Authors:
A. S. Moita
1
;
C. Caldeira
1
;
F. Jacinto
1
;
R. Lima
2
;
3
;
E. J. J. J. Vega
4
and
A. S. Moreira
1
Affiliations:
1
IN+ Center for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
;
2
Metrics, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
;
3
CEFT, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal, Portugal
;
4
Área de Mecánica de Fluidos, Dpto. de Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de los Materiales, Escuela de Ingenierias Industriales, Universidade de Extremadura, Campus Universitario, Av. de Elvas, s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain, Spain
Keyword(s):
Lab-on-a-chip, Droplet based Microfluidics, Clinical Diagnostics, Cell Deformability, Bioanalogue Fluid.
Abstract:
The present paper addresses the final tests (concerning the transport section) of a microfluidic device to be used in cancer diagnostics, based on the mechanical properties of the cells and particularly on deformability. Following the previous work, which established the materials to be used, according to the wetting properties and their influence on the dynamic response of the droplets (which are electrostatically actuated) this paper presents the final simulations to optimize the thickness and material of the dielectric coating, always as a function of the dynamic response of the droplets. Then, to avoid contamination issues, a number of analogue fluids are proposed, in a new approach, which are characterized and tested in the second part of the work. Regarding the characterization of these new fluids, preliminary results suggest a great potential of a surfactant solution to be used as an analogue. The addition of the surfactant results in the formation of semi-rigid particles with
a size distribution and deformation characteristics compatible with those of the biosamples to be studied. The surfactant solution also shows a swift response to electrostatic actuation.
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