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Focusing and sorting of multiple-sized beads and cells using low-aspect-ratio spiral microchannels

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Abstract

A separation of Polystyrene micro-beads (PMBs) and natural Mast-cell tumor cells (MCTCs) of about 10–25 μm diameter was performed using a microfluidic spiral microchannel. In this study, five-turned spiral microchannels were 500 μm high and 130 μm wide with an initial radius of curvature of 5.5 mm. Sorting efficacy of targeted PMB or MCTC samples of each size by focusing them into a single stream depended on the size of the samples and the flow rate. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that almost 90 % of PMBs and MCTCs of 15–25 μm diameter could be successfully sorted from a mixture of smaller beads or cells at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Attawut Thanormsridetchai, Werayut Srituravanich & Alongkorn Pimpin

  2. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Dettachai Ketpun & Achariya Sailasuta

  3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Dettachai Ketpun & Prapruddee Piyaviriyakul

  4. Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), Chachoengsao, 24000, Thailand

    Wutthinan Jeamsaksiri & Witsaroot Sripumkhai

Authors
  1. Attawut Thanormsridetchai
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  2. Dettachai Ketpun
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  3. Werayut Srituravanich
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  4. Prapruddee Piyaviriyakul
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  5. Achariya Sailasuta
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  6. Wutthinan Jeamsaksiri
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  7. Witsaroot Sripumkhai
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  8. Alongkorn Pimpin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alongkorn Pimpin.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Joon Sang Lee

Alongkorn Pimpin is an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Chulalongkorn University. He received his M.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Chulalongkorn University and D.Eng. degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Tokyo in 2000 and 2005, respectively. His research interests span the broad disciplines of flow physics and engineering including design of microfluidic chips, experimentation in a micro-scale and nanotechnology.

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Thanormsridetchai, A., Ketpun, D., Srituravanich, W. et al. Focusing and sorting of multiple-sized beads and cells using low-aspect-ratio spiral microchannels. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 5397–5405 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1034-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-1034-z

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