Bubble-based Continuous Separation System in Microfluidic Device

Here we present a continuous molecule separation/concentration system using flowing microbubbles as carriers. Microbubbles continuously generated at the microchannel confluence are able to capture target substances dissolved in the liquid phase, and these bubble carriers are concentrated by continuously removing liquid phase from the stream to achieve the continuous molecule separation. In the experiment, we evaluated the capability of cationic surfactantmodified bubbles to capture anionic molecules, as the first step to establish a new separation system without necessitating solid-phase supports.