Microfluidic reservoir mixer

Why is it important to suspend cells, beads, or particles during a microfluidic experiment?

Stirring is a critical component of microfluidic systems as it has a significant impact on behavior and performance. Here’s why:

1. Avoiding sample loss

In microfluidic experiments, sample loss can be a significant issue, as particles or cells may settle to the bottom or stick to the walls of the tube. This can result in an incomplete processing of the sample, leading to inaccurate or unreliable results. However, by utilizing a mixer tube, scientists can ensure that all particles remain in solution and are fully processed in the experiment, thus minimizing the risk of sample loss.

2. Prevent tubing clogs

Preventing clogging in microfluidic systems is crucial for maintaining good fluid circulation, pressure control,  and flow control, particularly in setups with thin tubing. Agglomerates formed by a poorly mixed suspension of cells or particles can quickly lead to clogs, compromising the entire experiment. However, by using this vortex, scientists can effectively separate any potential clumps and ensure that fluid flows smoothly, preventing clogging and enabling reliable results in microfluidic experiments.

3. Control the homogeneity of the sample

• Uniform concentration of cells or particles is crucial for many microfluidic experiments – especially in single cell experiments– where accurate encapsulation rates are necessary. In Drop-Seq experiments, the encapsulation rate is dependent on the concentration of cells, and an uneven distribution can lead to inconsistent results. Then, the reservoir mixer can be incorporated into the microfluidic set-up to ensure a uniform concentration of particles throughout the entire experiment, leading to reliable and consistent results.