Microfluidics in Nanobiotechnology

What are Microfluidics? 

Microfluidics relates to the transport and manipulations of fluids constrained to the one micrometer to hundred micrometer range. The field of microfluidics has numerous applications in systems that manipulate fluids at a small-scale such as in the case of Lab on a Chip (LOC) technology [2]. LOC technology is miniaturized laboratory functions on a chip that allow the system to achieve multiplexing and high-throughput screening [2]. Compared to macroscale devices, microfluidic devices provide various advantages such as shorter processing times, real-time data collection, and fewer materials, which is why the advancement of this technology is crucial [2].

Microfluidics and Nanotechnology

Microfluidic devices prove useful during the synthesis of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles synthesized utilizing microfluidics have increased product yield and decreased reaction time [2]. As well, there is improved heat and mass transport in microfluidic channels that prevent the cluster growth and polydispersity of nanoparticles [2].

Designing a Microfluidic Device 

The design of microfluidic devices involves the use of two important software programs: COMSOL, which will allow the user to simulate the microfluidic design and AutoCAD, which will allow the user to design the channels to be milled. 

• AutoCAD
  • AutoCAD is a computer-aided design software where the microfluidic channels can be designed. Before designing, one needs to select the properties of the gold nanoparticles that needs to be targeted. Based on these properties, flow streams can be split and recombined to improve mixing efficiency, the overall length can be made longer or shorter, and different flows (laminar and turbulent) can even be combined in one device. 

• COMSOL 
  • COMSOL is a multiphysics simulation software that is a useful starting point when designing a microfluidic device. This software allows one to set up the physics behind a microfluidic device, so it can be extrapolated to other geometries. 

References 

[1] "Understanding Microfluidics: The Technology Behind Body-on-a-Chip Systems," 12-July-2019. [Online]. Available: https://insphero.com/blog/understanding_microfluidics/ [Accessed: 29-Jan-2021]

[2] Department of Nanotechnology Engineering "Introduction to Microfluidics: Modelling and Design of Microfluidics," Lab handbook. University of Waterloo. 2019. Print. 

[3] Malecha, K "Monolithic Microwave-Microfluidic Sensors Made with Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramics (LTCC) Technology, " 2019. [Online]. Available:       https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201901.0037.v1