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.