Microfluidic micro-droplet chip
By optimizing the liquid phase flow channel structure of the microdroplet chip, designing multi-layer droplet formation paths and electrode sorting, the problems of impurity blockage and cross-contamination during the sorting process were solved, achieving higher sorting accuracy and purity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520297357.4
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing microdroplet chips are prone to reduced sorting accuracy and speed due to impurities clogging and droplet misflow during the sorting process, especially due to impurities that are difficult to remove during cell culture and droplet cross-contamination caused by small pressure differences.
By optimizing the liquid phase flow channel structure and designing a multi-layer droplet formation path, including a liquid injection module, a sorting module, and a sorting electrode module, multi-layer droplets are formed using the intersection point and throttling structure. Combined with the metal liquid phase flow channel and electrode sorting, the sorting effect is improved.
It effectively prevents the exchange of substances between droplets, improves the purity and sorting accuracy of the sorted droplets, reduces the possibility of cross-contamination, and achieves good sorting results.
Smart Images
Figure CN223901884U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of droplet microfluidics, and particularly relates to a microfluidic microdroplet chip. BACKGROUND
[0002] The microdroplet chip is developed on the basis of traditional single-phase microfluidic chip technology. Compared with the single-phase microfluidic system, it has multiple advantages, including less sample and reagent consumption, faster mixing speed, less cross-contamination and easy operation, due to its water / oil two-phase separation characteristics. Therefore, the microdroplet chip plays an important application value in many fields such as rapid high-throughput detection of pollutants, separation and cultivation of biological samples, and observation of chemical reaction progress.
[0003] The accuracy and speed of microdroplet sorting are key indicators for judging the performance of the microdroplet chip. However, there are many problems in the current microdroplet chip that lead to a decrease in sorting accuracy or sorting speed. For example, the micro channels of the microdroplet chip are blocked due to impurities in the liquid phase, which affects the speed of sorting droplets. The impurities are mainly cell secretions generated during cell culture, or serum deposition after a period of time. Such impurities are difficult to remove even after cell washing operation. In addition, the pressure difference between different flow channels of the sorting droplets is small, and those droplets without wrapped cells may flow into the flow channel of the droplet with wrapped cells, which also affects the accuracy of sorting.
[0004] In summary, how to provide a microdroplet chip that improves the sorting effect is a problem that needs to be solved by the current related technical field personnel. UTILITY MODEL CONTENT
[0005] In order to solve the problems of the prior art, the utility model provides a microfluidic microdroplet chip, which obtains a multi-layer structure droplet by optimizing the structure of the liquid phase flow channel, and improves the sorting effect.
[0006] The technical effects achieved by the utility model are realized by the following technical aspects:
[0007] In a first aspect, the utility model provides a microfluidic microdroplet chip, which comprises
[0008] The liquid injection module comprises a first liquid phase flow channel and a second liquid phase flow channel, the liquid injection module comprises two first liquid phase flow channels, and the first liquid phase flow channel is provided with a first liquid inlet for injecting a first liquid, and the second liquid phase flow channel is provided with a second liquid inlet for a second liquid;
[0009] The sorting module comprises a first sorting flow channel and a second sorting flow channel, and each of the first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel is connected with a first liquid outlet;
[0010] The main flow channel is connected with the liquid injection module and the sorting module at two ends, respectively; and
[0011] The sorting electrode module is arranged close to the sorting module, and the sorting electrode module comprises a metal liquid phase flow channel, which is communicated with a third liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet.
[0012] The main flow channel is provided with a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the second liquid phase flow channel, one of the first liquid phase flow channels and the main flow channel meet at the first intersection point, and the other first liquid phase flow channel meets the main flow channel at the second intersection point, and the first intersection point and the second intersection point are arranged in sequence along the direction of liquid flow.
[0013] Preferably, a throttling structure is further included, which is arranged between the first liquid phase flow channel and the first liquid inlet, and / or arranged between the second liquid phase flow channel and the second liquid inlet.
[0014] Preferably, the throttling structure is a protruding block.
[0015] Preferably, the first liquid phase flow channel is provided with a first bending section close to the first intersection point, and the first bending section has a zigzag structure.
[0016] Preferably, a communication structure is arranged between the first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel, the communication structure is close to the main flow channel, and the aperture of the communication structure is less than 15 μm.
[0017] Preferably, the first sorting flow channel and / or the second sorting flow channel is provided with a second bending section close to the first liquid outlet.
[0018] Preferably, the first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel can be divided into a first sorting part and a second sorting part, the extension direction of the first sorting part is parallel to the main flow channel, the second sorting part is bent from the first sorting part, the communication structure is arranged between two first sorting parts, and the second bending section is arranged in the second sorting part of the first sorting flow channel.
[0019] Preferably, the liquid injection module comprises at least two second liquid phase flow channels for injecting the same-phase liquid of different types of reagents.
[0020] Preferably, the sorting electrode module comprises at least two metal liquid phase flow channels, and the metal liquid phase flow channels are located on the same side of the main flow channel.
[0021] Preferably, the first liquid phase flow channel, the second liquid phase flow channel, the main flow channel, the first sorting flow channel, the second sorting flow channel and the metal liquid phase flow channel have a diameter ranging from 80 to 150 microns.
[0022] In summary, the utility model has at least the following advantages:
[0023] 1、The utility model provides a micro -fluidic micro liquid drop chip, obtains the liquid drop of multilayer structure through the optimization of liquid phase flow channel structure, and then improves the effect of sorting, specifically, the liquid injection module includes two first liquid phase flow channels and at least one second liquid phase flow channel, is equipped with first meeting point and second meeting point on the main flow channel, the second liquid phase flow channel, its first liquid phase flow channel and the main flow channel meet in the first meeting point, and the other first liquid phase flow channel meets in the second meeting point, and the first meeting point and the second meeting point are sequentially arranged along the direction of liquid phase flow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] Figure 1 It is the micro -fluidic micro liquid drop chip overall structure schematic view of the utility model embodiment 1.
[0025] Figure 2 It is the structure schematic view of the liquid injection module of the utility model embodiment 1.
[0026] Figure 3 It is the structure schematic view of the sorting module and sorting electrode module of the utility model embodiment 1.
[0027] Figure 4 It is the structure schematic view of the sorting module of the utility model embodiment 2.
[0028] Figure 5 It is the micro -fluidic micro liquid drop chip overall structure schematic view of the utility model embodiment 3.
[0029] Markings in the drawing:
[0030] 1, liquid injection module;111, first liquid phase flow channel;112, first liquid inlet;113, first bending section;121, second liquid phase flow channel;122, second liquid inlet;13, catheter;
[0031] 2, sorting module; 21, first sorting runner; 22, second sorting runner; 23, first liquid outlet; 24, throttling structure; 25, communication structure, 26, first sorting part; 27, second sorting part; 271, second bending section;
[0032] 3, main runner; 31, first intersection; 32, second intersection;
[0033] 4, sorting electrode module; 41, metal liquid phase runner; 42, third liquid inlet; 43, second liquid outlet;
[0034] 5, substrate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings. However, the present application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.
[0036] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed" to another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there can be an intervening element.
[0037] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the present application is used, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present application and simplifying the description, and therefore cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are only used to distinguish the description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application belongs. The terms used in the specification of the present application herein are only for the purpose of describing the specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application.
[0039] Example 1:
[0040] Please refer to the accompanying Figures 1 to 3The embodiment provides a microfluidic microdroplet chip, which comprises a liquid injection module 1, a sorting module 2, a main flow channel 3 and a sorting electrode module 4. The microfluidic microdroplet chip adjusts the moving path of the droplet by optimizing the structure among the liquid injection module 1, the sorting module 2 and the main flow channel 3, so as to improve the sorting effect of the droplet.
[0041] Specifically, the two ends of the main flow channel 3 are connected with the liquid injection module 1 and the sorting module 2 respectively. The liquid injection module 1 comprises two first liquid phase flow channels 111 and at least one second liquid phase flow channel 121. The first liquid phase flow channel 111 is connected with a first liquid inlet 112, and the second liquid phase flow channel 121 is connected with a second liquid inlet 122. The first liquid phase flow channel 111 is connected with the first liquid through the first liquid inlet 112, and the second liquid phase flow channel 121 is connected with the second liquid through the second liquid inlet 122.
[0042] The first liquid phase flow channel 111 and the second liquid phase flow channel 121 are connected and meet in the main flow channel 3. The main flow channel 3 is provided with a first meeting point 31 and a second meeting point 32. Specifically, the second liquid phase flow channel 121, one of the first liquid phase flow channels 111 and the main flow channel 3 meet at the first meeting point 31, and the other first liquid phase flow channel 111 meets the main flow channel 3 at the second meeting point 32. The first meeting point 31 and the second meeting point 32 are arranged in sequence along the direction of liquid flow, so that the droplets pass through the first meeting point 31 and the second meeting point 32 in sequence. In the embodiment, the first liquid is an oil phase liquid, and the second liquid is a water phase liquid mixed with cells. The liquids connected by the first liquid phase flow channel 111 and the second liquid phase flow channel 121 form water-in-oil (W / O) droplets at the first meeting point 31, and then the droplets pass through the second meeting point 32 to form water-in-oil-in-water (W / O / W) multi-layer structure droplets, and the cells are wrapped inside the droplets. The multi-layer structure can effectively prevent the exchange of substances between the internal water phase and the external water phase, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of cross contamination between the droplets, and further improving the purity of the droplets after sorting, so as to obtain good sorting effect. It can be understood that the above is not a limitation on the specific types of the first liquid and the second liquid. In actual work, the specific components of the first liquid and the second liquid can be selected as needed.
[0043] The liquid droplet moves along the main flow channel 3 to one end where the sorting module 2 is located. The sorting module 2 comprises a first sorting flow channel 21 and a second sorting flow channel 22, each of which is connected with a first liquid outlet 23, and a sorting electrode module 4 is arranged close to the sorting module 2. The sorting electrode module 4 comprises a metal liquid phase flow channel 41 which is connected with a third liquid inlet 42 and a second liquid outlet 43. The metal liquid phase flow channel 41 is connected to the liquid metal through the third liquid inlet 42, and the metal liquid phase flow channel 41 is connected with the positive and negative poles of an external power supply. When the metal liquid in the metal liquid phase flow channel 41 is electrified, the cells wrapped by the liquid droplet in the main flow channel 3 are charged to achieve sorting.
[0044] Among them, the liquid droplet wrapped with cells is charged, and the liquid droplet is attracted into the first sorting flow channel 21 by the electrified metal liquid phase flow channel 41, and the liquid droplet without successfully wrapping cells is not captured by the metal liquid phase flow channel due to insufficient charge and enters the second sorting flow channel 22.
[0045] In order to further improve the sorting effect, the microfluidic microdroplet chip further comprises a throttling structure 24. The throttling structure 24 is arranged between the first liquid phase flow channel 111 and the first liquid inlet 112, which can be understood as that the throttling structure 24 is arranged in the first liquid phase flow channel 111, or the liquid droplet passes through the first liquid inlet 112, the throttling structure 24 and the first liquid phase flow channel 111 in sequence. The throttling structure 24 increases the local resistance received by the liquid droplet during movement, so that the fluid droplet generates a pressure drop when passing through, blocks large impurities and allows cells to pass through. In addition, the throttling structure 24 can also be arranged between the second liquid phase flow channel 121 and the second liquid inlet 122.
[0046] Preferably, in the embodiment, the throttling structure 24 is a protrusion, and the shape of the protrusion is not specifically limited here, which can be a columnar or irregular solid structure.
[0047] In order to improve the sorting effect and promote the full and uniform mixing of different liquid phases, the first liquid phase flow channel 111 is provided with a first bending section 113 close to the first intersection point 31, and the first bending section 113 has a zigzag back-and-forth structure. In the embodiment, the first liquid phase flow channel 111 bifurcates from the first liquid inlet 112 to form two branches, and the two branches meet at the first intersection point 31. The two branches are each provided with a first bending section 113 close to the first intersection point 31.
[0048] Further, the liquid injection module 1 comprises at least two second liquid phase flow channels 121. The second liquid inlets 122 of different second liquid phase flow channels 121 can be connected to the same phase liquid containing different types of reagents, so as to meet different sorting requirements or improve the sorting effect. In this embodiment, the intersection of the two second liquid phase flow channels 121 is the end of the main flow channel 3. That is, the liquid phases in the two second liquid phase flow channels 121 meet at the end of the main flow channel 3, and then pass through the first intersection 31 and the second intersection 32 in turn to meet the liquid of different first liquid phase flow channels 111.
[0049] Embodiment 2
[0050] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the structure of the microfluidic microdroplet chip is further optimized based on embodiment 1. For the same parts, please refer to embodiment 1. The improvements are further described below.
[0051] Please refer to Figure 4 The first sorting flow channel 21 is provided with a second bending section 271 near the first liquid outlet 23. The second bending section 271 is a bending and turning structure, which is used to make the distribution of the flowing droplets more uniform, improve the stability of the droplets, and thus optimize the effect of sorting the droplets. In some embodiments, the second bending section 271 can also be provided at the second sorting flow channel 21.
[0052] In addition, a communication structure 25 can be additionally provided between the first sorting flow channel 21 and the second sorting flow channel 22. The communication structure 25 forms a pressure difference between the first sorting flow channel 21 and the second sorting flow channel 22, which is used for sorting cells. In this embodiment, the communication structure 25 is a hole communicating the first sorting flow channel 21 and the second sorting flow channel 22, and the communication structure 25 is close to the main flow channel 3. In order to improve the sorting effect, the pore size of the communication structure 25 is < 15 μm.
[0053] Further, the first sorting flow channel 21 and the second sorting flow channel 22 can be divided into first sorting parts 26 and second sorting parts 27. The liquid phase extension direction of the first sorting part 26 is parallel to the main flow channel 3, and the second sorting part 27 is bent from the first sorting part 26. The communication structure 25 is arranged between the first sorting parts 26, and the second bending section 271 is arranged in the second sorting part 27 of the first sorting flow channel 21.
[0054] Embodiment 3
[0055] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 2 is that the structure of the microfluidic microdroplet chip is further optimized based on embodiment 2. For the same parts, please refer to embodiment 1 or embodiment 2. The improvements are further described below.
[0056] In the embodiment, the sorting electrode module 4 comprises at least two metal liquid phase flow channels 41 located at the same side of the main flow channel 3. The metal liquid phase flow channels 41 located at the same side of the main flow channel 3 can generate a specific non-uniform electric field distribution, so as to make the liquid droplets move, rotate or deform in the expected direction, thereby optimizing the effect of sorting the liquid droplets.
[0057] In particular, in order to obtain a good sorting effect, the diameters of the first liquid phase flow channel 111, the second liquid phase flow channel 121, the main flow channel 3, the first sorting flow channel 21, the second sorting flow channel 22 and the metal liquid phase flow channel 41 preferably range from 80 to 150 μm.
[0058] Further, please refer to Figure 5 The microfluidic microdroplet chip comprises a substrate 5, and the liquid injection module 1, the sorting module 2, the main flow channel 3 and the sorting electrode module 4 are arranged on the substrate 5. In the embodiment, the substrate 5 is preferably a PDMS plate.
[0059] In addition, the first liquid inlet 112, the second liquid inlet 122, the third liquid inlet 42, the first liquid outlet 23 and the second liquid outlet 43 are respectively arranged on different conduits 13, and the conduits 13 are respectively communicated with different flow channels, so as to facilitate the flow guiding of the injected or collected liquid phase.
[0060] The above is only an example and description of the structure of the utility model, and the description is more specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that for ordinary skilled persons in the art, without departing from the concept of the utility model, a number of modifications and improvements can be made, and these obvious alternative forms all belong to the protection scope of the utility model.
Claims
1. A microfluidic microdroplet chip, characterized in that, Comprising a liquid injection module comprising a first liquid phase flow channel and a second liquid phase flow channel, the liquid injection module comprising two first liquid phase flow channels, and the first liquid phase flow channels being connected with a first liquid inlet for injecting a first liquid, and the second liquid phase flow channel being connected with a second liquid inlet for injecting a second liquid; a sorting module comprising a first sorting flow channel and a second sorting flow channel, and the first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel each being connected with a first liquid outlet; a main flow channel, two ends of which being connected with the liquid injection module and the sorting module, respectively; and a sorting electrode module, which is arranged close to the sorting module, and the sorting electrode module comprising a metal liquid phase flow channel, the metal liquid phase flow channel being connected with a third liquid inlet and a second liquid outlet; the main flow channel being provided with a first intersection point and a second intersection point, the second liquid phase flow channel, one of the first liquid phase flow channels and the main flow channel intersecting at the first intersection point, and the other of the first liquid phase flow channels and the main flow channel intersecting at the second intersection point, and the first intersection point and the second intersection point being arranged in sequence along the direction of liquid flow.
2. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising a throttling structure, which is arranged between the first liquid phase flow channel and the first liquid inlet, and / or between the second liquid phase flow channel and the second liquid inlet.
3. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 2, wherein, The throttling structure is a protrusion.
4. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The first liquid phase flow channel is provided with a first bending section close to the first intersection point, and the first bending section is in a zigzag back-and-forth structure.
5. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel are provided with a communication structure therebetween, the communication structure being close to the main flow channel, and the aperture of the communication structure being < 15 μm.
6. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The first sorting flow channel and / or the second sorting flow channel is provided with a second bending section close to the first liquid outlet.
7. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 6, wherein, The first sorting flow channel and the second sorting flow channel each can be divided into a first sorting part and a second sorting part, the extension direction of the first sorting part being parallel to the main flow channel, and the second sorting part being bent from the first sorting part, and the second bending section being arranged in the second sorting part of the first sorting flow channel.
8. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The liquid injection module comprises at least two second liquid phase flow channels for injecting the same-phase liquid of different types of reagents.
9. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The sorting electrode module comprises at least two metal liquid phase flow channels, and the metal liquid phase flow channels are located on the same side of the main flow channel.
10. The microfluidic microdroplet chip of claim 1, wherein, The diameters of the first liquid phase flow channel, the second liquid phase flow channel, the main flow channel, the first sorting flow channel, the second sorting flow channel and the metal liquid phase flow channel range from 80 to 150 μm.