Aerosol Delivery to Nanoliter Droplets Using An Aerodynamic Lens Aerosol Concentrator with Capillary Deposition and Collection

The proposed project will develop a novel aerosol to liquid delivery system which combines a micro-fabricated aerodynamic lens (µADL) aerosol concentrator with a novel capillary collector to rapidly deliver large numbers of aerosol particles into nanoliter droplets. Mass production methods will result in a low cost, compact device with high throughput. In this project we will design a next generation µADL that can sample 100 slpm of ambient air and produce concentration ratios of up to 200:1 in a single stage device, and up to 2000:1 in a 2-stage device. We will develop a capillary collector that ensures 100% collection of aerosol particles; we will develop a droplet injection and transport system, and will identify capillary surface modifications and elution fluids to ensure 100% elution of the deposited aerosol particles or their DNA into the droplet, and we will demonstrate delivery of this droplet to a microfluidics detection platform. At the end of phase I, we will have demonstrated each of the critical elements of the overall system and we will have developed engineering and CFD models of these elements that can be used in phase II to optimize and design a fully functional prototype aerosol to liquid delivery system.