Microfluidic Control of Microbeads and Ferrofluid in a Microtube

The field of microfluidics is developing with advances in MEMS, biotechnology and μ-TAS technologies. In various devices, controlling the flow rate of liquid or gas accurately at micro or nanoliter volume levels is required. By using a ferrofluid, the flow of a liquid or gas in a microchannel can be controlled by the driving power exerted on the ferrofluid. Also alginate microbeads can be applied to a study of transfer technology in a bioreactor and DDS (Drug Delivery System). In this field, production and control of microbeads are required. In the present study, an unsteady flow of a ferrofluid slug or microbead caused by the driving force exerted using a permanent magnet ring has been investigated in a 200μm circular microtube. The motion and behavior of the ferrofluid slug and microbead were observed. In addition, we examined the motion and stopping position.