Magnetic fluids and microfluidics: A short review

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AuthorEmma Thomée, PhD candidate at Elvesys emma.thomee@elvesys.com Elvesys SAS, 172 Rue de Charonne 75011 Paris 1. Introduction into magnetic fluids and microfluidics Magnetic manipulation of micro-fluids is an attractive concept. Due to the non-invasive nature of magnetic fields, magnetic particles or magnetic fluids can be manipulated inside a microfluidic channel by external magnets that are not in direct contact with the fluid. Ferrofluids make up a specific class of magnetic fluids. Ferrofluids are stable colloid suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles in a nonmagnetic carrier fluid, and they exhibit both magnetic and fluidic properties. External magnetic fields can be applied to control their fluid motion and their fluidic properties are retained even under the influence of strong magnetic fields. Ferrofluids can move just as single component fluids thorough microchannels of microfluidic devices.…
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New Paper in NANO Letters

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A paper titled 'Helium Ion Microscopy for Reduced Spin Orbit Torque Switching Currents' has come to life as a result of joint efforts of MaMi consortium members (TCD, IPCMS-CNRS, UNISTRA-Herman's lab) and Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden. This work has been done within the project of ESR 8 Jinu Kurian and is yet another stepping stone in elucidating  behaviour under extreme magnetic field gradients.Full text available here
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Actuation concepts for in vivo-like mechanical strain

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Various actuation concepts can be used to generate membrane stretching. Mimicking stretching forces in vitro for cell culture is often required, for example in lung-on-chip tissue culture (breathing), in heart-on-chip models (heartbeat) or gut-on-chip (peristaltic intestine movement). We will briefly outline the most common and promising principles, including pneumatic actuation, electromagnetic actuation, piezoelectric actuation and dielectrophoretic actuation used in microfluidic organ-on-chip technology. 1. Introduction Cells and tissues in the human body are naturally exposed to different types of mechanical forces. The forces range over multiple length scales. For instance, our bones and cartilage are exposed to compressive loads as we walk and move and our blood vessels are continuously exposed to shear stresses due to vascular flow and to cyclic strain due to blood pressure or lung tissue is under mechanical…
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New Paper in Scientific Reports

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Researchers at the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS), Univ. Paris-Saclay have demonstrated that ordinary liquids can emit a modulated hot and cold thermal signal upon applied mechanical shear wave (Figure below). It tells that the mechanical energy is not dissipated but converted in local thermodynamic states. Prof. Laurence Noirez together with her student Eni Kume (ESR 5) thus identified the equivalent of the thermo-elasticity which was known in solids only.These experimental advances are utmost important for liquid theories and microfluidics, and open the way to a new generation of energy-efficient temperature converters. View the article By applying a low frequency shear mechanical stimulus (~ Hz), the liquid emits a modulated thermal signal synchronous with the stimulus. Real-time mapping of the temperature variation of the PPG-4000 confined in a 240 µm gap (gap view) excited by…
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A short overview of Lung-on-Chip systems.  The use of the alveolar-capillary barrier in human medicine by Emma Thomée.

A short overview of Lung-on-Chip systems.  The use of the alveolar-capillary barrier in human medicine by Emma Thomée.

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Author: Emma Thomée*, PhD candidateEmail: emma.thomee@elvesys.com 1. Introduction into lung-on-a-chip microfluidic systems Organ-on-chip technology provides unique opportunities to study lung physiology and pathophysiology in vitro. The first lung-on-a-chip platforms emerged almost 10 years ago, and significant progress has since been made in terms of both biological and engineering complexity. Here, we describe one of the most sophisticated lung-on-a-chip systems in terms of biological complexity [1] that model the alveolar-capillary barrier, in order to present the current knowledge on the topic. 2. Structure and function of the human lung Organ-on-chip technology provides unique opportunities to study lung physiology and pathophysiology in vitro. The first lung-on-a-chip platforms emerged almost 10 years ago, and significant progress has since been made in terms of both biological and engineering complexity. Here, we describe one of the most sophisticated lung-on-a-chip systems in terms…
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New Paper in Nature

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The team successfully imaged water flow imbedded in ferrofluid enclosure, stabilized by magnetic forces. X-ray tomography 3D imaging was performed at PSI synchrotron (CH), in a new collaboration, which validated the full shape of the microfluidic circuitry, as well as the accuracy of the optical method used IPCMS laboratory in parallel. The team is now capable of stabilizing and imaging tubes of 15 microns diameter, more than one order of magnitude smaller than before. This finding a key for showing how this approach is relevant for the field of microfluidics, in particular for flowing very viscous liquids or very delicate biological compounds. These results are published in latest issue in Nature Dunne, P., Adachi, T., Dev, A.A. et al. Liquid flow and control without solid walls. Nature 581, 58–62 (2020).…
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MAMI outreach activity in Laguardia

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All MAMI members enjoyed an outreach activity organised by the Microfluidic Cluster UPV/EHU after the Progress meeting of the project that took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz the 31st of January 2020. MAMI members visited the winary, Marques de Riscal, and a visit to the incredible medieval city of Laguardia in Alava.Then, the Early Career Researchers of the European Project participated in a outreach activity where they needed to explain to the general public and in a colloquial way: why tax payers should fund their respective projects.
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Symposium on the News

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The Microfluidics Symposium organised by the Microfluidic Cluster UPV/EHU in Vitoria-Gasteiz the 30th of January 2020 appeared on the news of the "El Diario de Noticias de Álava" the 30th of January 2020."Un laboratorio en un solo chip" by Sara Cabrera and Jorge Muñoz presents the Symposium and our Cluster to the general public.
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Microfluidics Symposium 2020

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On the 30th of January 2020, The Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU organised the first Microfluidics Symposium at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The Symposium brought seven international speakers from different disciplines: Futuristic Microfluidics Incorporating Bioinspired Functionalities.Dermot Diamond (Dublin City University, IRL). Dynamic Wetting of Fluids at the Microscale:  Drop Emission, Inertia and Microstructured Surface Effects. Aurora Hernandez-Machado (Univ. Barcelona, SP). Future Diagnostics Opportunities in Limited Resource Settings. Kevin Nichols (Intellectual Ventures, USA). Organ-on-a-chip Platforms for Cancer Research Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Severine Le Gac (Univ. Twente, NL). The Making of Micro and Nano particles by Electro-hydrodynamics. Ignacio Gonzalez Loscertales (Univ. Málaga, SP). Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion Forces for Bioanalysis On-chip. Nicole Pamme (Univ. Hull, UK). Life in Space: The Role of Microfluidic Systems in the Study of Terrestrial Microbes in Space & the Search for Life…
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Winter School Hands on Microfuidics

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From 27.01 to 29.01 the Students from European Project MAMI have been working on different projects related to microfluidics: paper microfluidics, 3D printed microfluidics, cells on a chip and polymer fabrication of microfluidic devices.   On Monday 27th of January MAMI students visited Microliquid facilities in Arrasate-Mondragón. They learnt about mass scale fabrication of microfluidics devices, visited their facilities and enjoyed a great microfluidics industrial experience!
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