• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2009

This study presents a microfluidic method for the production of monodisperse poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microspheres using continuous droplet formation and in situ photopolymerization in microfluidic devices. We investigated the flow patterns for the stable formation of droplets using capillary number and the flow rate of the hexade-cane phase. Under the stable region, the resulting microspheres showed narrow size distribution having a coefficient of variation (CV) of below 1.8%. The size of microspheres ($45{\sim}95{\mu}m$) could be easily controlled by changing the interfacial tension between the two immiscible phases and the flow rates of the dispersed or continuous phase.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.470-474
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• 2010

In this study, we presents a simple microfluidic approach for generating uniform Poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG) microfiber. Elongated flow pattern of monomer induced by sheath flow of immiscible oil as continuous phase is generated in Y-shape junction and in situ polymerization by UV exposure. For uniform microfiber, we investigate the optimized flow condition and draw phase diagram as function of Ca and Qd. At the region for stable elongated flow pattern, the microfiber generated in microfluidic chip is very uniform and highly reproducible. Importantly, the thickness of microfibers can be easily controlled by flow rate of continuous and disperse phase. We also demonstrate the feasibility for biological application as encapsulating FITC-BSA in PEG microfiber.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.632-637
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• 2014

A microfluidic method for the in situ production of monodispersed alginate hydrogels using biocompatible polymer gelation by crosslinker mass transfer is described. Gelation of the hydrogel was achieved in situ by the dispersed calcium ion in the microfluidic device. The capillary number (Ca) and the flow rate of the disperse phase which are important operating parameters mainly influenced the formation of three distinctive flow regions, such as dripping, jetting, and unstable dripping. Under the formation of dripping region, monodispersed alginate hydrogels having a narrow size distribution (C.V=2.71%) were produced in the microfluidic device and the size of the hydrogels, ranging from 30 to $60{\mu}m$, could be easily controlled by varying the flow rate, viscosity, and interfacial tension. This simple microfluidic method for the production of monodisperse alginate hydrogels shows strong potential for use in delivery systems of foods, cosmetics, inks, and drugs, and spherical alginate hydrogels which have biocompatibility will be applied to cell transplantation.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2013

Magnetic nanoparticle based bioseparation in microfluidics is a multiphysics phenomenon that involves interplay of various parameters. The ability to understand the dynamics of these parameters is a prerequisite for designing and developing more efficient magnetic cell/bio-particle separation systems. Therefore, in this work proof-of-concept experiments are combined with advanced numerical simulation to design and optimize the capturing process of magnetic nanoparticles responsible for efficient microfluidic bioseparation. A low cost generic microfluidic platform was developed using a novel micromolding method that can be done without a clean room techniques and at much lower cost and time. Parametric analysis using both experiments and theoretical predictions were performed. It was found that flow rate and magnetic field strength greatly influence the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in the microchannel and control the capturing efficiency. The results from mathematical model agree very well with experiments. The model further demonstrated that a 12% increase in capturing efficiency can be achieved by introducing of iron-grooved bar in the microfluidic setup that resulted in increase in magnetic field gradient. The numerical simulations were helpful in testing and optimizing key design parameters. Overall, this work demonstrated that a simple low cost experimental proof-of-concept setup can be synchronized with advanced numerical simulation not only to enhance the functional performance of magneto-fluidic capturing systems but also to efficiently design and develop microfluidic bioseparation systems for biomedical applications.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.130-142
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• 2006

Lab-on-a-chip technology is attracting great interest because the miniaturization of reaction systems offers practical advantages over classical bench-top chemical systems. Rapid mixing of the fluids flowing through a microchannel is very important for various applications of microfluidic systems. In addition, highly sensitive on-chip detection techniques are essential for the in situ monitoring of chemical reactions because the detection volume in a channel is extremely small. Recently, a confocal surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) technique, for the highly sensitive biological analysis in a microfluidic sensor, has been developed in our research group. Here, a highly precise quantitative measurement can be obtained if continuous flow and homogeneous mixing condition between analytes and silver nano-colloids are maintained. Recently, we also reported a new analytical method of DNA hybridization involving a PDMS microfluidic sensor using fluorescence energy transfer (FRET). This method overcomes many of the drawbacks of microarray chips, such as long hybridization times and inconvenient immobilization procedures. In this paper, our recent applications of the confocal Raman/fluorescence microscopic technology to a highly sensitive lab-on-a-chip detection will be reviewed.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.177-181
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• 2012

This study presents the preparation of double emulsions in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-based microfluidic device. To improve the wettability of hydrophilic continuous phase onto a hydrophobic PDMS microchannel, the surface was modified with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TPM) and then sequentially reacted with acrylic acid monomer solution, which produced selective covalent bonding between acrylic acids and methacrylate groups. For the proof of selective surface modification, tolonium chloride solution was used to identify the modified region and we confirmed that the approach was successfully performed. When water containing 0.5% w/w sodium dodecyl sulfate and 1% w/w Span80 with hexadecane were loaded into the selectively modified microfluidic channels, we can produce stable double emulsion. Based on the spreading coefficients, we predict the morphology of double emulsions. Our proposed method efficiently produces monodisperse double emulsions having 48.5 ${\mu}m$(CV:1.6%) core and 65.1 ${\mu}m$ (CV:1.6%) shell. Furthermore, the multiple emulsions having different numbers of core were easily prepared by simple control of flow rates.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.247-257
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• 2023

Precise counting of cell number stands in important position within clinical and research laboratories. Conventional methods such as hemocytometer, migration/invasion assay, or automated cell counters have limited in analytical time, cost, and accuracy., which needs an alternative way with time-efficient in-situ approach to broaden the application avenue. Here, we present simple coding-based cell counting method using image analysis tool, freely available image software (ImageJ). Firstly, we encapsulated RFP-expressing bacteria in a droplet using microfluidic device and automatically performed fluorescence image-based analysis for the quantification of cell numbers. Also, time-lapse images were captured for tracking the change of cell numbers in a droplet containing different concentrations of antibiotics. This study confirms that our approach is approximately 15 times faster and provides more accurate number of cells in a droplet than the external analysis program method. We envision that it can be used to the development of high-throughput image-based cell counting analysis.