Issue 17, 2019

Self-sufficient, low-cost microfluidic pumps utilising reinforced balloons

Abstract

Here, we introduce a simple method for increasing the inflation pressure of self-sufficient pressure pumps made of latex balloons. Our method involves reinforcing the latex balloon with elastane fibres to restrict the expansion of the balloon and increase its inflation pressure. This allowed us to increase the operational inflation pressure of a latex balloon from 2.5 to 25 kPa. Proof-of-concept experiments show the suitability of the reinforced balloon for inducing lateral forces and recirculating flows, which are employed for hydrodynamic capturing of large human monocytes. We also demonstrate the ability for the rapid exchange of solutions in repeated cycles upon manual squeezing of the reinforced balloons. We also show the suitability of the reinforced balloon for studying the mechanobiology of human aortic endothelial cells under various shear stress levels. The simplicity, portability, affordability, hyper-elasticity and scalability of the reinforced balloon pumps make them suitable for a wide range of microfluidic applications.

Graphical abstract: Self-sufficient, low-cost microfluidic pumps utilising reinforced balloons

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Jun 2019
Accepted
19 Jul 2019
First published
29 Jul 2019

Lab Chip, 2019,19, 2885-2896

Self-sufficient, low-cost microfluidic pumps utilising reinforced balloons

P. Thurgood, S. A. Suarez, S. Chen, C. Gilliam, E. Pirogova, A. R. Jex, S. Baratchi and K. Khoshmanesh, Lab Chip, 2019, 19, 2885 DOI: 10.1039/C9LC00618D

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements