1
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Han X, Song D, Xu W, Lu L, Zhu A, Long F. CRISPR/Cas12a powered air-displacement enhanced evanescent wave fluorescence fiber-embedded microfluidic biochip for nucleic acid amplification-free detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134037. [PMID: 38521032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Simple yet ultrasensitive and contamination-free quantification of environmental pathogenic bacteria is in high demand. In this study, we present a portable clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 12a (CRISPR/Cas12a) powered Air-displacement enhanced Evanescent wave fluorescence Fiber-embedded microfluidic Biochip (AEFB) for the high-frequency and nucleic acid amplification-free ultrasensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. The performance of AEFB was dramatically enhanced upon employing a simple air-solution displacement process. Theoretical assays demonstrated that air-solution displacement significantly enhances evanescent wave field intensity on the fiber biosensor surface and increases the V-number in tapered fiber biosensors. Consequently, light-matter interaction is strengthened, and fluorescence coupling and collection efficiency are improved, considerably enhancing sensitivity. By integrating the CRISPR biosensing mechanism, AEFB facilitated rapid, accurate, nucleic acid amplification-free detection of E.coli O157:H7 with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-level sensitivity (176 cfu/mL). To validate its practicality, AEFB was used to detect E.coli O157:H7 in surface water and wastewater. Comparison with RT-PCR showed a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.9871), indicating the excellent accuracy and reliability of this technology in real applications. AEFB is highly versatile and can be easily extended to detect other pathogenic bacteria, which will significantly promote the high-frequency assessment and early-warning of bacterial contamination in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhi Han
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Dan Song
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Wenjuan Xu
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Laiya Lu
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Anna Zhu
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China
| | - Feng Long
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China.
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2
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Xu F, Ma L, Fan Y. Air trap and removal on a pressure driven PDMS-based microfluidic device. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2024; 95:055003. [PMID: 38739426 DOI: 10.1063/5.0190337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
With the development of microfluidic technology, microfluidic chips have played a positive role in applications such as cell culture, microfluidic PCR, and nanopore gene sequencing. However, the presence of bubbles interferes with fluid flow and has a significant impact on experimental results. There are many reasons for the generation of bubbles in microfluidic chips, such as pressure changes inside the chip, air vibration inside the chip, and the open chip guiding air into the chip when driving fluid. This study designed and prepared a microfluidic device based on polydimethylsiloxane. First, air was actively introduced into the microfluidic chip, and bubbles were captured through the microfluidic device to simulate the presence of bubbles inside the chip in biological experiments. To remove bubbles trapped in the microfluidic chip, distilled water, distilled water containing surfactants, and mineral oil were pumped into the microfluidic chip. We compared and discussed the bubble removal efficiency under different driving fluids, driving pressures, and open/closed channel configurations. This study helps to understand the mechanism of bubble formation and removal in microfluidic devices, optimize chip structure design and experimental reagent selection, prevent or eliminate bubbles, and reduce the impact of bubbles on experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Xu
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yiqiang Fan
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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3
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Young OM, Xu X, Sarker S, Sochol RD. Direct laser writing-enabled 3D printing strategies for microfluidic applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2371-2396. [PMID: 38576361 PMCID: PMC11060139 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00743j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, additive manufacturing-or "three-dimensional (3D) printing"-has attracted increasing attention in the Lab on a Chip community as a pathway to achieve sophisticated system architectures that are difficult or infeasible to fabricate via conventional means. One particularly promising 3D manufacturing technology is "direct laser writing (DLW)", which leverages two-photon (or multi-photon) polymerization (2PP) phenomena to enable high geometric versatility, print speeds, and precision at length scales down to the 100 nm range. Although researchers have demonstrated the potential of using DLW for microfluidic applications ranging from organ on a chip and drug delivery to micro/nanoparticle processing and soft microrobotics, such scenarios present unique challenges for DLW. Specifically, microfluidic systems typically require macro-to-micro fluidic interfaces (e.g., inlet and outlet ports) to facilitate fluidic loading, control, and retrieval operations; however, DLW-based 3D printing relies on a micron-to-submicron-sized 2PP volume element (i.e., "voxel") that is poorly suited for manufacturing these larger-scale fluidic interfaces. In this Tutorial Review, we highlight and discuss the four most prominent strategies that researchers have developed to circumvent this trade-off and realize macro-to-micro interfaces for DLW-enabled microfluidic components and systems. In addition, we consider the possibility that-with the advent of next-generation commercial DLW printers equipped with new dynamic voxel tuning, print field, and laser power capabilities-the overall utility of DLW strategies for Lab on a Chip fields may soon expand dramatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Young
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Sunandita Sarker
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Ryan D Sochol
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 2147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Maryland Robotics Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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4
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Bernth JE, Zhang G, Malas D, Abrahams G, Hayee B, Liu H. MorphGI: A Self-Propelling Soft Robotic Endoscope Through Morphing Shape. Soft Robot 2024. [PMID: 38484296 DOI: 10.1089/soro.2023.0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Colonoscopy is currently the best method for detecting bowel cancer, but fundamental design and construction have not changed significantly in decades. Conventional colonoscope (CC) is difficult to maneuver and can lead to pain with a risk of damaging the bowel due to its rigidity. We present the MorphGI, a robotic endoscope system that is self-propelling and made of soft material, thus easy to operate and inherently safe to patient. After verifying kinematic control of the distal bending segment, the system was evaluated in: a benchtop colon simulator, using multiple colon configurations; a colon simulator with force sensors; and surgically removed pig colon tissue. In the colon simulator, the MorphGI completed a colonoscopy in an average of 10.84 min. The MorphGI showed an average of 77% and 62% reduction in peak forces compared to a CC in high- and low-stiffness modes, respectively. Self-propulsion was demonstrated in the excised tissue test but not in the live pig test, due to anatomical differences between pig and human colons. This work demonstrates the core features of MorphGI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius E Bernth
- Department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Guokai Zhang
- Department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dionysios Malas
- Department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - George Abrahams
- Department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bu Hayee
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Department of Surgical and Interventional Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
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5
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Tokuoka Y, Ishida T. Local Microbubble Removal in Polydimethylsiloxane Microchannel by Balancing Negative and Atmospheric Pressures. MICROMACHINES 2023; 15:37. [PMID: 38258156 PMCID: PMC10819605 DOI: 10.3390/mi15010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Long-term experiments using organoids and tissues are crucial for drug development. Microfluidic devices have been regularly used in long-term experiments. However, microbubbles often form in these devices, and they may damage and starve cells. A method involving the application of negative pressure has been reported to remove microbubbles from microfluidic devices composed of polydimethylsiloxane; however, negative pressure affects the cells and tissues in microfluidic devices. In this study, a local microbubble removal method was developed using a microfluidic device with 0.5 mm thin polydimethylsiloxane sidewalls. The thin sidewalls counterbalanced the negative and atmospheric pressures, thereby localizing the negative pressure near the negatively pressurized chamber. Microbubbles were removed within 5 mm of the negatively pressurized chamber; however, those in an area 7 mm and more from the chamber were not removed. Using the local removal method, a long-term perfusion test was performed, and no contact was confirmed between the bubbles and the simulated tissue for 72 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasunori Tokuoka
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Institute of Technology, Tokyo 226-8503, Japan
| | - Tadashi Ishida
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Institute of Technology, Tokyo 226-8503, Japan
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6
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Seo S, Kim T. Gas transport mechanisms through gas-permeable membranes in microfluidics: A perspective. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:061301. [PMID: 38025658 PMCID: PMC10656118 DOI: 10.1063/5.0169555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Gas-permeable membranes (GPMs) and membrane-like micro-/nanostructures offer precise control over the transport of liquids, gases, and small molecules on microchips, which has led to the possibility of diverse applications, such as gas sensors, solution concentrators, and mixture separators. With the escalating demand for GPMs in microfluidics, this Perspective article aims to comprehensively categorize the transport mechanisms of gases through GPMs based on the penetrant type and the transport direction. We also provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in GPM-integrated microfluidic devices, provide an overview of the fundamental mechanisms underlying gas transport through GPMs, and present future perspectives on the integration of GPMs in microfluidics. Furthermore, we address the current challenges associated with GPMs and GPM-integrated microfluidic devices, taking into consideration the intrinsic material properties and capabilities of GPMs. By tackling these challenges head-on, we believe that our perspectives can catalyze innovative advancements and help meet the evolving demands of microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjin Seo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Taesung Kim
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +82-52-217-2313. Fax: +82-52-217-2409
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7
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Mohamadsharifi A, Hajghassem H, Kalantar M, Karimi A, Tabatabaei Asl M, Hosseini S, Badieirostami M. High-Efficiency Inertial Separation of Microparticles Using Elevated Columned Reservoirs and Vortex Technique for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:28628-28639. [PMID: 37576636 PMCID: PMC10413478 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has envisioned an excellent outlook for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Among numerous efforts proposed for CTCs isolation, vortex separation is a well-known method for capturing CTCs from blood due to its applicability, low sample volume requirement, and ability to retain cell viability. It is a label-free, passive, low-cost, and automated method, making it an ideal solution for lab-on-a-chip applications. The previous designs that employed vortex technology have shown reaching high throughput and 70% separation efficiency although it was after three processing cycles which are not desired. Inspired by our earlier design, in this work, we redesigned the chip geometry by elevating the columned reservoir height to capture more particles and consequently reduce particle-particle collision, eventually improving efficiency. So, a height-variable chip with fewer elevated columned reservoirs (ECRs) was employed to isolate 20 μm microparticles representing CTCs from 8 μm microparticles. Also, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the third axis contribution to the separation mechanism. The new design with ECRs resulted in a 14% increase in average efficiency, reaching ∼80% ± 8.3% in microparticle separation and 61% purity. Moreover, the proposed chip geometry demonstrated more than three times higher capacity in retaining orbiting particles up to 1300 in peak performance without sacrificing efficiency compared to earlier single-layer designs. We came up with an upgraded injection system to facilitate this chip characterization. We also presented an effortless and straightforward approach for purging air bubbles trapped inside the reservoirs to preserve regular chip operation, especially where there is a mismatch between channel and reservoir heights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Mohamadsharifi
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Hassan Hajghassem
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Mahsa Kalantar
- Faculty
of New Sciences and Technologies, University
of Tehran, Tehran 14759-87353, Iran
| | - Ali Karimi
- Department
of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif
University of Technology, Tehran 14588-89694, Iran
| | | | - Seyedmajid Hosseini
- Division
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-2804, United States
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- School
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran 14399-57131, Iran
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8
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Vargas E, Huang C, Yan Z, White H, Zou J, Han A. High-aspect-ratio three-dimensional polymer and metallic microstructure microfabrication using two-photon polymerization. Biomed Microdevices 2023; 25:28. [PMID: 37515728 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-023-00665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Creating micrometer-resolution high-aspect-ratio three-dimensional (3D) structures remain very challenging despite significant microfabrication methods developed for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This is especially the case when such structures are desired to be metallic to support electronic applications. Here, we present a microfabrication process that combines two-photon-polymerization (2PP) printing to create a polymeric high-aspect-ratio three-dimensional structure and electroless metal plating that selectively electroplates only the polymeric structure to create high-aspect-ratio 3D metallic structures having micrometer-resolution. To enable this, the effect of various 2PP processing parameters on SU-8 photoresist microstructures were first systematically studied. These parameters include laser power, slicing/hatching distances, and pre-/post-baking temperature. This optimization resulted in a maximum aspect ratio (height to width) of ~ 12. Following this polymeric structure printing, electroless plating using Tollens' Reagent were utilized to selectively coat silver particles only on the polymeric structure, but not on the silicon substrate. The final 3D metallic structures were evaluated in terms of their resistivity, reproducibly showing resistivity of ~ 10-6 [Ω·m]. The developed 3D metallic structure microfabrication process can be further integrated with conventional 2D lithography to achieve even more complex structures. The developed method overcomes the limitations of current MEMS fabrication processes, allowing a variety of previously impossible metallic microstructures to be created.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan Vargas
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zhiyu Yan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Harold White
- Limitless Space Institute, Houston, TX, 77058, USA
| | - Jun Zou
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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9
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Natu R, Herbertson L, Sena G, Strachan K, Guha S. A Systematic Analysis of Recent Technology Trends of Microfluidic Medical Devices in the United States. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1293. [PMID: 37512604 PMCID: PMC10384103 DOI: 10.3390/mi14071293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seen an increase in microfluidic medical device submissions, likely stemming from recent advancements in microfluidic technologies. This recent trend has only been enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as microfluidic-based test kits have been used for diagnosis. To better understand the implications of this emerging technology, device submissions to the FDA from 2015 to 2021 containing microfluidic technologies have been systematically reviewed to identify trends in microfluidic medical applications, performance tests, standards used, fabrication techniques, materials, and flow systems. More than 80% of devices with microfluidic platforms were found to be diagnostic in nature, with lateral flow systems accounting for about 35% of all identified microfluidic devices. A targeted analysis of over 40,000 adverse event reports linked to microfluidic technologies revealed that flow, operation, and data output related failures are the most common failure modes for these device types. Lastly, this paper highlights key considerations for developing new protocols for various microfluidic applications that use certain analytes (e.g., blood, urine, nasal-pharyngeal swab), materials, flow, and detection mechanisms. We anticipate that these considerations would help facilitate innovation in microfluidic-based medical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rucha Natu
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Luke Herbertson
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Grazziela Sena
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Kate Strachan
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Suvajyoti Guha
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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10
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Amir S, Arathi A, Reshma S, Mohanan PV. Microfluidic devices for the detection of disease-specific proteins and other macromolecules, disease modelling and drug development: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 235:123784. [PMID: 36822284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics is a revolutionary technology that has promising applications in the biomedical field.Integrating microfluidic technology with the traditional assays unravels the innumerable possibilities for translational biomedical research. Microfluidics has the potential to build up a novel platform for diagnosis and therapy through precise manipulation of fluids and enhanced throughput functions. The developments in microfluidics-based devices for diagnostics have evolved in the last decade and have been established for their rapid, effective, accurate and economic advantages. The efficiency and sensitivity of such devices to detect disease-specific macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids have made crucial impacts in disease diagnosis. The disease modelling using microfluidic systems provides a more prominent replication of the in vivo microenvironment and can be a better alternative for the existing disease models. These models can replicate critical microphysiology like the dynamic microenvironment, cellular interactions, and biophysical and biochemical cues. Microfluidics also provides a promising system for high throughput drug screening and delivery applications. However, microfluidics-based diagnostics still encounter related challenges in the reliability, real-time monitoring and reproducibility that circumvents this technology from being impacted in the healthcare industry. This review highlights the recent microfluidics developments for modelling and diagnosing common diseases, including cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and autoimmune disorders, and its applications in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amir
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - A Arathi
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - S Reshma
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India
| | - P V Mohanan
- Toxicology Division, Biomedical Technology Wing, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (Govt. of India), Poojapura, Trivandrum 695 012, Kerala, India.
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11
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Huang C, Guo F, Wang H, Olivares J, Dalton Iii J, Belyanina O, Wattam AR, Cucinell CA, Dickerman AW, Qin QM, Han A, de Figueiredo P. An automated system for interrogating the evolution of microbial endosymbiosis. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:671-683. [PMID: 36227118 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00602b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Inter-kingdom endosymbiotic interactions between bacteria and eukaryotic cells are critical to human health and disease. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive the emergence of endosymbiosis remain obscure. Here, we describe the development of a microfluidic system, named SEER (S̲ystem for the E̲volution of E̲ndosymbiotic R̲elationships), that automates the evolutionary selection of bacteria with enhanced intracellular survival and persistence within host cells, hallmarks of endosymbiosis. Using this system, we show that a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli that initially possessed limited abilities to survive within host cells, when subjected to SEER selection, rapidly evolved to display a 55-fold enhancement in intracellular survival. Notably, molecular dissection of the evolved strains revealed that a single-point mutation in a flexible loop of CpxR, a gene regulator that controls bacterial stress responses, substantially contributed to this intracellular survival. Taken together, these results establish SEER as the first microfluidic system for investigating the evolution of endosymbiosis, show the importance of CpxR in endosymbiosis, and set the stage for evolving bespoke inter-kingdom endosymbiotic systems with novel or emergent properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Fengguang Guo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Jasmine Olivares
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
| | - James Dalton Iii
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Olga Belyanina
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Alice R Wattam
- Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Clark A Cucinell
- Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Allan W Dickerman
- Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Qing-Ming Qin
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Paul de Figueiredo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77843, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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12
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Huang C, Jiang Y, Li Y, Zhang H. Droplet Detection and Sorting System in Microfluidics: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2022; 14:mi14010103. [PMID: 36677164 PMCID: PMC9867185 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Since being invented, droplet microfluidic technologies have been proven to be perfect tools for high-throughput chemical and biological functional screening applications, and they have been heavily studied and improved through the past two decades. Each droplet can be used as one single bioreactor to compartmentalize a big material or biological population, so millions of droplets can be individually screened based on demand, while the sorting function could extract the droplets of interest to a separate pool from the main droplet library. In this paper, we reviewed droplet detection and active sorting methods that are currently still being widely used for high-through screening applications in microfluidic systems, including the latest updates regarding each technology. We analyze and summarize the merits and drawbacks of each presented technology and conclude, with our perspectives, on future direction of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
| | - Yuqian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yuwen Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
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13
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Zhang H, Huang C, Li Y, Gupte R, Samuel R, Dai J, Guzman A, Sabnis R, de Figueiredo P, Han A. FIDELITY: A quality control system for droplet microfluidics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabc9108. [PMID: 35857442 PMCID: PMC9269891 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc9108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic systems have been widely deployed to interrogate biological and chemical systems. The major limitations of these systems are the relatively high error rates from critical droplet manipulation functions. To address these limitations, we describe the development of FIDELITY (Flotation and Interdigitated electrode forces on Droplets to Enable Lasting system IntegriTY), a highly sensitive and accurate size-based droplet bandpass filter that leverages the natural buoyancy of aqueous droplets and highly localized dielectrophoretic force generated by interdigitated electrode arrays. Droplet manipulation accuracies greater than 99% were achieved at a throughput of up to 100 droplets/s and separation of droplets that differed in diameter by only 6 μm was demonstrated. Last, the utility of FIDELITY was demonstrated in a droplet size quality control application and also in a droplet-based in vitro transcription/translation workflow. We anticipate FIDELITY to be integrated into a broad range of droplet microfluidic configurations to achieve exceptional operational accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yuwen Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rohit Gupte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ryan Samuel
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jing Dai
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Adrian Guzman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rushant Sabnis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Paul de Figueiredo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Corresponding author.
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14
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Yin J, Meng H, Lin J, Ji W, Xu T, Liu H. Pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip: how far have we gone? J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:308. [PMID: 35764957 PMCID: PMC9238112 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01518-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease caused by dysfunction or disruption of pancreatic islets. The advent and development of microfluidic organoids-on-a-chip platforms have facilitated reproduce of complex and dynamic environment for tissue or organ development and complex disease processes. For the research and treatment of DM, the platforms have been widely used to investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of islets. In this review, we first highlight how pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip have improved the reproducibility of stem cell differentiation and organoid culture. We further discuss the efficiency of microfluidics in the functional evaluation of pancreatic islet organoids, such as single-islet-sensitivity detection, long-term real-time monitoring, and automatic glucose adjustment to provide relevant stimulation. Then, we present the applications of islet-on-a-chip technology in disease modeling, drug screening and cell replacement therapy. Finally, we summarize the development and challenges of islet-on-a-chip and discuss the prospects of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Yin
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Meng
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Wei Ji
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,School of Biomedical Engineering, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Huisheng Liu
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,School of Biomedical Engineering, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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15
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Yang M, Sun N, Luo Y, Lai X, Li P, Zhang Z. Emergence of debubblers in microfluidics: A critical review. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:031503. [PMID: 35757146 PMCID: PMC9217167 DOI: 10.1063/5.0088551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Bubbles in microfluidics-even those that appear to be negligibly small-are pervasive and responsible for the failure of many biological and chemical experiments. For instance, they block current conduction, damage cell membranes, and interfere with detection results. To overcome this unavoidable and intractable problem, researchers have developed various methods for capturing and removing bubbles from microfluidics. Such methods are multifarious and their working principles are very different from each other. In this review, bubble-removing methods are divided into two broad categories: active debubblers (that require external auxiliary equipment) and passive debubblers (driven by natural processes). In each category, three main types of methods are discussed along with their advantages and disadvantages. Among the active debubblers, those assisted by lasers, acoustic generators, and negative pressure pumps are discussed. Among the passive debubblers, those driven by buoyancy, the characteristics of gas-liquid interfaces, and the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of materials are discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the bubble-removal technologies are reviewed to refer researchers to microfluidics and inspire further investigations in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nan Sun
- School of Automation, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | | | | | - Peiru Li
- School of Automation, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- School of Automation, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
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16
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Lohasz C, Loretan J, Sterker D, Görlach E, Renggli K, Argast P, Frey O, Wiesmann M, Wartmann M, Rausch M, Hierlemann A. A Microphysiological Cell-Culturing System for Pharmacokinetic Drug Exposure and High-Resolution Imaging of Arrays of 3D Microtissues. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:785851. [PMID: 35342386 PMCID: PMC8954798 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.785851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD)-relationship of a drug candidate is key to determine effective, yet safe treatment regimens for patients. However, current testing strategies are inefficient in characterizing in vivo responses to fluctuating drug concentrations during multi-day treatment cycles. Methods based on animal models are resource-intensive and require time, while traditional in vitro cell-culturing methods usually do not provide temporally-resolved information on the effects of in vivo–like drug exposure scenarios. To address this issue, we developed a microfluidic system to 1) culture arrays of three-dimensional spheroids in vitro, to 2) apply specific dynamic drug exposure profiles, and to 3) in-situ analyze spheroid growth and the invoked drug effects in 3D by means of 2-photon microscopy at tissue and single-cell level. Spheroids of fluorescently-labeled T-47D breast cancer cells were monitored under perfusion-culture conditions at short time intervals over three days and exposed to either three 24 h-PK-cycles or a dose-matched constant concentration of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor BYL719. While the overall efficacy of the two treatment regimens was similar, spheroids exposed to the PK profile displayed cycle-dependent oscillations between regression and regrowth. Spheroids treated with a constant BYL719 concentration regressed at a steady, albeit slower rate. At a single-cell level, the cell density in BYL719-treated spheroids oscillated in a concentration-dependent manner. Our system represents a versatile tool for in-depth preclinical characterization of PK/PD parameters, as it enables an evaluation of drug efficacy and/or toxicity under realistic exposure conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lohasz
- ETH Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Dario Sterker
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Kasper Renggli
- ETH Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Paul Argast
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Marion Wiesmann
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Wartmann
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Rausch
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- ETH Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Basel, Switzerland
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17
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Täuber S, Schmitz J, Blöbaum L, Fante N, Steinhoff H, Grünberger A. How to Perform a Microfluidic Cultivation Experiment—A Guideline to Success. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:bios11120485. [PMID: 34940242 PMCID: PMC8699335 DOI: 10.3390/bios11120485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
As a result of the steadily ongoing development of microfluidic cultivation (MC) devices, a plethora of setups is used in biological laboratories for the cultivation and analysis of different organisms. Because of their biocompatibility and ease of fabrication, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-glass-based devices are most prominent. Especially the successful and reproducible cultivation of cells in microfluidic systems, ranging from bacteria over algae and fungi to mammalians, is a fundamental step for further quantitative biological analysis. In combination with live-cell imaging, MC devices allow the cultivation of small cell clusters (or even single cells) under defined environmental conditions and with high spatio-temporal resolution. Yet, most setups in use are custom made and only few standardised setups are available, making trouble-free application and inter-laboratory transfer tricky. Therefore, we provide a guideline to overcome the most frequently occurring challenges during a MC experiment to allow untrained users to learn the application of continuous-flow-based MC devices. By giving a concise overview of the respective workflow, we give the reader a general understanding of the whole procedure and its most common pitfalls. Additionally, we complement the listing of challenges with solutions to overcome these hurdles. On selected case studies, covering successful and reproducible growth of cells in MC devices, we demonstrate detailed solutions to solve occurring challenges as a blueprint for further troubleshooting. Since developer and end-user of MC devices are often different persons, we believe that our guideline will help to enhance a broader applicability of MC in the field of life science and eventually promote the ongoing advancement of MC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Täuber
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Julian Schmitz
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Luisa Blöbaum
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Niklas Fante
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
| | - Heiko Steinhoff
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Alexander Grünberger
- Multiscale Bioengineering, Faculty of Technology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (S.T.); (J.S.); (L.B.); (N.F.); (H.S.)
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
- Correspondence:
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18
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A Selection of Platforms to Evaluate Surface Adhesion and Biofilm Formation in Controlled Hydrodynamic Conditions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091993. [PMID: 34576888 PMCID: PMC8468346 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The early colonization of surfaces and subsequent biofilm development have severe impacts in environmental, industrial, and biomedical settings since they entail high costs and health risks. To develop more effective biofilm control strategies, there is a need to obtain laboratory biofilms that resemble those found in natural or man-made settings. Since microbial adhesion and biofilm formation are strongly affected by hydrodynamics, the knowledge of flow characteristics in different marine, food processing, and medical device locations is essential. Once the hydrodynamic conditions are known, platforms for cell adhesion and biofilm formation should be selected and operated, in order to obtain reproducible biofilms that mimic those found in target scenarios. This review focuses on the most widely used platforms that enable the study of initial microbial adhesion and biofilm formation under controlled hydrodynamic conditions—modified Robbins devices, flow chambers, rotating biofilm devices, microplates, and microfluidic devices—and where numerical simulations have been used to define relevant flow characteristics, namely the shear stress and shear rate.
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19
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Koppaka S, Zhang KS, Kurosu Jalil M, Blauch LR, Tang SKY. Fabrication of 3D Micro-Blades for the Cutting of Biological Structures in a Microfluidic Guillotine. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12091005. [PMID: 34577648 PMCID: PMC8472695 DOI: 10.3390/mi12091005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Micro-blade design is an important factor in the cutting of single cells and other biological structures. This paper describes the fabrication process of three-dimensional (3D) micro-blades for the cutting of single cells in a microfluidic “guillotine” intended for fundamental wound repair and regeneration studies. Our microfluidic guillotine consists of a fixed 3D micro-blade centered in a microchannel to bisect cells flowing through. We show that the Nanoscribe two-photon polymerization direct laser writing system is capable of fabricating complex 3D micro-blade geometries. However, structures made of the Nanoscribe IP-S resin have low adhesion to silicon, and they tend to peel off from the substrate after at most two times of replica molding in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). Our work demonstrates that the use of a secondary mold replicates Nanoscribe-printed features faithfully for at least 10 iterations. Finally, we show that complex micro-blade features can generate different degrees of cell wounding and cell survival rates compared with simple blades possessing a vertical cutting edge fabricated with conventional 2.5D photolithography. Our work lays the foundation for future applications in single cell analyses, wound repair and regeneration studies, as well as investigations of the physics of cutting and the interaction between the micro-blade and biological structures.
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