A Microfluidic-based Hydrodynamic Trap for Single Particles

Summary

In this article, we present a microfluidic-based method for particle confinement based on hydrodynamic flow. We demonstrate stable particle trapping at a fluid stagnation point using a feedback control mechanism, thereby enabling confinement and micromanipulation of arbitrary particles in an integrated microdevice.

Abstract

The ability to confine and manipulate single particles in free solution is a key enabling technology for fundamental and applied science. Methods for particle trapping based on optical, magnetic, electrokinetic, and acoustic techniques have led to major advancements in physics and biology ranging from the molecular to cellular level. In this article, we introduce a new microfluidic-based technique for particle trapping and manipulation based solely on hydrodynamic fluid flow. Using this method, we demonstrate trapping of micro- and nano-scale particles in aqueous solutions for long time scales. The hydrodynamic trap consists of an integrated microfluidic device with a cross-slot channel geometry where two opposing laminar streams converge, thereby generating a planar extensional flow with a fluid stagnation point (zero-velocity point). In this device, particles are confined at the trap center by active control of the flow field to maintain particle position at the fluid stagnation point. In this manner, particles are effectively trapped in free solution using a feedback control algorithm implemented with a custom-built LabVIEW code. The control algorithm consists of image acquisition for a particle in the microfluidic device, followed by particle tracking, determination of particle centroid position, and active adjustment of fluid flow by regulating the pressure applied to an on-chip pneumatic valve using a pressure regulator. In this way, the on-chip dynamic metering valve functions to regulate the relative flow rates in the outlet channels, thereby enabling fine-scale control of stagnation point position and particle trapping. The microfluidic-based hydrodynamic trap exhibits several advantages as a method for particle trapping. Hydrodynamic trapping is possible for any arbitrary particle without specific requirements on the physical or chemical properties of the trapped object. In addition, hydrodynamic trapping enables confinement of a "single" target object in concentrated or crowded particle suspensions, which is difficult using alternative force field-based trapping methods. The hydrodynamic trap is user-friendly, straightforward to implement and may be added to existing microfluidic devices to facilitate trapping and long-time analysis of particles. Overall, the hydrodynamic trap is a new platform for confinement, micromanipulation, and observation of particles without surface immobilization and eliminates the need for potentially perturbative optical, magnetic, and electric fields in the free-solution trapping of small particles.

Protocol

The hydrodynamic trap consists of a two-layer hybrid (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) /glass) microfluidic device for particle confinement. Steps 1-2 describe fabrication of microfluidic devices, and Steps 3-4 discuss device design and operation.

1. SU-8 Mold Fabrication (not shown in video)

1. Clean two silicon wafers (3" diameter) with acetone and isopropyl alcohol (IPA).
2. Dry wafers with N₂ and place them on a hotplate at 65°C for 1 min to remove residual moisture.
3. Spin coat wafer #1 with SU-8 2050 photoresist (PR) for 30 sec at 4000 rpm to create a ~40 μm thick mold for the fluidic layer. Spin coa....

Discussion

Current microfluidic methods for particle manipulation based on hydrodynamic flow can be characterized as contact-based or non-contact methods. Contact-based methods use fluid flow to physically confine and immobilize particles against microfabricated channel walls ⁹, whereas non-contact methods rely on circulating flow or microeddies ¹⁰. In this work, we present a method for free-solution particle trapping using the sole action of fluid flow. The hydrodynamic trap enables confinement and manipulati.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
21 gauge blunt needle	Zephyrtronics	ZT-5-021-1-L	For punching port holes in PDMS
3 ml plastic syringe	BD Biosciences	309585	For filling valve with oil
Si wafers	University Wafer		3” P(100) single side polished 380 μm test grade
Cover glass	VWR international	48404-428	24 x 40 mm #1.5
DAQ card	National Instruments	PCI 6229
Fluorescent beads	Spherotech, Inc.	FP-2056-2	2.2 μm Nile red
Fluorinert	3M	FC 40	Fluorinated carrier oil
Inverted Microscope	Olympus Corporation	IX-71
LabVIEW	National Instruments	Version 9.0f3 (32bit)
Stereo Microscope	Leica Microsystems	MZ6	For aligning PDMS control layer to fluidic layer.
Mechanical Convection Oven	VWR international	1300U	For baking devices to create monolithic PDMS slabs with two layers.
Microfluidic tubing and connectors	Upchurch Scientific		1/16 x .020 PFA tubing and super flangeless fittings
PDMS	GE Healthcare	RTV 615 A&B
Plasma Chamber	Harrick Scientific Products, Inc.	PDC-001
Pressure Transducer	Proportion Air	DQPV1
Spin Coater	Specialty Coating Systems	G3P-8 Spin Coat
Photoresist	MicroChem Corp.	SU 8 2050
Syringe Pump	Harvard Apparatus	PHD 2000 Programmable
Terminal Block	National Instruments	BNC 2110	For analog output to pressure regulator and read out.
UV Collimated Light Source and Exposure System	OAI	Model 30 Enhanced Light Source