Displacement of particles in microfluidics by laser-generated tandem bubbles

Abstract

The dynamic interaction between laser-generated tandem bubble and individual polystyrene particles of 2 and 10 mu m in diameter is studied in a microfluidic channel (25 mu m height) by high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry. The asymmetric collapse of the tandem bubble produces a pair of microjets and associated long-lasting vortices that can propel a single particle to a maximum velocity of 1.4 m/s in 30 mu s after the bubble collapse with a resultant directional displacement up to 60 mu m in 150 mu s. This method may be useful for high-throughput cell sorting in microfluidic devices. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3511538]