• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.1-22
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• 2013

Magnetic nanoparticle based bioseparation in microfluidics is a multiphysics phenomenon that involves interplay of various parameters. The ability to understand the dynamics of these parameters is a prerequisite for designing and developing more efficient magnetic cell/bio-particle separation systems. Therefore, in this work proof-of-concept experiments are combined with advanced numerical simulation to design and optimize the capturing process of magnetic nanoparticles responsible for efficient microfluidic bioseparation. A low cost generic microfluidic platform was developed using a novel micromolding method that can be done without a clean room techniques and at much lower cost and time. Parametric analysis using both experiments and theoretical predictions were performed. It was found that flow rate and magnetic field strength greatly influence the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in the microchannel and control the capturing efficiency. The results from mathematical model agree very well with experiments. The model further demonstrated that a 12% increase in capturing efficiency can be achieved by introducing of iron-grooved bar in the microfluidic setup that resulted in increase in magnetic field gradient. The numerical simulations were helpful in testing and optimizing key design parameters. Overall, this work demonstrated that a simple low cost experimental proof-of-concept setup can be synchronized with advanced numerical simulation not only to enhance the functional performance of magneto-fluidic capturing systems but also to efficiently design and develop microfluidic bioseparation systems for biomedical applications.

• Korea-Australia Rheology Journal
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.61-66
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• 2007

The aggregation characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) are known as important factors in the microvascular flow system, and increased RBC aggregation has been observed in various pathological diseases, such as thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This paper describes a simple microfluidic device for measuring the RBC aggregation by integrating a microfluidic slit rheometry and laser-backscattering technique. While a decreasing-pressure mechanism was applied to the microfluidic rheometry, a syllectogram (the light intensity versus time) showed an initial increase and a peak caused by the high shear stress-induced disaggregation, immediately followed by a decrease in the light intensity due to RBC aggregation. The critical shear stress (CST) corresponding to the peak intensity was examined as a new index of the RBC aggregation characteristics. The CST of RBCs increased with increasing aggregation-dominating protein (fibrinogen) in the blood plasma. The essential feature of this design was the combination of the rheometric-optic characterization of RBC aggregation with a microfluidic chip, which may potentially allow cell aggregation measurements to be easily carried out in a clinical setting.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.277-280
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• 2006

Rapid and highly sensitive determination of nicotine in a PDMS microfluidic channel was investigated using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A three-dimensional PDMS microfluidic channel was fabricated for this purpose. This channel shows a high mixing efficiency because the transverse and vertical dispersions of the fluid occur simultaneously through the upper and lower zig zag-type blocks. A higher efficiency of mixing could also be obtained by splitting each of the confluent streams into two sub-streams that then joined and recombined. The SERS signal was measured after nicotine molecules were effectively adsorbed onto silver nanoparticles by passing through the three-dimensional channel. A quantitative analysis of nicotine was performed based on the measured peak area at 1030 $cm^{-1}$. The detection limit was estimated to be below 0.1 ppm. In this work, the SERS detection, in combination with a PDMS microfluidic channel, has been applied to the quantitative analysis of nicotine in aqueous solution. Compared to the other conventional analytical methods, the detection sensitivity was enhanced up to several orders of magnitude.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2010

본 논문은 다기능 미소유체시스템의 일체형 패키징을 위한 MSI (microfluidic system interface) 기술을 제안하고, 이를 설계, 제작, 시험 평가하였다. MSI 기술을 통해 플러그 방식의 유체 인터커넥터, 유체제어를 위한 미소밸브, 광학 인터페이스를 위한 광학창을 유체시스템에 일체형으로 쉽게 구현할 수 있었다. MSI 기술의 유용성을 보이기 위해 미소 유전자시료전처리시스템에 적용되었으며, 미소 유전자시료전처리시스템은 세포정제, 세포분리, 세포용해, DNA 고체상추출, 중합효소연쇄반응, 그리고 모세관전기영동 기능으로 구성되었다. 나아가 MSI 기술이 적용된 미소 유전자시료전처리시스템의 DNA 고체상추출 및 중합효소연쇄반응의 실험결과로부터 MSI가 미소유체시스템을 위한 실용적 패키징 기술임이 검증되었다.

• 대한전자공학회논문지SD
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.15-20
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• 2009

레이저 광 산란을 이용한 검출 시스템 및 레이저를 이용한 광학적 검출에 있어서 높은 발광 강도를 통해 궁극적으로 높은 효율의 광 산란 신호를 광검출기에서 얻기 위해서는 발광 레이저빔을 미세유체 칩의 채널 중앙에 집광하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 본 논문을 통해 레이저 광 산란을 이용한 세포 검출을 위해 PDMS 마이크로렌즈가 집적화된 PDMS 미세유체 칩을 소개하고자 한다. 기존에 제작된 PDMS 미세유체 칩 위에 간편히 정렬하여 올려놓아 사용함으로써 검출 효율을 증가시킬 수 있는 PDMS 마이크로렌즈를 제작하였다. PDMS 마이크로렌즈는 포토레지스트 리플로우와 PDMS 복제 몰딩에 의해 제작되었다. 이 제작 방법은 간단하며 높은 치수 정확성 및 좋은 마이크로렌즈의 성능을 제공한다. PDMS 미세유체 칩 위에 집적화된 PDMS 마이크로렌즈가 적혈구를 이용한 레이저 광 산란을 통한 세포 검출 실험에서 레이저 강도를 증가시켜 신호대잡음비 및 감도를 증가시킴을 검증하였다.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제11권5호
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• pp.455-461
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• 2006

In this study, we have described a method for the fabrication of a protein chip on silicon substrate using hydrophobic thin film and microfluidic channels, for the simultaneous detection of multiple targets in samples. The use of hydrophobic thin film provides for a physical, chemical, and biological barrier for protein patterning. The microfluidic channels create four protein patterned strips on the silicon surfaces with a high signal-to-noise ratio. The feasibility of the protein chips was determined in order to discriminate between each protein interaction in a mixture sample that included biotin, ovalbumin, hepatitis B antigen, and hepatitis C antigen. In the fabrication of the multiplexed assay system, the utilization of the hydrophobic thin film and the microfluidic networks constitutes a more convenient method for the development of biosensors or biochips. This technique may be applicable to the simultaneous evaluation of multiple protein-protein interactions.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제38권10호
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• pp.853-858
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• 2014

본 연구는 미세유동칩을 이용하여 당의 일종인 cyclodextrine(CD)과 알루미늄 이온 검출이 가능한 polydiacetylene(PDA)이 집적된 미세섬유를 제작하는 방법을 제안한다. PDA는 공액 고분자의 일종으로 외부 자극에 대해 blue-to-red 색 전이 및 형광이 발현되며 원료가 되는 PCDA의 head group에 따라 자극에 대한 감도가 달라지는 매력적인 특성을 가지고 있다. 따라서, 이온간 교차결합으로 야기되는 하이드로젤 형성 메커니즘과 미세유동칩 내 3차원 유체집속효과를 활용하여 PCDA-EDEA 기반의 diacetylene(DA) 단량체가 집적된 센서 섬유를 제작하였다. 섬유 내 DA 단량체는 UV에 의해 파란색의 PDA로 상 전이가 일어나며 CD나 알루미늄 이온에 반응하여 붉은색으로의 색 전이 및 붉은 형광이 발현되는 특성을 보였다. 또한 형광세기는 CD와 금속 이온의 농도에 따라 변화하는 특성을 나타내었다. 이는 미세섬유가 건조된 경우에도 동일하게 관찰되었다.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.196-202
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• 2015

Human blood consists of 55% of plasma and 45% of blood cells such as white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC). In plasma, there are many kinds of promising biomarkers, which can be used for the diagnosis of various diseases and biological analysis. For diagnostic tools such as a lab-on-a-chip (LOC), blood plasma separation is a fundamental step for accomplishing a high performance in the detection of a disease. Highly efficient separators can increase the sensitivity and selectivity of biosensors and reduce diagnostic time. In order to achieve a higher yield in blood plasma separation, we propose a novel fluid wing structure that is optimized by COMSOL simulations by varying the fluidic channel width and the angle of the bifurcation. The fluid wing structure is inspired by the inertial particle separator system in helicopters where sand particles are prevented from following the air flow to an engine. The structure is ameliorated in order to satisfy biological and fluidic requirements at the micro scale to achieve high plasma yield and separation efficiency. In this study, we fabricated the fluid wing structure for the efficient microfluidic blood plasma separation. The high plasma yield of 67% is achieved with a channel width of $20{\mu}m$ in the fabricated fluidic chip and the result was not affected by the angle of the bifurcation.

• 대한기계학회논문집B
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.320-329
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• 2007

Electrokinesis and dielectrophoresis are important transport phenomena produced by external electric field applied to a microchannel containing a conductive fluid. We developed a CFD code to predict electrokinetic and dielectrophoretic flows in a microchannel with a uniform circular post array. Using the code, we calculated particle velocities driven by electrokinesis and dielectrophoresis, and conducted Monte Carlo simulations to visualize the particle motions. The code was validated by comparing the results with those from previous studies in literature. At a low electric field, electrokinesis and diffusion is the dominant transport mechanism. At a moderate electric field, dielectrophoresis is balanced with electrokinesis and diffusion, resulting in flowing filaments of particles in the microchannels. However, dielectrophoresis overwhelms the flow at a high electric field and traps particles locally. These results provide useful insight for optimizing design parameters of a microfluidic chip for biochemical analysis, especially for development of on-chip sample pretreatment techniques using electrokinetic and dielectrophoretic effects.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.132-136
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• 2004

The LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate) test for the detection and quantification of endotoxin is based on the gelation reaction between endotoxin and LAL from a blood extract of Limulus polyphemus. The test is labor intensive, requiring dedicated personnel, a relatively long reaction time (approximately 1 h), relatively large volumes of samples and reagents and the detection of the end-point is rather subjective. To solve these problems, a miniaturized LOC (lab-on-a-chip) prototype, 62mm (L) ${\times}$ 18 mm (W), was fabricated using PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) bonded to glass. Using this prototype, in which 2mm (W) ${\times}$ 44.3mm (L) ${\times}$ 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ (D) microfluidic channel was constructed, turbidometric and chromogenic assay detection methods were compared, and the chromogenic method was found the most suitable for a small volume assay. In this assay, the kinetic-point method was more accurate than the end-point method. The PDMS chip thickness was found to be minimized to around 2 mm to allow sufficient light transmittance, which necessitated the use of a glass slide bonding for chip rigidity. Due to this miniaturization, the test time was reduced from 1 h to less than 10 min, and the sample volume could be reduced from 100 to ca. 4.4 ${\mu}$L. In summation, this study suggested that the LOC using the LAL test principle could be an alternative as a semi-automated and reliable method for the detection of endotoxin.