Microfluidic Sorting of Similar-Sized Particles via Size Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing macro-scale particle separation and concentration techniques are bulky, expensive, and inefficient for separating similarly sized particles, such as blood platelets from bacterial cells, due to the lack of effective size-dependent microfluidic forces.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming particle clusters by binding biological particles with specific binding moieties, amplifying their size, and using size-dependent forces in a microfluidic device to separate these clusters from smaller particles, leveraging inertial lift and deterministic lateral displacement forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If macro-scale particle separation techniques are used, then particles can be separated and concentrated, but the systems become large, bulky, and expensive with complex moving components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the particle separation process into two distinct stages: first, particle complexing where binding moieties aggregate particles into clusters of desired size; second, microfluidic sorting where the sorted clusters are released. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, with the microfluidic device only handling the sorting function rather than the entire separation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces binding moieties as intermediary agents that mediate between particles and the microfluidic sorting device. These binding moieties temporarily attach to particles, forming clusters that are then sorted by size in the microfluidic device, and finally released to deliver the sorted particles. This intermediary approach enables size-based sorting without requiring complex mechanical components.
2Device complexity
If micro-scale techniques are used for particle sorting, then unique hydrodynamic effects can be exploited and system size is reduced, but the ability to separate similarly sized particles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming particle clusters before they enter the microfluidic sorting device. By pre-aggregating particles of interest into clusters of a specific size range, the system prepares the particles in advance for effective separation. This preliminary complexing step ensures that when the clusters enter the microfluidic device, their enlarged size enables clear differentiation from smaller particles, achieving high-resolution sorting without requiring complex device architecture.
3Measurement precision
If binding moieties are used to form particle clusters, then particle size is amplified for better separation, but additional reagents are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by designing the binding moieties to be temporarily associated with particles during the sorting process, then deliberately released or discarded after sorting is complete. The binding moieties are not permanently attached to the final product, allowing them to be washed away or degraded, thereby minimizing their impact on the purified particle population and reducing reagent carryover.
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 effectively separates and concentrates particles of similar sizes by forming clusters that can be efficiently sorted and filtered in a microfluidic device, reducing reagent costs and eliminating the need for complex moving components.
Implementation Method 1
The complexing involves forming one or more particle clusters using at least one binding moiety to bind the particular biological particles to one or more biological particles of similar size
Implementation Method 2
the particle cluster experiences a size-dependent force within the particle sorting region that is sufficient to maintain the particle cluster within the first fluid stream and away from the second fluid stream
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of using particle size amplification to facilitate size-based particle separation and concentration. At least one of the methods includes introducing a plurality of binding moieties into a fluid sample; allowing at least one of the binding moieties to bind two or more biological particles to form a particle cluster, in which the particle cluster includes a first type of biological particle bound to a second different type of biological particle; and flowing the fluid sample including the particle cluster into a particle sorting region of a microfluidic device.