Smith publishes in Biomicrofluidics, Biomedical Microdevices; joins MIT Lincoln Laboratory

My work on “Enhancing sensitivity and specificity in rare cell capture microdevices with dielectrophoresis” was recently published in Biomicrofluidics, with co-authors Charlie Huang and Brian Kirby. This paper describes numerical simulations that identify microfluidic obstacle array geometries where dielectrophoersis (DEP) can be combined with immunocapture to increase the capture of target rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), while simultaneously repelling contaminating cells. These simulations build on our previous efforts that have shown that cancer cells exhibit a different DEP response than healthy blood cells, and lay the groundwork for the experimental study of hybrid DEP–immunocapture obstacle array microdevices.

Separately, I have also reported on “A transfer function approach for predicting rare cell capture microdevice performance” in Biomedical Microdevices. This work describes a numerical technique that extends our previously-reported computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of rare cell transport and capture in microfluidic devices into larger, more complex geometries. This transfer function approach matches the full CFD simulation within 1.34% at a 74-fold reduction in computational costs, and the transfer function’s predictions for lateral displacement within complex reversing geometries were validated experimentally using particle tracking and polystyrene microspheres in a GEDI device.

Earlier this year, I joined the technical staff of the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, working in the Engineering Division‘s Structural and Thermal-Fluids Engineering Group. I’m splitting my time between research and engineering efforts, and am enjoying the exposure to new fields and exciting applications, while continuing to build on my work in microfluidics.

Smith JP, Kirby BJ. “A Transfer Function Approach for Predicting Rare Cell Capture Microdevice Performance”, Biomedical Microdevices, 17:53, 2015. DOI: 10.1007/s10544-015-9956-7.
Smith JP, Huang C, Kirby BJ. “Enhancing sensitivity and specificity in rare cell capture microdevices with dielectrophoresis”, Biomicrofluidics, 9:014116, 2015. DOI: 10.1063/1.4908049.