Transport of nonspherical particles in non-Newtonian fluid: A review

Abstract

The transport of spherical particles in microchannel flow has been extensively studied owing to its relevance to efficient particle control, particularly in high-throughput cytometry and in single-cell detection and analysis. Despite significant advances in the field of inertial microfluidics, however, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of the migration of nonspherical particles in non-Newtonian fluids, given the diverse shapes of particles found in biological and industrial contexts. In this review, the transport behaviors of both spherical and nonspherical particles in both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are examined. The current state of knowledge, challenges, and potential opportunities in inertial microfluidics are analyzed, with a focus on the underlying physical mechanisms and the development of novel channel designs. The findings presented here will enhance our understanding of the accumulation behavior of rigid particles in non-Newtonian fluid channel flow and may provide insights into efficient particle focusing and control in microfluidic devices.