MechSE Distinguished Seminar: Scaling the Microscale: The Rise of Extreme Microfluids

Abstract 

Microfluidics has traditionally enabled precise manipulation of minute fluid volumes, but its broader application has been constrained by limited throughput and the complexity of real-world biological fluids. Here, we introduce “extreme microfluidics,” extending microscale principles to process large volumes of complex, non-Newtonian fluids such as whole blood while preserving precision and gentle handling of living cells. We highlight key innovations leveraging multiplexing, inertial and viscoelastic effects, and integrated multi-physics platforms to enable high-throughput separation and manipulation of rare cells. These advances include both positive selection and label-free negative depletion strategies, as well as inertial focusing approaches that allow continuous, high-speed control of particles without external forces. Scalable parallelization and non-equilibrium processing further enable clinically relevant throughput and efficient isolation of rare single cells and multicellular clusters under physiologically gentle conditions. Together, these developments bridge microscale precision with macroscale processing, establishing extreme microfluidics as a powerful platform for applications in diagnostics, cell therapy, and large-scale bioprocessing.

About the Speaker 

Dr. Toner received his BS degree from Istanbul Technical University and his MS degree from the MIT, both in Mechanical Engineering. He subsequently earned his PhD in Medical Engineering from the Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Dr. Mehmet Toner is the Helen Andrus Benedict Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard–MIT Health Sciences and Technology. He serves as Director of Research at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Boston and is Co-Director of the Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery.

Dr. Toner is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Society for Cryobiology. He has received the H.R. Lissner Medal in Bioengineering and the Savio–Woo Award in Biomechanics from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as well as the Luyet Medal from the Society for Cryobiology. He has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Inventors, and the National Academy of Medicine.

His research focuses on microfluidics; nano- and microtechnologies; tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; and cryobiology. Dr. Toner is also a co-founder of multiple biotechnology and medical device start-up companies. 

Host: Professor Bumsoo Han