Enhanced Microfluidic Sample Homogeneity and Improved Antibody-Based Assay Kinetics Due to Magnetic Mixing.

ABSTRACT: Recent global events have distinctly demonstrated the need for fast diagnostic analysis of targets in a liquid sample. However, microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for point-of-care diagnostics can suffer from slow analysis due to poor mixing. Here, we experimentally explore the mixing effect within a microfluidic chamber, as obtained from superparamagnetic beads exposed to an out-of-plane (vertical) rotating magnetic field. Various magnetic protocols are explored, and the level of sample homogeneity is measured by determining the mixing efficiency index. In particular, we introduce a method to induce effective mixing in a microfluidic chamber by the actuation of the same beads to perform global swarming behavior, a collective motion of a large number of individual entities often seen in na

SUBMITTER: Shanko ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8457298 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature