Hierarchical Hydrodynamic Flow Confinement
Hierarchical Hydrodynamic Flow Confinement - Related Videos
10:13
A Microfluidic-based Hydrodynamic Trap for Single Particles
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Cited by 14 •
2011
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.
10:56
Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
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Cited by 4 •
2014
Confocal microscopy is used to image quiescent and flowing colloid-polymer mixtures, which are studied as model systems for attractive suspensions. Image analysis algorithms are used to calculate structural and dynamic metrics for the colloidal particles that measure changes due to geometric confinement.
08:45
Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides
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Cited by 1 •
2013
We describe the use of pulsed laser deposition (PLD), photolithography and wire-bonding techniques to create micrometer scale complex oxides devices. The PLD is utilized to grow epitaxial thin films. Photolithography and wire-bonding techniques are introduced to create practical devices for measurement purposes.
12:54
Transient Expression of Proteins by Hydrodynamic Gene Delivery in Mice
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Cited by 26 •
2014
In vivo transfection of naked DNA by hydrodynamic gene delivery introduces genes into the tissue of an animal with minimal inflammatory response. Sufficient amounts of gene product are generated such that gene function and regulation as well as protein structure and function can be analyzed.
11:12
Protocol for Relative Hydrodynamic Assessment of Tri-leaflet Polymer Valves
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Cited by 5 •
2013
There has been renewed interest in developing polymer valves. Here, the objectives are to demonstrate the feasibility of modifying a commercial pulse duplicator to accommodate tri-leaflet geometries and to define a protocol to present polymer valve hydrodynamic data in comparison to native and prosthetic valve data collected under near-identical conditions.
FAQs
Nested streams create confinement through interfaces between fluids moving in channels at different scales. Sheath streams shape the sample stream, while laminar flow keeps neighboring fluids spatially organized rather than mixing indiscriminately. This arrangement lets researchers tune the target region’s width and position, while controlling which stream composition reaches the confined area.
The channel hierarchy links fluid handling at multiple spatial scales. Larger-scale channel arrangements organize the incoming streams, while smaller-scale regions refine the target stream’s placement and dimensions. This multiscale design supports more precise control of spatial distribution, allowing a sample or chemical exposure to be positioned reproducibly within a miniaturized assay.
Instead of relying on walls or other solid barriers to isolate a region, the method uses adjacent fluid streams and their laminar-flow interfaces. The confined region can therefore be repositioned or resized through changes in stream arrangement and composition. This fluid-based control is useful when experiments require localized exposure without adding a physical structure inside the flow path.
Researchers can control the confined stream’s width, location, and composition. Width determines how broadly the target region occupies the channel, location determines where it contacts cells or other materials, and composition determines the chemical environment delivered there. Controlling these properties supports localized stimulation, patterned organization, and defined exposure conditions in bioengineering experiments.
A basic workflow directs sheath and sample fluids into channels arranged at different scales, establishes their laminar-flow interfaces, and uses the resulting stream arrangement to position the target region. The operator then selects the desired confinement width, location, and composition for the experiment. This setup can deliver localized conditions while maintaining a miniaturized fluid-handling format.
The technique is useful when cells need localized stimulation, patterned placement, or controlled exposure to a chemical environment. Fluidic confinement can position the relevant stream next to selected regions without requiring a physical barrier. In cell-based assays, this supports experiments that compare spatially defined conditions while using a small, reproducible microfluidic setup.
By arranging multiple streams with controlled spatial relationships, researchers can establish regions that differ in chemical composition across a microfluidic device. The confined target stream can then expose cells or other materials to a selected local environment. This supports gradient generation and controlled exposure studies while reducing reagent use and preserving precise spatial organization.
In bioengineering, the method combines microscale fluid handling with tunable confinement, enabling reproducible experiments in compact devices. It supports cell patterning, localized stimulation, gradient generation, and controlled exposure while reducing reagent requirements. These capabilities expand lab-on-a-chip designs by allowing chemical and material distributions to be programmed through fluid arrangement rather than fixed physical structures.