Multiple microfluidic stream based manipulation for single cell handling

This paper proposed a Multiple Microfluidic Stream based Manipulation (MMSM) for bio-objects using micro hydrodynamics and Lab on Chip (LOC) technology. Our method can manipulate bio-objects without contact under open space, the advantages of which were experimentally confirmed in this paper. Compared with other conventional bio-manipulation methods, this method is not directly in contact with the target bio-object, and was considered as a non-invasive and soft manipulation via hydrodynamic fluids. The basic principle of this system is manipulating a micro object by controlling several micro water streams which are generated from orifices under the operating area simultaneously. By changing the parameters of the water stream such as flow rates, position and number of operating orifices, the direction and velocity of the object can be controlled. To verify this principle, we designed an open space fluid model for on-chip manipulation, and simulated force and direction of the water stream using CFD software. Then the prototype microchip with an array of 8 orifices of diameter 100 μm, and 3 types of channels of widths 100 μm, 200 μm, and 500 μm respectively were fabricated with glass. In experiments several kinds of rectilinear motion of insect ovum and micro beads were observed. The results presented in this paper showed that this multi micro fluidic stream manipulation system has the capability for MMSM.