Computational modeling and fluorescence microscopy characterization of a two-phase magnetophoretic microsystem for continuous-flow blood detoxification

Gómez-Pastora, Jenifer; González-Fernández, Cristina; Real, Eusebio; Iles, Alexander; Bringas, Eugenio; Furlani, Edward P.; Ortiz, Inmaculada

Abstract

Magnetic beads can be functionalized to capture and separate target pathogens from blood for extracorporeal detoxification. The beads can be magnetically separated from a blood stream and collected into a coflowing buffer solution using a two-phase liquid-liquid continuous-flow microfluidic device in the presence of an external field. However, device design and process optimization, i.e. high bead recovery with minimum blood loss or dilution remain a substantial technological challenge. We introduce a CFD-based Eulerian-Lagrangian computational model that enables the rational design and optimization of such systems. The model takes into account dominant magnetic and hydrodynamic forces on the beads as well as coupled bead-fluid interactions. Fluid flow (Navier-Stokes equations) and mass transfer (Fick's law) between the coflowing fluids are solved numerically, while the magnetic force on the beads is predicted using analytical methods. The model is demonstrated via application to a prototype device and used to predict key performance metrics; degree of bead separation, flow patterns, and mass transfer, i.e. blood diffusion to the buffer phase. The impact of different process variables and parameters-flow rates, bead and magnet dimensions and fluid viscosities-on both bead recovery and blood loss or dilution is quantified for the first time. The performance of the prototype device is characterized using fluorescence microscopy and the experimental results are found to match theoretical predictions within an absolute error of 15%. While the model is demonstrated here for analysis of a detoxification device, it can be readily adapted to a broad range of magnetically-enabled microfluidic applications, e.g. bioseparation, sorting and sensing.

Citation

Gómez-Pastora, J., González-Fernández, C., Real, E., Iles, A., Bringas, E., Furlani, E. P., & Ortiz, I. (2018). Computational modeling and fluorescence microscopy characterization of a two-phase magnetophoretic microsystem for continuous-flow blood detoxification. Lab on a chip, 18(11), 1593-1606. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8lc00396c

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 27, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 4, 2018
• Publication Date: May 4, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 4, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 5, 2019
• Journal: Lab on a Chip
• Print ISSN: 1473-0197
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-0189
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1593-1606
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c8lc00396c
• Keywords: Magnetic Beads, Blood Purification, Lab on a Chip
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/862019
• Publisher URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/lc/c8lc00396c#!divRelatedContent&articles
• Additional Information: : This document is Similarity Check deposited; : Jenifer Gómez-Pastora (ORCID); : Edward P. Furlani (ORCID); : Single-blind; : Received 16 April 2018; Accepted 27 April 2018; Accepted Manuscript published 4 May 2018; Advance Article published 11 May 2018; Version of Record published 29 May 2018