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Electrostatic curved electrode actuator for particle sorting at a microfluidic bifurcation

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2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering.
Cell sorting devices enable researchers to subdivide cell populations to perform follow-up assays to investigate unique characteristics of each cell sub-population. The cell sorting gold standard, the Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS), has significantly increased our knowledge of biological systems based on sorting cells by fluorescence expression of protein content. However, FACS requires aligning a sheath flow and aerosolizing the cells, thus creating a biohazard to humans and a contamination source for cells. Sorting cells in a liquid environment decreases this risk and increases the cell sorter versatility to sort cells based on other phenotypes besides those indicated by fluorescence and size. In this thesis, we present a model, design, testing, and analysis of an electrostatic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator integrated within a microfluidic device to sort cells based on arbitrary phenotypes. However, the scope of this thesis only includes a passive device design and a demonstration of an actuator for an active cell sorting device. The MEMS actuator shifts the bifurcation point of a Y-shaped bifurcation to simultaneously increase the width of one channel while decreasing the width of another channel, thus changing the bias in hydrodynamic resistance between outlet channels. The goal of this thesis is to develop an active sorting device that achieves large displacements (> 4 microns) at high frequencies (> 1000 Hz) for high throughput cell sorting. To meet the goal, we have defined three main objectives: (1) determine device geometric and operating parameters for high true positive and true negative rate sorting using a passive sorting device, (2) develop a physics-based model to predict actuator displacement for the active sorting device, and (3) fabricate and test the actuator to determine its potential to be used for cell sorting. Preliminary testing of a fabricated actuator shows promising results of large displacements (> 4 microns) at high frequency (1000 Hz) while submersed in an aqueous media.
David Hoelzle (Advisor)
Jeffrey Chalmers (Committee Member)
Hanna Cho (Committee Member)
Chia-Hsiang Menq (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lake, M. A. (2019). Electrostatic curved electrode actuator for particle sorting at a microfluidic bifurcation [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1560441199033201

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lake, Melinda. Electrostatic curved electrode actuator for particle sorting at a microfluidic bifurcation. 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1560441199033201.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lake, Melinda. "Electrostatic curved electrode actuator for particle sorting at a microfluidic bifurcation." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1560441199033201

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)