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Enhancing Magnetic Micro- and Nanoparticle Separation with a Cost-Effective Microfluidic Device Fabricated by Laser Ablation of PMMA

Authors :
Cristian F. Rodríguez
Paula Guzmán-Sastoque
Carolina Muñoz-Camargo
Luis H. Reyes
Johann F. Osma
Juan C. Cruz
Source :
Micromachines, Vol 15, Iss 8, p 1057 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Superparamagnetic iron oxide micro- and nanoparticles have significant applications in biomedical and chemical engineering. This study presents the development and evaluation of a novel low-cost microfluidic device for the purification and hyperconcentration of these magnetic particles. The device, fabricated using laser ablation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), leverages precise control over fluid dynamics to efficiently separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic ones. We assessed the device’s performance through Multiphysics simulations and empirical tests, focusing on the separation of magnetite nanoparticles from blue carbon dots and magnetite microparticles from polystyrene microparticles at various total flow rates (TFRs). For nanoparticle separation, the device achieved a recall of up to 93.3 ± 4% and a precision of 95.9 ± 1.2% at an optimal TFR of 2 mL/h, significantly outperforming previous models, which only achieved a 50% recall. Microparticle separation demonstrated an accuracy of 98.1 ± 1% at a TFR of 2 mL/h in both simulations and experimental conditions. The Lagrangian model effectively captured the dynamics of magnetite microparticle separation from polystyrene microparticles, with close agreement between simulated and experimental results. Our findings underscore the device’s robust capability in distinguishing between magnetic and non-magnetic particles at both micro- and nanoscales. This study highlights the potential of low-cost, non-cleanroom manufacturing techniques to produce high-performance microfluidic devices, thereby expanding their accessibility and applicability in various industrial and research settings. The integration of a continuous magnet, as opposed to segmented magnets in previous designs, was identified as a key factor in enhancing magnetic separation efficiency.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2072666X
Volume :
15
Issue :
8
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Micromachines
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.5e080c99aad54192a33fc691b7839a5f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15081057