. The analytical equation of the driving force inside the microtexture was established. The driving force of the droplet movement process was solved. With the goal of maximizing the droplet flow speed, the angle θ2 of the biomimetic fish tail structure 2 was optimized to be 80°, the angle θ3 to be 45°, the width L2 to be 200μm, the depth L4 to be 100μm, and the spacing L3 to be 50μm.

Claims

1. A self-transporting tapered microchannel comprising a tapered channel (1), characterized in that, The conical channel (1) is provided with a bionic fish tail structure (2) and a bionic spider silk structure (3); the bionic fish tail structure (2) is a fish tail type groove structure formed by inwardly bending the bottom edge of a triangle; the bionic spider silk structure (3) is a bionic spider silk type groove structure composed of a hemispherical structure (31) and a conical channel (32); a plurality of bionic fish tail structures (2) are arranged in a bionic fish tail structure array, and a plurality of bionic spider silk structures (3) are arranged in a bionic spider silk structure array; the bionic fish tail structure array and the bionic spider silk structure array are alternately arranged. The bionic fish tail structures (2) in the bionic fish tail structure array are consistent in direction, and the bionic spider silk structures (3) in the bionic spider silk structure array are consistent in direction; the bionic fish tail structure array and the bionic spider silk structure array are arranged along the length direction of the conical channel (1), and the bionic fish tail structure array and the bionic spider silk structure array are alternately arranged along the width direction of the conical channel (1).

2. The self-transporting tapered microchannel of claim 1, wherein, The three faces of the conical channel (1) are provided with the bionic fish tail structure (2) and the bionic spider silk structure (3).

3. The self-transporting tapered microchannel of claim 1, wherein, The taper angle θ of the conical channel (1) is 5°-30°; the radius R of the hemispherical structure (31) of the bionic spider silk structure (3) is 10-100 μm, the taper angle θ1 of the conical channel (32) is 10°-40°, and the interval arrangement spacing L1 is 10-50 μm; the included angle θ2 of the bionic fish tail structure (2) is 60°-80°, the included angle θ3 is 15°-45°, the width L2 is 20-200 μm, the depth L4 is 20-100 μm, and the interval arrangement spacing L3 is 10-50 μm.

4. The method of designing a self-transporting tapered microchannel of claim 1, wherein, The following steps are included: (A) A microchannel self-transport simulation model is established based on COMSOL simulation software, both ends of the conical channel (1) are set to atmospheric pressure, the length of the conical channel (1), the small end diameter of the conical channel (1), and the solid-liquid interface contact angle are set, and the fluid velocity distribution cloud picture, the air and droplet volume distribution cloud picture, and the droplet transport direction during the movement of the droplet in the conical channel (1) along the bionic fish tail structure (2) array and the bionic spider silk structure (3) array are analyzed; (B) The non-dimensional energy analytical equation of the droplet in the tapered channel (1) is ; wherein S1 is the liquid-gas interface surface area of the droplet close to the small end of the tapered channel (1), the unit is mm2; S2 is the liquid-gas interface surface area of the droplet close to the large end of the tapered channel (1), the unit is mm2; S3 is the solid-liquid interface surface area of the droplet in the tapered channel (1), the unit is mm2; ψ is the solid-liquid interface contact angle, the unit is degree; κ is the capillary length , and γ is the liquid-gas interface tension, the unit is mN / m; (C) the driving force equation of the droplet movement process is F = U X , U is the dimensionless energy of the droplet, and X is the dimensionless displacement; the driving force of the droplet movement process is solved, the conical angle θ of the conical channel (1) is 5°-30°, the radius R of the hemispherical structure (31) of the bionic spider silk structure (3) is 10-100 μm, the conical angle θ1 of the conical channel (32) is 10°-40°, and the spacing L1 is 10-50 μm; (D) A microchannel self-transport simulation model is established based on COMSOL simulation software, both ends of the conical channel (1) are set to atmospheric pressure, the length of the conical channel (1), the taper angle of the conical channel (1), and the solid-liquid contact angle are set as constants; (E) Based on the fluid velocity distribution cloud picture, the air and droplet volume distribution cloud picture, and the droplet transport direction during the movement of the droplet in the conical channel (1) along the bionic fish tail structure array and the bionic spider silk structure array, an internal driving force analysis equation of the microstructure is established; (F) The driving force during the movement of the droplet is solved, and the parameters of the bionic fish tail structure (2) are optimized to obtain the fastest droplet flow speed.

5. The method of designing a self-transporting tapered microchannel of claim 4, wherein, The taper angle theta of the taper channel (1) is 5-30 degrees; the radius R of the hemisphere (31) of the bionic spider silk structure (3) is 10-100 microns, the taper angle theta1 of the conical channel (32) is 10-40 degrees, and the interval L1 is 10-50 microns; the included angle theta2 of the bionic fish tail structure (2) is 60-80 degrees, the included angle theta3 is 15-45 degrees, the width L2 is 20-200 microns, the groove depth L4 is 20-100 microns, and the interval L3 is 10-50 microns.

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