Computer simulation plays a growing role in the design of microfluidic chips. However, the particle tracers in some existing commercial computational fluid dynamics software are not well suited for accurately simulating the trajectories of particles such as cells, microbeads, and droplets in microfluidic systems. To address this issue, we present a microfluidics-optimized particle simulation al...

The recent progress and achievements in the development of preparation of nano and microparticles in a microfluidic environment is reviewed. Microfluidics exploit fluid mechanics to create particles with a narrow range of sizes and offers a finely controllable route to tune the shape and composition of nanomaterials. The advantages of both continuous flowand droplet-based synthesis of polymers ...

The application of microfluidic devices for DNA amplification has recently been extensively studied. Here, we review the important development of microfluidic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) devices and discuss the underlying physical principles for the optimal design and operation of the device. In particular, we focus on continuous-flow microfluidic PCR on-chip, which can be readily implement...

Microfluidic fluorescence assay devices show great promise as preclinical and clinical diagnostic instruments. Normally, fluorescence signals from microfluidic chips are quantified by analysis of images obtained with a commercial fluorescence microscope. This method is unnecessarily expensive, time consuming, and requires significant operator training, particularly when considering future clini...

Three-dimensional tumor culture methods offer a high degree of biological and clinical relevance to in vitro models as well as cancer therapy. However, a straightforward, dynamic, and high-throughput method for micro-manipulation of 3D tumors is not yet well established. In this study, we present a novel and simple strategy for producing biomimetic 3D tumors in a controllable, high throughput m...

High pressure-rated channels allow microfluidic assays to be performed on a smaller footprint while keeping the throughput, thanks to the higher enabled flow rates, opening up perspectives for cost-effective integration of CMOS chips to microfluidic circuits. Accordingly, this study introduces an easy, low-cost and efficient method for realizing high pressure microfluidics-to-CMOS integration. ...

Microfluidics is poised to have an impact on life sciences research. However, current microfluidic methods are not compatible with existing laboratory liquid dispensing and detection infrastructure. This incompatibility is a barrier to adoption of microfluidic systems and calls for improved approaches that will enhance performance and promote acceptance of microfluidic systems in the life scien...

We report a study of the continuous generation of polymer particles in parallel multiple modular microfluidic (M3) reactors. Each module consisted of sixteen parallel microfluidic reactors comprising emulsification and polymerization compartments. We identified and minimized the effects of the following factors that could result in the broadening of the distribution of sizes of the particles sy...

A simple, low-cost and on-demand microfluidic flow controlling platform was developed based on a unique capillary-tuned solenoid microvalve suction effect without any outer pressure source. The suction effect was innovatively employed as a stable and controllable driving force for the manipulation of the microfluidic system by connecting a piece of capillary between the microvalve and the micro...

Paper-based microfluidic devices hold great potential in today’s microfluidic applications. They offer low costs, simple and quick fabrication processes, ease of uses, etc. In this work, several wax and paper materials are investigated for the fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices. A novel method of using wax as a suitable backing to a paper-based analytical device has been demonstrat...