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Micromachines
Special Issues
Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications
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Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "B：Biology and Biomedicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 11056

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ye Tian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 02115-5005, China
Interests: microfluidics; soft materials; flexible electronics; sensors and probes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Moyuan Cao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
Interests: bioinspired interface; fluid manipulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioinspired interface and fluid manipulation has emerged as a versatile and powerful platform that can be used for fostering multidisciplinary applications in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, environment, biomedical engineering, and medicine. The advancement of surface and interface engineering greatly boosts the development of fluid manipulation in an open space or under a liquid; the thriving of microfluidic fabrication technology and wettability substantially benefits the fabrication of microfluidic devices for small-scale fluid manipulation with high precision; the integration of machine learning and microfluidics revolutionizes fluid manipulation for various applications, such as materials synthesis and lab-on-a-chip technologies; and the emergence of bioinspired engineering promotes the development of fluid directional transport and collection. After being burgeoned for decades, bioinspired interface and fluid manipulation is undergoing a “golden” development age with new concepts and technologies continuing to be witnessed. This Special Issue aims to showcase research papers, communications, and review articles that focus on recent advancements in the fundamentals and applications of bioinspired interface and fluid manipulation, including, but not limited, to the (1) fundamental understanding of fluid manipulation and bioinspired surface/interface, (2) the design and fabrication of innovative fluid manipulation systems and bioinspired surface/interface, and (3) diverse applications related to bioinspired interface and fluid manipulation.

Dr. Ye Tian
Prof. Dr. Moyuan Cao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioinspired interface
  • fluid manipulation
  • droplet
  • wettability
  • microfluidics
  • bioinspired surface
  • bubbles
  • soft materials

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 6609 KiB  
Article
Drop Dissolution Intensified by Acoustic Levitation
by Jan-Paul Ruiken, Jörn Villwock and Matthias Kraume
Micromachines 2024, 15(6), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15060805 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Acoustic levitation can provide significant benefits for many fundamental research questions. However, it is important to consider that the acoustic field influences the measurement environment. This work focuses on the dissolution of immobilised drops using acoustic levitation in liquid–liquid systems. Previous work demonstrated [...] Read more.
Acoustic levitation can provide significant benefits for many fundamental research questions. However, it is important to consider that the acoustic field influences the measurement environment. This work focuses on the dissolution of immobilised drops using acoustic levitation in liquid–liquid systems. Previous work demonstrated that the acoustic field of standing waves impacts mass transfer by affecting the spread of dissolved substances in the continuous phase in two distinct ways: (I) solutes may either pass through nodal planes of the standing waves or (II) not pass. The binary systems examined for case (I) are 1-hexanol–water and 1-butanol–water, and for case (II), n-butyl acetate–water and toluene–water. This work quantifies the intensification effect of acoustic levitation on dissolution for the two types of behaviour, by comparing them with reference measurements of mechanically attached dissolving drops. The system was designed to ensure minimal intensification. The minimum intensification of mass transfer for levitating drops in the used setup of case (I) was 25%, and for case (II), it was 65%, both increasing with decreasing surface-equivalent diameter. With this understanding, acoustic levitation can be used more accurately in the field of mass transfer studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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15 pages, 2338 KiB  
Article
Chitosan as an Alternative to Oil-Based Materials for the Fabrication of Lab-on-a-Chip
by Morgane Zimmer, Stéphane Trombotto, Emmanuelle Laurenceau and Anne-Laure Deman
Micromachines 2024, 15(3), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15030379 - 12 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Given the growing importance of lab-on-a-chip in a number of fields, such as medical diagnosis or environmental analysis, the fact that the current fabrication process relies mainly on oil-based polymers raises an ecological concern. As an eco-responsible alternative, we presented, in this article, [...] Read more.
Given the growing importance of lab-on-a-chip in a number of fields, such as medical diagnosis or environmental analysis, the fact that the current fabrication process relies mainly on oil-based polymers raises an ecological concern. As an eco-responsible alternative, we presented, in this article, a manufacturing process for microfluidic devices from chitosan, a bio-sourced, biodegradable, and biocompatible polysaccharide. From chitosan powder, we produced thick and rigid films. To prevent their dissolution and reduce their swelling when in contact with aqueous solutions, we investigated a film neutralization step and characterized the mechanical and physical properties of the resulting films. On these neutralized chitosan films, we compared two micropatterning methods, i.e., hot embossing and mechanical micro-drilling, based on the resolution of microchannels from 100 µm to 1000 µm wide. Then, chitosan films with micro-drilled channels were bonded using a biocompatible dry photoresist on a glass slide or another neutralized chitosan film. Thanks to this protocol, the first functional chitosan microfluidic devices were prepared. While some steps of the fabrication process remain to be improved, these preliminary results pave the way toward a sustainable fabrication of lab-on-a-chip. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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12 pages, 3482 KiB  
Article
Chemical Instability-Induced Wettability Patterns on Superhydrophobic Surfaces
by Tianchen Chen and Faze Chen
Micromachines 2024, 15(3), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15030329 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1097
Abstract
Chemical instability of liquid-repellent surfaces is one of the nontrivial hurdles that hinders their real-world applications. Although much effort has been made to prepare chemically durable liquid-repellent surfaces, little attention has been paid to exploit the instability for versatile use. Herein, we propose [...] Read more.
Chemical instability of liquid-repellent surfaces is one of the nontrivial hurdles that hinders their real-world applications. Although much effort has been made to prepare chemically durable liquid-repellent surfaces, little attention has been paid to exploit the instability for versatile use. Herein, we propose to create hydrophilic patterns on a superhydrophobic surface by taking advantage of its chemical instability induced by acid solution treatment. A superhydrophobic Cu(OH)2 nanoneedle-covered Cu plate that shows poor stability towards HCl solution (1.0 M) is taken as an example. The results show that 2.5 min of HCl solution exposure leads to the etching of Cu(OH)2 nanoneedles and the partial removal of the self-assembled fluoroalkyl silane molecular layer, resulting in the wettability transition from superhydrophobocity to hydrophilicity, and the water contact angle decreases from ~160° to ~30°. Hydrophilic dimples with different diameters are then created on the superhydrophobic surfaces by depositing HCl droplets with different volumes. Afterwards, the hydrophilic dimple-patterned superhydrophobic surfaces are used for water droplet manipulations, including controlled transfer, merging, and nanoliter droplet deposition. The results thereby verify the feasibility of creating wettability patterns on superhydrophobic surfaces by using their chemical instability towards corrosive solutions, which broadens the fabrication methods and applications of functional liquid-repellent surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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13 pages, 3300 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Shrink Film Properties for Rapid Microfluidics Lab-on-Chip Fabrication
by Tian Fook Kong, Alger Wai Jiat Ang and Marcos
Micromachines 2024, 15(3), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15030308 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1616
Abstract
Shrink film is a thin sheet of polystyrene plastic that shrinks to 25–40% of its original size when heated. This study investigated the shrinkage factor of the film at different temperatures and baking times to determine the optimal fabrication recipe for shrink film [...] Read more.
Shrink film is a thin sheet of polystyrene plastic that shrinks to 25–40% of its original size when heated. This study investigated the shrinkage factor of the film at different temperatures and baking times to determine the optimal fabrication recipe for shrink film microfluidic device production. Additionally, this study characterized the properties of shrink film, including minimum possible feature size and cross-section geometries, using manual engraving and the CAMEO 4 automated cutting machine. The optimal shrinkage factor ranged from 1.7 to 2.9 at 150 °C and a baking time of 4 min, producing the ideal size for microfluidic device fabrication. The X- and Y-axes shrank ~2.5 times, while Z-axis thickened by a factor of ~5.8 times. This study achieved a minimum feature size of 200 microns, limited by the collapsing of channel sidewalls when shrunk, leading to blockages in the microchannel. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of using shrink film as a cost-effective and efficient material for the rapid fabrication of microfluidic devices. The potential applications of this material in various fields such as the medical and biomedical industries, bacteria and algae culture and enumeration are noteworthy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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14 pages, 8975 KiB  
Article
Microfiber-Patterned Versatile Perfusable Vascular Networks
by Ye Tian and Liqiu Wang
Micromachines 2023, 14(12), 2201; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14122201 - 1 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1183
Abstract
Rapid construction of versatile perfusable vascular networks in vitro with cylindrical channels still remains challenging. Here, a microfiber-patterned method is developed to precisely fabricate versatile well-controlled perfusable vascular networks with cylindrical channels. This method uses tensile microfibers as an easy-removable template to rapidly [...] Read more.
Rapid construction of versatile perfusable vascular networks in vitro with cylindrical channels still remains challenging. Here, a microfiber-patterned method is developed to precisely fabricate versatile well-controlled perfusable vascular networks with cylindrical channels. This method uses tensile microfibers as an easy-removable template to rapidly generate cylindrical-channel chips with one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multilayered structures, enabling the independent and precise control over the vascular geometry. These perfusable and cytocompatible chips have great potential to mimic vascular networks. The inner surfaces of a three-dimensional vascular network are lined with the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to imitate the endothelialization of a human blood vessel. The results show that HUVECs attach well on the inner surface of channels and form endothelial tubular lumens with great cell viability. The simple, rapid and low-cost technique for versatile perfusable vascular networks offers plenty of promising opportunities for microfluidics, tissue engineering, clinical medicine and drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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Review

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35 pages, 48192 KiB  
Review
Lab-on-Chip Systems for Cell Sorting: Main Features and Advantages of Inertial Focusing in Spiral Microchannels
by Isabella Petruzzellis, Rebeca Martínez Vázquez, Stefania Caragnano, Caterina Gaudiuso, Roberto Osellame, Antonio Ancona and Annalisa Volpe
Micromachines 2024, 15(9), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15091135 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 4348
Abstract
Inertial focusing-based Lab-on-Chip systems represent a promising technology for cell sorting in various applications, thanks to their alignment with the ASSURED criteria recommended by the World Health Organization: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment-free, and Delivered. Inertial focusing techniques using spiral [...] Read more.
Inertial focusing-based Lab-on-Chip systems represent a promising technology for cell sorting in various applications, thanks to their alignment with the ASSURED criteria recommended by the World Health Organization: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and Robust, Equipment-free, and Delivered. Inertial focusing techniques using spiral microchannels offer a rapid, portable, and easy-to-prototype solution for cell sorting. Various microfluidic devices have been investigated in the literature to understand how hydrodynamic forces influence particle focusing in spiral microchannels. This is crucial for the effective prototyping of devices that allow for high-throughput and efficient filtration of particles of different sizes. However, a clear, comprehensive, and organized overview of current research in this area is lacking. This review aims to fill this gap by offering a thorough summary of the existing literature, thereby guiding future experimentation and facilitating the selection of spiral geometries and materials for cell sorting in microchannels. To this end, we begin with a detailed theoretical introduction to the physical mechanisms underlying particle separation in spiral microfluidic channels. We also dedicate a section to the materials and prototyping techniques most commonly used for spiral microchannels, highlighting and discussing their respective advantages and disadvantages. Subsequently, we provide a critical examination of the key details of inertial focusing across various cross-sections (rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hybrid) in spiral devices as reported in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinspired Interface and Fluid Manipulation: From Fundamentals to Applications)
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