INS4-0163
Pneumatic Microvalve-Based Microfluidic Platforms for High-Throughput Sorting of Cells, Droplets, and Hydrogels
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
10:45 - 11:10
Room 106
Session Chairs
Sangchul ROH
Presenter(s)
CHANG-SOO LEE (CHUNGNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
High-throughput sorting of soft and polymeric micro-objects, including hydrogel beads, emulsion droplets, microcapsules, and cell-laden compartments, is increasingly important in biotechnology, biomaterials research, and high-throughput screening. In this presentation, I will introduce our recent development of pneumatic microvalve-based microfluidic sorting platforms that use mechanical flow switching rather than material-property-dependent actuation. The first platform is a high-performance binary sorter based on a pneumatic bilayer valve, where valve geometry optimization and flow alignment improve sorting accuracy, efficiency, and stability. The second platform extends this concept to multiplexed five-way sorting, enabling multiple sample populations to be separated in a single device according to fluorescence signals. These systems were validated with cell suspensions, hydrogel particles, and emulsion droplets, demonstrating their potential as versatile tools for integrated biomaterials screening, synthetic biology, and droplet-based biotechnology.
