Introduction: The microfluidic device is highly optimized to remove oocytes from the cumulus-corona cell mass surrounding them. Additionally, it effectively captures and immobilizes the oocytes, aiding in assessing their quality and facilitating the injection of sperm into the oocyte. In this study, a novel microfluidic chip was designed and manufactured using conventional soft lithography methods. Methods: This research proposes the utilization of a microfluidic chip as a substitute for the conventional manual procedures involved in oocyte denudation, trapping, and immobilization. The microfluidic chip was modeled and simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics® 5. 2 software to optimize and enhance its design and performance. The microfluidic chip was fabricated using conventional injection molding techniques on a polydimethylsiloxane substrate by employing soft lithography methods. Results: A hydrostatic force was applied to guide the oocyte through predetermined pathways to eliminate the cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte. The oocyte was subsequently confined within the designated trap region by utilizing hydraulic resistance along the paths and immobilized by applying vacuum force. Conclusion: The application of this chip necessitates a lower level of operator expertise compared to enzymatic and mechanical techniques. Moreover, it is feasible to continuously monitor the oocyte's state throughout the procedure. There is a reduced need for cultural media compared to more standard approaches.

In surface acoustic wave sensors, target cells are trapped by sacrificial layer, containing antigens and antibodies. In this new idea, sacrificial layer is replaced by diectrophoresis electrodes. Fast response and not being disposable and usability for various types of cells are its advantages. In order to design and fabricate the sensor, the optimized values of effective parameters have been investigated. The behavior Love wave - which is used in this sensor - is simulated with lithium Niobate as substrate and ZnO layer as guiding layer. Two types of focus and unfocused interdigital transducer electrodes for sensor are investigated. The results of the sensitivity analysis and its relationship with the sensor displacement are presented. In graphs, results indicate that the focused circular structure is more sensitive, when the number of target cells in the fluid channel is more. The sensor was tested in 142 MHz for healthy and cancerous brain and intestinal cells. The suggested sensor has good results for measurement of cells aggregation. Wave power loss in transmission from sender to receiver ports and frequency shift are two special properties for detecting healthy and cancerous cells. Results show 80 and 90 KHz decrease in frequency and 4.99 and 6.69 dB loss decrease in cancerous cells comparing to healthy cells in brain and intestinal cells respectively. In this sensor, trapping, detecting and measurement of aggregation, happens in 5-10 second, which is an outstanding result compare to 10-15 minutes in conventional methods.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is one of the most successful techniques of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and is mostly in use for the treatment of infertility with male factors. In this method, before injecting sperm into the intracytoplasmic of the oocyte, cumulus cells around the oocyte must be stripped to facilitate the injection process. To achieve this, both enzymatic and mechanical methods are used in embryological Laboratories for denudation, which has major deficiencies, including the possibility of damaging the oocyte prior to the injection process. In this research, a microfluidic-based device is introduced for the separation of cumulus cells around the oocyte with minimum manual operations. The results prove high efficiency, and non-destructive denudation of the oocyte with the reduced amount of culture medium leads to the low-cost preparation process of oocytes. The process can also be integrated with ICSI chips under development and will be reported shortly.

Micromixing has a practical application in analyzing of many biochemical and biologicals detection devices of Lab-on-a-chip (LOC). The conventional static micromixers require the channel with more lengths and also require times to reach to complete mixing owing to its dependence on transverse diffusion. However, in the electrokinetic micromixers, as the surface properties of the microchannel run the electro-osmotic flow characteristics, surface heterogeneity (non-uniform zeta potentials) can be seen to make vortices or specific flow structures for better mixing performance. This study aims to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to numerically compare the concentration rate of the various electrokinetic micromixers in in the presence of the electric conductor. The results revealed that the off-center microchannel design in a micromixer can augment the rate of concentration. In addition, circular microchannel design showed better mixing compared to the triangular and square designs. These results are useful not only for understanding of the profiles of concentration in the electrokinetic micromixers, but also for providing a comprehensive information on the design of the microchannels, which may result in better mixture in the fluids