Team:ETH Zurich/Process/Microfluidics

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Evolution of channel design

We relatively early figured out that we need a some kind of channel to establish the acetaldehyde or xylene gradient needed for SmoColi (see Circuit Design). However, there were several different channel designs possible, and the final design evolved through an iterative series of design steps and design validations. The first designs were validated based on vast simulations, the final design furthermore by biological experiments in the lab (see Systems Validation).

1. Microfluidic channel with flow and recycling of the medium
   • Variant 1: Plate with pixel filled with agarose and cell and a microfluidic channel above
   • Variant 2: Microfluidic channel with cells sitting in pockets in the channel
2. Microfluidic channel without flow

Experimental setup for SmoColi.

The Modeling showed that diffusion and degradation of acetaldehyde/ xylene is enough to create a concentration gradient in the tube. Without a flow there is no need for a liquid so we decided to fill the whole channel with agarose and cells likewise we don´t need recycling because AHL can diffuse through the whole channel.