Magnetic Liquid Gating Valve Terminal for Patterned Droplet Generation and Transportation of Highly Viscous Bioactive Fluids

Abstract As an open microfluidic technology with excellent anti‐fouling and energy‐saving properties, liquid gating technology can selectively separate or transfer multiphase fluids, which has shown great application value in the field of biomedical engineering. However, no study has demonstrated that liquid gating technology has the ability to transfer high‐viscosity fluids and biologically active substances, and current liquid gating valves are unable to realize smart‐responsive pulsed‐patterned transfer, which severely limits their application scope. In this paper, liquid gating technology is combined with magnetically responsive materials to prepare a liquid‐based magnetic porous membrane (LMPM) with excellent magnetostatic deformation capability and antifouling properties. On this basis, a magnetic liquid gating valve terminal (MLGVT) with patterning transfer capability is developed, and the feasibility of liquid gating technology for transferring high‐viscosity fluids and hydrogel bioinks is explored. Meanwhile, a flexible MLGVT is prepared and realized for targeted drug delivery. This study expands the potential of liquid gating technology for drug delivery, cellular transport and smart patches.