Nanomaterial-assisted microfluidics for multiplex assays

In-Situ Gas Permeation-Driven Ionic Current Rectification of Heterogeneously Charged Nanopore Arrays

Ionic diodes provide ionic current rectification (ICR), which is useful for micro-/nanofluidic devices for ionic current-mediated applications. However, the modulation of ICR is not fully developed, and current challenges include limited active control and localized modulation for further multiplexing of micro-/nanofluidic ionic diodes. Herein, a microfluidic device integrated with particle-assembly-based ionic diodes (PAIDs) and a gas-flow channel above them is presented. Exploiting in-situ gas permeation through a polymeric film, precise control over the physiochemical conditions of the nanopores within the PAIDs, leading to the modulation of ICR is demonstrated. The investigation not only characterizes the rectification properties of the PAIDs but also unveils their capacitor-like behavior and the ability to actively modulate ICR using various gas flows. Furthermore, the reversible modulation of ICR through dynamic switching of gas-dissolved solutions, enabling ion-signal amplification is showcased. This pioneering approach of in situ gas-permeation offers programmable manipulation of ion transport along PAIDs, thereby positioning ionic diodes as versatile nanofluidic components. Looking ahead, the development of multiplexed PAIDs in an addressable manner on a chip holds promise for practical applications across diverse fields, including ion signaling, ion-based logic, chemical reactors, and (bio)chemical sensing.

Recent Trends and Innovations in Bead-Based Biosensors for Cancer Detection

Demand is strong for sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for cancer detection. Accordingly, bead-based biosensors have emerged in recent years as promising diagnostic platforms based on wide-ranging cancer biomarkers owing to the versatility, high sensitivity, and flexibility to perform the multiplexing of beads. This comprehensive review highlights recent trends and innovations in the development of bead-based biosensors for cancer-biomarker detection. We introduce various types of bead-based biosensors such as optical, electrochemical, and magnetic biosensors, along with their respective advantages and limitations. Moreover, the review summarizes the latest advancements, including fabrication techniques, signal-amplification strategies, and integration with microfluidics and nanotechnology. Additionally, the challenges and future perspectives in the field of bead-based biosensors for cancer-biomarker detection are discussed. Understanding these innovations in bead-based biosensors can greatly contribute to improvements in cancer diagnostics, thereby facilitating early detection and personalized treatments.

A review of SERS coupled microfluidic platforms: From configurations to applications

Microfluidic systems have attracted considerable attention due to their low reagent consumption, short analysis time, and ease of integration in comparison to conventional methods, but still suffer from shortcomings in sensitivity and selectivity. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers several advantages in the detection of compounds, including label-free detection at the single-molecule level, and the narrow Raman peak width for multiplexing. Combining microfluidics with SERS is a viable way to improve their detection sensitivity. Researchers have recently developed several SERS coupled microfluidic platforms with substantial potential for biomolecular detection, cellular and bacterial analysis, and hazardous substance detection. We review the current development of SERS coupled microfluidic platforms, illustrate their detection principles and construction, and summarize the latest applications in biology, environmental protection and food safety. In addition, we innovatively summarize the current status of SERS coupled multi-mode microfluidic platforms with other detection technologies. Finally, we discuss the challenges and countermeasures during the development of SERS coupled microfluidic platforms, as well as predict the future development trend of SERS coupled microfluidic platforms.

Single-Response Duplexing of Electrochemical Label-Free Biosensor from the Same Tag

Multiplexing is a valuable strategy to boost throughput and improve clinical accuracy. Exploiting the vertical, meshed design of reproducible and low-cost ultra-dense electrochemical chips, the unprecedented single-response multiplexing of typical label-free biosensors is reported. Using a cheap, handheld one-channel workstation and a single redox probe, that is, ferro/ferricyanide, the recognition events taking place on two spatially resolved locations of the same working electrode can be tracked along a single voltammetry scan by collecting the electrochemical signatures of the probe in relation to different quasi-reference electrodes, Au (0 V) and Ag/AgCl ink (+0.2 V). This spatial isolation prevents crosstalk between the redox tags and interferences over functionalization and binding steps, representing an advantage over the existing non-spatially resolved single-response multiplex strategies. As proof of concept, peptide-tethered immunosensors are demonstrated to provide the duplex detection of COVID-19 antibodies, thereby doubling the throughput while achieving 100% accuracy in serum samples. The approach is envisioned to enable broad applications in high-throughput and multi-analyte platforms, as it can be tailored to other biosensing devices and formats.

On the Application of Microfluidic-Based Technologies in Forensics: A Review

Microfluidic technology is a powerful tool to enable the rapid, accurate, and on-site analysis of forensically relevant evidence on a crime scene. This review paper provides a summary on the application of this technology in various forensic investigation fields spanning from forensic serology and human identification to discriminating and analyzing diverse classes of drugs and explosives. Each aspect is further explained by providing a short summary on general forensic workflow and investigations for body fluid identification as well as through the analysis of drugs and explosives. Microfluidic technology, including fabrication methodologies, materials, and working modules, are touched upon. Finally, the current shortcomings on the implementation of the microfluidic technology in the forensic field are discussed along with the future perspectives.

Emerging trends in organ-on-a-chip systems for drug screening

New drug discovery is under growing pressure to satisfy the demand from a wide range of domains, especially from the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare services. Assessment of drug efficacy and safety prior to human clinical trials is a crucial part of drug development, which deserves greater emphasis to reduce the cost and time in drug discovery. Recent advances in microfabrication and tissue engineering have given rise to organ-on-a-chip, an in vitro model capable of recapitulating human organ functions in vivo and providing insight into disease pathophysiology, which offers a potential alternative to animal models for more efficient pre-clinical screening of drug candidates. In this review, we first give a snapshot of general considerations for organ-on-a-chip device design. Then, we comprehensively review the recent advances in organ-on-a-chip for drug screening. Finally, we summarize some key challenges of the progress in this field and discuss future prospects of organ-on-a-chip development. Overall, this review highlights the new avenue that organ-on-a-chip opens for drug development, therapeutic innovation, and precision medicine.

Magnetic quantum dots barcodes using Fe3O4/TiO2 with weak spectral absorption in the visible region for high-sensitivity multiplex detection of tumor markers

Magnetic quantum dot (QD) barcode holds great potential for automatic suspension array and rapid point-of-care detection since it enables simultaneous target encoding, enrichment and separation. However, a serious obstacle to enhancing the encoding capacity of magnetic QD microbeads (MBs) is the fluorescence quenching of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to quantum dots (QDs) in the visible wavelength range due to the broad and strong optical absorption spectrum of MNPs. Here, we report Fe₃O₄/TiO₂ core/shell MNPs and CdSe/ZnS QDs for the construction of dual-function magnetic QD barcodes. Fe₃O₄/TiO₂ MNPs can significantly inhibit fluorescence quenching because the weak absorption of visible light by the TiO₂. The two-dimension barcode library of 30 magnetic QD barcodes was constructed based on Fe₃O₄/TiO₂ MNPs and CdSe/ZnS QDs. Moreover, the magnetic QD barcodes showed high sensitivity for the multiplex detection of four tumor markers, cancer antigen 125 (CA125), cancer antigen 199 (CA199), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and neuron specific enolase (NSE) with detection limits of 0.89 KU/L, 0.72 KU/L, 0.05 ng/mL, and 0.15 ng/mL, respectively. This bifunctional magnetic QD barcodes are promising for automatic high-sensitivity multiplex bioassay.

Redox-labelled detection probe enabled immunoassay for simultaneous detection of multiple cancer biomarkers

Some of the cancer biomarkers often lack specificity and sensitivity; thus, simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers can make the diagnosis more accurate. Also, simple sensing system without utilization of extra reagents like mediator or substrate during detection event is desirable for point-of-care testing. To address this, mediator and substrate-free amperometric biosensor for simultaneous detection of cancer biomarkers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) have been demonstrated by designing two different redox-labelled detection probes. Colloidal nanoparticles of polyaniline-pectin conjugated with AFP antibody along with ferrocene and silver nanoparticles conjugated with CEA antibody along with anthraquinone were used as redox probes to bind with AFP and CEA during the detection event. Sensor constructed using carboxylic acid tethered polyaniline as immobilization matrix displayed 5 times wider linear range than conventional polyaniline for AFP and CEA detection by sandwich electrochemical assay. The detection limit was 30 pg mL^-1 for AFP and 80 pg mL^-1 for CEA. The biosensor displayed appropriate sensitivity, good specificity, and negligible cross-reactivity between the two targets. The proposed sensor was used to determine APF and CEA in human blood serum. The strategy demonstrated can be further extended for detection of panel of cancer biomarkers by designing appropriate redox probes.

CRISPR/Cas12a-Enabled Multiplex Biosensing Strategy Via an Affordable and Visual Nylon Membrane Readout

Most multiplex nucleic acids detection methods require numerous reagents and high-priced instruments. The emerging clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas has been regarded as a promising point-of-care (POC) strategy for nucleic acids detection. However, how to achieve CRISPR/Cas multiplex biosensing remains a challenge. Here, an affordable means termed CRISPR-RDB (CRISPR-based reverse dot blot) for multiplex target detection in parallel, which possesses the advantages of high sensitivity and specificity, cost-effectiveness, instrument-free, ease to use, and visualization is reported. CRISPR-RDB integrates the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a with a commercial RDB technique. It utilizes different Cas12a-crRNA complexes to separately identify multiple targets in one sample and converts targeted information into colorimetric signals on a piece of accessible nylon membrane that attaches corresponding specific-oligonucleotide probes. It has demonstrated that the versatility of CRISPR-RDB by constructing a four-channel system to simultaneously detect influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV-2. With a simple modification of crRNAs, the CRISPR-RDB can be modified to detect human papillomavirus, saving two-thirds of the time compared to a commercial PCR-RDB kit. Further, a user-friendly microchip system for convenient use, as well as a smartphone app for signal interpretation, is engineered. CRISPR-RDB represents a desirable option for multiplexed biosensing and on-site diagnosis.

Microfluidics-Based Urine Biopsy for Cancer Diagnosis: Recent Advances and Future Trends

Urine biopsy, allowing for the detection, analysis and monitoring of numerous cancer-associated urinary biomarkers to provide insights into cancer occurrence, progression and metastasis, has emerged as an attractive liquid biopsy strategy with enormous advantages over traditional tissue biopsy, such as noninvasiveness, large sample volume, and simple sampling operation. Microfluidics enables precise manipulation of fluids in a tiny chip and exhibits outstanding performance in urine biopsy owing to its minimization, low cost, high integration, high throughput and low sample consumption. Herein, we review recent advances in microfluidic techniques employed in urine biopsy for cancer detection. After briefly summarizing the major urinary biomarkers used for cancer diagnosis, we provide an overview of the typical microfluidic techniques utilized to develop urine biopsy devices. Some prospects along with the major challenges to be addressed for the future of microfluidic-based urine biopsy are also discussed.

Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensing Strategies for Food Allergen Detection

Food allergy has been indicated as the most frequent adverse reaction to food ingredients over the past few years. Since the only way to avoid the occurrence of allergic phenomena is to eliminate allergenic foods, it is essential to have complete and accurate information on the components of foodstuff. In this framework, it is mandatory and crucial to provide fast, cost-effective, affordable, and reliable analysis methods for the screening of specific allergen content in food products. This review reports the research advancements concerning food allergen detection, involving electrochemical biosensors. It focuses on the sensing strategies evidencing different types of recognition elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids, and cells, among others, the nanomaterial role, the several electrochemical techniques involved and last, but not least, the ad hoc electrodic surface modification approaches. Moreover, a selection of the most recent electrochemical sensors for allergen detection are reported and critically analyzed in terms of the sensors’ analytical performances. Finally, advantages, limitations, and potentialities for practical applications of electrochemical biosensors for allergens are discussed.