Assembling magnetic colloidal particles in microfluidic devices

[摘要] The motivation of this research project is to assemble colloidal particles in microfluidic devices to create intelligent microstructures. We have created three types of novel structures. We have created magnetic chains consisting of hydrophobic particles functionalized with myristoleic acid. We have further formed hybrid hydrophobic hydrophilic magnetic chains by mixing particles coated with myristoleic acid and particles coated with biotin and linking them with streptavidin. Finally, we have developed hybrid ferromagnetic-paramagnetic chains with both ferromagnetic and paramagnetic particles. These chains have the ability to self assemble into specific structures due to their magnetic dipole-dipole interactions between the ferromagnetic particles. In order to precisely control the particle assembly process we have developed a microfluidic platform using pressurized reservoirs and microvalves. Combing the magnetic particle hybrid linking technology with microfluidic devices, we propose several potential methods to design and pattern segmental magnetic chains in a laminar multi-stream flow.

[发布机构] Rice University