Open microfluidics or open-surface is becoming fundamental in scientific
domains such as biotechnology, biology and space. First, such systems
and devices based on open microfluidics make use of capillary forces to
move fluids, without any need for external energy. Second, the
"openness" of the flow facilitates the accessibility to the liquid in
biotechnology and biology, and reduces the weight in space applications.
This book has been conceived to give the reader the fundamental basis of
open microfluidics. It covers successively
- The theory of spontaneous capillary flow, with the general conditions
for spontaneous capillary flow, and the dynamic aspects of such flows.
- The formation of capillary filaments which are associated to small
contact angles and sharp grooves.
- The study of capillary flow in open rectangular, pseudo-rectangular
and trapezoidal open microchannels.
- The dynamics of open capillary flows in grooves with a focus on
capillary resistors. The case of very viscous liquids is analyzed.
- An analysis of suspended capillary flows: such flows move in suspended
channels devoid of top cover and bottom plate. Their accessibility is
reinforced, and such systems are becoming fundamental in biology.
- An analysis of "rails" microfluidics, which are flows that move in
channels devoid of side walls. This geometry has the advantage to be
compatible with capillary networks, which are now of great interest in
biotechnology, for molecular detection for example.
- Paper-based microfluidics where liquids wick flat paper matrix.
Applications concern bioassays such as point of care devices (POC).
- Thread-based microfluidics is a new domain of investigation. It is
seeing presently many new developments in the domain of separation and
filtration, and opens the way to smart bandages and tissue
engineering.
The book is intended to cover the theoretical aspects of open
microfluidics, experimental approaches, and examples of application.
