3.4 Vertical Transport Mixing Analysis
To establish the micropost ability to achieve sufficient axial mixing, video analysis (Figure 4A) of vertical transport as a function of time was utilized. Following 10 minutes of active agitation, microwells achieved complete vertical transport, indicated by presence of dye at the liquid surface of well; whereas diffusion alone had very little vertical transport. To further confirm the video analysis, quantitative analysis of the distance traveled indicated that when compared to diffusion, active microposts achieve higher levels of vertical transport, increasing with increasing rotational speeds (Figure 4B). After 10 minutes of active agitation, at 9000 rpm, transport dye had traveled the greatest distance (4.3 mm) compared to 2.93 mm (6000 rpm), 1.88 mm (3000 rpm). Under active agitation, transport dye had greater distance traveled all rotational speeds than that during diffusion alone (1.23 mm) indicating microbioreactor has increased axial transport for nutrient transport.