Vertical hydrodynamic focusing in an isotropically etched glass microfluidic device

Abstract

The development of microfluidic devices has enabled precision control of nanoliter-scale environments and reactions. Vertical hydrodynamic focusing is one possible way to improve the optical performance of these devices while maintaining precision control. Vertical hydrodynamic focusing was studied through the use of computation fluid dynamics (ADINA) and experimental testing. It was found that the nonlinear effects of flow rate and geometry on the layering profile could be used to tune and correct the flow. A syringe pump-driven microfluidic device was fabricated out of isotropically etched and bonded glass plates and fluorescent confocal microscopy was used to verify computational models.