arXiv2025
Mucociliary clearance in mammals serves as the primary defense mechanism for removing particulate matter deposited in the pulmonary airways. Dysfunctions in this process are linked to serious respiratory diseases and can hinder effective drug delivery to the lungs. Microfluidic systems have emerged as a promising alternative for replicating lung functions in non-cellular physiological environments, offering a simpler and more controllable approach compared to in vivo and in vitro assays. Here we present a microfluidic platform featuring a closed-loop circular microchannel, integrating thousand 75 micrometer high magnetic pillars arranged in a square array. Made of polydimethylsiloxane and loaded with iron microparticles, the pillars are studied using scanning electron microscopy and magnetometry; their internal structure and bending response to a magnetic field are quantitatively analyzed. Using a combination of experimental data and finite element simulations, we found that the magnetic torque induced by permanent magnets dominates over magnetic force, generating fluid flow in the microchannel. Under the application of a rotating field, the time-dependent deflection of the pillars closely mimics the behavior of lung cilia, exhibiting alternating recovery phases and rapid whip-like movements. The velocity profiles of viscous and viscoelastic fluids are examined, and shown to display Poiseuille-type flow. By varying the viscosity of the fluids across four orders of magnitude, we identified a transition in propulsion regimes between viscous and elastic-driven flows. This active microfluidic platform offers a promising approach for modeling mucociliary clearance in drug delivery applications.