Investigation of droplet generation through Lab-On-Disk microfluidic system using Lattice Boltzmann Method

Many researches have been performed about Lab-On-Chip microfluidic systems experimentally and numerically. At the best of our knowledge, there are so few numerical assessments about Lab-On-Disk. Hence, aim of the present paper is numerical investigation of Lab-On-Disk (Laboratory-On-Disk or LOD) platforms because of its broadened usage in variety of assays in different fields of science particularly in biomedicine, drug delivery, biomedical and diagnostic assays. To fulfill this purpose, Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) has been employed to assess droplet generation in a T-junction through investigation of influential parameters such as Bond number (Bo), density ratio, viscosity ratio and some geometrical parameters such as width ratio of the channels (nuzzle) and height of the main channel at both sides of the junction. Results revealed that growing Bo number altered flow regime while viscosity ratio did not have any considerable effect. Incline in width of the nuzzle generated small droplet whereas its increment enlarged droplet size. Inequality in the height of the main channel at the junction postponed droplet formation but generated larger one. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates Lab-On-Disk platforms using numerical methods, specifically focusing on droplet generation in a T-junction. The results show that factors such as Bond number and geometric parameters play a significant role in droplet formation, while viscosity ratio has a limited effect.