Systems and methods for high-throughput microfluidic bead production

摘要

A system for producing microbeads includes a microfluidic device defining a supply channel and a shearing channel, a microbead precursor material disposed in the supply channel, a carrier fluid disposed in the shearing channel, and a pressure distribution system fluidly connected to each of the supply channel and the shearing channel to control at least relative pressures of the microbead precursor material and the carrier fluid. The supply channel includes a check valve adapted to be subjected to a bias pressure that is sufficient to close the check valve to flow of microbead precursor material when a supply pressure of the microbead precursor material is below a threshold pressure and is open to flow of the microbead precursor material when the supply pressure of the microbead precursor material is greater than the threshold pressure. An end of the supply channel opens into the shearing channel such that the microbead precursor material is sheared into droplets by the carrier fluid flowing through the shearing channel. A pressure of the carrier fluid is less than the bias pressure. The microbead precursor material and the carrier fluid are substantially immiscible.

主权项

1. A system for producing microbeads, comprising:
a microfluidic device defining a supply channel and a shearing channel; a microbead precursor material disposed in said supply channel; a carrier fluid disposed in said shearing channel; and a pressure distribution system fluidly connected to each of said supply channel and said shearing channel to control at least relative pressures of said microbead precursor material and said carrier fluid, wherein said supply channel comprises a check valve adapted to be subjected to a bias pressure that is sufficient to close said check valve to flow of microbead precursor material when a supply pressure of said microbead precursor material is below a threshold pressure and is open to flow of said microbead precursor material when said supply pressure of said microbead precursor material is greater than said threshold pressure, wherein an end of said supply channel opens into said shearing channel such that said microbead precursor material is sheared into droplets by said carrier fluid flowing through said shearing channel, wherein a pressure of said carrier fluid is less than said bias pressure, wherein said microbead precursor material and said carrier fluid are substantially immiscible, wherein said microfluidic device further defines a control channel operatively connected to said check valve, said system for producing microbeads further comprising a control fluid disposed in said control channel, wherein said pressure distribution system is further fluidly connected to said control channel to control said bias pressure, and wherein said microfluidic device further defines a stabilizing channel, said system for producing microbeads further comprising stabilizing fluid disposed in said stabilizing channel, said stabilizing fluid being at least partially miscible with said microbead precursor material and said carrier material, wherein said stabilizing channel is arranged such that said stabilizing fluid interfaces with said carrier fluid to further stabilize said droplets to form said microbeads.