MICROFLUIDIC PACK FOR ARTIFICIAL CELL CREATION
CHECK VALVE SYSTEM PACK FOR RECIRCULATION
Unidirectionnal flow rate from 7 nL/min to 5 mL/min, instant response
The fluid stays in the incubator removing risks of bubble formation
The passive check valves are less likely to get clogged
No need for complicated sequences or active valve to recirculate
Check valves don't need usb or electrical connection and are compact
Check valve loop recirculation pack
Recirculation has never been so easy thanks to our new passive recirculation loop, which is composed of four check valves that allow a unidirectional flow with great stability for at least 2 weeks, depending on the fluid and flow rate used. Results obtained with unidirectional flow are more relevant for most experiments than back-and-forth flows.
The state-of-the-art OB1 flow controller (Elveflow) can be coupled with in-line sensors to recirculate fluids like medium for dynamic cell cultures precisely.
You may also perform recirculation with existing instruments: the MUX recirculation (Elveflow) or the application using valves.
Here is a comparison with usually used active valves:
The recirculation loop is composed of four passive check valves that are connected in a way that allow the flow to always be in the same direction inside the connected microfluidic chip when pressurizing the first or the second reservoir.
Therefore the principle of the recirculation using this check valve loop is to pressurize the first reservoir until it is nearly empty, then stop and start pressurizing the second reservoir. This allows the microfluidic chip to to always be under unidirectional flow.
The flow rate is measured by a flow sensor that then creates a feedback loop to the OB1 flow controller that is the most precise and fastest flow controller on the market.
Check valve loop recirculation pack setup
Our all-in-one pack guarantees perfect compatibility between different instruments so you can start your experiment right away. The system is piloted by a single software that may also be used for other applications. We also provide continuous and full customer support for you to get the best results out of your experiments.
Check valve loop recirculation pack includes:
- OB1 flow controller (Elveflow)
- Two eppendorf or falcon reservoirs
- Check valve loop
- Tubing and luers
- Any microfluidic chip
- Can include a flow sensor (Elveflow)
- Software and SDKs (Elveflow)
- User guides
The fluid take a different path depending on the reservoir being pressurized but the flow in the chip is always in the same direction:
From reservoir 1 to reservoir 2:
From reservoir 2 to reservoir 1:
Microfluidic recirculation applications
Recirculation in microfluidics is mainly used for long term cell cultures. Tension, compression and shear stress are physiologically important regulators of in vivo cell responses. It is especially important for mimicking blood vessels and intestinal physiological conditions. Fluid flow over cells cultured in microfluidic perfusion chambers provides mechanical stimuli that are not reproduced when performing cell culture in Petri dishes. Recirculation can also be critical when using very expensive fluids.
Some applications of check valve recirculation in cell culture include:
- Tissue on chip models requiring the analysis of molecules produced in low concentration
- Cell culture experiments supplemented with expensive media compounds
- Experiments requiring high amounts of media, including long term cell culture, and the effect of medium to high shear stress
- And many more!
With an expertise in microfluidic flow control for more than 10 years, we can provide you with state-of-the-art microfluidic systems. From biology to engineering applications, the Microfluidics Innovation Center is the perfect partner for you to get started with microfluidics.
Customize your recirculation pack
Our instruments are compatible with standard commercialized chips from different brands.
Our Packs can be modified depending on your specific needs. Our microfluidic specialists will advise you on which instruments and accessories are best for you, depending on your needs, and will accompany you during the setup of the microfluidic platform.
All the instruments are controlled by the same ESI software, allowing workflow automation and easy integration in your program with free available libraries.
– Check our other Packs for various applications –
Funding and Support
The ALTERNATIVE project helped develop this pack; this project is funded by the European Union’s H2020-LC-GD-2020-3, grant agreement No. 101037090.
