Motion and hydrodynamic resistance of an elastic bead confined in a square microchannel

TL;DR

This study investigates how elastic deformation affects the hydrodynamic resistance of soft particles in confined microchannels, providing a comprehensive model that links physical parameters to pressure drop.

Contribution

It introduces a new model for elastic bead hydrodynamics in microchannels, integrating experimental data with simulations to unify force scaling laws.

Findings

Pressure drop depends on confinement, elasticity, viscosity, and velocity.

The model collapses force data onto a universal scaling law.

Provides physical insights into multiphase flow and contact mechanics.

Abstract

Cells and other soft particles are often forced to flow in confined geometries in both laboratory and natural environments, where the elastic deformation induces an additional drag and pressure drop across the particle. In contrast with other multiphase flows, the physical parameters that determine this additional pressure are still not known. Here we start by measuring the pressure drop across a single spherical hydrogel particle as it flows in a microfluidic comparator. This pressure is found to depend on the amount of confinement, elastic modulus, fluid viscosity and velocity. A model for the force balance on the particle is then proposed, by incorporating the above ingredients and relying on simulations of bead geometry and lubrication flow considerations. The final model collapses the force measurements forces onto a single scaling law spanning several decades, while providing physical insights by recalling elements from classic multiphase flows and contact mechanics.