Cell Deformability Studies for Clinical Diagnostics: Tests with Blood Analogue Fluids using a Drop based Microfluidic Device

The present paper addresses the final tests (concerning the transport section) of a microfluidic device to be used in cancer diagnostics, based on the mechanical properties of the cells and particularly on deformability. Following the previous work, which established the materials to be used, according to the wetting properties and their influence on the dynamic response of the droplets (which are electrostatically actuated) this paper presents the final simulations to optimize the thickness and material of the dielectric coating, always as a function of the dynamic response of the droplets. Then, to avoid contamination issues, a number of analogue fluids are proposed, in a new approach, which are characterized and tested in the second part of the work. Regarding the characterization of these new fluids, preliminary results suggest a great potential of a surfactant solution to be used as an analogue. The addition of the surfactant results in the formation of semirigid particles with a size distribution and deformation characteristics compatible with those of the biosamples to be studied. The surfactant solution also shows a swift response to electrostatic actuation.