Designing oscillating cilia that capture or release microscopic particles.
We use computational modeling to capture the three-dimensional interactions between oscillating, synthetic cilia and a microscopic particle in a fluid-filled microchannel. The synthetic cilia are elastic filaments that are tethered to a substrate and are actuated by a sinusoidal force, which is applied to their free ends. The cilia are arranged in a square pattern, and a neutrally buoyant particle is initially located between these filaments. Our computational studies reveal that, depending on frequency of the beating cilia, the particle can be either driven downward toward the substrate or driven upward and expelled into the fluid above the cilial layer. This behavior mimics the performance of biological cilia used by certain marine animals to extract suspended food particles. The findings uncover a new route for controlling the deposition of microscopic particles in microfluidic devices.
Ghosh
Rajat
R
George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Buxton
Gavin A
GA
Usta
O Berk
OB
Balazs
Anna C
AC
Alexeev
Alexander
A
D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties