Upstream Downstream Microfluidic Cell Capture Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic devices face challenges in efficiently capturing target cells from biological samples, particularly when the samples contain contaminating particles and target cells at low concentrations, leading to clogging and interference with analysis.
Innovation Solution
The use of a system comprising an upstream and a downstream microfluidic device, where the upstream device enriches target cells by separating them from contaminating particles, and once a sufficient number is captured, a reverse fluid flow is used to transfer the target cells to the downstream device for further analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single microfluidic device is used for cell capture, then the device structure is simple, but the capture efficiency is low and contaminating particles interfere with analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate microfluidic devices: an upstream device dedicated to capturing target cells from the biological sample, and a downstream device dedicated to analyzing the captured cells. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall capture efficiency and analysis quality while avoiding the interference caused by contaminating particles in a single-device system.
2Loss of time
If target cells are captured directly from a biological sample containing contaminating particles, then the analysis can proceed quickly, but contaminating particles outcompete target cells during capture and interfere with analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The upstream microfluidic device extracts and isolates target cells from the biological sample containing contaminating particles. By separating the capture function from the analysis function into two distinct devices, the system removes contaminating particles before analysis, ensuring high reliability and accuracy of the results without significant time loss.
3Speed
If the flow rate is maintained high during cell capture, then the capture process is fast, but target cells cannot be properly retained in the cell channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic flow rate adjustments: initially maintaining a higher flow rate to quickly pass the biological sample through the upstream device and capture target cells, then reducing the flow rate to a lower level to properly retain captured cells in the cell channels. This periodic action optimizes both capture speed and retention precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient enrichment and capture of target cells, reducing interference from contaminating particles and allowing for effective characterization of target cells, even when they are present at low concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
a reverse fluid flow is used to transfer the target cells to the downstream device
Data Source
AI summary
A capturing of target cells from a biological sample is achieved by inducing a flow of the biological sample in a flow channel (30, 60) of an upstream microfluidic device (1). Target cells present in the biological sample are captured in cell channels (20) of the upstream microfluidic device (1). Once at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in the cell channels (20), the flow of the biological sample in the flow channel is reduced and are verse flow is applied at the upstream microfluidic device (1) to release the target cells captured in the cell channels (20) of the upstream microfluidic device (1) and enable transfer the target cells into cell channels (120) of a downstream microfluidic device (100).