Computational study of geometric effects of bottom wall microgrooves on cell docking inside microfluidic devices

TL;DR

This study uses computational fluid dynamics to analyze how microgroove geometries on microfluidic device walls influence cell docking, attachment, and detachment by examining fluid recirculation, shear stress, and drag forces.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of how microgroove shape and size affect cell behavior and fluid dynamics, offering design insights for improved microfluidic cell docking systems.

Findings

Microgroove geometry influences recirculation area height and cell attachment.

Fluid velocity in x direction affects cell movement time and drag force.

Lower shear stress reduces cell detachment risk.

Abstract

Single cell and regularly cells docking inside the microstructure of microfluidic systems are advantageous in different analyses of single cells exposed to equal drug concentration and mechanical stimulus. In this study, we investigated bottom wall microgrooves with semicircular and rectangular geometries with different sizes which are suitable for single cell docking along the length of the microgroove in x direction and numerous cells docking regularly in one line inside the microgroove in a 3D microchannel. We used computational fluid dynamics to analyze the fluid recirculation area inside different microgrooves. The height of recirculation area in the bottom of microgroove can affect the cell attachment, and also materials delivery to attached cells, so the height of recirculation area has to be optimum amount. In addition, we analyzed the fluid drag force on cell movement toward the microgroove. This parameter was proportional to the fluid velocities in x and y directions changing in different microgrooves geometries. In different microgrooves geometries the fluid velocity in y direction does not change. If the fluid velocity in x direction decreases inside the microgroove, the cell movement time inside the microgroove will increase, and also the drag force in y direction can push the cells toward the bottom due to the lower drag force in x direction. The percentages of negative shear stress and average shear stress on the adhered cell surface were also calculated. The lower average shear stress, and negative shear stress around 50% on the cell surface are against cell detachment from the substrate. The results indicated that at the constant fluid inlet velocity and microchannel height, microgroove geometry and ratio of cell size to the microgroove size play pivotal roles in the cell initial adhesion to the substrate as well as the cell detachment.