Computational investigation of fluid velocity in a biochip microchannel for single cell trapping

Abstract

A highly requirement of analyzing a biological sample at a so-called single cell level has encouraged for the development of innovative and versatile microdevices. Up to now, microfluidic devices have become as emerging technologies that can support an investigation and analysis of a living cell. For many cutting- edge single cell studies, trapping of individual cells at specific locations in the developed microfluidic device is truly essential prior to characterization or quantification of cells biophysical properties. In this paper, microfluidic devices capable of trapping a single cell are designed simply through a concept of hydrodynamic manipulation. The microfluidic devices are designed with a series of trap and bypass microchannel structures for trapping individual cells without the need for microwell, robotic equipment, external electric force or surface modification. Two designs of microchannel: 1) Loop-type and 2) T-type are proposed. In order to investigate the single cell trapping capability, a finite element model of the proposed design have been developed using ABAQUS-FEATM software in which the fluid velocity can be analyzed. Based on the simulation, the geometrical parameters which affect the single cell trapping are appropriately selected. After adapting the trap and bypass microchannel structures via simulations, a single cell can be trapped at a desired location efficiently. It is shown that the simulation results are in a good agreement with the previously reported experimental studies.