title: Microvortex for focusing, guiding and sorting of particles.
abstract: We report a microvortex manipulator (MVM) that is a passive, scalable system with great potential for the manipulation and separation of particulate samples in microfluidic environments. The movement of particles is determined by a unique combination of helical flow, buoyant, and gravitational forces. Helical flows are induced by topographically patterned microchannel surfaces, which have previously been used for molecular mixing in microfluidic devices. We illustrate the mechanism of MVM and its applications in passive focusing of beads and cells into parallel streams and guiding of particles and cells. We also explore the application of the unique density-selectivity of microvortex focusing and successfully sort a mixture of two bead populations whose density difference is as small as 0.1 g cm(-3).
authors.affiliation: BioMEMS Resource Center, Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02114, USA.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Chihchen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Irimia
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toner
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008832:Microchemistry; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009038:Motion; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012212:Rheology
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes