Magnetically-actuated artificial cilia for microfluidic propulsion

In this paper we quantitatively analyse the performance of magnetically-driven artificial cilia for lab-on-a-chip applications. The artificial cilia are fabricated using thin polymer films with embedded magnetic nano-particles and their deformation is studied under different external magnetic fields and flows. A coupled magneto-mechanical solid-fluid model that accurately captures the interaction between the magnetic field, cilia and fluid is used to simulate the cilia motion. The elastic and magnetic properties of the cilia are obtained by fitting the results of the computational model to the experimental data. The performance of the artificial cilia with a non-uniform cross-section is characterised using the numerical model for two channel configurations that are of practical importance: an open-loop and a closed-loop channel. We predict that the flow and pressure head generated by the artificial cilia can be as high as 18 microlitres per minute and 3 mm of water, respectively. We also study the effect of metachronal waves on the flow generated and show that the fluid propelled increases drastically compared to synchronously beating cilia, and is unidirectional. This increase is significant even when the phase difference between adjacent cilia is small. The obtained results provide guidelines for the optimal design of magnetically-driven artificial cilia for microfluidic propulsion.     

Experimental investigation of the flow induced by artificial cilia

The fluid transport produced by rectangular shaped, magnetically actuated artificial cilia of 70 μm length and 20 μm width was determined by means of phase-locked Micro Particle Image Velocimetry (μPIV) measurements in a closed microfluidic chamber. The phase-averaged flow produced by the artificial cilia reached up to 130 μm s(-1) with an actuation cycle frequency of 10 Hz. Analysis of the measured flow data indicate that the present system is capable of achieving volume flow rates of V[combining dot above](cilia) = 14 ± 4 μl min(-1) in a micro channel of 0.5 × 5 mm(2) cross-sectional area when no back pressure is built up. This corresponds to an effective pressure gradient of 6 ± 1 Pa m(-1), which equals a pressure difference of 0.6 ± 0.1 mPa over a distance of 100 μm between two rows of cilia. These results were derived analytically from the measured velocity profile by treating the cilia as a thin boundary layer. While the cilia produce phase-averaged velocities of the order of O(10(2)μm s(-1)), time-resolved measurements showed that the flow field reverses two times during one actuation cycle inducing instantaneous velocities of up to approximately 2 mm s(-1). This shows that the flow field is dominated by fluid oscillations and flow rates are expected to increase if the beating motion of the cilia is further improved.     

Strong magnetic field effects on solid-liquid and particle-particle interactions during the processing of a conducting liquid containing non-conducting particles

The behavior of micrometer-sized weak magnetic insulating particles migrating in a conductive liquid metal is of broad interest during strong magnetic field processing of materials. In the present paper, we develop a numerical method to investigate the solid-liquid and particle-particle interactions by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) modeling. By applying a strong magnetic field, for example, 10 Tesla, the drag forces of a single spherical particle can be increased up to around 15% at a creeping flow limit. However, magnetic field effects are reduced when the Reynolds number becomes higher. For two identical particles migrating along their centerline in a conductive liquid, both the drag forces and the magnetic interaction will be influenced. Factors such as interparticle distance, Reynolds number and magnetic flux density are investigated. Shielding effects are found from the leading particle, which will subsequently induce a hydrodynamic interaction between two particles. Strong magnetic fields however do not appear to have a significant influence on the shielding effects. In addition, the magnetic interaction forces of magnetic dipole-dipole interaction and induced magneto-hydrodynamic interaction are considered. It can be found that the induced magneto-hydrodynamic interaction force highly depends on the flow field and magnetic flux density. Therefore, the interaction between insulating particles can be controlled by applying a strong magnetic field and modifying the flow field. The present research provides a better understanding of the magnetic field induced interaction during liquid metal processing, and a method of non-metallic particles manipulation for metal/ceramic based materials preparation may be proposed.     

Low-frequency velocity correlation spectrum of fluid in a rectangular microcapillary

In addition to the fast correlation for local stochastic motion, the velocity correlation function in a fluid enclosed within the pore boundaries features a slow long time-tail decay. At late times, the flow approaches that of an incompressible fluid. Here, we consider the motion of a viscous fluid, at constant temperature, in a rectangular semipermeable channel. The fluid is driven through the rectangular capillary by a uniform main pressure gradient. Tiny pressure gradients are allowed perpendicular to the main flux. We solve numerically the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for the velocity field to obtain the steady solution. We then set and solve the Langevin equation for the fluid velocity. We report hydrodynamic fluctuations for the center-line velocity together with the corresponding relaxation times as a function of the size of the observing region and the Reynolds number. The effective diffusion coefficient for the fluid in the microchannel is also estimated (Deff = 1.43 x 10(-10) m2.s-1 for Re = 2), which is in accordance with measurements reported for a similar system (Stepisnik, J.; Callaghan, P. T. Physica B 2000, 292, 296-301; Stepisnik, J.; Callaghan, P. T. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001, 19, 469-472).     

Microfluidic capturing-dynamics of paramagnetic bead suspensions

We study theoretically the capturing of paramagnetic beads by a magnetic field gradient in a microfluidic channel treating the beads as a continuum. Bead motion is affected by both fluidic and magnetic forces. The transfer of momentum from beads to the fluid creates an effective bead-bead interaction that greatly aids capturing. We demonstrate that for a given inlet flow speed a critical density of beads exists above which complete capturing takes place.     

On Laminar Boundary Layer Flow of Electrically Conducting Liquids Near an Accelerated Vertical Plate

The unsteady hydromagnetic flow of electrically conducting liquids whose Prandtl numbers are different from unity has been considered when the flow takes place near an infinite vertical flat plate subject to uniform heat flux and accelerated motion. A unified exact solution has been derived for the boundary layer velocity and skin friction for the cases of magnetic field being fixed relative to the fluid or to the vertical plate. The solution has been presented in real forms for fluids whose Prandtl numbers are greater than or less than unity. The response of the boundary layer fluid velocity to the variations in magnetic and buoyancy forces has been discussed for two sample fluids corresponding to the different Prandtl number categories. The influence of these forces on the skin friction has also been shown.     

Fluid dynamics of dilute suspensions and fouling of tubular membrane modules

The role of dilute suspensions in fouling a ultrafilter tubular membrane module is studied in detail for a wide range of wall permeation flux conditions. The inlet flow profiles are assumed to be either uniform (plug flow) or parabolic (fully developed) shape. It is assumed that the particles are neutrally buoyant and the concentrations are so low that it does not influence the fluid flow. Furthermore, the particle-particle interactions and the forces of interaction between the particle and the membrane wall are assumed to be unimportant. The governing equations of motion for the fluid are solved by a finite difference scheme. To compute the particulate fouling, the equations of motion for the particles are solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta-Gill method. Results are presented for both hydrodynamics and membrane fouling by dilute suspensions for conditions such as the effect of assumed inlet velocity profiles, and a wide range of wall permeation flux conditions.     

Bioconvection Due to Gyrotactic Microorganisms in Couple Stress Hybrid Nanofluid Laminar Mixed Convection Incompressible Flow with Magnetic Nanoparticles and Chemical Reaction as Carrier for Targeted Drug Delivery through Porous Stretching Sheet

In this paper, the steady electrically conducting hybrid nanofluid (CuO-Cu/blood) laminar-mixed convection incompressible flow at the stagnation-point with viscous and gyrotactic microorganisms is considered. Additionally, hybrid nanofluid flow over a horizontal porous stretching sheet along with an induced magnetic field and external magnetic field effects that can be used in biomedical fields, such as in drug delivery and the flow dynamics of the microcirculatory system. This investigation can also deliver a perfect view about the mass and heat transfer behavior of blood flow in a circulatory system and various hyperthermia treatments such as the treatment of cancer. The simple partial differential equations (PDEs) are converted into a series of dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which are determined using appropriate similarities variables (HAM). The influence of the suction or injection parameter, mixed convection, Prandtl number, buoyancy ratio parameter, permeability parameter, magnetic parameter, reciprocal magnetic prandtl number, bioconvection Rayleigh number, coupled stress parameter, thermophoretic parameter, Schmidt number, inertial parameter, heat source parameter, and Brownian motion parameter on the concentration, motile microorganisms, velocity, and temperature is outlined, and we study the physical importance of the present problem graphically.     

Polymer translocation: the effect of backflow

We investigate the effect of backflow on the translocation dynamics of short, flexible polymer chains threading through a small hole in a wall. We find that hydrodynamic interactions between polymer beads play an important role in determining the translocation time distribution: as a monomer moves through the hole it sets up a flow field which transfers momentum to neighboring monomers, thus helping them to move in the same direction. Translocation times are calculated by using the velocity-Verlet algorithm to solve the equations of motion of a polymer which moves in a fluid described by the stochastic rotation algorithm, a particle-based Navier-Stokes solver.     

DFT and surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of tryptophan-silver complex

Electric field-induced assembly of biological and synthetic particles has proven useful in two- and three-dimensional fabrication of composite materials, microwires, photonic crystals, artificial tissues, and more. Biological particles are typically irregularly shaped, and using non-spherical synthetic particles has the ability to expand current applications. However, there is much to be understood about the dielectrophoretic (DEP) interaction that takes place between particles of general shape. In this work, we numerically study the DEP interaction between two prolate spheroid particles suspended in an unbounded fluid. The boundary-element method (BEM) is applied to solve the coupled electric field, Stokes flow, and particle motion, and the DEP forces are obtained by integrating the Maxwell stress tensor over the particle surfaces. Effects of the initial configuration and aspect ratio are investigated. Results show that the particles go through a self-rotation process, that is, electro-orientation, while translating slowly to form a chain pair. The final formation resembles the chaining pattern observed previously in experiments using densely distributed ellipsoidal particles. Thus, the transient behavior and particle-particle interaction exhibited in the current study could be used as the fundamental mechanism to explain the phenomenon in the experiment.     

Constitutive equations for the flow behavior of entangled polymeric systems: application to star polymers

A semimicroscopic derivation is presented of equations of motion for the density and the flow velocity of concentrated systems of entangled polymers. The essential ingredient is the transient force that results from perturbations of overlapping polymers due to flow. A Smoluchowski equation is derived that includes these transient forces. From this, an equation of motion for the polymer number density is obtained, in which body forces couple the evolution of the polymer density to the local velocity field. Using a semimicroscopic Ansatz for the dynamics of the number of entanglements between overlapping polymers, and for the perturbations of the pair-correlation function due to flow, body forces are calculated for nonuniform systems where the density as well as the shear rate varies with position. Explicit expressions are derived for the shear viscosity and normal forces, as well as for nonlocal contributions to the body force, such as the shear-curvature viscosity. A contribution to the equation of motion for the density is found that describes mass transport due to spatial variation of the shear rate. The two coupled equations of motion for the density and flow velocity predict flow instabilities that will be discussed in more detail in a forthcoming publication.     

Destabilizing effect of time-dependent oblique magnetic field on magnetic fluids streaming in porous media

The present work studies Kelvin-Helmholtz waves propagating between two magnetic fluids. The system is composed of two semi-infinite magnetic fluids streaming throughout porous media. The system is influenced by an oblique magnetic field. The solution of the linearized equations of motion under the boundary conditions leads to deriving the Mathieu equation governing the interfacial displacement and having complex coefficients. The stability criteria are discussed theoretically and numerically, from which stability diagrams are obtained. Regions of stability and instability are identified for the magnetic fields versus the wavenumber. It is found that the increase of the fluid density ratio, the fluid velocity ratio, the upper viscosity, and the lower porous permeability play a stabilizing role in the stability behavior in the presence of an oscillating vertical magnetic field or in the presence of an oscillating tangential magnetic field. The increase of the fluid viscosity plays a stabilizing role and can be used to retard the destabilizing influence for the vertical magnetic field. Dual roles are observed for the fluid velocity in the stability criteria. It is found that the field frequency plays against the constant part for the magnetic field.     

Porous agglomerates in the general linear flow field

We calculate the flow within and around a porous spherical agglomerate suspended in the general linear flow field, and also the flow induced by its rotation. We use the Stokes equations exterior to the particle and the Brinkman equations inside it. The effect of particle permeability on the flow is expressed via the Brinkman parameter beta = r(0)/square root of k, where r0 is particle radius and k is its permeability. With translational creeping motion of porous spheres in a quiet fluid investigated by Debye and Bueche [P. Debye, A.M. Bueche, J. Chem. Phys. 16 (6) (1943) 573-579], this study provides information necessary for investigating dynamics of porous particles moving in creeping shear flows under the action of external forces and torques. The agglomerate flow field solutions are used to calculate the effective viscosity of a dilute suspension of porous solid aggregates, which generalizes the well-known Einstein's equation for solid suspensions. The agglomerate effective viscosity diameter is proposed which allows using the Einstein's formula evaluation of the agglomerates suspension viscosity.     

Influence of particle-particle interactions and particles rotational motion in traveling wave dielectrophoresis

Traveling wave dielectrophoresis provides an interesting method for the controlled movement of microsized particles in suspended mixtures, and as such is a promising tool in microfluidic technology. In this case, the electrostatic force acting on the particles has two components: one due to the spatially varying magnitude of the electric field and the other due to the spatially varying phase. The actual movement of the particle is determined by the combined effect of these two forces and corresponding torques, the viscous drag exerted by the fluid on the particle, and the electrostatic and hydrodynamic particle-particle interactions. This paper presents the first numerical simulations of the motion of particles subjected to all previous forces and torques. Our technique is based on a finite-element scheme in which the particles are moved using a direct simulation scheme respecting the fundamental equations of motion for both the fluid and the solid particles. The fluid-particle motion is resolved by the method of distributed Lagrange multipliers and the electrostatic forces are computed using the point-dipole approximation. Our simulations show that the particle behavior strongly depends on the mismatch of the dielectric properties between the particles and the fluid, and that the particle-particle interaction force as well as particles rotation speeds play crucial roles in the various regimes.     

Artificial cilia for active micro-fluidic mixing

In lab-on-chip devices, on which complete (bio-)chemical analysis laboratories are miniaturized and integrated, it is essential to manipulate fluids in sub-millimetre channels and sub-microlitre chambers. A special challenge in these small micro-fluidic systems is to create good mixing flows, since it is almost impossible to generate turbulence. We propose an active micro-fluidic mixing concept inspired by nature, namely by micro-organisms that swim through a liquid by oscillating microscopic hairs, cilia, that cover their surface. We have fabricated artificial cilia consisting of electro-statically actuated polymer structures, and have integrated these in a micro-fluidic channel. Flow visualization experiments show that the cilia can generate substantial fluid velocities, up to 0.6 mm s(-1). In addition, very efficient mixing is obtained using specially designed geometrical cilia configurations in a micro-channel. Since the artificial cilia can be actively controlled using electrical signals, they have exciting applications in micro-fluidic devices.     

Magnetic Hetero-flocculation of Paramagnetic Colloidal Particles

The feasibility of a high-gradient magnetic separation process, utilizing magnetite as the energizable element in lieu of stainless steel wool, is evaluated by means of an equilibrium, two-particle, magnetic hetero-flocculation model. The model calculates the net force, defined as the sum of the magnetic, electrostatic, and van der Waals forces, exerted on a paramagnetic nanoparticle that is in the proximity of a fixed magnetite particle. Since the nanoparticle-magnetite system is assumed to be in direct contact with the moving fluid, the influence of the hydrodynamic force on the magnetic attractive force between the two particles is also explored. This model clearly reveals the ranges and conditions over which each of these various forces contributes to the net force relative to Brownian (thermal) motion. The model also reveals the feasibility of using magnetite particles instead of stainless steel as the energizable element for high-gradient magnetic separation. Important variables investigated include the size and surface charge of the particles, the magnetic field, the flow velocity, the electrolyte concentration, and the magnetic susceptibility of the nanoparticle. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Passive and Active Mixing in Microfluidic Devices

In microfluidics the Reynolds number is small, preventing turbulence as a tool for mixing, while diffusion is that slow that time does not yield an alternative. Mixing in microfluidics therefore must rely on chaotic advection, as well-known from polymer technology practice where on macroscale the high viscosity makes the Reynolds numbers low and diffusion slow. The mapping method is used to analyze and optimize mixing also in microfluidic devices. We investigate passive mixers like the staggered herringbone micromixer (SHM), the barrier embedded micromixer (BEM) and a three-dimensional serpentine channel (3D-SC). Active mixing is obtained via incorporating particles that introduce a hyperbolic flow in e.g. two dimensional serpentine channels. Magnetic beads chains-up in a flow after switching on a magnetic field. Rotating the field creates a physical rotor moving the flow field. The Mason number represents the ratio of viscous forces to the magnetic field strength and its value determines the fate of the rotor: a single, an alternating single and double, or a multiple part chain-rotor results. The type of rotor determines the mixing quality with best results in the alternating case where crossing streamlines introduce chaotic advection. Finally, an active mixing device is proposed that mimics the cilia in nature. The transverse flow induced by their motion indeed enhances mixing at the microscale.     

A bioinspired magnetic responsive cilia array surface for microspheres underwater directional transport

Bio-inspired surfaces are usually designed by imitating the surface properties of a particular biological species,or combing with the surface characteristics of multiple biological species to construct a cross-species surface.Herein,inspired by the structure and rhythmic swing of human pulmonary cilia,and the directional migration of pigeons by geomagnetic field,an integrated system of biomimetic hydrophobic magnetic cilia array surface with reversible deformation properties and excellent magnetic response performance for solid microspheres underwater transport is designed and constructed.Driven by an external magnetic field,the magnetic responsive cilia array surface can directionally and continuously transport microspheres underwater in periodic motion.This work will shed new light on the designing of micromanipulation systems for micro-objects transport,and promote the practical application of micro-operating systems in underwater transportation and drug delivery.     

Natural convection in nanofluid flow with chemotaxis process over a vertically inclined heated surface

The thermal energy transport analysis with chemotaxis in the free convective flow of viscous nanofluid over stretchable vertically inclined heated sheet is addressed in this article. The fluid forced and free convection motion is investigated and discussed with physical reasoning. The fluid also contains microorganism heavy-bottom species, and their chemotactic motion is studied. In the light of Buongiorno model, the impact of Brownian motion and thermophoresis slip mechanism on thermal conduction in the nanofluid is analyzed. The work is based on the similarity analysis of governing partial differential equations (PDEs) which lead to non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The solution of resulting flow and heat equations is computed via bvp4c technique. The outcomes are represented in graphical abstract. It is noted that free convective flow field increases near to the surface of sheet then it decays to free stream exponentially. Higher magnitude of thermophoretic force boost up the thermal energy transport in nanofluid flow. The Brownian motion enhances temperature profile and lower down the convection velocity. Chemotaxis motion of species in nanofluid is increasing function of bioconvective Peclet number.     

Motion of a colloidal sphere with interfacial self-electrochemical reactions induced by a magnetic field

The motion of a spherical colloidal particle with spontaneous electrochemical reactions occurring on its surface in an ionic solution subjected to an applied magnetic field is analyzed for an arbitrary zeta potential distribution. The thickness of the electric double layer adjacent to the particle surface is assumed to be much less than the particle radius. The solutions of the Laplace equations governing the magnetic scalar potential and electric potential, respectively, lead to the magnetic flux and electric current density distributions in the particle and fluid phases of arbitrary magnetic permeabilities and electric conductivities. The Stokes equations modified with the Lorentz force contribution for the fluid motion are dealt by using a generalized reciprocal theorem, and closed-form formulas for the translational and angular velocities of the colloidal sphere induced by the magnetohydrodynamic effect are obtained. The dipole and quadrupole moments of the zeta potential distribution over the particle surface cause the particle translation and rotation, respectively. The induced velocities of the particle are unexpectedly significant, and their dependence on the characteristics of the particle-fluid system is physically different from that for electromagnetophoretic particles or phoretic swimmers.