Optimization of a microfluidic device for diffusion-based extraction of DMSO from a cell suspension

This study considers the use of a two stream microfluidic device for extraction of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) from a cryopreserved cell suspension. The DMSO diffuses from a cell suspension stream into a neighboring wash stream flowing in parallel. The model of Fleming et al. [K.K. Fleming, E.K. Longmire, A. Hubel, Numerical characterization of diffusion-based extraction in a cell-laden flow through a microfluidic channel, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 129 (2007) 703–711] is employed to determine and discuss optimal geometry and operating conditions for a case requiring removal of 95% DMSO from suspension streams with volumetric flow rates up to 2.5 ml/min. The effects of Peclet number, flow rate fraction, and cell volume fraction are analyzed, and expansion of the analysis to other applications is discussed.