Aerosol sampling using an electrostatic precipitator integrated with a microfluidic interface

• In this work, the development of a point-of-care (PoC) system to capture aerosol from litres of air directly onto a microfluidic lab-on-chip for subsequent analysis is addressed. The system involves an electrostatic precipitator that uses corona charging and electrophoretic transport to capture aerosol droplets onto a microfluidic air-to-liquid interface for downstream analysis. A theoretical study of the governing geometric and operational parameters for optimal electrostatic precipitation is presented. The fabrication of an electrostatic precipitator prototype and its experimental validation using a laboratory-generated aerosolized dye is described. Collection efficiencies were comparable to those of a state-of-the-art Biosampler impinger, with the significant advantage of providing samples that are at least 10 times more concentrated. Finally, we discuss the potential of such a system for breath-based diagnostics.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Annan elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Annan medicinsk bioteknologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Other Medical Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

breath analysis

poc

point-of-care

lab-on-chip

loc

microfluidics

aerosol

sampling

medical device

diagnostics

electrostatic precipitation

corona discharge

Electrical Engineering

Elektro- och systemteknik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)