title: Tunable Microfluidic Devices for Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Cells and Beads: A Review.
abstract: The adjustable microfluidic devices that have been developed for hydrodynamic-based fractionation of beads and cells are important for fast performance tunability through interaction of mechanical properties of particles in fluid flow and mechanically flexible microstructures. In this review, the research works reported on fabrication and testing of the tunable elastomeric microfluidic devices for applications such as separation, filtration, isolation, and trapping of single or bulk of microbeads or cells are discussed. Such microfluidic systems for rapid performance alteration are classified in two groups of bulk deformation of microdevices using external mechanical forces, and local deformation of microstructures using flexible membrane by pneumatic pressure. The main advantage of membrane-based tunable systems has been addressed to be the high capability of integration with other microdevice components. The stretchable devices based on bulk deformation of microstructures have in common advantage of simplicity in design and fabrication process.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. alvankarian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvankarian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. burhan@ukm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Burhanuddin Yeop
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Majlis
mesh_terms: D057446:Hydrodynamics; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D008863:Microspheres; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis
keywords: cells; fractionation; hydrodynamic; mechanical; microbeads; microfluidic; tunable