Modelling, simulation, and experimental characterization of particle sedimentation inside a horizontal syringe

• DOI: 10.1007/s10404-025-02802-x
• Publication Date: 2025-04-15T14:50:38Z
• Authors: Maryamsadat Ghore...; Efsun Senturk; Gianluca Cidonio; Chiara Scognamiglio; Zita Salajková; Mara Riminucci; Alessandro Corsi; Giancarlo Ruocco; Marco Leonetti; Riccardo Reale
• Keywords: Sedimentation; Settling; Particle (ecology); Syringe driver

Abstract Sedimentation is the settling of solid particles in a liquid medium driven by gravity. This phenomenon poses significant challenges experimental lab-on-chip (LOC) applications, as they often involve biological sample to be loaded inside syringe for prolonged periods (e.g. 3D bioprinting, microfluidic cytometers). Mitigating solutions such mechanical agitators or buffer adjustments exist, but increase complexity and cost setup. In this work, we developed model particle sedimentation horizontal syringe, which highlights importance several parameters: radius, terminal velocity buffer, outlet position, flow-rate. The provides simple way estimate concentration half-life ( $${t}_{1/2}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mi>t</mml:mi> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> <mml:mo>/</mml:mo> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:math> ), i.e. time required halve, useful during experiment design process. was initially tested numerically then validated experimentally. Additionally, applicability predict experimentally demonstrated. Lastly, used develop guidelines setups with minimized sedimentation.