Inertial Microfluidics
Leveraging fluid mechanics to control particles and fluid
In many microfluidics systems, fluid flow is dominated by viscous forces, with typical flow exhibiting highly predictable laminar behavior in the transport of fluid or biological materials.
As fluid inertia becomes more dominant, interesting nonlinear effects arise in the behavior of the fluid and materials in flow. A significant discovery of inertial flow physics came from Segre and Silberberg in the 1960s, who observed neutrally buoyant spheres focusing to a circular annulus inside pipes at inertial flow speeds.
The Di Carlo lab coined the term "inertial microfluidics" in 2008 and has been a pioneer of inertial microfluidics research. Our work lies at the intersection of fundamental study and applied biology, exploring the mechanics of inertial flows and using these physics for new platforms for biological analysis, cellular engineering, and advanced materials.
Foundational projects include employing high-throughput inertial flows to order and sort cells, isolating particles or cells in cavity flows based on size and shape, characterizing cells based on deformability, and using bluff-body obstacles to induce changes in the structure of flowing fluid to 3D print microparticles at high rates.
Read PapersPatents
Di Carlo D, Hur SC, and Mach A. "Method and device for isolating cells from heterogeneous solution using microfluidic trapping vortices." U.S. Patent No. 9133499, Japanese Patent No. 5920895, Chinese Patent Nos. 103261436 and 104741157, Australian Patent No. 2011302302.
Di Carlo D and Dhar M. "Integrated system for isolation and emulsification of particles and cells." U.S. Patent Application No. 20180056294.
Di Carlo D and Dhar M. "High efficiency microfluidic device for trapping circulating tumor cells." W.O. Patent Application No. 2016205742.
Di Carlo D, Go D, Masaeli M, and Sollier E. "Apparatus and method for label-free analysis of rare cells from bodily fluids." W.O. Patent Application No. 2015200857.
Di Carlo D and Hur SC. "Systems and methods for particle classification and sorting." U.S. Patent No. 9090865.
Di Carlo D, Gossett D, and Tse H. "Method and device for high-throughput solution exchange for cell and particle suspension." U.S. Patent Nos. 9522344, 9815060, 10226769. E.P. Patent No. 2641094.