BioMEMS Lab

홈 연구활동 BioMEMS Lab

BioMEMS Lab (Supervisor: Prof. Hyungkook Jeon)

Ion concentration polarization-based micro/nano-particle separator

Ion concentration polarization (ICP) is a fundamental transport phenomenon in which ion-depletion and ion-enrichment regions are generated under an external field applied across an ion perm-selective membrane due to the ion flux mismatch. My group developed a novel separation method, which was the first report using ICP to separate particles continuously (Figure 1). In the work, we analyzed the electrical forces in the ion-depletion region and successfully demonstrated the separation of micro- and nano-sized particles depending on their electrophoretic mobilities (Figure 1) [1–3].

Figure 1.Micro- and Nano-size particle separation by ICP.

Multi-dimensional double spiral device and fully-automated recirculation platform
My group developed a new type of inertial spiral microfluidic device, multi-dimensional double spiral (MDDS) device, which enables sample focusing and separation in a single device without sheath flow, resulting in high separation resolution and efficiency (Figure 2) [4]. Also, to obtain more purified and concentrated target particles, we also developed a new recirculation platform based on a check-valve that allows only one-way flow. In the platform, by the programmed back-and-forth syringe pump motions (or even hand-powered operation), the once-treated output can be processed again and again, resulting in higher purity and concentration. By combining the great features of the MDDS device and the recirculation platform, various sample preparations have been demonstrated such as 1) leukocyte separation for blood monitoring and sepsis diagnosis [4–6], 2) semen preparation for isolation of healthy sperm cells for Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) [7], 3) isolation of activated T-cells for better CAR-T cell manufacturing , and 4) Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) separation for better tissue restoration (Figure 3)  [8,9].

Figure 2. Schematics of the MDDS platform.

Figure 3. Various sample preparation: (a) Blood separation, (b) Semen preparation, (c) Isolation of activated T-cells, and (d) Size-based MSC separation. All the scale bars represent 200 µm.

Integration of microfluidic sub-platforms
My group developed fully-automated, sample-to-answer leukocyte activation analysis platforms for monitoring immune responses in sepsis and counting sub-populations of leukocytes, by integrating the MDDS platform with other downstream analysis platforms, including isodielectric separation (IDS) platform and machine-learning-based WBC classification platform (Figure 4) [5,6]. In the integrated platforms, the separated leukocytes from the MDDS platform can be automatically transferred to the downstream platforms and analyzed.

Figure 4. Schematics of the integrated platforms. 

Development of deformation-free and mass-productive plastic devices
To move forward from the proof-of-concept device in a laboratory to the product to be used for real applications, my group has developed deformation-free and mass-productive plastic spiral microfluidic devices for disposable and high-throughput applications [10]. Based on numerical analysis of channel deformation, a PDMS spiral device was translated to its plastic version (Figure 5a,b). Moreover, using the multiplexed device made by stacking the plastic devices, we successfully demonstrated cell clarification with an industry-level throughput, which proved the applicability of the developed platform in biomanufacturing for efficient production of therapeutic proteins such as antibodies or vaccines for COVID-19 (Figure 5c−e).

Figure 5. (a) Numerical analysis of channel deformation, (b) A picture of the plastic spiral device. (c) Trajectories of CHO cells at the outlet region. (d) A schematic of the multiplexed spiral device. (e) A picture of the ultra-high-throughput cell clarification platform using the multiplexed spiral device (at a processing rate of ~1 L/min).

Micro/nano-fabrication techniques
My group possess many kinds of micro/nano-fabrication techniques, which include electrospinning, thin-metal-film deposition, controllable cracking structure, and X-ray irradiation lithography (Figure 6), and they have been used to fabricate (a) a stretchable strain sensor for motion monitoring [11–13], (b) a controllable drug delivery system [14], and (c) long nanochannels for nanofluidic applications [15]. We expect the novel micro/nano-fabrication techniques we have developed can be used to develop advanced biomedical devices in the future.

Figure 6. Micro/nano-fabrication techniques: (a) Stretchable strain sensor for motion monitoring based on controllable nanocracking structure in electrospun micro-fibers and a thin metal film, (b) Cracking-structure-based controllable drug delivery system, (c) Nanochannel fabrication by X-ray lithography for nanofluidic applications.

Lab homepage: biomems.seoultech.ac.kr