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Title:
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Design, testing and optimization of a microfluidic device for capture and concentration of bacteria |
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Author:
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Cherla, Srinivas |
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Description:
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Effective detection of bacterial pathogens in large sample volumes is a challenging problem . Pre -concentration routines currently in practice before the actual detection process are cumbersome and hard to automate . An effort is made to address the problem of volume discrepancy between day -to -day samples and the concentrated samples needed for analysis . Principles of conceptual design are used in formulating the â  Need Statementâ  , â  Function Structureâ  and in identifying the â  Critical Design Parametersâ  and â  Design Constraintsâ  . Electrokinetic phenomena are used to exploit the surface charges on bacteria . Electrophoresis is used to transport the bacteria to electrode surface and â  Electrostatic trappingâ  is then used to capture these microbes on the electrode surface . The captured microbes can then be concentrated in a concentrator unit . A prototype microfluidic device is fabricated for showing the proof of concept . Optimization is done to minimize hydraulic power consumption and wetted volume . Observations from the initial prototype device along with the optimization results are used in building a new prototype device . Operation of this device is demonstrated by capture of bacteria from flow . Qualitative studies are conducted and preliminary quantification is also done . |
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URI:
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http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /4140
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Date:
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2013-03-12 |