Microfluidic Chip Pneumatic Valves Single Cell Cryopreservation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell cryopreservation technologies face limitations in efficiently and delicately handling single cells, particularly in the cryopreservation of human oocytes, due to inadequate cell capture structures and insufficient precision in liquid flow speed regulation, leading to risks of cell loss and suboptimal processing effects.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic chip and device with a switch-back single cell treating and retrieving channel, integrated pneumatic micro-valve group, and optical fiber sensing module, enabling precise control of reagent flow and cell handling, including cell loading, treatment, and retrieval with high precision and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual operation of cell cryopreservation is used, then operation flexibility is maintained, but cell loss risk increases and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip is divided into multiple functional modules including cell loading region, treating region, and retrieving region with dedicated channels for each function. This segmentation allows reliable cell capture and processing while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pneumatic micro-valves as intermediary control elements that automatically regulate liquid flow and cell movement. These intermediaries replace manual operations, ensuring reliable cell capture without requiring complex manual manipulation procedures.
2Productivity
If existing microfluidic chips are used for automatic cell freezing, then operation efficiency improves, but cell capture precision and liquid flow control precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cell capture structure features locally optimized properties with specific channel dimensions (e.g., 200-500 μm width) and micropillar arrangements tailored for precise cell capture. The treating region has customized reagent injection ports and flow control mechanisms that ensure high-precision cell treatment while maintaining overall processing efficiency.
3Reliability
If microfluidic chip without micro-valve system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but fluidic cut-off reliability becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic micro-valves that use气压 control to regulate liquid flow in microchannels. This pneumatic control system enables reliable fluidic cut-off and precise flow regulation without requiring complex mechanical valve structures, balancing reliability with manageable device complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If traditional cryopreservation methods are used, then simplicity is maintained, but processing precision and cell integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The microfluidic chip is pre-configured with optimized channel geometries, reagent storage regions, and flow control mechanisms that automatically execute precise cell treatment protocols. This preliminary design enables high-precision cell cryopreservation while simplifying operation, as users only need to load cells and initiate the automated process.
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
The solution ensures 100% capture rate of single cells while maintaining their integrity, enhancing the efficiency and precision of cell cryopreservation processes, and addressing the limitations of traditional manual operations and existing microfluidic chips.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber sensing module is used for monitoring the position of a single cell
Implementation Method 2
the pneumatic layer may comprise a pneumatic micro-valve group for controlling the opening and closing of each channel in the fluidic layer
Implementation Method 3
a microfluidic chip for physicochemically treating a single cell
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a microfluidic chip for physicochemically treating a single cell whose diameter is 50-400 micrometers. The body of the microfluidic chip comprises a fluidic layer, a pneumatic layer, and an elastic film sandwiched between the fluidic layer and the pneumatic layer; the fluidic layer comprises a switch-back single cell treating and retrieving channel, a first reagent inflow channel, a second reagent inflow channel, a reagent mixing channel, a third reagent inflow channel, a backwash channel, and a negative pressure and waste liquid sharing channel; the pneumatic layer comprises a pneumatic micro-valve group for controlling the opening and closing of each channel in the fluidic layer; the first reagent inflow channel and the second reagent inflow channel are separately connected with the inlet of the reagent mixing channel; the reagent mixing channel, the third reagent inflow channel, the backwash channel, and the negative pressure and waste liquid sharing channel are separately connected with the switch-back single cell treating and retrieving channel; and the third reagent inflow channel and the backwash channel are separately independent channels or share one channel. Also provided is a microfluidic device comprising the microfluidic chip and a method for physicochemically treating a single cell by using the microfluidic chip and the microfluidic device.