Exploring the Potential Applications of Microfluidics

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "E:Engineering and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 482

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Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Interests: microsystems; sensing (inertial, flow, load, strain); design of MEMS; data processing; modeling of coupled micro and macro systems; packaging of microsensors; MEMS for turbulence control; microfabrication; non-conventional microfabrication; rapid prototyping; migration from auto to aero; reliability of MEMS; failure models; test methodologies
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microsystems have mostly been conceived of as a discipline related to Microelectronics. The downsizing of electronic systems at the regular scale was perceived as the core principle of micromachining, which was later extended to mechanical components. Microfluidics was not seen as an extension of hydraulic systems but rather as a bio-chemistry-enabling application. However, microfluidics has slowly gained the status of a microsystem with a large range of potential applications. The various applications of microfluidics include bio-medical innovations, processor cooling, and many more. Microfluidics enables fast bio-chemical tests and the production of fluid-like materials, but the full potential of the discipline is far from being achieved. Thus, this Special Issue on microfluidic applications will focus on novel technologies, new results, new applications, novel materials for microfluidics, gas working microfluidics, etc. We will consider any submission related to the fundamental aspect of microfluidics and its engineering.

Prof. Dr. Ion Stiharu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microfluidic flow
  • microchannels
  • fabrication of microfluidic components
  • microfluidic circuits
  • microfluidic applications
  • particles fabrication
  • particles separation
  • particle detection
  • liposomes
  • microfluidics vs. milifluidics
  • hybrid microfluidics

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 6714 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Gravitactic Bioconvection with Nanoparticles: An Application of Solids Removal in Wastewater Using a Thermal Source
by Alejandra M. Mil-Martínez, René O. Vargas, Aldo Gómez-López, Alejandro Zacarías, Juan P. Escandón, Enrique García-Leal and Rubén Mil-Martínez
Micromachines 2025, 16(5), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16050553 - 30 Apr 2025
Viewed by 165
Abstract
The results of numerical simulations of gravitactic bioconvection influenced by nanoparticles suspended in water are analyzed. In this work, two cases are established which consider the removal of nanometric particles suspended in wastewater. The competence among the bioconvection of Paramecium caudatum, natural [...] Read more.
The results of numerical simulations of gravitactic bioconvection influenced by nanoparticles suspended in water are analyzed. In this work, two cases are established which consider the removal of nanometric particles suspended in wastewater. The competence among the bioconvection of Paramecium caudatum, natural convection and buoyancy of nanoparticles phenomena in an aqueous suspension is presented. The position of a thermal source to control the orientation of microorganisms when swimming is analyzed. Numerical simulations are carried out using the finite difference method in an ADI scheme, employing stream-vorticity formulations and equations for microorganisms, nanoparticle concentration, and energy. The percentage of nanoparticles is considered using the Rayleigh number, which includes the effect of Brownian and thermophoretic parameters. At low values of the Brownian parameter δBm=0.1, thermophoretic parameter δTm=0.1, and the nanoparticles Rayleigh number 0.005<Ran<0.015, the swimming of microorganisms contributed to streamlines across which nanoparticles traveled in response to a thermal control source. Thus, the results obtained suggest an alternative approach to the removal of solids such as heavy metals in polluting waters. The development of this type of technology will help in the bioremediation of wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Potential Applications of Microfluidics)
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