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The Mysterious Dance of Liquids: Why are fluids behave so differently in the microscopic world?
Microfluidology is a fascinating and diverse field focusing on manipulating liquids on microscopic scales.The behavior of these liquids is very different in the microscopic world than that of our daily experiences.On the microscopic scale, the movement of liquids is dominated by factors such as surface tension, energy dissipation and fluid resistance, which are often overlooked in the macroscopic world.From the early 1980s, microfluidics evolved gradually and found its applications in multiple fields, whether in microdiagnostic tools in the field of biomedical science or in high-throughput screening for chemical analysis.
The basic characteristics of microfluidics include: small flow, small size and low energy consumption, which together promote the development of this field.
The uniqueness of microfluid behavior
At the microscopic scale, the flow behavior of liquids shows many counterintuitive characteristics, which makes the study of fluid dynamics challenging.The properties of Newtonian fluids appear extremely important as the fluid moves in micron to nanometer channels, because at this time the relationship between the viscosity of the fluid and the amount of motion of the flow becomes particularly sensitive.
In microscopic fluid control, flow is no longer turbulent, but rather exhibits the characteristics of laminar flow.
The properties of laminar flow mean that the liquids flowing with each other do not mix as in daily experience, which makes the transport between molecules mainly rely on diffusion.The uniqueness of this microfluidics makes microfluidics the basis of many emerging technologies.
A variety of microfluidic flow forms
The microfluidic flow types are diverse, and according to different application and design requirements, the appropriate flow method can be selected.Open microfluidic technology is gaining increasing attention, and such systems are open at least one boundary, allowing liquids to be directly exposed to air or other media.The advantage here is that it has a larger liquid-gas surface area and easier intervention.
Another feature of open microfluidics is that it integrates surface tension-driven flow, eliminating the need for external pumps.
Continuous Flow Microfluidic Technology
Another common microfluidic technology is continuous flow microfluidics, which relies on the control of steady-state liquid flow.Whether through external pressure sources or internal micropumps, this technology maintains steady flow in narrow channels.Continuous flow microfluids are effective in many simple biochemical applications, but often seem unscrupulous when tasks require high flexibility.
Advances in droplet operation
The microdroplet-based microfluidic technology further advances the boundaries of microfluidics and can manipulate the liquid volume in different phases, which makes the experimental process more convenient.A lot of research has been done on the generation, operation and precise sorting of droplets, and this technology allows for high-throughput experiments and behavioral analysis.
The Rise of Digital Microfluidic Technology
Digital microfluidics pushes microfluidic operation to a new level, allowing independent control of different droplets on a substrate.This technology borrows the concept of digital electronics and provides greater flexibility and scalability by operating droplets through electrowetting methods.
Future application prospects
With the rapid development of microfluidics, the application of this technology in many fields such as biology, environmental science, and medical diagnosis will be greatly expanded.For example, microfluidic technology can be used for rapid diagnostic devices and has the potential to provide immediate health testing in remote areas.
The potential advantages of microfluidic technology include precise manipulation of single cells and in-depth understanding of complex biological environments.
As our understanding of microfluid behavior continues to deepen, more innovative applications will be waiting for us to explore in the future.Is it possible that these tiny fluid dancers will change the way we understand biological and chemical phenomena?
