Simulation and Experimental Validation of a Microfluidic Device

Abstract The combination of microfluidic devices with cell culture methods has risen over the years due to their ability to replicate several diseases and test different therapeutic techniques. Unlike in vivo models, in vitro systems avoid ethical issues and allow researchers to control several physiological variables and mimic the physiological microenvironment at reduced costs. Along with the experiments, computational tools have also played an important role in assessing fluid flow and related phenomena. Nonetheless, to assure that the numerical outcomes provide a good approximation of reality, its validation is needed. Despite this step being usually disregarded, it is of great importance to accomplish it. Herein, a microfluidic device was developed by combining additive manufacturing with a silicone polymer for flow visualization experiments, and its numerical model was established by using Ansys Fluent software. The results were compared both qualitatively and quantitatively. A good agreement was obtained, which indicates the potential use of the numerical model in further studies.