Droplet based microfluidics
We describe in details what is digital microfluidics in the review about microfluidic droplets, and how to achieve it with a pressure controller in this Elveflow® application note (Digital microfluidics using pressure driven flow).. It is possible to make droplets in a microfluidic capillary with commercial tools, especially chromatography tools. Here we will focus on how to do it. One can easily make droplets using a cross or a T junction (Fig.1).
These tools are respectively the macroscopic equivalents of flow focusing & cross flowing microfluidic methods.
The main difference is in the required setup time. The main drawback is the manufacturing dependence. It means that you cannot choose precisely your channel dimensions, you have to choose between the proposed dimensions (from 100 µm to 1 mm). There is a main setup protocol.
This protocol describes how to make fluid-fluid dispersion with:A/ Flow focusing methodB/ Cross flowing method
The general protocol in a microfluidic capillary is the same; you bring two phases in a junction. One phase will be the continuous phase and the other one the dispersed phase (droplets) (Fig.2).
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Microfluidic droplets generation at a T junction
Microfluidic droplets moving into a capillary
There are some details however, which differentiate the two methods.
1. The main channel is the channel where the droplets will flow
2. It is very important to connect the continuous phase perpendicularly to the main channel
3. The dispersed phase has to be connected to the channel in the continuity of the main channel
4. Control droplets sizes with input pressure driven flow
In conclusion, by connecting submillimeter tubes to submillimeter T and cross junctions, it is possible to generate droplets in a microfluidic capillary like in microfluidic devices. It is an easy method to manage the production of droplets. There is no simple alternative to the co-flowing method. But the two main methods used in microfluidics are easily done with chromatographic tools. As described in another Elveflow® application note (Digital microfluidics using pressure driven flow), droplets size are pre-determined by the characteristic dimensions of the tubes and junctions. There are more flexibilities on droplets size with flow focusing method (cross junction). Refer to [1,2] where the control of sizes is well described.
For more reviews about microfluidics, please have a look at: «Microfluidics reviews». The photos in this article come from the Elveflow® data bank, Wikipedia or elsewhere if precised. Article written by F. Bertholle, G. Velvé Casquillas, A. Hassan-Zahraee and T. Houssin.
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