Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip
We present a method based on a microfluidic chip that produces continuous jetting of alginate microfiber in the atmosphere to facilitate its collection and assembly. Through the analysis of the factors influencing the microfiber jetting, the principle and some microfluidic chip design criteria are d...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/8/1/8 |
| _version_ | 1818007101886169088 |
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| author | Junyi Zhao Wei Xiong Ning Yu Xing Yang |
| author_facet | Junyi Zhao Wei Xiong Ning Yu Xing Yang |
| author_sort | Junyi Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a method based on a microfluidic chip that produces continuous jetting of alginate microfiber in the atmosphere to facilitate its collection and assembly. Through the analysis of the factors influencing the microfiber jetting, the principle and some microfluidic chip design criteria are discussed. A special nozzle is designed near the chip outlet, and deionized water is introduced into the microchannel through the nozzle to increase the flux and thus to prevent drop formation around the outlet which impedes the continuous jetting of microfiber. The experiments have reported the effectiveness of the proposed structure and shown that the introduction of sheath flow promotes the stability of the flow field in the microchannel and does not affect the morphology of microfiber. Simulations of velocity and pressure distribution in the microchannel are also conducted. Further, the jetting microfibers are collected and assembled into various 3D complex fiber-based macroscopic structures through patterning or reeling. Since the proposed structure is rather simple and can be easily integrated into other complex structures without adding more soft-lithographical steps, microfibers with various morphology and function can be synthesized and collected in a single chip, which can be applied to various fields, such as tissue engineering, biotechnology, and drug discovery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:11:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbdffe32e53d42c0888d90232b28d2b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:11:19Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbdffe32e53d42c0888d90232b28d2b82022-12-22T02:10:34ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2017-01-0181810.3390/mi8010008mi8010008Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic ChipJunyi Zhao0Wei Xiong1Ning Yu2Xing Yang3Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaKey Laboratory of Advanced Reactor Engineering and Safety of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaDepartment of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaWe present a method based on a microfluidic chip that produces continuous jetting of alginate microfiber in the atmosphere to facilitate its collection and assembly. Through the analysis of the factors influencing the microfiber jetting, the principle and some microfluidic chip design criteria are discussed. A special nozzle is designed near the chip outlet, and deionized water is introduced into the microchannel through the nozzle to increase the flux and thus to prevent drop formation around the outlet which impedes the continuous jetting of microfiber. The experiments have reported the effectiveness of the proposed structure and shown that the introduction of sheath flow promotes the stability of the flow field in the microchannel and does not affect the morphology of microfiber. Simulations of velocity and pressure distribution in the microchannel are also conducted. Further, the jetting microfibers are collected and assembled into various 3D complex fiber-based macroscopic structures through patterning or reeling. Since the proposed structure is rather simple and can be easily integrated into other complex structures without adding more soft-lithographical steps, microfibers with various morphology and function can be synthesized and collected in a single chip, which can be applied to various fields, such as tissue engineering, biotechnology, and drug discovery.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/8/1/8microfluidic chipalginate microfiberjetnozzlesheath flowtissue engineering |
| spellingShingle | Junyi Zhao Wei Xiong Ning Yu Xing Yang Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip Micromachines microfluidic chip alginate microfiber jet nozzle sheath flow tissue engineering |
| title | Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip |
| title_full | Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip |
| title_fullStr | Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip |
| title_full_unstemmed | Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip |
| title_short | Continuous Jetting of Alginate Microfiber in Atmosphere Based on a Microfluidic Chip |
| title_sort | continuous jetting of alginate microfiber in atmosphere based on a microfluidic chip |
| topic | microfluidic chip alginate microfiber jet nozzle sheath flow tissue engineering |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/8/1/8 |
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