Microfluidic mixing structure and microfluidic chip

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of microfluidics, and discloses a microfluidic mixing structure, comprising a liquid inlet channel, a confluence channel, a mixing unit, a liquid outlet channel and a liquid outlet, wherein the mixing unit is arranged between the confluence channel and the liquid outlet channel, and the mixing unit is in communication with the liquid inlet channel through the confluence channel. The microfluidic mixing structure is provided with a confluence channel, a liquid inlet channel, a waist-shaped mixer and a mixing channel, different liquids flow into the confluence channel through the liquid inlet channel, and then flow into the waist-shaped mixer, each waist-shaped mixer is provided with an inlet and an outlet, so that the waist-shaped mixer is divided into two sections of channels, the liquid in the confluence channel is divided and then mixed through the waist-shaped mixer, the liquid flows into different areas of the waist-shaped mixer, and the cross-collision mixing effect is achieved in the process of the division and folding of the waist-shaped mixer, the mixing effect is good after repeated folding and stretching, the required flow channel length is short, the mixing time is shortened, and the synthesis efficiency is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of microfluidic technology, in particular to a microfluidic mixing structure and a microfluidic chip. BACKGROUND

[0002] Microfluidic mixing uses a microfluidic chip as an operating platform, and is based on micron-scale technology for processing and operating fluid in a small channel. Microfabrication technologies such as micro-flow channels and micro-valves are usually used to control the flow and mixing of liquid to achieve chemical and biological reactions. Common methods for mixing droplets include turbulent motion or molecular fusion. The main feature of turbulent mixing is that there are various scale turbulent vortices in the fluid, which mix different parts of the fluid together. The feature of turbulent mixing enables the fluid to be mixed quickly and efficiently.

[0003] The conditions for forming turbulence, such as high Reynolds number, high energy input, and large gradient, when scaled down to a microfluidic chip, the liquid flow is laminar due to volume constraints, and it is difficult to form corresponding turbulent effects. Therefore, most fluid mixing in micro-flow channels is completed by molecular fusion. However, the flow channel of the molecular fusion microfluid needs to be long enough for molecules to fuse in the flow channel. The overall microfluid flow channel is redundant and inefficient. SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present application provides a microfluidic mixing structure and a microfluidic chip, which solves the problems mentioned in the background.

[0005] The present application provides the following technical solution: a microfluidic mixing structure, comprising: an inlet channel, a merging channel, a mixing unit, an outlet channel, and an outlet port;

[0006] The mixing unit is arranged between the merging channel and the outlet channel, the mixing unit is in communication with the inlet channel through the merging channel, and the mixing unit is in communication with the outlet port through the outlet channel;

[0007] The mixing unit comprises at least one waist-shaped mixer, the waist-shaped mixer has an inlet, an outlet, and an annular flow channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, and any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers are in communication with each other through a mixing channel.

[0008] The cross section of the annular flow channel is a waist-round structure, and the inlet and the outlet of the waist-shaped mixer are arranged in mirror symmetry with the symmetry axis of the waist-round structure.

[0009] Preferably, the merging channel and the outlet channel are arranged in a straight line.

[0010] Preferably, the merging channel and the outlet channel are coaxially arranged.

[0011] Preferably, the liquid inlet channel comprises a first liquid inlet channel and a second liquid inlet channel, and the first liquid inlet channel and the second liquid inlet channel and the merging channel form a "Y" shaped channel.

[0012] Preferably, in any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers, the angle between the symmetry axis of the former waist-shaped mixer and the symmetry axis of the latter waist-shaped mixer is an offset angle, and the size of the offset angle is set according to the ratio of the liquid inlet amount of the first liquid inlet channel to the liquid inlet amount of the second liquid inlet channel.

[0013] Preferably, in any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers, the angle between the symmetry axis of the former waist-shaped mixer and the symmetry axis of the latter waist-shaped mixer is °.

[0014] Preferably, the mixing channel is linearly arranged along the length direction of the merging channel.

[0015] Preferably, the sizes of the merging channel, the liquid inlet channel, the liquid outlet channel and the annular flow channel are micron level.

[0016] Correspondingly, the application also provides a microfluidic chip comprising the microfluidic mixing structure as described above.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the application has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. The microfluidic mixing structure, by setting the merging channel, the liquid inlet channel, the waist-shaped mixer and the mixing channel, different liquids flow into the merging channel through the liquid inlet channel, are merged, and then flow into the waist-shaped mixer, each waist-shaped mixer is provided with an inlet and an outlet, so that the waist-shaped mixer is divided into two channel sections, the liquid in the merging channel is divided and then mixed through the waist-shaped mixer, the mixing effect is good in the process of division and folding of the liquid flowing into the waist-shaped mixer, the required flow channel length is short, the mixing time is shortened, and the synthesis efficiency is improved.

[0019] 2. The microfluidic mixing structure, the angle between the two adjacent waist-shaped mixers is 60°, the waist-shaped mixer is obliquely arranged, and the inlet and the outlet divide the waist-shaped mixer into two channel sections with different lengths, so that the length of the path through which the fluid enters the waist-shaped mixer is different, which forms different flow rates and flow amounts in the two channel sections, and improves the liquid mixing effect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic view of the application.

[0021] In the figure: 1, merging channel; 2, liquid inlet channel; 31, waist-shaped mixer; 32, mixing channel; 4, liquid outlet channel; 5, liquid outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0023] Please refer to Figure 1 , the micro-fluidic mixing structure comprises: an inlet channel 2, a merging channel 1, a mixing unit, an outlet channel 4 and an outlet 5.

[0024] The mixing unit is arranged between the merging channel 1 and the outlet channel 4, the mixing unit is in communication with the inlet channel 2 through the merging channel 1, and the mixing unit is in communication with the outlet 5 through the outlet channel 4.

[0025] The mixing unit comprises at least one waist-shaped mixer 31, the waist-shaped mixer 31 has an inlet, an outlet and an annular flow channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, and any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers 31 are in communication through a mixing channel 32.

[0026] The cross section of the annular flow channel is a waist-round structure, and the inlet and the outlet of the waist-shaped mixer 31 are mirror-symmetrically arranged with respect to the symmetry axis of the waist-round structure.

[0027] Specifically, each waist-shaped mixer 31 is provided with an inlet and an outlet, so that the annular flow channel of the waist-shaped mixer 31 is divided into two sections (i.e. two turning flow channels), and the liquid is divided at the inlet of the waist-shaped mixer 31 and converged at the outlet. Since the inlet and the outlet of the waist-shaped mixer 31 are not on the symmetry axis of the waist-round structure, but are mirror-symmetrically arranged with respect to the symmetry axis of the waist-round structure, the lengths of the two sections of the waist-shaped mixer 31 are different. Correspondingly, the flow rate and flow volume of the liquid in the two sections are also different.

[0028] The waist-shaped mixers 31 are arranged in a staggered manner in sequence, and the included angle between the symmetry axis of the first waist-shaped mixer 31 and the symmetry axis of the second waist-shaped mixer 31 in any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers 31 is an offset angle.

[0029] In the embodiment, each waist-shaped mixer 31 is arranged obliquely, the symmetry axis of the waist-shaped mixer 31 is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the length direction of the mixing channel 32, and the included angle (i.e. the offset angle) between the symmetry axis of the first waist-shaped mixer 31 and the symmetry axis of the second waist-shaped mixer 31 in any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers 31 is 60°.

[0030] In the embodiment, the liquid inlet channel 2 comprises a first liquid inlet channel and a second liquid inlet channel, and the first liquid inlet channel and the second liquid inlet channel and the converging channel 1 form a "Y" shaped channel. For example, the first liquid inlet channel is used to provide a nucleic acid mixture suspension, and the second liquid inlet channel is used to provide a liposome wrapping liquid.

[0031] Preferably, the size of the offset angle is set according to the ratio of the liquid inlet amount of the first liquid inlet channel to the second liquid inlet channel.

[0032] Please continue to refer to Figure 1 The converging channel 1 and the liquid outlet channel 4 are linearly arranged, and the converging channel 1 and the liquid outlet channel 4 are coaxially arranged, and the mixing channel 32 is linearly arranged along the length direction of the converging channel 1.

[0033] Further, the sizes of the converging channel 1, the liquid inlet channel 2, the liquid outlet channel 4 and the annular flow channel are microns.

[0034] Different liquids flow into the converging channel 1 through the liquid inlet channel 2, converge after multi-phase convergence, flow into the waist-shaped mixer 31, converge in the mixing channel 32 after being divided by the waist-shaped mixer 31, then flow into the next waist-shaped mixer 31, and then be divided and converged again, and the process is repeated, and finally flow out through the liquid outlet channel 4 to the liquid outlet 5.

[0035] After the liquid is divided in the waist-shaped mixer 31, it rotates along the side wall in the turning flow channel of the waist-shaped mixer 31. Since the liquid is not divided in equal proportions in the waist-shaped mixer 31, and the flow rate and flow volume in the two turning flow channels are different, good cross-collision mixing effect can be achieved during the converging process, multiple wrapping is formed through multiple division and convergence, the mixing effect of traditional long flow channel wrapping is achieved, the required flow channel length is short, the mixing time is short, and the synthesis efficiency is doubled.

[0036] The microfluidic mixing structure provided in the embodiment does not fold and turn, but can achieve fluid stretching and folding effect. The two-phase or multi-phase liquid formed by shearing through the waist-shaped mixer 31 is converged multiple times through multiple turns, and perfect wrapping or solidification is formed. Moreover, the microfluidic mixing structure is simple and orderly, and the offset angle of the waist-shaped mixer 31 can be modified according to the liquid inlet amount ratio when designing the flow channel, without changing other parameters, which improves the chip compatibility to a certain extent.

[0037] Compared with the mixer with a circular structure, the mixer with a waist-shaped structure (the waist-shaped mixer 31) reduces the bending amplitude of the channel, and the particles are less likely to be deformed, broken and fused when mixed, the generated droplet particle size is uniform, and the yield is high. In addition, the waist-shaped structure has relatively large volume and area, which not only can improve the yield and reliability of the waist-shaped structure itself, but also has a larger bonding area, is more convenient for bonding, and can further improve the reliability of chip bonding.

[0038] Correspondingly, the embodiment also provides a microfluidic chip, which comprises the microfluidic mixing structure as described above. For details, please refer to the foregoing description.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, replacements and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirits of the present application, and the scope of the present application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A microfluidic mixing structure, characterized by, The microfluidic mixing structure comprises: an inlet channel (2), a merging channel (1), a mixing unit, an outlet channel (4) and an outlet (5); the mixing unit is arranged between the merging channel (1) and the outlet channel (4), the mixing unit is in communication with the inlet channel (2) through the merging channel (1), and the mixing unit is in communication with the outlet (5) through the outlet channel (4); the mixing unit comprises at least one waist-shaped mixer (31), the waist-shaped mixer (31) has an inlet, an outlet and an annular flow channel connecting the inlet and the outlet, and any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers (31) are in communication with each other through a mixing channel (32); wherein the cross section of the annular flow channel is a waist-round structure, and the inlet and the outlet of the waist-shaped mixer (31) are arranged in mirror symmetry with the symmetry axis of the waist-round structure; in any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers (31), the angle between the symmetry axis of the first waist-shaped mixer (31) and the symmetry axis of the second waist-shaped mixer (31) is an offset angle, and the mixing channel (32) is arranged in a straight line along the length direction of the merging channel (1).

2. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 1, wherein, The merging channel (1) and the outlet channel (4) are arranged in a straight line.

3. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 2, wherein, The merging channel (1) and the outlet channel (4) are coaxially arranged.

4. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 2, wherein, The inlet channel (2) comprises a first inlet channel and a second inlet channel, and the first inlet channel, the second inlet channel and the merging channel (1) form a "Y" type channel.

5. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 4, wherein, The size of the offset angle is set according to the ratio of the inlet flow rate of the first inlet channel to the inlet flow rate of the second inlet channel.

6. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 1, wherein, In any two adjacent waist-shaped mixers (31), the angle between the symmetry axis of the first waist-shaped mixer (31) and the symmetry axis of the second waist-shaped mixer (31) is 60°.

7. The microfluidic mixing structure of claim 1, wherein, The sizes of the merging channel (1), the inlet channel (2), the outlet channel (4) and the annular flow channel are all in microns.

8. A microfluidic chip, characterized by The microfluidic mixing structure comprises: The microfluidic mixing structure comprises: The microfluidic mixing structure comprises:

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