title: Microfluidic control using colloidal devices.
abstract: By manipulating colloidal microspheres within customized channels, we have created micrometer-scale fluid pumps and particulate valves. We describe two positive-displacement designs, a gear and a peristaltic pump, both of which are about the size of a human red blood cell. Two colloidal valve designs are also demonstrated, one actuated and one passive, for the direction of cells or small particles. The use of colloids as both valves and pumps will allow device integration at a density far beyond what is currently achievable by other approaches and may provide a link between fluid manipulation at the macro- and nanoscale.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terray
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oakey
authors.forename: David W M
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Marr
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D008863:Microspheres; D008904:Miniaturization; D036103:Nanotechnology; D055095:Optics and Photonics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids