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Dang Z, Jiang Y, Su X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Sun Z, Zhao Z, Zhang C, Hong Y, Liu Z. Particle Counting Methods Based on Microfluidic Devices. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1722. [PMID: 37763885 PMCID: PMC10534595 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Particle counting serves as a pivotal constituent in diverse analytical domains, encompassing a broad spectrum of entities, ranging from blood cells and bacteria to viruses, droplets, bubbles, wear debris, and magnetic beads. Recent epochs have witnessed remarkable progressions in microfluidic chip technology, culminating in the proliferation and maturation of microfluidic chip-based particle counting methodologies. This paper undertakes a taxonomical elucidation of microfluidic chip-based particle counters based on the physical parameters they detect. These particle counters are classified into three categories: optical-based counters, electrical-based particle counters, and other counters. Within each category, subcategories are established to consider structural differences. Each type of counter is described not only in terms of its working principle but also the methods employed to enhance sensitivity and throughput. Additionally, an analysis of future trends related to each counter type is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenglin Dang
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yuning Jiang
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Xin Su
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zhihao Wang
- College of Marine Electrical Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China;
| | - Yucheng Wang
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zhe Sun
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zheng Zhao
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Chi Zhang
- College of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China;
| | - Yuming Hong
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Zhijian Liu
- College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; (Z.D.); (Y.J.); (X.S.); (Y.W.); (Z.S.); (Z.Z.); (Y.H.)
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Xu R, Ouyang L, Shaik R, Chen H, Zhang G, Zhe J. Rapid Detection of Microparticles Using a Microfluidic Resistive Pulse Sensor Based on Bipolar Pulse-Width Multiplexing. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:721. [PMID: 37504119 PMCID: PMC10377334 DOI: 10.3390/bios13070721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Rapid and accurate analysis of micro/nano bio-objects (e.g., cells, biomolecules) is crucial in clinical diagnostics and drug discovery. While a traditional resistive pulse sensor can provide multiple kinds of information (size, count, surface charge, etc.) about analytes, it has low throughput. We present a unique bipolar pulse-width, multiplexing-based resistive pulse sensor for high-throughput analysis of microparticles. Signal multiplexing is enabled by exposing the central electrode at different locations inside the parallel sensing channels. Together with two common electrodes, the central electrode encodes the electrical signal from each sensing channel, generating specific bipolar template waveforms with different pulse widths. Only one DC source is needed as input, and only one combined electrical output is collected. The combined signal can be demodulated using correlation analysis and a unique iterative cancellation scheme. The accuracy of particle counting and sizing was validated using mixtures of various sized microparticles. Results showed errors of 2.6% and 6.1% in sizing and counting, respectively. We further demonstrated its accuracy for cell analysis using HeLa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiting Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Leixin Ouyang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Rubia Shaik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Heyi Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Jiang Zhe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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Xu R, Ouyang L, Chen H, Zhang G, Zhe J. Recent Advances in Biomolecular Detection Based on Aptamers and Nanoparticles. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13040474. [PMID: 37185549 PMCID: PMC10136534 DOI: 10.3390/bios13040474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The fast, accurate detection of biomolecules, ranging from nucleic acids and small molecules to proteins and cellular secretions, plays an essential role in various biomedical applications. These include disease diagnostics and prognostics, environmental monitoring, public health, and food safety. Aptamer recognition (DNA or RNA) has gained extensive attention for biomolecular detection due to its high selectivity, affinity, reproducibility, and robustness. Concurrently, biosensing with nanoparticles has been widely used for its high carrier capacity, stability and feasibility of incorporating optical and catalytic activity, and enhanced diffusivity. Biosensors based on aptamers and nanoparticles utilize the combination of their advantages and have become a promising technology for detecting of a wide variety of biomolecules with high sensitivity, reliability, specificity, and detection speed. Via various sensing mechanisms, target biomolecules have been quantified in terms of optical (e.g., colorimetric and fluorometric), magnetic, and electrical signals. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in and compare different aptamer-nanoparticle-based biosensors by nanoparticle types and detection mechanisms. We also share our views on the highlights and challenges of the different nanoparticle-aptamer-based biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiting Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Leixin Ouyang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Heyi Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
| | - Jiang Zhe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
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A novel microfluidic resistive pulse sensor with multiple voltage input channels and a side sensing gate for particle and cell detection. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1052:113-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.11.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Rickel JMR, Dixon AJ, Klibanov AL, Hossack JA. A flow focusing microfluidic device with an integrated Coulter particle counter for production, counting and size characterization of monodisperse microbubbles. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2653-2664. [PMID: 30070301 PMCID: PMC6566100 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00496j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Flow focusing microfluidic devices (FFMDs) have been investigated for the production of monodisperse populations of microbubbles for chemical, biomedical and mechanical engineering applications. High-speed optical microscopy is commonly used to monitor FFMD microbubble production parameters, such as diameter and production rate, but this limits the scalability and portability of the approach. In this work, a novel FFMD design featuring integrated electronics for measuring microbubble diameters and production rates is presented. A micro Coulter particle counter (μCPC), using electrodes integrated within the expanding nozzle of an FFMD (FFMD-μCPC), was designed, fabricated and tested. Finite element analysis (FEA) of optimal electrode geometry was performed and validated with experimental data. Electrical data was collected for 8-20 μm diameter microbubbles at production rates up to 3.25 × 105 MB s-1 and compared to both high-speed microscopy data and FEA simulations. Within a valid operating regime, Coulter counts of microbubble production rates matched optical reference values. The Coulter method agreed with the optical reference method in evaluating the microbubble diameter to a coefficient of determination of R2 = 0.91.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Robert Rickel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
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Liu F, Ni L, Zhe J. Lab-on-a-chip electrical multiplexing techniques for cellular and molecular biomarker detection. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:021501. [PMID: 29682143 PMCID: PMC5893332 DOI: 10.1063/1.5022168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Signal multiplexing is vital to develop lab-on-a-chip devices that can detect and quantify multiple cellular and molecular biomarkers with high throughput, short analysis time, and low cost. Electrical detection of biomarkers has been widely used in lab-on-a-chip devices because it requires less external equipment and simple signal processing and provides higher scalability. Various electrical multiplexing for lab-on-a-chip devices have been developed for comprehensive, high throughput, and rapid analysis of biomarkers. In this paper, we first briefly introduce the widely used electrochemical and electrical impedance sensing methods. Next, we focus on reviewing various electrical multiplexing techniques that had achieved certain successes on rapid cellular and molecular biomarker detection, including direct methods (spatial and time multiplexing), and emerging technologies (frequency, codes, particle-based multiplexing). Lastly, the future opportunities and challenges on electrical multiplexing techniques are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Liwei Ni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Jiang Zhe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
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Liu R, Waheed W, Wang N, Civelekoglu O, Boya M, Chu CH, Sarioglu AF. Design and modeling of electrode networks for code-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensing in microfluidic devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:2650-2666. [PMID: 28695944 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00545h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A typical microfluidic device sorts, captures or fractionates sample constituents by exposing them to discriminating microenvironments. Direct electronic acquisition of such manipulation by a network of integrated sensors can provide a fast, integrated readout, replacing otherwise required microscopy. We have recently introduced a sensor technology, Microfluidic CODES, which allows us to multiplex resistive pulse sensors on a microfluidic device. Microfluidic CODES employs a network of micromachined coplanar electrodes such that particles passing over these electrodes produce distinguishable code sequences. In this paper, we explain the design process to specifically generate an orthogonal digital code set for an efficient and accurate demultiplexing of the sensor signals. We also introduce an equivalent circuit model for a network of code-multiplexed resistive pulse sensors by utilizing the Foster-Schwan model and conformal mapping, to model dynamic cell-electrode interaction in a non-uniform electric field. Our results closely match with both experimental measurements using cell lines and finite element analysis. The coding and modeling framework presented here will enable the design of code-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensors optimized to produce desired waveform patterns to ensure reliable and efficient decoding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxiu Liu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Song Y, Zhang J, Li D. Microfluidic and Nanofluidic Resistive Pulse Sensing: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2017; 8:E204. [PMID: 30400393 PMCID: PMC6190343 DOI: 10.3390/mi8070204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 06/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The resistive pulse sensing (RPS) method based on the Coulter principle is a powerful method for particle counting and sizing in electrolyte solutions. With the advancement of micro- and nano-fabrication technologies, microfluidic and nanofluidic resistive pulse sensing technologies and devices have been developed. Due to the unique advantages of microfluidics and nanofluidics, RPS sensors are enabled with more functions with greatly improved sensitivity and throughput and thus have wide applications in fields of biomedical research, clinical diagnosis, and so on. Firstly, this paper reviews some basic theories of particle sizing and counting. Emphasis is then given to the latest development of microfuidic and nanofluidic RPS technologies within the last 6 years, ranging from some new phenomena, methods of improving the sensitivity and throughput, and their applications, to some popular nanopore or nanochannel fabrication techniques. The future research directions and challenges on microfluidic and nanofluidic RPS are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxin Song
- Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Junyan Zhang
- Department of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Dongqing Li
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.
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Wang N, Liu R, Sarioglu AF. Microfluidic Platform with Multiplexed Electronic Detection for Spatial Tracking of Particles. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28362379 DOI: 10.3791/55311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic processing of biological samples typically involves differential manipulations of suspended particles under various force fields in order to spatially fractionate the sample based on a biological property of interest. For the resultant spatial distribution to be used as the assay readout, microfluidic devices are often subjected to microscopic analysis requiring complex instrumentation with higher cost and reduced portability. To address this limitation, we have developed an integrated electronic sensing technology for multiplexed detection of particles at different locations on a microfluidic chip. Our technology, called Microfluidic CODES, combines Resistive Pulse Sensing with Code Division Multiple Access to compress 2D spatial information into a 1D electrical signal. In this paper, we present a practical demonstration of the Microfluidic CODES technology to detect and size cultured cancer cells distributed over multiple microfluidic channels. As validated by the high-speed microscopy, our technology can accurately analyze dense cell populations all electronically without the need for an external instrument. As such, the Microfluidic CODES can potentially enable low-cost integrated lab-on-a-chip devices that are well suited for the point-of-care testing of biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningquan Wang
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Ruxiu Liu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - A Fatih Sarioglu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology;
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Liu R, Wang N, Kamili F, Sarioglu AF. Microfluidic CODES: a scalable multiplexed electronic sensor for orthogonal detection of particles in microfluidic channels. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1350-1357. [PMID: 27021807 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00209a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Numerous biophysical and biochemical assays rely on spatial manipulation of particles/cells as they are processed on lab-on-a-chip devices. Analysis of spatially distributed particles on these devices typically requires microscopy negating the cost and size advantages of microfluidic assays. In this paper, we introduce a scalable electronic sensor technology, called microfluidic CODES, that utilizes resistive pulse sensing to orthogonally detect particles in multiple microfluidic channels from a single electrical output. Combining the techniques from telecommunications and microfluidics, we route three coplanar electrodes on a glass substrate to create multiple Coulter counters producing distinct orthogonal digital codes when they detect particles. We specifically design a digital code set using the mathematical principles of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) telecommunication networks and can decode signals from different microfluidic channels with >90% accuracy through computation even if these signals overlap. As a proof of principle, we use this technology to detect human ovarian cancer cells in four different microfluidic channels fabricated using soft lithography. Microfluidic CODES offers a simple, all-electronic interface that is well suited to create integrated, low-cost lab-on-a-chip devices for cell- or particle-based assays in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxiu Liu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Ningquan Wang
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - Farhan Kamili
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
| | - A Fatih Sarioglu
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. and Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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