Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle

Abstract Most commercial microfluidic droplet generators rely on the planar flow-focusing configuration implemented in polymer or glass chips. The planar geometry, however, suffers from many limitations and drawbacks, such as the need of specific coatings or the use of dedicated surfactants, dependi...

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Autores principales:	Adrien Dewandre, Javier Rivero-Rodriguez, Youen Vitry, Benjamin Sobac, Benoit Scheid
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2020
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/c091527d5cf145e9ba1ea49a6974711d
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:c091527d5cf145e9ba1ea49a6974711d2021-12-02T12:33:14ZMicrofluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle10.1038/s41598-020-77836-y2045-2322https://doaj.org/article/c091527d5cf145e9ba1ea49a6974711d2020-12-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77836-yhttps://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Most commercial microfluidic droplet generators rely on the planar flow-focusing configuration implemented in polymer or glass chips. The planar geometry, however, suffers from many limitations and drawbacks, such as the need of specific coatings or the use of dedicated surfactants, depending on the fluids in play. On the contrary, and thanks to their axisymmetric geometry, glass capillary-based droplet generators are a priori not fluid-dependent. Nevertheless, they have never reached the market because their assembly requires fastidious and not scalable fabrication techniques. Here we present a new device, called Raydrop, based on the alignment of two capillaries immersed in a pressurized chamber containing the continuous phase. The dispersed phase exits one of the capillaries through a 3D-printed nozzle placed in front of the extraction capillary for collecting the droplets. This non-embedded implementation of an axisymmetric flow-focusing is referred to non-embedded co-flow-focusing configuration. Experimental results demonstrate the universality of the device in terms of the variety of fluids that can be emulsified, as well as the range of droplet radii that can be obtained, without neither the need of surfactant nor coating. Additionally, numerical computations of the Navier-Stokes equations based on the quasi-steadiness assumption allow to provide an explanation to the underlying mechanism behind the drop formation and the mechanism of the dripping to jetting transition. Excellent predictions were also obtained for the droplet radius, as well as for the dripping-jetting transition, when varying the geometrical and fluid parameters, showing the ability of this configuration to enventually enhance the dripping regime. The monodispersity ensured by the dripping regime, the robustness of the fabrication technique, the optimization capabilities from the numerical modelling and the universality of the configuration confer to the Raydrop technology a very high potential in the race towards high-throughput droplet generation processes.Adrien DewandreJavier Rivero-RodriguezYouen VitryBenjamin SobacBenoit ScheidNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 10, Iss 1, Pp 1-17 (2020)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Adrien Dewandre Javier Rivero-Rodriguez Youen Vitry Benjamin Sobac Benoit Scheid Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
description	Abstract Most commercial microfluidic droplet generators rely on the planar flow-focusing configuration implemented in polymer or glass chips. The planar geometry, however, suffers from many limitations and drawbacks, such as the need of specific coatings or the use of dedicated surfactants, depending on the fluids in play. On the contrary, and thanks to their axisymmetric geometry, glass capillary-based droplet generators are a priori not fluid-dependent. Nevertheless, they have never reached the market because their assembly requires fastidious and not scalable fabrication techniques. Here we present a new device, called Raydrop, based on the alignment of two capillaries immersed in a pressurized chamber containing the continuous phase. The dispersed phase exits one of the capillaries through a 3D-printed nozzle placed in front of the extraction capillary for collecting the droplets. This non-embedded implementation of an axisymmetric flow-focusing is referred to non-embedded co-flow-focusing configuration. Experimental results demonstrate the universality of the device in terms of the variety of fluids that can be emulsified, as well as the range of droplet radii that can be obtained, without neither the need of surfactant nor coating. Additionally, numerical computations of the Navier-Stokes equations based on the quasi-steadiness assumption allow to provide an explanation to the underlying mechanism behind the drop formation and the mechanism of the dripping to jetting transition. Excellent predictions were also obtained for the droplet radius, as well as for the dripping-jetting transition, when varying the geometrical and fluid parameters, showing the ability of this configuration to enventually enhance the dripping regime. The monodispersity ensured by the dripping regime, the robustness of the fabrication technique, the optimization capabilities from the numerical modelling and the universality of the configuration confer to the Raydrop technology a very high potential in the race towards high-throughput droplet generation processes.
format	article
author	Adrien Dewandre Javier Rivero-Rodriguez Youen Vitry Benjamin Sobac Benoit Scheid
author_facet	Adrien Dewandre Javier Rivero-Rodriguez Youen Vitry Benjamin Sobac Benoit Scheid
author_sort	Adrien Dewandre
title	Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
title_short	Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
title_full	Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
title_fullStr	Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
title_full_unstemmed	Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle
title_sort	microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3d printed nozzle
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2020
url	https://doaj.org/article/c091527d5cf145e9ba1ea49a6974711d
work_keys_str_mv	AT adriendewandre microfluidicdropletgenerationbasedonnonembeddedcoflowfocusingusing3dprintednozzle AT javierriverorodriguez microfluidicdropletgenerationbasedonnonembeddedcoflowfocusingusing3dprintednozzle AT youenvitry microfluidicdropletgenerationbasedonnonembeddedcoflowfocusingusing3dprintednozzle AT benjaminsobac microfluidicdropletgenerationbasedonnonembeddedcoflowfocusingusing3dprintednozzle AT benoitscheid microfluidicdropletgenerationbasedonnonembeddedcoflowfocusingusing3dprintednozzle
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Microfluidic droplet generation based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing using 3D printed nozzle

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