ABSTRACT
We have performed dielectric spectroscopy and thermally stimulated-depolarization-current experiments to study the molecular dynamics of the twist-bend nematic phase close to the glass transition of two members of the 1â³,7'-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)alkane homologous series (CBnCB): the liquid crystal (LC) dimers CB9CB and CB7CB, as well as a binary mixture of both. By doping CB9CB with a small quantity of CB7CB, the crystallization is inhibited when cooling the sample down, while the bulk properties of CB9CB are retained and we can investigate the supercooled behavior close to the glass transition. The study reveals that the inter- and intramolecular interactions of the mixture are similar to those of pure CB9CB and confirms that there is a single glass transition in symmetric LC dimers.
ABSTRACT
Direct-current insulator-based dielectrophoresis (DC-iDEP) is a well-known technique that benefits from the electric field gradients generated by an array of insulating posts to separate or trap biological particles. The aim of this study is to provide a first geometrical relationship of the post array that independent of the particles and/or medium, maximizes the trapping. A novel figure of merit is proposed to maximize the particle trapping in the post array while minimizing the required voltage, with a similar footprint and channel thickness. Different post array models with the variation of transversal distance (10 to 60 µm), longitudinal distance (10 to 80 µm), and post radius (10 to 150 µm) were analyzed using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software. The obtained results indicated that a post radius of 40 µm larger than the transversal distance between posts could enhance the trapping condition between 56 % (for a transversal distance of 10 µm) and 341 % (for a transversal distance of 60 µm). For the validation of the numerical results, several microchannels with embedded post arrays were manufactured in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the particle trapping patterns of 6-µm-diameter polystyrene particles were measured experimentally. The experiments confirm the same trends as pointed out by the numerical analysis. The results show that this new figure of merit and geometrical relationship can be used to reduce the required electric field to achieve effective particle trapping and, therefore, avoid the negative effects of Joule heating in cells or viable particles. The main advantage of these results is that they depend only on the geometry of the micropost array and are valid for trapping different particles suspended in different media. Graphical abstract Analysis to maximize the particle trapping in the post array while minimizing the required voltage. I. Microfluidic channel design and experimental setup II. Numerical and experimental results. III. Maximum trapping value.
ABSTRACT
Evaluation and diagnosis of blood alterations is a common request for clinical laboratories, requiring a complex technological approach and dedication of health resources. In this paper, we present a microfluidic device that owing to a novel combination of hydrodynamic and dielectrophoretic techniques can separate plasma from fresh blood in a microfluidic channel and for the first time allows optical real-time monitoring of the components of plasma without pre- or post-processing. The microchannel is based on a set of dead-end branches at each side and is initially filled using capillary forces with a 2-µL droplet of fresh blood. During this process, stagnation zones are generated at the dead-end branches and some red blood cells (RBCs) are trapped there. An electric field is then applied and dielectrophoretic trapping of RBCs is used to prevent more RBCs entering into the channel, which works like a sieve. Besides, an electroosmotic flow is generated to sweep the rest of the RBCs from the central part of the channel. Consequently, an RBC-free zone of plasma is formed in the middle of the channel, allowing real-time monitoring of the platelet behavior. To study the generation of stagnation zones and to ensure RBC trapping in the initial constrictions, two numerical models were solved. The proposed experimental design separates up to 0.1 µL blood plasma from a 2-µL fresh human blood droplet. In this study, a plasma purity of 99 % was achieved after 7 min, according to the measurements taken by image analysis. Graphical Abstract Schematics of a real-time plasma monitoring system based on a Hydrodynamic and direct-current insulator-based dielectrophoresis microfluidic channel.
