Simplified 3D hydrodynamic flow focusing for lab-on-chip single particle study

Accurately control of the position of a fluid and particle within lab-on-a-chip platform is a critical prerequisite for many downstream analysis processes, such as detection, trapping and separation, moving the sensing at the single-particle level. With the development of microfluidic fabrication technology, particle/cell focusing has shifted from two to three dimensions. 3D hydrodynamic focusing, which sorts and aligns the incoming cloud of particles so that they pass through the interrogation area one by one, enables new possibilities and breakthroughs in the single-cell analysis system. Despite the excellent results shown in literature, there is still a lack of a device that can simultaneously fulfilling the requirements of high throughput, compactness, high integrability, and ease of use operation to become a widely accepted work center for biomedical research and clinical applications. Here, we proposed a unique 3D flow focusing microfluidic device buried in fused silica substrate that potentially combines all this advantages. By designing a sample channel suspended inside a larger buffer channel, manufactured by exploiting the laser-assisted micromachine technique, a not size-dependent focusing capability is shown. A spatially and temporally stable central flow of a mixture of 15 & mu;m and 6 & mu;m PS particles to a 1 & mu;m PS microsphere solution has been obtained with high accuracy. Finally, to test the achievable focusing resolution, the chip was tested for the detection of Escherichia Coli bacteria in water solution as proof of concept of biological application.

Automated summary

Accurately controlling the position of fluid and particles is crucial for lab-on-a-chip platforms. The development of microfluidic fabrication technology has enabled three-dimensional hydrodynamic focusing, which has revolutionized single-cell analysis systems. However, there is still a lack of a device that meets the requirements of high throughput, compactness, high integrability, and ease of use for biomedical research and clinical applications. In this study, a 3D flow focusing microfluidic device buried in fused silica substrate was proposed, which shows promising advantages in terms of focusing capability. High accuracy and resolution were achieved in the detection of particles and bacteria.