Biochips For Droplet Generation & Microfluidics

Cross-flow:  T-junction or Y-junction geometry in microfluidic chip.

For water-in-oil droplets; the oil sample (continuous phase) flows in one direction.  The aqueous sample (dispersed phase) flows into the oil sample at the T- or Y-junction.  As the aqueous sample joins the oil sample, the shear forces of the oil continuously flowing breaks the aqueous sample into a droplet.  In this case, the size of the droplet is determined by flow rate ratio of the oil and aqueous samples flowing in the channels of the microfluidic chip and the viscosity, velocity and interfacial tension of the oil sample.  The flow rate of the continuous phase (oil in this example) is usually higher than the dispersed phase (water).  To achieve oil-in-water droplets, the liquids are reversed.

Cross-Flow Droplet Generation:

Water-in-oil droplets

Flow focusing:  "+" or X-junction geometry in microfluidic chip.

For water-in-oil droplets; the water sample (dispersed phase) meets the oil sample (continuous phase) at the junction, where there is usually a narrowing of the channels at the junction point.  Similar to cross-flow, the flow rate of the continuous phase (oil in this example) is usually higher than the flow rate of the dispersed phase (water).  In this case, it is possible to increase the size of the droplets by decreasing the flow rate of the continuous phase.  To achieve oil-in-water droplets, the liquids are reversed.

Flow Focusing Droplet Generation:

Water-in-oil droplets

Co-Flow focusing: the dispersed phase channel is enclosed inside a continuous phase channel.  

As the dispersed fluid enters the continuous phase fluid, it experiences the shear forces of the continuous phase fluid until it eventually breaks and forms a droplet by dripping or jetting.

Co-Flow Focusing Droplet Generation:

Water-in-oil droplets

DropChip

• Droplet Generation
• Under shear flow
• 3 Droplet Generators & 1 splitter
• High-throughput generation of microdroplets and monodispersed oils/emulsions

DropChips are fabricated from plastic (acrylic) and have a footprint of 40 mm x 50 mm (W x L).  Each DropChip contains:??

• 1 x Flow Splitter and
• 3 x Droplet Generator junctions:
  • 2 x Flow-Focusing junctions, single-injection dispersed phase
  • 1 x Flow Focusing junction with dual-injection dispersed phase

Cellix Vena Delta Y1 Biochip

The VenaDeltaY1 biochips contain branching microchannels for dual flow / dual injection of samples.  Ideal for studying chemotactic gradients, dual flow, multilaminar flow & diffusion.

Each biochip contains 4 Y-shaped capillaries in parallel which can be coated with different adhesion molecules for cell receptor-ligand (i.e. cell-matrix interactions) studies under shear flow with dual-injection (chemotaxis experiments) or for investigation of thrombi formation at the Y-channel branch.

• Branching Y-junction at input port
• Mimic branching microvascular networks
• Chemotaxis assays, dual flow, multilaminar flow & diffusion
• Choice of channel size 400 µm (width) x 100 µm (depth) or 800 µm (width) x 120 µm (depth)

Cellix Vena8 Delta Y BiochipTechnical Notes

Cellix Vena Delta Y2 Biochip

The VenaDeltaY2 biochips contain branching microchannels for dual flow / dual injection of samples.  Ideal for studying chemotactic gradients, dual flow, multilaminar flow & diffusion.

Each biochip contains 4 Y-shaped capillaries at both ends in parallel which can be coated with different adhesion molecules for cell receptor-ligand (i.e. cell-matrix interactions) studies under shear flow with dual-injection (chemotaxis experiments) or for investigation of thrombi formation at the Y-channel branch.

• Branching Y-junction at input & exit ports
• Mimic branching microvascular networks
• Chemotaxis assays, dual flow, multilaminar flow & diffusion
• Channel sizes:  600 µm (width) x 100 µm (depth)

Cellix Vena8 Delta Y BiochipTechnical Notes