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JP-2026075860-A - Microfluidic device, droplet formation system, and droplet formation method

JP2026075860AJP 2026075860 AJP2026075860 AJP 2026075860AJP-2026075860-A

Abstract

[Challenge] To reduce the need for high processing precision, special materials, and special shapes in microfluidic devices, and to increase the degree of freedom in forming droplets of the desired size. [Solution] A microfluidic device having a channel for forming droplets formed inside comprises a first channel through which a core fluid flows, a second channel through which a sheath fluid flows, a nozzle section where the first and second channels merge, and a third channel through which droplets formed in the nozzle section flow. The microfluidic device further includes a droplet diameter adjusting member disposed in the nozzle section or elsewhere, and the droplet diameter adjusting member is formed to be large enough to pass through the moving channel over a range from the opening where the moving channel opens to communicate with the outside of the microfluidic device to the nozzle section. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • 平田 優介
  • 馬 家駒
  • ▲崎▼村 広人

Assignees

  • 株式会社豊田中央研究所

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20241023

Claims (9)

  1. A microfluidic device in which a channel for forming droplets is formed inside, A first channel through which the core fluid for forming the dispersed phase flows, A second channel through which the sheath fluid for forming the continuous phase flows, A nozzle section where the first flow path and the second flow path merge, A third channel through which the droplet formed in the nozzle flows, A structure has been formed, The microfluidic device further includes a droplet diameter adjusting member disposed between at least one of the first, second, and third channels and the nozzle portion, or within the nozzle portion. The droplet diameter adjusting member is formed in a moving channel, which is at least one of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel, to be large enough to pass through the moving channel, from the opening where the moving channel opens to communicate with the outside of the microfluidic device to the nozzle portion.
  2. A microfluidic device according to claim 1, The aforementioned droplet diameter adjusting member is a microfluidic device made of a magnetic material.
  3. A droplet forming system for forming droplets, The microfluidic device according to claim 1, A droplet diameter adjusting member drive unit moves the droplet diameter adjusting member from the opening to the nozzle portion within the aforementioned moving channel, A droplet formation system comprising the following features.
  4. A droplet formation system according to claim 3, The aforementioned droplet diameter adjusting member is made of a magnetic material. The droplet diameter adjustment member drive unit moves the droplet diameter adjustment member by applying a magnetic field to the droplet diameter adjustment member.
  5. A droplet formation system according to claim 4, The aforementioned droplet diameter adjusting member drive unit is Equipped with a magnetic field source that generates a magnetic field, A droplet formation system that moves at least one of the magnetic field source and the microfluidic device horizontally in two dimensions so that the droplet diameter adjusting member moves within the moving channel from the opening to the nozzle.
  6. A droplet formation system according to claim 4, The aforementioned droplet diameter adjusting member drive unit is A plurality of magnetic field sources capable of switching the generation of a magnetic field on and off, comprising a plurality of magnetic field sources positioned so as to act on the moving channel over a range from the opening to the nozzle when the microfluidic device is placed in a predetermined location, A droplet forming system that sequentially switches the on/off state of magnetic field generation in each of the plurality of magnetic field sources to sequentially change the location where the magnetic field acts within the moving channel from the opening to the nozzle, thereby moving the droplet diameter adjusting member from the opening to the nozzle within the moving channel.
  7. A method for forming droplets, A channel forming member is prepared, which has a first channel through which a core fluid for forming a dispersed phase flows, a second channel through which a sheath fluid for forming a continuous phase flows, a nozzle section where the first channel and the second channel merge, and a third channel through which droplets formed in the nozzle section flow. Between at least one of the first, second, and third channels in the channel forming member and the nozzle portion, or within the nozzle portion, the position of the droplet diameter adjusting member for adjusting the size of the droplet is adjusted by moving the droplet diameter adjusting member. A droplet forming method comprising supplying the core fluid to the first channel and the sheath fluid to the second channel in the channel forming member on which the droplet diameter adjusting member is arranged, thereby forming droplets in the nozzle portion.
  8. A method for forming droplets, A channel forming member is prepared, which has a first channel through which a core fluid for forming a dispersed phase flows, a second channel through which a sheath fluid for forming a continuous phase flows, a nozzle section where the first channel and the second channel merge, and a third channel through which droplets formed in the nozzle section flow. A droplet forming method comprising supplying the core fluid to the first channel in the channel forming member and supplying the sheath fluid to the second channel, while moving a droplet diameter adjusting member for adjusting the size of a droplet between at least one of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel in the channel forming member and the nozzle portion, or within the nozzle portion.
  9. A method for manufacturing a microfluidic device having a channel formed inside that forms a droplet, A channel forming member is prepared, which has a first channel through which a core fluid for forming a dispersed phase flows, a second channel through which a sheath fluid for forming a continuous phase flows, a nozzle section where the first channel and the second channel merge, and a third channel through which droplets formed in the nozzle section flow. A method for manufacturing a microfluidic device, comprising arranging a droplet diameter adjusting member for adjusting the size of a droplet between at least one of the first, second, and third channels in the channel forming member and the nozzle portion, or within the nozzle portion.

Description

This disclosure relates to a microfluidic device, a droplet formation system comprising a microfluidic device, and a droplet formation method. Conventionally, various microfluidic devices for generating microdroplets have been proposed, and their use is being considered in fields such as chemistry and biochemistry. Generally, techniques such as photolithography are used to fabricate such microfluidic devices, requiring expensive equipment, advanced technology, and complex processes. To change the size of the droplets generated in such microfluidic devices, a new microfluidic device with a modified channel diameter has been fabricated. Alternatively, to change the size of the droplets generated in a microfluidic device, a method has been proposed that involves deforming components of the microfluidic device, such as the channel wall components (for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-150748 Wook Park et al., Lab on a Chip, 2010, 10(20), 2814-2817Huynh Quoc Nguyen et al., Analytica Chimica Acta, 2022, 1192, 339344 Plan view of a microfluidic device.Cross-sectional view of a microfluidic device.Plan view of the three plate-like members that make up the microfluidic device.An explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the location where the droplet diameter adjustment member is placed and the size of the droplet.An explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the location where the droplet diameter adjustment member is placed and the size of the droplet.An explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of a droplet formation system.An explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of a droplet formation system.An explanatory diagram showing an example of using channel forming members with different channel shapes.An explanatory diagram showing an example of using channel forming members with different channel shapes.An explanatory diagram showing an example of using channel forming members with different channel shapes.An explanatory diagram showing an example of using channel forming members with different channel shapes.An explanatory diagram showing an example of using channel forming members with different channel shapes.An explanatory diagram showing a droplet formation system equipped with optical tweezers.An explanatory diagram showing a droplet formation system utilizing acoustic levitation.An explanatory diagram showing an example of a manufacturing method for microfluidic devices.An explanatory diagram showing the manufacturing method of a droplet diameter adjusting member.An explanatory diagram showing an image of the droplet diameter adjustment component.This is an explanatory diagram showing the process of droplet formation.This is an explanatory diagram showing the process of droplet formation.This is an explanatory diagram showing the process of droplet formation.This is an explanatory diagram showing the process of droplet formation.A schematic diagram illustrating a method for measuring droplet size.An explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the position of the droplet diameter adjustment member and the droplet diameter.An explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the flow rate ratio of the core fluid and the sheath fluid and the size of the droplets.An explanatory diagram showing the effect of moving the droplet diameter adjustment member during droplet formation. A. Microfluidic device configuration: Figures 1 to 3 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the schematic configuration of a microfluidic device 10 as an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 is a plan view showing the microfluidic device 10 as seen from above, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the 2-2 cross-section in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view showing the three plate-like members 10a to 10c constituting the microfluidic device 10 as seen from above. In Figures 1 to 3, and Figures 6 and 7 described later, mutually orthogonal XYZ axes are shown to specify the direction. The X, Y, and Z axes shown in each figure represent the same direction. Note that Figures 1 to 3, and Figures 6 and 7 described later, schematically represent the arrangement of each part and do not accurately represent the ratio of the dimensions of each part. The microfluidic device 10 of this embodiment is a plate-shaped member with microchannels formed inside. Multiple fluid channels are formed within the device, and it is designed to disperse one fluid into another through contact between different fluids, thereby forming droplets. Figures 1 to 3 show an example of a microfluidic device 10 supplied with two types of fluids. The microfluidic device 10 includes, as flow channels through which fluids for forming droplets are formed inside, a first flow channel 21 through which a core fluid for forming a dispersed phase flows, a second flow channel 23 through which a sheath fluid for forming a continuous phase flows, a nozz