How to Control the Microfluidic Flow and Separate the Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Particles in the Runner of a Disc.

Biochips play an important role in both medical and food industry safety testing. Moreover, magnetic activated cell sorting is a well-established technology for biochip development. However, biochips need to be manufactured by precision instruments, resulting in the high cost of biochips. Therefore, this study used magnetic-activation and mechanics theories to create a novel disc that could manipulate the microfluidic flow, mixing, reaction, and separation on the runner of the disc. The goal of the research was to apply in the field of biomedical detection systems to reduce the cost of biochips and simplify the operation process. The simulation and experimental investigation showed that the pattern of the reaction chamber was stomach-shaped and the reservoir chamber was rectangular-shaped on the disc. The microfluid could be controlled to flow to the reaction chamber from the buffer and sample chamber when the disc spun at 175~200 rpm within three minutes. This was defined as the first setting mode. The microfluid could then be controlled to flow to the reservoir chamber from the reaction chamber when the disc spun at 225 rpm within five to ten minutes. This was defined as the second setting mode. This verified that the pattern design of the disc was optimized for control of the microfluid flow, mixing, reaction, and separation in the runner of the disc by different setting modes.