A microfluidic droplet generation device and method based on surface acoustic waves

Abstract

The invention discloses a device and a method for generating micro-fluidic droplets based on surface acoustic waves. The device comprises a piezoelectric substrate, a set of curved interdigital transducers is arranged on the piezoelectric substrate, a closed PDMS micro-channel system is applied to the upper part of the piezoelectric substrate, and the closed PDMS micro-channel system is formed bytop PDMS and a PDMS sealing film. The method comprises the following steps: fixing the micro-fluidic droplet generating device on the objective table of a microscope, switching in the micro-fluidic droplet generating device, and setting the pressures of a dispersed phase inlet joint and a continuous phase inlet joint; and connecting a signal generator with the curved interdigital transducers, adjusting the output signal of the signal generator, turning on a syringe pump, adjusting and stabilizing the two-phase interface position of a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, and generating the micro-fluidic droplets. The device and the method realize the electric control of the formation rate and the size of the droplets; and the device has a small size and can be integrated with other devices, so the repeatability is enhanced, and cracks between channels, caused by overlarge pressure of an input fluid, are reduced.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of microfluidic technology, in particular to a device and method for generating microfluidic droplets based on surface acoustic waves. Background technique [0002] The droplet microfluidic platform has become an important tool in the fields of biology, chemistry, and medicine. As an important technology in the droplet microfluidic platform, the method of microdroplet generation is very important. Different methods are in the control of droplet size and uniformity. In terms of gender, there is a big difference. At present, the generation methods of micro-droplets mainly include co-flow method, flow convergence method, T-channel method and derivative methods based on the above methods, which mainly rely on two incompatible fluids, one is the continuous phase and the other is the continuous phase. It is a dispersed phase. When the force applied to a certain part of the dispersed phase is greater than its interfacial te...

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Problems solved by technology

[0004] However, for the above-mentioned micro-droplet generating device, the method of making the micro-channel is usually to directly bond the micro-channel made of PDMS material to the glass substrate or the piezoelectric substrate to form a closed micro-channel system. The PDMS flow channel of the chip produced cannot be disassembled after bonding with the substrate. Once the flow channel is blocked, cracked, or the substrate is damaged, the entire device cannot be used normally, and the reuse is poor.

Especially for interdigital transducers of surface acoustic wave devices, the production process is complicated and expensive. Using the method of direct bonding between PDMS flow channels and interdigital transducers is more likely to cause the entire flow channel to be blocked, cracked, and electrode broken. Components are scrapped, which greatly limits the repeatability of experiments and the life cycle of products

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