Artificial cilia for active micro-fluidic mixing

J.M.J. Toonder, den, F.M. Bos, D.J. Broer, L. Filippini, M.F. Gillies, J. Goede, de, T. Mol, M.A. Reijme, W. Talen, J.T.A. Wilderbeek, V.V. Khatavkar, P.D. Anderson

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259 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

In lab-on-chip devices, on which complete (bio-)chemical analysis laboratories are miniaturized and integrated, it is essential to manipulate fluids in sub-millimetre channels and sub-microlitre chambers. A special challenge in these small micro-fluidic systems is to create good mixing flows, since it is almost impossible to generate turbulence. We propose an active micro-fluidic mixing concept inspired by nature, namely by micro-organisms that swim through a liquid by oscillating microscopic hairs, cilia, that cover their surface. We have fabricated artificial cilia consisting of electro-statically actuated polymer structures, and have integrated these in a micro-fluidic channel. Flow visualization experiments show that the cilia can generate substantial fluid velocities, up to 0.6 mm s-1. In addition, very efficient mixing is obtained using specially designed geometrical cilia configurations in a micro-channel. Since the artificial cilia can be actively controlled using electrical signals, they have exciting applications in micro-fluidic devices.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)533-541
Number of pages9
JournalLab on a Chip
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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