Expert Reviews: Basics of Microfluidics

Microfluidics is defined as the science of fluid flow at a micrometric scale.It refers to a set of tools for manipulating fluids and materials at a scale of tens to hundreds of microns. Fluigent was the first company to introduce pressure-driven flow control to the microfluidic research market as opposed to conventional syringe and peristaltic pumps. As a pioneer in microfluidics, we have set the standard in microfluidic control and strive to stay in the forefront of science. We have created content about the concepts, physics and basics of microfluidics, the elements of a microfluidic system, the advantages of pressure based flow controller devices over traditional methods, and experiments related to application in organ on a chip, cell culture, microencapsulation, and droplet and particle generation. You will also find the latest and most innovative techniques in microfluidic cell biology, comparative studies, and industrial/OEM to share with the scientific community.

Expertise

Addressing Air Bubble Issues in Microfluidic Systems

In this paper, we explore the causes of bubble formation, their effects, and various strategies to deal with this issue. It includes an in-depth discussion on preventive measures like optimizing device design and configuration, as well as the use of Degassers and Bubble traps.

Microfluidic chips

Application of microfluidic chip technology

We discuss some applications where microfluidics achieves results that would be very challenging to obtain when using conventional methods.

Microfluidics tips

Choosing the Right Microfluidic Pressure Range

Fluigent offers 10 pressure ranges for its different product lines. Which is the right one for you?

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Extended Capabilities of Pressure Driven Flow for Microfluidic Applications

Pressure driven flow is crucial in many microfluidic applications as it allows for precise and efficient control of fluid movement at the microscopic scale.

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Flow control for droplet generation using syringe pumps and pressure-based flow controllers

Droplet production using microfluidic systems was implemented for applications where monodispersity is of high importance. Syringe pumps are commonly used for generating droplets in microfluidic experiments, but can show limited flow control.. An alternative to syringe pumps are pressure-based flow controllers.

Expert Reviews: Basics of Microfluidics

Funded research program participation

Many national and internationally funded projects bring together science and innovation. These projects cover a large number of subjects. Fluigent takes part in several European and French funded programs to provide expertise and resources in microfluidics and related applications.

Droplet & Particle Generation

Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) Production using Microfluidics

In this review, we propose an overview of the different techniques used to produce microsized aqueous compartments confined by a single lipid bilayer that separates them from the surrounding aqueous environment.

Droplet & Particle Generation

High Throughput Single Cell Analysis

Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technology have emerged as the most promising approaches to address these challenges. These innovative technologies hold the potential to unlock new insights into single cell properties and their roles within populations.

Microfluidic chips

How to choose a microfluidic chip

With this review, we give you some advices on how to select the right microfluidic chip for your application.

Funded research program

INDEX | H2020 European project

INDEX: Integrated nanoparticle isolation and detection system for complete on-chip analysis of exosomes The aim of the European Union’s Horizon H2020 project, INDEX is to isolate and characterize exosomes available in body fluids through development and integration of novel technological breakthroughs.

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Instrument Stability in Microfluidics

In microfluidic instrumentation, stability refers to the ability of an instrument to maintain a certain physical property at a constant value, while rejecting any perturbations in the environment. It is a very important parameter, as even small variations in physical quantities during microfluidic experiments can dramatically change the results. A stable instrument ensures that results are repeatable and reproducible.

Industrial / OEM Expertise

Key considerations for fluidic system integration

The choice of the right method of fluid management can often determinate the success of a project, as well as the overall time and cost of manufacturing. Here is what you need to consider and be aware of when integrating fluidic control into your system.

oem flow controller component performance

Industrial / OEM Expertise

Key reliability indicators for OEM components to ensure long-term performance of your flow control system

In this short blog, we review the most important aspects to consider when selecting fluid handling OEM components.

Event Lab on a Chip & Microfluidics Europe 2022

Microfluidic chips

Mastering Microfluidic Chips: An In-Depth Definition

Microfluidic chips, often referred to as lab-on-a-chip devices, are miniature platforms that manipulate and analyze small volumes of fluids. We here define microfluidic chips and summarize microfluidic history.

Microfluidic chips

Microfabrication of Microfluidic Chips: Materials and Methods

We discuss the main materials used for microfluidic chips, and their related production methods. In addition, we give you advice on which material one should use depending on the application.

Droplet & Particle Generation

Microfluidic Droplet Production Method

Droplet microfluidics is a powerful tool which consists of generating and manipulating micron-sized monodispersed droplets.

flow control technology: pressure controller comparison

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Microfluidic Flow Control: Comparison between peristaltic, syringe and pressure pumps for microfluidic applications

To perform effective experiments in microfluidics, one needs to master the different flow control technologies available to use the most suitable way to control microfluidic flows. This article aims at presenting a short review of the existing techniques.

General overview of microfluidics

Microfluidic Flow Sensing Technologies, A Review

Flow rate measurement is needed for many microfluidic applications, including microfluidic droplet generation, cell culture under flow, and organs on chip. Several technologies aim to provide accurate real time flow measurement to meet this need. In this review, the different existing microfluidic flow sensing solutions for low-flow liquids are described, with their advantages and current limits, as progress is still ongoing in this field.

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Microfluidic pressure control for organ-on-a-chip applications: A comprehensive guide

This comprehensive guide will cover several essential definitions, advantages, and disadvantages of different technologies, considerations for choosing the right technology, and examples of OOC using Fluigent devices.

General overview of microfluidics

Microfluidic Resistance

Microfluidic flows are characterized by the prevalence of the viscous effects compared to inertia. From a physics point of view, this behavior is pointed out by a low Reynolds number indicating laminar flow. It leads to a drastic simplification of the complex Navier-Stokes equations describing fluid displacement.

General overview of microfluidics

Microfluidic Software Review

Software is widely defined as a set of computer programs, libraries and data that tell the computer how to work. A user can usually interact with a software through a Graphical User Interface or GUI, whose content is updated by the software’s engine.

General overview of microfluidics

Microfluidic volume definitions

Most of the time, it is useful to know the total volume of one’s fluidic circuit. Volumes in microfluidics can be different from other areas. The chip has its own volume, tubing has an internal volume. Fittings like unions, adapters or tees can have an enclosed volume that will contribute to the total volume of a system. This is referred in specification sheets as “internal volume”.

Expert Reviews: Basics of Microfluidics

Microfluidics for vaccine development

Microfluidic methods can be used to improve vaccine research and development. Microfluidic techniques are already used to develop adjuvants, perform virus identification/diagnostics, or drug micro and nanoencapsulation.

General overview of microfluidics

Microfluidics overview: History and Definition

Discover the fascinating history and evolution of microfluidic technology and how it has revolutionized various fields, from biology and medicine to industry, and applications ranging from droplet generation to life science.

Microfluidic cell biology

Micropipette aspiration of cells and tissues

Micropipette aspiration is a powerful non-invasive technique to evaluate how biomechanical properties of single cells or tissue govern cell shape, cell response to mechanic stimuli, transition from nontumorigenic to tumorigenic state or morphogenesis

Microfluidic cell biology

Mimicking in-vivo environments: biochemical and biomechanical stimulation

Cells are constantly exposed to biochemical stimulation from the early embryonic stage to adult life. The spatiotemporal regulation of these signals is essential as it determines cell fate, phenotype, metabolic activity as well as pathological behaviors. The fast response and high stability of Fluigent instruments make them the best solution available on the market to reproduce these complex variations in vitro.

Funded research program

MYOCHIP | H2020 European project

Myochip: Building a 3D innervated and irrigated muscle on a chip

The aim of the European Union’s Horizon H2020 project, Myochip is to build a muscle on chip. Myochip gathers 4 partners from all around the world: The institute of molecular medicine (Portugal), The University of Edinburg (Scotland), and Institut Curie (France).

Microfluidic cell biology

Passive and active mechanical stimulation in microfluidic systems

Indirect mechanical forces and shear stress are integral parts of the cellular microenvironment. Reproducing these mechanical forces and shear stress is critical to capture the physiology of living tissues. Three types of flows are typically generated for producing shear stress : laminar, pulsatile, or interstitial flow.

Prostate organoid culture under fluorescent microscope

Microfluidic cell biology

Prostate Organoid Culture in Microbeads

Microbead-based microfluidics is a powerful technique for the generation of organoid cultures in 3D matrices to mimic the complex in-vivo environment that supports cell physiological and pathological behaviors.

Advantages of pressure-based microfluidics

Pump Responsiveness in microfluidics

One syringe pumps drawback is the slow response time. However, achieving high responsiveness is crucial for the efficiency and reliability of microfluidic applications.

General overview of microfluidics

Selecting Microfluidic Tubing

Microfluidic tubing plays a pivotal role in ensuring efficient and reliable fluid transport. Here are general guidelines for choosing the right microfluidic tubing to optimize your experiments.

Microfluidic chips

The Raydrop | A new droplet generation device based on non-embedded co-flow-focusing

Fluigent has developed a new system to overcome the limitations of common designs used in droplet generation chips.

Microfluidic cell biology

Why is a controlled shear-stress a key parameter of your microfluidic experiments?

Mechanical forces are potent regulators of cellular structures and functions in both health and disease. Of these forces, shear stress is particularly important as it stimulates the release of vasoactive substances and changes gene expression, cell metabolism, and cell morphology.