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Yang C, Liu X, Song X, Zhang L. Design and batch fabrication of anisotropic microparticles toward small-scale robots using microfluidics: recent advances. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:4514-4535. [PMID: 39206574 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00566j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Small-scale robots with shape anisotropy have garnered significant scientific interest due to their enhanced mobility and precise control in recent years. Traditionally, these miniature robots are manufactured using established techniques such as molding, 3D printing, and microfabrication. However, the advent of microfluidics in recent years has emerged as a promising manufacturing technology, capitalizing on the precise and dynamic manipulation of fluids at the microscale to fabricate various complex-shaped anisotropic particles. This offers a versatile and controlled platform, enabling the efficient fabrication of small-scale robots with tailored morphologies and advanced functionalities from the microfluidic-derived anisotropic microparticles at high throughput. This review highlights the recent advances in the microfluidic fabrication of anisotropic microparticles and their potential applications in small-scale robots. In this review, the term 'small-scale robots' broadly encompasses micromotors endowed with capabilities for locomotion and manipulation. Firstly, the fundamental strategies for liquid template formation and the methodologies for generating anisotropic microparticles within the microfluidic system are briefly introduced. Subsequently, the functionality of shape-anisotropic particles in forming components for small-scale robots and actuation mechanisms are emphasized. Attention is then directed towards the diverse applications of these microparticle-derived microrobots in a variety of fields, including pollution remediation, cell microcarriers, drug delivery, and biofilm eradication. Finally, we discuss future directions for the fabrication and development of miniature robots from microfluidics, shedding light on the evolving landscape of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Xurui Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Xin Song
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 999077, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong 999077, China.
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2
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Sahin MA, Shehzad M, Destgeer G. Stopping Microfluidic Flow. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307956. [PMID: 38143295 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
A cross-comparison of three stop-flow configurations-such as low-pressure (LSF), high-pressure open-circuit (OC-HSF), and high-pressure short-circuit (SC-HSF) stop-flow-is presented to rapidly bring a high velocity flow O(m s-1) within a microchannel to a standstill O(µm s-1). The performance of three stop-flow configurations is assessed by measuring residual flow velocities within microchannels having three orders of magnitude different flow resistances. The LSF configuration outperforms the OC-HSF and SC-HSF configurations within a high flow resistance microchannel and results in a residual velocity of <10 µm s-1. The OC-HSF configuration results in a residual velocity of <150 µm s-1 within a low flow resistance microchannel. The SC-HSF configuration results in a residual velocity of <200 µm s-1 across the three orders-of-magnitude different flow resistance microchannels, and <100 µm s-1 for the low flow resistance channel. It is hypothesized that residual velocity results from compliance in fluidic circuits, which is further investigated by varying the elasticity of microchannel walls and connecting tubing. A numerical model is developed to estimate the expanded volumes of the compliant microchannel and connecting tubings under a pressure gradient and to calculate the distance traveled by the sample fluid. A comparison of the numerically and experimentally obtained traveling distances confirms the hypothesis that the residual velocities are an outcome of the compliance in the fluidic circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Akif Sahin
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT), Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Muhammad Shehzad
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT), Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Ghulam Destgeer
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT), Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, 81675, Munich, Germany
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Huang Y, Liu C, Feng Q, Sun J. Microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials for biomedical applications. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2023; 8:1610-1627. [PMID: 37723984 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00217a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The field of nanomaterials has progressed dramatically over the past decades with important contributions to the biomedical area. The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, such as the size and structure, can be controlled through manipulation of mass and heat transfer conditions during synthesis. In particular, microfluidic systems with rapid mixing and precise fluid control are ideal platforms for creating appropriate synthesis conditions. One notable example of microfluidics-based synthesis is the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA vaccines with accelerated clinical translation and robust efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to LNPs, microfluidic systems have been adopted for the controlled synthesis of a broad range of nanomaterials. In this review, we introduce the fundamental principles of microfluidic technologies including flow field- and multiple field-based methods for fabricating nanoparticles, and discuss their applications in the biomedical field. We conclude this review by outlining several major challenges and future directions in the implementation of microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjuan Huang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiang Feng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiashu Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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4
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Ma ZC, Fan J, Wang H, Chen W, Yang GZ, Han B. Microfluidic Approaches for Microactuators: From Fabrication, Actuation, to Functionalization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2300469. [PMID: 36855777 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Microactuators can autonomously convert external energy into specific mechanical motions. With the feature sizes varying from the micrometer to millimeter scale, microactuators offer many operation and control possibilities for miniaturized devices. In recent years, advanced microfluidic techniques have revolutionized the fabrication, actuation, and functionalization of microactuators. Microfluidics can not only facilitate fabrication with continuously changing materials but also deliver various signals to stimulate the microactuators as desired, and consequently improve microfluidic chips with multiple functions. Herein, this cross-field that systematically correlates microactuator properties and microfluidic functions is comprehensively reviewed. The fabrication strategies are classified into two types according to the flow state of the microfluids: stop-flow and continuous-flow prototyping. The working mechanism of microactuators in microfluidic chips is discussed in detail. Finally, the applications of microactuator-enriched functional chips, which include tunable imaging devices, micromanipulation tools, micromotors, and microsensors, are summarized. The existing challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. It is believed that with the rapid progress of this cutting-edge field, intelligent microsystems may realize high-throughput manipulation, characterization, and analysis of tiny objects and find broad applications in various fields, such as tissue engineering, micro/nanorobotics, and analytical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo-Chen Ma
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jiahao Fan
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Hesheng Wang
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Automation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Key Laboratory of System Control and Information Processing, Ministry of Education of China, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control and Management, Shanghai, 200240, China
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Guang-Zhong Yang
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
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5
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Yang H, Jiang L, Guo K, Xiang N. Static droplet array for the synthesis of nonspherical microparticles. Electrophoresis 2023; 44:563-572. [PMID: 36593724 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We reported a manually operated static droplet array (SDA)-based device for the synthesis of nonspherical microparticles with different shapes. The improved SDA structure and reversible bonding between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were used in the device for the large-scale synthesis and rapid extraction of nonspherical microparticles. To understand the device physics, the effects of flow rate, SDA well size, and shape on droplet generation performances were explored. The results indicated that droplet generation in SDA structures was insensitive to the flow rate, and monodisperse droplets were generated by the SDA-based device through manually pushing the syringe. Finally, we integrated four kinds of SDA structures in one device and successfully realized the synthesis and extraction of nonspherical microparticles with different shapes and materials. Our SDA-based device offers numerous advantages, such as simple manual operation, low equipment cost, controllable microparticle shapes and sizes, and large-scale production. Thus, it holds the potential to be used as a flexible tool for the production of nonspherical microparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Kefan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
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6
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Sahin MA, Werner H, Udani S, Di Carlo D, Destgeer G. Flow lithography for structured microparticles: fundamentals, methods and applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4007-4042. [PMID: 35920614 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00421f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Structured microparticles, with unique shapes, customizable sizes, multiple materials, and spatially-defined chemistries, are leading the way for emerging 'lab on a particle' technologies. These microparticles with engineered designs find applications in multiplexed diagnostics, drug delivery, single-cell secretion assays, single-molecule detection assays, high throughput cytometry, micro-robotics, self-assembly, and tissue engineering. In this article we review state-of-the-art particle manufacturing technologies based on flow-assisted photolithography performed inside microfluidic channels. Important physicochemical concepts are discussed to provide a basis for understanding the fabrication technologies. These photolithography technologies are compared based on the structural as well as compositional complexity of the fabricated particles. Particles are categorized, from 1D to 3D particles, based on the number of dimensions that can be independently controlled during the fabrication process. After discussing the advantages of the individual techniques, important applications of the fabricated particles are reviewed. Lastly, a future perspective is provided with potential directions to improve the throughput of particle fabrication, realize new particle shapes, measure particles in an automated manner, and adopt the 'lab on a particle' technologies to other areas of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Akif Sahin
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, Munich 81675, Germany.
| | - Helen Werner
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, Munich 81675, Germany.
| | - Shreya Udani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, California NanoSystems Institute and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Ghulam Destgeer
- Control and Manipulation of Microscale Living Objects, Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Einsteinstraße 25, Munich 81675, Germany.
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7
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Bjørge IM, Correia CR, Mano JF. Hipster microcarriers: exploring geometrical and topographical cues of non-spherical microcarriers in biomedical applications. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:908-933. [PMID: 34908074 DOI: 10.1039/d1mh01694f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Structure and organisation are key aspects of the native tissue environment, which ultimately condition cell fate via a myriad of processes, including the activation of mechanotransduction pathways. By modulating the formation of integrin-mediated adhesions and consequently impacting cell contractility, engineered geometrical and topographical cues may be introduced to activate downstream signalling and ultimately control cell morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. Microcarriers appear as attractive vehicles for cell-based tissue engineering strategies aiming to modulate this 3D environment, but also as vehicles for cell-free applications, given the ease in tuning their chemical and physical properties. In this review, geometry and topography are highlighted as two preponderant features in actively regulating interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. While most studies focus on the 2D environment, we focus on how the incorporation of these strategies in 3D systems could be beneficial. The techniques applied to design 3D microcarriers with unique geometries and surface topographical cues are covered, as well as specific tissue engineering approaches employing these microcarriers. In fact, successfully achieving a functional histoarchitecture may depend on a combination of fine-tuned geometrically shaped microcarriers presenting intricately tailored topographical cues. Lastly, we pinpoint microcarrier geometry as a key player in cell-free biomaterial-based strategies, and its impact on drug release kinetics, the production of steerable microcarriers to target tumour cells, and as protein or antibody biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M Bjørge
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Clara R Correia
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
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8
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Tian F, Cai L, Liu C, Sun J. Microfluidic technologies for nanoparticle formation. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:512-529. [PMID: 35048096 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00812a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional nanoparticles (NPs) hold immense promise in diverse fields due to their unique biological, chemical, and physical properties associated with size or morphology. Microfluidic technologies featuring precise fluid manipulation have become versatile toolkits for manufacturing NPs in a highly controlled manner with low batch-to-batch variability. In this review, we present the fundamentals of microfluidic fabrication strategies, including mixing-, droplet-, and multiple field-based microfluidic methods. We highlight the formation of functional NPs using these microfluidic reactors, with an emphasis on lipid NPs, polymer NPs, lipid-polymer hybrid NPs, supramolecular NPs, metal and metal-oxide NPs, metal-organic framework NPs, covalent organic framework NPs, quantum dots, perovskite nanocrystals, biomimetic NPs, etc. we discuss future directions in microfluidic fabrication for accelerated development of functional NPs, such as device parallelization for large-scale NP production, highly efficient optimization of NP formulations, and AI-guided design of multi-step microfluidic reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tian
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lili Cai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiashu Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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9
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Zhou C, Liang S, Li Y, Chen H, Li J. Fabrication of sharp-edged 3D microparticles via folded PDMS microfluidic channels. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:148-155. [PMID: 34870665 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00807b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
3D microparticles have promising applications in self-assembly, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc. The shape of microparticles plays a significant role in their functionalities. Although numerous investigations have been conducted to tailor the shape of microparticles, the diversity is still limited, and it remains a challenge to fabricate 3D microparticles with sharp edges. Here, we present a facile approach that combines a folded PDMS channel and orthogonal projection lithography for shaping sharp-edged 3D microparticles. By adjusting the number and the length of channel sides, both regular and irregular polyhedral cross-sections of the folded channel can be obtained. UV light with diverse patterns is applied vertically as the second shape controlling factor. A variety of 3D microparticles are obtained with sharp edges, which are potential templates for micromachining tools and abrasives. Some sharp-edged microparticles are assembled into 2D and 3D mesoscale structures, which demonstrates their prospective applications in self-assembly, tissue engineering, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuaishuai Liang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Yongjian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haosheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiang Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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10
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Destgeer G, Ouyang M, Di Carlo D. Engineering Design of Concentric Amphiphilic Microparticles for Spontaneous Formation of Picoliter to Nanoliter Droplet Volumes. Anal Chem 2021; 93:2317-2326. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Destgeer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Mengxing Ouyang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
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11
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Destgeer G, Ouyang M, Wu CY, Di Carlo D. Fabrication of 3D concentric amphiphilic microparticles to form uniform nanoliter reaction volumes for amplified affinity assays. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3503-3514. [PMID: 32895694 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00698j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Reactions performed in uniform microscale volumes have enabled numerous applications in the analysis of rare entities (e.g. cells and molecules). Here, highly monodisperse aqueous droplets are formed by simply mixing microscale multi-material particles, consisting of concentric hydrophobic outer and hydrophilic inner layers, with oil and water. The particles are manufactured in batch using a 3D printed device to co-flow four concentric streams of polymer precursors which are polymerized with UV light. The cross-sectional shapes of the particles are altered by microfluidic nozzle design in the 3D printed device. Once a particle encapsulates an aqueous volume, each "dropicle" provides uniform compartmentalization and customizable shape-coding for each sample volume to enable multiplexing of uniform reactions in a scalable manner. We implement an enzymatically-amplified immunoassay using the dropicle system, yielding a detection limit of <1 pM with a dynamic range of at least 3 orders of magnitude. Multiplexing using two types of shape-coded particles was demonstrated without cross talk, laying a foundation for democratized single-entity assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Destgeer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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12
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Lee SH, Seo SE, Kim KH, Lee J, Park CS, Jun BH, Park SJ, Kwon OS. Single photomask lithography for shape modulation of micropatterns. J IND ENG CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2019.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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13
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Kim HU, Lim YJ, Lee HJ, Lee NJ, Bong KW. Degassed micromolding lithography for rapid fabrication of anisotropic hydrogel microparticles with high-resolution and high uniformity. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:74-83. [PMID: 31746885 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00828d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Replica molding techniques, which are used to synthesize microparticles inside anisotropic micromolds, have been developed to enable the mass production of hydrogel particles. However, these techniques are limited in their ability to synthesize only a narrow range of particle compositions and shapes because of the difficulty in loading precursors into the micromolds as well as the low particle homogeneity due to the uneven evaporation of the precursors. Herein, we describe a simple yet powerful technique, called degassed micromolding lithography, which can load precursors within 1 min regardless of the wettability. This technique is based on the gas-solubility of a degassed micromold that acts as a suction pump to completely fill the mold by drawing precursor liquids in. The semi-closed system within the micromold prevents the uneven evaporation of the precursor, which is essential for the production of homogeneous particles. Furthermore, controlled uniformity of the hydrogel microparticles (C.V. < 2%) can be achieved by engineering the design of the micromold array.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ung Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong Jun Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun Jee Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nak Jun Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ki Wan Bong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Stoecklein D, Davies M, de Rutte JM, Wu CY, Di Carlo D, Ganapathysubramanian B. FlowSculpt: software for efficient design of inertial flow sculpting devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:3277-3291. [PMID: 31482902 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00658c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Flow sculpting is a powerful method for passive flow control that uses a sequence of bluff-body structures to engineer the structure of inertially flowing microfluidic streams. A variety of cross-sectional flow shapes can be created through this method, offering a new platform for flow manipulation or material fabrication useful in bioengineering, manufacturing, and chemistry applications. However, the inverse problem in flow sculpting - designing a device that produces a target fluid flow shape - remains challenging due to the complex, diverse, and enormous design space. Solutions to the inverse problem have been constrained to single-material fluid streams that are shaped into top-bottom symmetric shapes due to the bluff-body structures available in current libraries (pillars) that span the height of the channel. In this work, we introduce multi-material design and symmetry-breaking flow deformations enabled by half-height pillars, presented within an extremely fast simulation method for flow sculpting yielding a 34-fold reduction in runtime. The framework is deployed freely as a cross-platform application called "FlowSculpt". We detail its implementation and usage, and discuss the addition of enhanced search operations, which enable users to more easily design flow shapes that replicate their input drawings. With FlowSculpt, the microfluidics community can now quickly design flow shaping microfluidic devices on modest hardware, and easily integrate these complex physics into their research toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stoecklein
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Michael Davies
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
| | | | - Chueh-Yu Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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15
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Xiang N, Zhang R, Han Y, Ni Z. A Multilayer Polymer-Film Inertial Microfluidic Device for High-Throughput Cell Concentration. Anal Chem 2019; 91:5461-5468. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b01116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Han
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, People’s Republic of China
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