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Deformation and focusing of hydrogel microparticles in microfluidic flow: mimicking the segregation of cancer cells with similar sizes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2025

Zhenya Ding Open the ORCID record for Zhenya Ding [Opens in a new window] ,
Yihao Xiao ,
Hua Zhang Open the ORCID record for Hua Zhang [Opens in a new window] ,
Keyao Zhang ,
Chi Zhu Open the ORCID record for Chi Zhu [Opens in a new window] ,
Lian-Ping Wang Open the ORCID record for Lian-Ping Wang [Opens in a new window]  and
Yahui Xue Open the ORCID record for Yahui Xue [Opens in a new window]
Zhenya Ding
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
Yihao Xiao
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
Hua Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260, Republic of Singapore
Keyao Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
Chi Zhu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, PR China
Lian-Ping Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
Yahui Xue*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering & Center for Complex Flows and Soft Matter Research, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, PR China
*
Corresponding author: Yahui Xue, [email protected]
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Abstract

The demand for separating and analysing rare target cells is increasing dramatically for vital applications such as cancer treatment and cell-based therapies. However, there remains a grand challenge for high-throughput and label-free segregation of lesion cells with similar sizes. Cancer cells with different invasiveness usually manifest distinct deformability. In this work, we employ a hydrogel microparticle system with similar sizes but varied stiffness to mimic cancer cells and examine in situ their deformation and focusing under microfluidic flow. We first demonstrate the similar focusing behaviour of hydrogel microparticles and cancer cells in confined flow that is dominated by deformability-induced lateral migration. The deformation, orientation and focusing position of hydrogel microparticles in microfluidic flow under different Reynolds numbers are then systematically observed and measured using a high-speed camera. Linear correlations of the Taylor deformation and tilt angle of hydrogel microparticles with the capillary number are revealed, consistent with theoretical predictions. Detailed analysis of the dependence of particle focusing on the flow rate and particle stiffness enables us to identify a linear scaling between the equilibrium focusing position and the major axis of the deformed microparticles, which is uniquely determined by the capillary number. Our findings provide insights into the focusing and dynamics of soft beads, such as cells and hydrogel microparticles, under confined flow, and pave the way for applications including the separation and identification of circulating tumour cells, drug delivery and controlled drug release.

JFM classification

Micro-/Nano-fluid dynamics: Microfluidics Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Particle/fluid flow
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1007 , 25 March 2025 , A85
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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