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We present a 1600 parallel microchamber microfluidic device for fast sample array preparation using the immiscibility of two liquids. The trapping efficiency and size of the arrayed sample in the microchambers of a parallel microfluidic device were analyzed at various flow rates. The trapping efficiency of the sample was also inspected according to the position of the microchamber. Samples were successfully arrayed using the device. The trapping efficiency of the sample was 98.69% at 1 mL/h. The trapping efficiency and diameter of the sample decreased as the flow rate increased. Trapping efficiencies also changed according to the position of the microchambers. As the distance of the microchambers from the inlet increased, the sample trapping efficiency decreased. This tendency occurred more clearly at higher flow rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are reporting for the first time the pH responsiveness of liquid crystal (LC) microdroplets decorated with an amphiphilic block copolymer of PAA-b-LCP. We successfully demonstrated the adsorption of block copolymer on LC droplets by fluorescence microscopy and pH response to the radial-to-bipolar orientational change of the LC droplets by changing pH from 12 to 2 through the polarized optical microscope (POM). We believe that our results may pave the way for the generation of monodisperse droplets decorated by various amphiphilic block copolymers which respond to several kinds of the external stimuli. These developments may be important for potential applications of the LC droplets in sensing and encapsulation fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic concept and preliminary performance results of a miniaturized electroosmotic pump with diaphragms were included in the present study. The separation of an electroosmotic pumping liquid from a drug using diaphragms is mainly to have a freedom in choosing an electroosmotic pumping liquid and to achieve the optimal drug delivery with its preferable precise control. As a result, the maximum flow rate and current increased linearly according to the increment of applied voltage that is electric potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we measured velocity vector fields around hoop rings at each divided sections by using a particle image velocimetry method. The ring model used in this study was made of brass with two different aspect ratios and the experiment is carried out in a circulating water channel. As a result, we can observe two counter-rotating vortical flow structures around each hoop regime that is attributed to the interaction between direct pass through flow of hoop center and the shear flow separated from sharp-edged end of ring hoop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological flow characteristics inside a microchannel were investigated experimentally using a micro-particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) method. The main objectives of this study were to understand the blood flow in micro-domain blood vessels and to identify the feasibility of nano-scale fluorescent particles for velocity measurement. The flow field was analyzed with a spatial resolution of 1K×1K pixels at low Reynolds number flow. To obtain the spatial distributions of mean velocity, 100 instantaneous velocity fields were captured and ensemble-averaged. As a result, for the case of blood flow, there were substantial velocity variations in the central region of micro-channel due to the presence of blood cells in the blood flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the use of the release technique enabling to lift microfabricated structures mechanically off the surface without using wet chemistry. Structure of the self-assembled monolayer of dodecyltrichlorosilane; Application of lithography, etching and surface transfer techniques; Ability of the monolayer to cover surface features.

We present a fabrication method using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stencils and solvent evaporation to prepare microcontainers with a desired shape made from a biodegradable polymer. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) was used for preparing microcontainers, but most polymers are applicable in the proposed method in which solvent evaporation is used to construct microstructures in confined spaces in the stencil. Microcontainers with various shapes were fabricated by controlling the stencil geometry. Furthermore, a porous structure could be prepared in a micromembrane using water porogen. The porous structure was observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope and mass transfer across the porous membrane was examined using a fluorescent dye. The flexibility of the PDMS stencil allowed the fabrication of microcontainers on a curved surface. Finally, it was demonstrated that microcontainers can be used to contain a localized cell culture. The viability and morphology of cultured cells were observed using confocal microscopy over a period of 3 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an air-knife system was developed for the automated fabrication of polymer microstencils with microscale perforated patterns. Blowing compressed N2 gas through the air knife provided a uniform laminar gas flow of high intensity suitable for perforating holes in the stencil. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stencil was replicated from a master mold prepared by photolithography. When the prepolymer of PDMS was spin-coated onto the master mold, a thin layer of the prepolymer remained on top of the master's structure and consequently prevented the formation of the perforated patterns. This residual layer was easily removed by the presented air knife. The air-knife system controlled the flow rate of N2 gas and the conveying speed of the master mold; therefore, the system possessed high reproducibility compared to manual gas blowing. Its use reduced the fabrication time for perforated biocompatible polymer microstencils, allowing for their mass production via an automated system. The validity of this suggested method was proven through experiments and was evaluated by application in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]