Berlin 2018 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 10: Postersession II

BP 10.27: Poster

Monday, March 12, 2018, 17:30–19:30, Poster C

Fluid flow in curvilinear microchannels for stem cell purification- understanding the deformability-induced lift force — •Ewa Guzniczak¹, Melanie Jimenez², and Helen Bridle¹ — ¹Heriot-Watt University, School of Engineering and Physical Science, Department of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering Edinburgh Campus, Edinburgh EH14 4AS — ²University of Glasgow, School of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Division, Glasgow G12 8QQ

Traditionally, fluid flow in microscale confined channels has been associated with a negligible inertia since fluid flow occurs at low Reynold's numbers. However previous work (Di Carlo 2009) has shown physical phenomena occurring at commonly neglected intermediate flow regimes, namely secondary flow and inertial migration of particles, determined by channel geometry, particle size and flow rate. The interplay between fluid flow pattern and particles, if fine-tuned, leads to particles ordering and separation, and the effect has been exploited in a range of applications. However, biological particles due to their deformable nature add complexity to the focusing mechanism and it is challenging to predict their behaviour. We exploit inertial focusing in curvilinear microchannels to purify manufactured red blood cells, which are the end-products of stem cell differentiation. Separation is based on their physical properties, namely size and deformability. Thus, we are also exploring how deformability-induced lift force affects and contributes to particles separation in the spiral microchannel.