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Selemani MA, Martin RS. Use of 3D printing to integrate microchip electrophoresis with amperometric detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:4749-4758. [PMID: 38581532 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05260-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
This paper describes the use of PolyJet 3D printing to fabricate microchip electrophoresis devices with integrated microwire electrodes for amperometric detection. The fabrication process involves 3D printing of two separate pieces, a channel layer and an electrode layer. The channel layer is created by 3D printing on a pre-fabricated mold with a T-intersection. For the electrode layer, a stencil design is printed directly on the printing tray and covered with a piece of transparent glass. Microwire electrodes are adhered over the glass piece (guided by underlaying stencil) and a CAD design of the electrode layer is then printed on top of the microwire electrode. After delamination from the glass after printing, the microwire is embedded in the printed piece, with the stencil design ensuring that alignment and positioning of the electrode is reproducible for each print. After a thermal bonding step between the channel layer and electrode layer, a complete electrophoresis device with integrated microelectrodes for amperometric detection results. It is shown that this approach enables different microwire electrodes (gold or platinum) and sizes (100 or 50 µm) to be integrated in an end-channel configuration with no gap between the electrode and the separation channel. These devices were used to separate a mixture of catecholamines and the effect of separation voltage on the potential voltage applied on the working electrode was also investigated. In addition, the effect of electrode size on the number of theoretical plates and limit of detection was studied. Finally, a device that contains different channel heights and a detection electrode was 3D-printed to integrate continuous flow sampling with microchip electrophoresis and amperometric detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Major A Selemani
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - R Scott Martin
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Additive Manufacturing, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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Wang Z, Zhou X, Kong Q, He H, Sun J, Qiu W, Zhang L, Yang M. Extracellular Vesicle Preparation and Analysis: A State-of-the-Art Review. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2401069. [PMID: 38874129 PMCID: PMC11321646 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202401069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, research on Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) has gained prominence in the life sciences due to their critical roles in both health and disease states, offering promising applications in disease diagnosis, drug delivery, and therapy. However, their inherent heterogeneity and complex origins pose significant challenges to their preparation, analysis, and subsequent clinical application. This review is structured to provide an overview of the biogenesis, composition, and various sources of EVs, thereby laying the groundwork for a detailed discussion of contemporary techniques for their preparation and analysis. Particular focus is given to state-of-the-art technologies that employ both microfluidic and non-microfluidic platforms for EV processing. Furthermore, this discourse extends into innovative approaches that incorporate artificial intelligence and cutting-edge electrochemical sensors, with a particular emphasis on single EV analysis. This review proposes current challenges and outlines prospective avenues for future research. The objective is to motivate researchers to innovate and expand methods for the preparation and analysis of EVs, fully unlocking their biomedical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zesheng Wang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip TechnologyBiotech and Health CentreShenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong KongShenzhen518057P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip TechnologyBiotech and Health CentreShenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong KongShenzhen518057P. R. China
| | - Qinglong Kong
- The Second Department of Thoracic SurgeryDalian Municipal Central HospitalDalian116033P. R. China
| | - Huimin He
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip TechnologyBiotech and Health CentreShenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong KongShenzhen518057P. R. China
| | - Jiayu Sun
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
| | - Wenting Qiu
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip TechnologyBiotech and Health CentreShenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong KongShenzhen518057P. R. China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Precision Diagnostic and Therapeutic TechnologyCity University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Futian Research InstituteShenzhenGuangdong518000P. R. China
- Department of Biomedical Sciencesand Tung Biomedical Sciences CentreCity University of Hong KongHong Kong999077P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Biochip TechnologyBiotech and Health CentreShenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong KongShenzhen518057P. R. China
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Mehta V, Karnam G, Madgula V. Liver-on-chips for drug discovery and development. Mater Today Bio 2024; 27:101143. [PMID: 39070097 PMCID: PMC11279310 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent FDA modernization act 2.0 has led to increasing industrial R&D investment in advanced in vitro 3D models such as organoids, spheroids, organ-on-chips, 3D bioprinting, and in silico approaches. Liver-related advanced in vitro models remain the prime area of interest, as liver plays a central role in drug clearance of compounds. Growing evidence indicates the importance of recapitulating the overall liver microenvironment to enhance hepatocyte maturity and culture longevity using liver-on-chips (LoC) in vitro. Hence, pharmaceutical industries have started exploring LoC assays in the two of the most challenging areas: accurate in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of hepatic drug clearance and drug-induced liver injury. We examine the joint efforts of commercial chip manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies to present an up-to-date overview of the adoption of LoC technology in the drug discovery. Further, several roadblocks are identified to the rapid adoption of LoC assays in the current drug development framework. Finally, we discuss some of the underexplored application areas of LoC models, where conventional 2D hepatic models are deemed unsuitable. These include clearance prediction of metabolically stable compounds, immune-mediated drug-induced liver injury (DILI) predictions, bioavailability prediction with gut-liver systems, hepatic clearance prediction of drugs given during pregnancy, and dose adjustment studies in disease conditions. We conclude the review by discussing the importance of PBPK modeling with LoC, digital twins, and AI/ML integration with LoC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viraj Mehta
- Organoid Technology Lab, DMPK Department, Sai Life Sciences, Hyderabad, 500078, India
| | - Guruswamy Karnam
- Organoid Technology Lab, DMPK Department, Sai Life Sciences, Hyderabad, 500078, India
| | - Vamsi Madgula
- Organoid Technology Lab, DMPK Department, Sai Life Sciences, Hyderabad, 500078, India
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Zvonkova M, Adamek M, Skowronkova N, Dlabaja S, Matyas J, Jasso M, Adamkova A, Mlcek J, Salek RN, Buran M. Compact 3D-Printed Unit for Separation of Simple Gas Mixtures Combined with Chemiresistive Sensors. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:4391. [PMID: 39001169 PMCID: PMC11244592 DOI: 10.3390/s24134391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Inexpensive chemiresistive sensors are often insufficiently selective as they are sensitive to multiple components of the gas mixture at the same time. One solution would be to insert a device in front of the sensor that separates the measured gas mixture and possibly isolates the unwanted components. This study focused on the fabrication and characterization of a compact unit, which was fabricated by 3D printing, for the separation and detection of simple gas mixtures. The capillary, the basic part of the compact unit, was 4.689 m long and had a diameter of 0.7 mm. The compact unit also contained a mixing chamber on the inlet side and a measuring chamber with a MiCS-6814 sensor on the outlet side. Mixtures of ethanol and water at different concentrations were chosen for characterization. The measured calibration curve was found to have a reliability of R2 = 0.9941. The study further addressed the elements of environmental friendliness of the materials used and their sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Zvonkova
- Department of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Adamek
- Department of Automation and Control Engineering, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nad Stranemi 4511, 760 05 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Nela Skowronkova
- Department of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Stepan Dlabaja
- Department of Automation and Control Engineering, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nad Stranemi 4511, 760 05 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Matyas
- Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Trida Tomase Bati 5678, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Jasso
- Department of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Adamkova
- Department of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Mlcek
- Department of Food Analysis and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Richardos Nikolaos Salek
- Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Vavreckova 5669, 760 01 Zlin, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Buran
- Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 3058/10, 616 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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Tacias-Pascacio VG, Castañeda-Valbuena D, Tavano O, Abellanas-Perez P, de Andrades D, Santiz-Gómez JA, Berenguer-Murcia Á, Fernandez-Lafuente R. A review on the immobilization of bromelain. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 273:133089. [PMID: 38878936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133089] [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] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
This review shows the endeavors performed to prepare immobilized formulations of bromelain extract, usually from pineapple, and their use in diverse applications. This extract has a potent proteolytic component that is based on thiol proteases, which differ depending on the location on the fruit. Stem and fruit are the areas where higher activity is found. The edible origin of this enzyme is one of the features that determines the applications of the immobilized bromelain to a more significant degree. The enzyme has been immobilized on a wide diversity of supports via different strategies (covalent bonds, ion exchange), and also forming ex novo solids (nanoflowers, CLEAs, trapping in alginate beads, etc.). The use of preexisting nanoparticles as immobilization supports is relevant, as this facilitates one of the main applications of the immobilized enzyme, in therapeutic applications (as wound dressing and healing components, antibacterial or anticancer, mucus mobility control, etc.). A curiosity is the immobilization of this enzyme on spores of probiotic microorganisms via adsorption, in order to have a perfect in vivo compatibility. Other outstanding applications of the immobilized enzyme are in the stabilization of wine versus haze during storage, mainly when immobilized on chitosan. Curiously, the immobilized bromelain has been scarcely applied in the production of bioactive peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veymar G Tacias-Pascacio
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Nutrición y Alimentos, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Lib. Norte Pte. 1150, 29039 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico.
| | - Daniel Castañeda-Valbuena
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Nutrición y Alimentos, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Lib. Norte Pte. 1150, 29039 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - Olga Tavano
- Faculty of Nutrition, Alfenas Federal Univ., 700 Gabriel Monteiro da Silva St, Alfenas, MG 37130-000, Brazil
| | | | - Diandra de Andrades
- Departamento de Biocatálisis, ICP-CSIC, Campus UAM-CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil
| | - José Alfredo Santiz-Gómez
- Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Carretera Panamericana Km. 1080, 29050 Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - Ángel Berenguer-Murcia
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica e Instituto Universitario de Materiales, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Mehta V, Vilikkathala Sudhakaran S, Nellore V, Madduri S, Rath SN. 3D stem-like spheroids-on-a-chip for personalized combinatorial drug testing in oral cancer. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:344. [PMID: 38890730 PMCID: PMC11186147 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02625-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional drug testing (FDT) with patient-derived tumor cells in microfluidic devices is gaining popularity. However, the majority of previously reported microfluidic devices for FDT were limited by at least one of these factors: lengthy fabrication procedures, absence of tumor progenitor cells, lack of clinical correlation, and mono-drug therapy testing. Furthermore, personalized microfluidic models based on spheroids derived from oral cancer patients remain to be thoroughly validated. Overcoming the limitations, we develop 3D printed mold-based, dynamic, and personalized oral stem-like spheroids-on-a-chip, featuring unique serpentine loops and flat-bottom microwells arrangement. RESULTS This unique arrangement enables the screening of seven combinations of three drugs on chemoresistive cancer stem-like cells. Oral cancer patients-derived stem-like spheroids (CD 44+) remains highly viable (> 90%) for 5 days. Treatment with a well-known oral cancer chemotherapy regimen (paclitaxel, 5 fluorouracil, and cisplatin) at clinically relevant dosages results in heterogeneous drug responses in spheroids. These spheroids are derived from three oral cancer patients, each diagnosed with either well-differentiated or moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Oral spheroids exhibit dissimilar morphology, size, and oral tumor-relevant oxygen levels (< 5% O2). These features correlate with the drug responses and clinical diagnosis from each patient's histopathological report. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we demonstrate the influence of tumor differentiation status on treatment responses, which has been rarely carried out in the previous reports. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating extensive work on development of microfluidic based oral cancer spheroid model for personalized combinatorial drug screening. Furthermore, the obtained clinical correlation of drug screening data represents a significant advancement over previously reported personalized spheroid-based microfluidic devices. Finally, the maintenance of patient-derived spheroids with high viability under oral cancer relevant oxygen levels of less than 5% O2 is a more realistic representation of solid tumor microenvironment in our developed device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viraj Mehta
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Laboratory (RMS), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Kandi, 502285, Telangana, India
| | - Sukanya Vilikkathala Sudhakaran
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Laboratory (RMS), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Kandi, 502285, Telangana, India
| | - Vijaykumar Nellore
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Laboratory (RMS), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Kandi, 502285, Telangana, India
| | - Srinivas Madduri
- Department of Surgery, University of Geneva, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Subha Narayan Rath
- Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Laboratory (RMS), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Kandi, 502285, Telangana, India.
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Li X, Wang M, Davis TP, Zhang L, Qiao R. Advancing Tissue Culture with Light-Driven 3D-Printed Microfluidic Devices. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:301. [PMID: 38920605 PMCID: PMC11201418 DOI: 10.3390/bios14060301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing presents a compelling alternative for fabricating microfluidic devices, circumventing certain limitations associated with traditional soft lithography methods. Microfluidics play a crucial role in the biomedical sciences, particularly in the creation of tissue spheroids and pharmaceutical research. Among the various 3D printing techniques, light-driven methods such as stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and photopolymer inkjet printing have gained prominence in microfluidics due to their rapid prototyping capabilities, high-resolution printing, and low processing temperatures. This review offers a comprehensive overview of light-driven 3D printing techniques used in the fabrication of advanced microfluidic devices. It explores biomedical applications for 3D-printed microfluidics and provides insights into their potential impact and functionality within the biomedical field. We further summarize three light-driven 3D printing strategies for producing biomedical microfluidic systems: direct construction of microfluidic devices for cell culture, PDMS-based microfluidic devices for tissue engineering, and a modular SLA-printed microfluidic chip to co-culture and monitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liwen Zhang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ruirui Qiao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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Soloukey S, Generowicz B, Warnert E, Springeling G, Schouten J, De Zeeuw C, Dirven C, Vincent A, Kruizinga P. Patient-Specific Vascular Flow Phantom for MRI- and Doppler Ultrasound Imaging. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:860-868. [PMID: 38471997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.02.010] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound imaging of human brain vasculature is an emerging neuro-imaging modality that offers vascular brain mapping with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. At present, however, access to the human brain using Doppler Ultrasound is only possible in this intraoperative context, posing a significant challenge for validation of imaging techniques. This challenge necessitates the development of realistic flow phantoms outside of the neurosurgical operating room as external platforms for testing hardware and software. An ideal ultrasound flow phantom should provide reference-like values in standardized topologies such as a slanted pipe, and allow for measurements in structures closely resembling vascular morphology of actual patients. Additionally, the phantom should be compatible with other clinical cerebrovascular imaging modalities. To meet these criteria, we developed and validated a versatile, multimodal MRI- and ultrasound Doppler phantom. METHODS Our approach incorporates the latest advancements in phantom research using tissue-mimicking material and 3D-printing with water-soluble resin to create wall-less patient-specific lumens, compatible for ultrasound and MRI. RESULTS We successfully produced three distinct phantoms: a slanted pipe, a y-shape phantom representing a bifurcating vessel and an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) derived from clinical Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)-data of the brain. We present 3D ultrafast power Doppler imaging results from these phantoms, demonstrating their ability to mimic complex flow patterns as observed in the human brain. Furthermore, we showcase the compatibility of our phantom with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). CONCLUSION We developed an MRI- and Doppler Ultrasound-compatible flow-phantom using customizable, water-soluble resin prints ranging from geometrical forms to patient-specific vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Soloukey
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Esther Warnert
- Deparment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geert Springeling
- Deparment of Experimental Medical Instrumentation, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schouten
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chris De Zeeuw
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Dutch Academy for Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Clemens Dirven
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arnaud Vincent
- Department of Neurosurgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Kruizinga
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Wu Y, Yang X, Gupta D, Alioglu MA, Qin M, Ozbolat V, Li Y, Ozbolat IT. Dissecting the Interplay Mechanism among Process Parameters toward the Biofabrication of High-Quality Shapes in Embedded Bioprinting. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2024; 34:2313088. [PMID: 38952568 PMCID: PMC11216718 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202313088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Embedded bioprinting overcomes the barriers associated with the conventional extrusion-based bioprinting process as it enables the direct deposition of bioinks in 3D inside a support bath by providing in situ self-support for deposited bioinks during bioprinting to prevent their collapse and deformation. Embedded bioprinting improves the shape quality of bioprinted constructs made up of soft materials and low-viscosity bioinks, leading to a promising strategy for better anatomical mimicry of tissues or organs. Herein, the interplay mechanism among the printing process parameters toward improved shape quality is critically reviewed. The impact of material properties of the support bath and bioink, printing conditions, cross-linking mechanisms, and post-printing treatment methods, on the printing fidelity, stability, and resolution of the structures is meticulously dissected and thoroughly discussed. Further, the potential scope and applications of this technology in the fields of bioprinting and regenerative medicine are presented. Finally, outstanding challenges and opportunities of embedded bioprinting as well as its promise for fabricating functional solid organs in the future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xue Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Deepak Gupta
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mecit Altan Alioglu
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Minghao Qin
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Veli Ozbolat
- Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Cukurova University, Adana 01130, Turkey
- Ceyhan Engineering Faculty, Mechanical Engineering Department, Cukurova University, Adana 01330, Turkey
- Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Tissue Engineering Department, Cukurova University, Adana 01130, Turkey
| | - Yao Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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Kim ES, Cho M, Choi I, Choi SW. Fabrication of Perfluoropolyether Microfluidic Devices Using Laser Engraving for Uniform Droplet Production. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:599. [PMID: 38793172 PMCID: PMC11122727 DOI: 10.3390/mi15050599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
A perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based microfluidic device with cross-junction microchannels was fabricated with the purpose of producing uniform droplets. The microchannels were developed using CO2 laser engraving. PFPE was chosen as the main material because of its excellent solvent resistance. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was mixed with PFPE to improve the hydrophilic properties of the inner surface of the microchannels. The microchannels of the polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device had a blackened and rough surface after laser engraving. By contrast, the inner surface of the microchannels of the PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic device exhibited a smooth surface. The lower power and faster speed of the laser engraving resulted in the development of microchannels with smaller dimensions, less than 30 μm in depth. The PFPE and PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic devices were used to produce uniform water and oil droplets, respectively. We believe that such a PFPE-based microfluidic device with CO2-laser-engraved microchannels can be used as a microfluidic platform for applications in various fields, such as biological and chemical analysis, extraction, and synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sung-Wook Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si 14662, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (E.S.K.); (M.C.); (I.C.)
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De Vitis E, Stanzione A, Romano A, Quattrini A, Gigli G, Moroni L, Gervaso F, Polini A. The Evolution of Technology-Driven In Vitro Models for Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2304989. [PMID: 38366798 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The alteration in the neural circuits of both central and peripheral nervous systems is closely related to the onset of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Despite significant research efforts, the knowledge regarding NDD pathological processes, and the development of efficacious drugs are still limited due to the inability to access and reproduce the components of the nervous system and its intricate microenvironment. 2D culture systems are too simplistic to accurately represent the more complex and dynamic situation of cells in vivo and have therefore been surpassed by 3D systems. However, both models suffer from various limitations that can be overcome by employing two innovative technologies: organ-on-chip and 3D printing. In this review, an overview of the advantages and shortcomings of both microfluidic platforms and extracellular matrix-like biomaterials will be given. Then, the combination of microfluidics and hydrogels as a new synergistic approach to study neural disorders by analyzing the latest advances in 3D brain-on-chip for neurodegenerative research will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora De Vitis
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Antonella Stanzione
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Alessandro Romano
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Milan, 20132, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università Del Salento, Campus Ecotekne, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
- Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, Netherlands
| | - Francesca Gervaso
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
| | - Alessandro Polini
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, Campus Ecotekn, via Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy
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12
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Esene JE, Burningham AJ, Tahir A, Nordin GP, Woolley AT. 3D printed microfluidic devices for integrated solid-phase extraction and microchip electrophoresis of preterm birth biomarkers. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1296:342338. [PMID: 38401930 PMCID: PMC10895869 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, such that the need for a rapid and accurate assessment for PTB risk is critical. Here, we developed a 3D printed microfluidic system that integrated solid-phase extraction (SPE) and microchip electrophoresis (μCE) of PTB biomarkers, enabling the combination of biomarker enrichment and labeling with μCE separation and fluorescence detection. RESULTS Reversed-phase SPE monoliths were photopolymerized in 3D printed devices. Microvalves in the device directed sample between the SPE monolith and the injection cross-channel in the serpentine μCE channel. Successful on-chip preconcentration, labeling and μCE separation of four PTB-related polypeptides were demonstrated in these integrated microfluidic devices. We further show the ability of these devices to handle complex sample matrices through the successful analysis of labeled PTB biomarkers spiked into maternal blood serum. The detection limit was 7 nM for the PTB biomarker, corticotropin releasing factor, in 3D printed SPE-μCE integrated devices. SIGNIFICANCE This work represents the first successful demonstration of integration of SPE and μCE separation of disease-linked biomarkers in 3D printed microfluidic devices. These studies open up promising possibilities for rapid bioanalysis of medically relevant analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joule E Esene
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Addalyn J Burningham
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Anum Tahir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Gregory P Nordin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Adam T Woolley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
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13
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Ece E, Ölmez K, Hacıosmanoğlu N, Atabay M, Inci F. Advancing 3D printed microfluidics with computational methods for sweat analysis. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:162. [PMID: 38411762 PMCID: PMC10899357 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06231-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The intricate tapestry of biomarkers, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vesicles, and nucleic acids within sweat, exhibits a profound correlation with the ones in the bloodstream. The facile extraction of samples from sweat glands has recently positioned sweat sampling at the forefront of non-invasive health monitoring and diagnostics. While extant platforms for sweat analysis exist, the imperative for portability, cost-effectiveness, ease of manufacture, and expeditious turnaround underscores the necessity for parameters that transcend conventional considerations. In this regard, 3D printed microfluidic devices emerge as promising systems, offering a harmonious fusion of attributes such as multifunctional integration, flexibility, biocompatibility, a controlled closed environment, and a minimal requisite analyte volume-features that leverage their prominence in the realm of sweat analysis. However, formidable challenges, including high throughput demands, chemical interactions intrinsic to the printing materials, size constraints, and durability concerns, beset the landscape of 3D printed microfluidic devices. Within this paradigm, we expound upon the foundational aspects of 3D printed microfluidic devices and proffer a distinctive perspective by delving into the computational study of printing materials utilizing density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) methodologies. This multifaceted approach serves manifold purposes: (i) understanding the complexity of microfluidic systems, (ii) facilitating comprehensive analyses, (iii) saving both cost and time, (iv) improving design optimization, and (v) augmenting resolution. In a nutshell, the allure of 3D printing lies in its capacity for affordable and expeditious production, offering seamless integration of diverse components into microfluidic devices-a testament to their inherent utility in the domain of sweat analysis. The synergistic fusion of computational assessment methodologies with materials science not only optimizes analysis and production processes, but also expedites their widespread accessibility, ensuring continuous biomarker monitoring from sweat for end-users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Ece
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kadriye Ölmez
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nedim Hacıosmanoğlu
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Maryam Atabay
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Chemistry, Hacettepe University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fatih Inci
- UNAM-National Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
- Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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14
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Alioglu MA, Yilmaz YO, Gerhard EM, Pal V, Gupta D, Rizvi SHA, Ozbolat IT. A Versatile Photocrosslinkable Silicone Composite for 3D Printing Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2024; 9:2301858. [PMID: 38883438 PMCID: PMC11178280 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202301858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Embedded printing has emerged as a valuable tool for fabricating complex structures and microfluidic devices. Currently, an ample of amount of research is going on to develop new materials to advance its capabilities and increase its potential applications. Here, we demonstrate a novel, transparent, printable, photocrosslinkable, and tuneable silicone composite that can be utilized as a support bath or an extrudable ink for embedded printing. Its properties can be tuned to achieve ideal rheological properties, such as optimal self-recovery and yield stress, for use in 3D printing. When used as a support bath, it facilitated the generation microfluidic devices with circular channels of diameter up to 30 μm. To demonstrate its utility, flow focusing microfluidic devices were fabricated for generation of Janus microrods, which can be easily modified for multitude of applications. When used as an extrudable ink, 3D printing of complex-shaped constructs were achieved with integrated electronics, which greatly extends its potential applications towards soft robotics. Further, its biocompatibility was tested with multiple cell types to validate its applicability for tissue engineering. Altogether, this material offers a myriad of potential applications (i.e., soft robotics, microfluidics, bioprinting) by providing a facile approach to develop complicated 3D structures and interconnected channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mecit Altan Alioglu
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Yasar Ozer Yilmaz
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
| | - Ethan Michael Gerhard
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Vaibhav Pal
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deepak Gupta
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Syed Hasan Askari Rizvi
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ibrahim T. Ozbolat
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey 17033, PA, USA
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State University, Hershey 17033, PA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cukurova University, Adana 01130, Turkey
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15
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Du Y, Reitemeier J, Jiang Q, Bappy MO, Bohn PW, Zhang Y. Hybrid Printing of Fully Integrated Microfluidic Devices for Biosensing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304966. [PMID: 37752777 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The advent of 3D printing has facilitated the rapid fabrication of microfluidic devices that are accessible and cost-effective. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate sophisticated microfluidic devices with integrated structural and functional components due to limited material options of existing printing methods and their stringent requirement on feedstock material properties. Here, a multi-materials multi-scale hybrid printing method that enables seamless integration of a broad range of structural and functional materials into complex devices is reported. A fully printed and assembly-free microfluidic biosensor with embedded fluidic channels and functionalized electrodes at sub-100 µm spatial resolution for the amperometric sensing of lactate in sweat is demonstrated. The sensors present a sensitive response with a limit of detection of 442 nm and a linear dynamic range of 1-10 mm, which are performance characteristics relevant to physiological levels of lactate in sweat. The versatile hybrid printing method offers a new pathway toward facile fabrication of next-generation integrated devices for broad applications in point-of-care health monitoring and sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yipu Du
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Julius Reitemeier
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Qiang Jiang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Md Omarsany Bappy
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Paul W Bohn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Yanliang Zhang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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16
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Wang N, Zhang J, Xiao B, Chen A. Microfluidic-assisted integrated nucleic acid test strips for POCT. Talanta 2024; 267:125150. [PMID: 37672986 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Numerous diseases have posed significant threats to public health, notably the global pandemic of COVID-19, resulting in widespread devastation due to its high infectivity and severity. The nucleic acid lateral flow assay (NALFA) addresses challenges of complexity, cost, and time associated with traditional assays, offering a reliable platform for rapid and precise nucleic acid target detection. NALFA is gaining prominence as a point-of-care testing (POCT) technique, thanks to its user-friendly operation and rapid results. Nevertheless, conventional NALFA relies on specialized technicians and involves labor-intensive steps like DNA extraction and PCR processes, impeding its efficiency. To overcome these limitations, integrating NALFA with microfluidic technology, widely employed in rapid field detection, holds promise. This review comprehensively outlines prevailing strategies for integrating NALFA, encompassing both research initiatives and commercial applications. Addressing the bottleneck of nucleic acid amplification as a rate-limiting step, the review delves into progress in amplification-free NALFA and highlights prevalent signal amplification techniques. Ultimately, the review outlines the future prospect of integrated NALFA development, capturing the technology's evolution and providing valuable insights for academic and commercial endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Ailiang Chen
- Institute of Quality Standard & Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Agro-product Quality and Safety, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
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17
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Saitta L, Cutuli E, Celano G, Tosto C, Sanalitro D, Guarino F, Cicala G, Bucolo M. Projection Micro-Stereolithography to Manufacture a Biocompatible Micro-Optofluidic Device for Cell Concentration Monitoring. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:4461. [PMID: 38006185 PMCID: PMC10675802 DOI: 10.3390/polym15224461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, a 3D printed biocompatible micro-optofluidic (MoF) device for two-phase flow monitoring is presented. Both an air-water bi-phase flow and a two-phase mixture composed of micrometric cells suspended on a liquid solution were successfully controlled and monitored through its use. To manufacture the MoF device, a highly innovative microprecision 3D printing technique was used named Projection Microstereolithography (PμSL) in combination with the use of a novel 3D printable photocurable resin suitable for biological and biomedical applications. The concentration monitoring of biological fluids relies on the absorption phenomenon. More precisely, the nature of the transmission of the light strictly depends on the cell concentration: the higher the cell concentration, the lower the optical acquired signal. To achieve this, the microfluidic T-junction device was designed with two micrometric slots for the optical fibers' insertion, needed to acquire the light signal. In fact, both the micro-optical and the microfluidic components were integrated within the developed device. To assess the suitability of the selected biocompatible transparent resin for optical detection relying on the selected working principle (absorption phenomenon), a comparison between a two-phase flow process detected inside a previously fully characterized micro-optofluidic device made of a nonbiocompatible high-performance resin (HTL resin) and the same made of the biocompatible one (BIO resin) was carried out. In this way, it was possible to highlight the main differences between the two different resin grades, which were further justified with proper chemical analysis of the used resins and their hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature via static water contact angle measurements. A wide experimental campaign was performed for the biocompatible device manufactured through the PμSL technique in different operative conditions, i.e., different concentrations of eukaryotic yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (with a diameter of 5 μm) suspended on a PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) solution. The performed analyses revealed that the selected photocurable transparent biocompatible resin for the manufactured device can be used for cell concentration monitoring by using ad hoc 3D printed micro-optofluidic devices. In fact, by means of an optical detection system and using the optimized operating conditions, i.e., the optimal values of the flow rate FR=0.1 mL/min and laser input power P∈{1,3} mW, we were able to discriminate between biological fluids with different concentrations of suspended cells with a robust working ability R2=0.9874 and Radj2=0.9811.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Saitta
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Emanuela Cutuli
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Giovanni Celano
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Claudio Tosto
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Dario Sanalitro
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Francesca Guarino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 89, 95123 Catania, Italy;
| | - Gianluca Cicala
- Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (G.C.); (C.T.); (G.C.)
- INSTM-UDR CT, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Maide Bucolo
- Department of Electrical Electronic and Computer Science Engineering, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy; (D.S.); (M.B.)
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18
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Dabbagh Moghaddam F, Dadgar D, Esmaeili Y, Babolmorad S, Ilkhani E, Rafiee M, Wang XD, Makvandi P. Microfluidic platforms in diagnostic of ovarian cancer. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:117084. [PMID: 37683792 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The most important reason for death from ovarian cancer is the late diagnosis of this disease. The standard treatment of ovarian cancer includes surgery and chemotherapy based on platinum, which is associated with side effects for the body. Due to the nonspecific nature of clinical symptoms, developing a platform for early detection of this disease is needed. In recent decades, the advancements of microfluidic devices and systems have provided several advantages for diagnosing ovarian cancer. Designing and manufacturing new platforms using specialized technologies can be a big step toward improving the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this group of diseases. Organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices are increasingly used as a promising platform in cancer research, with a focus on specific biological aspects of the disease. This review focusing on ovarian cancer and microfluidic application technologies in its diagnosis. Additionally, it discusses microfluidic platforms and their potential future perspectives in advancing ovarian cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Dabbagh Moghaddam
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, National Research Council, Via Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Delara Dadgar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Esmaeili
- Biosensor Research Center, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Babolmorad
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ilkhani
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maedeh Rafiee
- Department of Veterinary Sciences University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
| | - Xiang-Dong Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, 324000, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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19
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Wu Y, Qin M, Yang X. Organ bioprinting: progress, challenges and outlook. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:10263-10287. [PMID: 37850299 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01630g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Bioprinting, as a groundbreaking technology, enables the fabrication of biomimetic tissues and organs with highly complex structures, multiple cell types, mechanical heterogeneity, and diverse functional gradients. With the growing demand for organ transplantation and the limited number of organ donors, bioprinting holds great promise for addressing the organ shortage by manufacturing completely functional organs. While the bioprinting of complete organs remains a distant goal, there has been considerable progress in the development of bioprinted transplantable tissues and organs for regenerative medicine. This review article recapitulates the current achievements of organ 3D bioprinting, primarily encompassing five important organs in the human body (i.e., the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and lungs). Challenges from cellular techniques, biomanufacturing technologies, and organ maturation techniques are also deliberated for the broad application of organ bioprinting. In addition, the integration of bioprinting with other cutting-edge technologies including machine learning, organoids, and microfluidics is envisioned, which strives to offer the reader the prospect of bioprinting in constructing functional organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Minghao Qin
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xue Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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20
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Vanderlaan EL, Sexton J, Evans-Molina C, Buganza Tepole A, Voytik-Harbin SL. Islet-on-chip: promotion of islet health and function via encapsulation within a polymerizable fibrillar collagen scaffold. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4466-4482. [PMID: 37740372 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00371j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
The protection and interrogation of pancreatic β-cell health and function ex vivo is a fundamental aspect of diabetes research, including mechanistic studies, evaluation of β-cell health modulators, and development and quality control of replacement β-cell populations. However, present-day islet culture formats, including traditional suspension culture as well as many recently developed microfluidic devices, suspend islets in a liquid microenvironment, disrupting mechanochemical signaling normally found in vivo and limiting β-cell viability and function in vitro. Herein, we present a novel three-dimensional (3D) microphysiological system (MPS) to extend islet health and function ex vivo by incorporating a polymerizable collagen scaffold to restore biophysical support and islet-collagen mechanobiological cues. Informed by computational models of gas and molecular transport relevant to β-cell physiology, a MPS configuration was down-selected based on simulated oxygen and nutrient delivery to collagen-encapsulated islets, and 3D-printing was applied as a readily accessible, low-cost rapid prototyping method. Recreating critical aspects of the in vivo microenvironment within the MPS via perfusion and islet-collagen interactions mitigated post-isolation ischemia and apoptosis in mouse islets over a 5-day period. In contrast, islets maintained in traditional suspension formats exhibited progressive hypoxic and apoptotic cores. Finally, dynamic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion measurements were performed on collagen-encapsulated mouse islets in the absence and presence of well-known chemical stressor thapsigargin using the MPS platform and compared to conventional protocols involving commercial perifusion machines. Overall, the MPS described here provides a user-friendly islet culture platform that not only supports long-term β-cell health and function but also enables multiparametric evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Vanderlaan
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Medical Scientist/Engineer Training Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Joshua Sexton
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Carmella Evans-Molina
- Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Adrian Buganza Tepole
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Sherry L Voytik-Harbin
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA
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21
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Pysz PM, Hoskins JK, Zou M, Stenken JA. 3D Printed Customizable Microsampling Devices for Neuroscience Applications. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:3278-3287. [PMID: 37646856 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00166] [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] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Multifunctional devices that incorporate chemical or physical measurements combined with ways to manipulate brain tissue via drug delivery, electrical stimulation, or light for optogenetics are desired by neuroscientists. The next generation in vivo brain devices will likely utilize the extensive flexibility and rapid processing of 3D printing. This Perspective demonstrates how close we are to this reality for advanced neuroscience measurements. 3D printing provides the opportunity to improve microsampling-based devices in ways that have not been previously available. Not only can 3D printing be used for actual device creation, but it can also allow printing of peripheral objects necessary to assemble functional devices. The most probable 3D printing set up for microsampling devices with appropriate nm to μm feature size will likely require 2-photon polymerization-based printers. This Perspective describes the advantages and challenges for 3D printing of microsampling devices as an initial step to meet the next generation device needs of neuroscientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Pysz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Julia K Hoskins
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Center for Advanced Surface Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Min Zou
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Center for Advanced Surface Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
| | - Julie A Stenken
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, United States
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22
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Esene JE, Nasman PR, Miner DS, Nordin GP, Woolley AT. High-performance microchip electrophoresis separations of preterm birth biomarkers using 3D printed microfluidic devices. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1706:464242. [PMID: 37595419 PMCID: PMC10473225 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
We employed digital light processing-stereolithography 3D printing to create microfluidic devices with different designs for microchip electrophoresis (µCE). Short or long straight channel, and two- or four-turn serpentine channel microfluidic devices with separation channel lengths of 1.3, 3.1, 3.0, and 4.7 cm, respectively, all with a cross injector design, were fabricated. We measured current as a function of time and voltage to determine a separation time window and conditions for the onset of Joule heating in these designs. Separations in these devices were evaluated by performing µCE and measuring theoretical plate counts for electric field strengths near and above the onset of Joule heating, with fluorescently labeled glycine and phenylalanine as model analytes. We further demonstrated µCE of peptides and proteins related to preterm birth risk, showing increased peak capacity and resolution compared to previous results with 3D printed microdevices. These results mark an important step forward in the use of 3D printed microfluidic devices for rapid bioanalysis by µCE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joule E Esene
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Parker R Nasman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Dallin S Miner
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Gregory P Nordin
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Adam T Woolley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
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23
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Ahmadianyazdi A, Miller IJ, Folch A. Tunable resins with PDMS-like elastic modulus for stereolithographic 3D-printing of multimaterial microfluidic actuators. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4019-4032. [PMID: 37584639 PMCID: PMC10849085 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00529a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Stereolithographic 3D-printing (SLA) permits facile fabrication of high-precision microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices. SLA photopolymers often yield parts with low mechanical compliancy in sharp contrast to elastomers such as poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). On the other hand, SLA-printable elastomers with soft mechanical properties do not fulfill the distinct requirements for a highly manufacturable resin in microfluidics (e.g., high-resolution printability, transparency, low-viscosity). These limitations restrict our ability to print microfluidic actuators containing dynamic, movable elements. Here we introduce low-viscous photopolymers based on a tunable blend of the monomers poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, Mw ∼ 258) and the monoacrylate poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) methacrylate (PEGMEMA, Mw ∼ 300). In these blends, which we term PEGDA-co-PEGMEMA, tuning the PEGMEMA content from 0% to 40% (v/v) alters the elastic modulus of the printed plastics by ∼400-fold, reaching that of PDMS. Through the addition of PEGMEMA, moreover, PEGDA-co-PEGMEMA retains desirable properties of highly manufacturable PEGDA such as low viscosity, solvent compatibility, cytocompatibility and low drug absorptivity. With PEGDA-co-PEGMEMA, we SLA-printed drastically enhanced fluidic actuators including microvalves, micropumps, and microregulators with a hybrid structure containing a flexible PEGDA-co-PEGMEMA membrane within a rigid PEGDA housing. These components were built using a custom "Print-Pause-Print" protocol, referred to as "3P-printing", that allows for fabricating high-resolution multimaterial parts with a desktop SLA printer without the need for post-assembly. SLA-printing of multimaterial microfluidic actuators addresses the unmet need of high-performance on-chip controls in 3D-printed microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isaac J Miller
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
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24
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Li Z, Li Q, Zhou C, Lu K, Liu Y, Xuan L, Wang X. Organoid-on-a-chip: Current challenges, trends, and future scope toward medicine. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:051505. [PMID: 37900053 PMCID: PMC10613095 DOI: 10.1063/5.0171350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
In vitro organoid models, typically defined as 3D multicellular aggregates, have been extensively used as a promising tool in drug screening, disease progression research, and precision medicine. Combined with advanced microfluidics technique, organoid-on-a-chip can flexibly replicate in vivo organs within the biomimetic physiological microenvironment by accurately regulating different parameters, such as fluid conditions and concentration gradients of biochemical factors. Since engineered organ reconstruction has opened a new paradigm in biomedicine, innovative approaches are increasingly required in micro-nano fabrication, tissue construction, and development of pharmaceutical products. In this Perspective review, the advantages and characteristics of organoid-on-a-chip are first introduced. Challenges in current organoid culture, extracellular matrix building, and device manufacturing techniques are subsequently demonstrated, followed by potential alternative approaches, respectively. The future directions and emerging application scenarios of organoid-on-a-chip are finally prospected to further satisfy the clinical demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangjie Li
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qinyu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 999077 Hong Kong, China
| | - Chenyang Zhou
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kangyi Lu
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yijun Liu
- Department of Micro/Nano Electronics, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lian Xuan
- Institute of Medical Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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25
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Chen T, Cui L, He W, Liu R, Feng C, Wu L, Wang Y, Liu H, Qian L, Yu B. Controlling amorphous silicon in scratching for fabricating high-performance micromixers. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:3794-3801. [PMID: 37498210 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00320e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
As core parts of microfluidic chip analysis systems, micromixers show robust applications in wide fields. However, restricted by the fabrication technology, it remains challenging to achieve high-quality micromixers with both delicately designed structure and efficient mixing. In this study, based on the theory of chaotic mixing, sinusoidal structures with variable phases were designed and then fabricated through scanning probe lithography (SPL) and post-selective etching. It was found that scratches with phase differences can lead to the periodic formation of amorphous silicon (a-Si), which can resist etching. Consequentially, misaligned sine channels with thick-thin alternating 3D shapes can be generated in situ from the scratched traces after the etching. Further analysis showed that a thicker a-Si layer can be obtained by reducing the line spacing in the scratching, confirmed by Raman detections and simulations. With the proposed method, the misaligned sine micromixer was achieved with higher mixing efficiency than ever. The duplicating process was also investigated for high-precision production of micromixers. The study provided strategies for the miniaturization of high-performance microfluidic chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Chen
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Licong Cui
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Wang He
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Renxing Liu
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Chengqiang Feng
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Lei Wu
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Yang Wang
- Academy of Frontier Sciences, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Huiyun Liu
- Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Linmao Qian
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
| | - Bingjun Yu
- Tribology Research Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China.
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26
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Nam SW, Jeon DG, Yoon YR, Lee GH, Chang Y, Won DI. Hemagglutination Assay via Optical Density Characterization in 3D Microtrap Chips. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:733. [PMID: 37504130 PMCID: PMC10377501 DOI: 10.3390/bios13070733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Hemagglutination assay has been used for blood typing and detecting viruses, thus applicable for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Therefore, the development of microfluidic devices for fast detection of hemagglutination is on-demand for point-of-care diagnosis. Here, we present a way to detect hemagglutination in 3D microfluidic devices via optical absorbance (optical density, OD) characterization. 3D printing is a powerful way to build microfluidic structures for diagnostic devices. However, mixing liquid in microfluidic chips is difficult due to laminar flow, which hampers practical applications such as antigen-antibody mixing. To overcome the issue, we fabricated 3D microfluidic chips with embedded microchannel and microwell structures to induce hemagglutination between red blood cells (RBCs) and antibodies. We named it a 3D microtrap chip. We also established an automated measurement system which is an integral part of diagnostic devices. To do this, we developed a novel way to identify RBC agglutination and non-agglutination via the OD difference. By adapting a 3D-printed aperture to the microtrap chip, we obtained a pure absorbance signal from the microchannels by eliminating the background brightness of the microtrap chip. By investigating the underlying optical physics, we provide a 3D device platform for detecting hemagglutination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Wook Nam
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Republic of Korea
- DanielBio Research Center, Daegu 42694, Republic of Korea
- Bio-Medical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41940, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Gyu Jeon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Republic of Korea
- Cell & Matrix Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ran Yoon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Republic of Korea
| | - Gang Ho Lee
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongmin Chang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Il Won
- Bio-Medical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41940, Republic of Korea
- Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41940, Republic of Korea
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27
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Cardoso BD, Castanheira EMS, Lanceros-Méndez S, Cardoso VF. Recent Advances on Cell Culture Platforms for In Vitro Drug Screening and Cell Therapies: From Conventional to Microfluidic Strategies. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2202936. [PMID: 36898671 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202202936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The clinical translations of drugs and nanomedicines depend on coherent pharmaceutical research based on biologically accurate screening approaches. Since establishing the 2D in vitro cell culture method, the scientific community has improved cell-based drug screening assays and models. Those advances result in more informative biochemical assays and the development of 3D multicellular models to describe the biological complexity better and enhance the simulation of the in vivo microenvironment. Despite the overall dominance of conventional 2D and 3D cell macroscopic culture methods, they present physicochemical and operational challenges that impair the scale-up of drug screening by not allowing a high parallelization, multidrug combination, and high-throughput screening. Their combination and complementarity with microfluidic platforms enable the development of microfluidics-based cell culture platforms with unequivocal advantages in drug screening and cell therapies. Thus, this review presents an updated and consolidated view of cell culture miniaturization's physical, chemical, and operational considerations in the pharmaceutical research scenario. It clarifies advances in the field using gradient-based microfluidics, droplet-based microfluidics, printed-based microfluidics, digital-based microfluidics, SlipChip, and paper-based microfluidics. Finally, it presents a comparative analysis of the performance of cell-based methods in life research and development to achieve increased precision in the drug screening process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz D Cardoso
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Elisabete M S Castanheira
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez
- Physics Centre of Minho and Porto Universities (CF-UM-UP), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- LaPMET-Laboratory of Physics for Materials and Emergent Technologies, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, Leioa, 48940, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48009, Spain
| | - Vanessa F Cardoso
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal
- LABBELS-Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology and Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, University of Minho, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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28
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Ghaznavi A, Xu J, Hara SA. A Non-Sacrificial 3D Printing Process for Fabricating Integrated Micro/Mesoscale Molds. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1363. [PMID: 37512674 PMCID: PMC10385488 DOI: 10.3390/mi14071363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional printing technology has been implemented in microfluidic mold fabrication due to its freedom of design, speed, and low-cost fabrication. To facilitate mold fabrication processes and avoid the complexities of the soft lithography technique, we offer a non-sacrificial approach to fabricate microscale features along with mesoscale features using Stereolithography (SLA) printers to assemble a modular microfluidic mold. This helps with addressing an existing limitation with fabricating complex and time-consuming micro/mesoscale devices. The process flow, optimization of print time and feature resolution, alignments of modular devices, and the advantages and limitations with the offered technique are discussed in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirreza Ghaznavi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Seth A Hara
- Division of Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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29
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Trinh TND, Do HDK, Nam NN, Dan TT, Trinh KTL, Lee NY. Droplet-Based Microfluidics: Applications in Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:937. [PMID: 37513850 PMCID: PMC10385691 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics offer great opportunities for applications in various fields, such as diagnostics, food sciences, and drug discovery. A droplet provides an isolated environment for performing a single reaction within a microscale-volume sample, allowing for a fast reaction with a high sensitivity, high throughput, and low risk of cross-contamination. Owing to several remarkable features, droplet-based microfluidic techniques have been intensively studied. In this review, we discuss the impact of droplet microfluidics, particularly focusing on drug screening and development. In addition, we surveyed various methods of device fabrication and droplet generation/manipulation. We further highlight some promising studies covering drug synthesis and delivery that were updated within the last 5 years. This review provides researchers with a quick guide that includes the most up-to-date and relevant information on the latest scientific findings on the development of droplet-based microfluidics in the pharmaceutical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Ngoc Diep Trinh
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Dang Khoa Do
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ward 13, District 04, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Nhat Nam
- Biotechnology Center, School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Thach Thi Dan
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Kieu The Loan Trinh
- BioNano Applications Research Center, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Nae Yoon Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
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30
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Monserrat Lopez D, Rottmann P, Fussenegger M, Lörtscher E. Silicon-Based 3D Microfluidics for Parallelization of Droplet Generation. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1289. [PMID: 37512600 PMCID: PMC10386391 DOI: 10.3390/mi14071289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Both the diversity and complexity of microfluidic systems have experienced a tremendous progress over the last decades, enabled by new materials, novel device concepts and innovative fabrication routes. In particular the subfield of high-throughput screening, used for biochemical, genetic and pharmacological samples, has extensively emerged from developments in droplet microfluidics. More recently, new 3D device architectures enabled either by stacking layers of PDMS or by direct 3D-printing have gained enormous attention for applications in chemical synthesis or biomedical assays. While the first microfluidic devices were based on silicon and glass structures, those materials have not yet been significantly expanded towards 3D despite their high chemical compatibility, mechanical strength or mass-production potential. In our work, we present a generic fabrication route based on the implementation of vertical vias and a redistribution layer to create glass-silicon-glass 3D microfluidic structures. It is used to build different droplet-generating devices with several flow-focusing junctions in parallel, all fed from a single source. We study the effect of having several of these junctions in parallel by varying the flow conditions of both the continuous and the dispersed phases. We demonstrate that the generic concept enables an upscaling in the production rate by increasing the number of droplet generators per device without sacrificing the monodispersity of the droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Monserrat Lopez
- IBM Research Europe-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Rottmann
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emanuel Lörtscher
- IBM Research Europe-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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Han DH, Oh U, Park JK. Characterization of PDMS Microchannels Using Horizontally or Vertically Formed 3D-Printed Molds by Digital Light Projection. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:19128-19136. [PMID: 37273587 PMCID: PMC10233826 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is one of the promising technologies for the fabrication of microstructures due to its versatility, ease of fabrication, and low cost. However, the direct use of 3D-printed microstructure as a microchannel is still limited due to its surface property, biocompatibility, and transmittance. As an alternative, rapid prototyping of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) from 3D-printed microstructures ensures both biocompatibility and efficient fabrication. We employed 3D-printed molds fabricated using horizontal and vertical arrangement methods with different slice thicknesses in a digital light projection (DLP)-based 3D printing process to replicate PDMS microchannels. The replicated PDMS structures were investigated to compare their optical transmittances and surface roughness. Interestingly, the optical transmittance of PDMS from the 3D-printed mold was significantly increased via bonding two single PDMS layers. To evaluate the applicability of the replicated PDMS devices from the 3D-printed mold, we performed droplet generation in the PDMS microchannels, comparing the same device from a conventional Si-wafer mold. This study provides a fundamental understanding of prototyping microstructures from the DLP-based 3D-printed mold.
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32
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Ji Z, Sun M, Chen T, Shen X, Xu X, Zhong Y, Wang D, Ma J, Chen B, Yi Z, Xu X. Ordered growth of metal oxides in patterned multi-angle microstructures. RSC Adv 2023; 13:16559-16566. [PMID: 37274411 PMCID: PMC10234148 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01423a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report a facile method combining top-down patterning transfer and bottom-up nanorod growth for preparing large-area and ordered TiO2 nanorod arrays. Pre-crystallization seeding was patterned with nanostructured morphologies via interfacial tension-driven precursor solution scattering on various types and period templates. This is a widely applicable strategy for capillary force-driven interfacial patterns, which also shows great operability in complex substrate morphologies with multiple-angle mixing. Moreover, the customized patterned lithographic templates containing English words, Arabic numerals, and Chinese characters are used to verify the applicability and controllability of this hybrid method. In general, our work provides a versatile strategy for the low-cost and facile preparation of hydrothermally growable metal oxide (e.g., ZnO and MnO2) nanostructures with potential applications in the fields of microelectronic devices, photoelectric devices, energy storage, and photocatalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenkai Ji
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
- State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200050 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Min Sun
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Tiantian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Xinyi Shen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Xiuzhen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Yan Zhong
- Shanghai Highway Investment Construction and Development Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200336 China
| | - Dadong Wang
- Shanghai Highway Investment Construction and Development Co., Ltd. Shanghai 200336 China
| | - Jiwei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Bo Chen
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Zhiguo Yi
- State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200050 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Xiaobin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education, Shanghai. Key Lab. of D&A for Metal-Functional Materials, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
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Schellenberg J, Dehne M, Lange F, Scheper T, Solle D, Bahnemann J. Establishment of a Perfusion Process with Antibody-Producing CHO Cells Using a 3D-Printed Microfluidic Spiral Separator with Web-Based Flow Control. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:656. [PMID: 37370588 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10060656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are increasingly dominating the market for human therapeutic and diagnostic agents. For this reason, continuous methods-such as perfusion processes-are being explored and optimized in an ongoing effort to increase product yields. Unfortunately, many established cell retention devices-such as tangential flow filtration-rely on membranes that are prone to clogging, fouling, and undesirable product retention at high cell densities. To circumvent these problems, in this work, we have developed a 3D-printed microfluidic spiral separator for cell retention, which can readily be adapted and replaced according to process conditions (i.e., a plug-and-play system) due to the fast and flexible 3D printing technique. In addition, this system was also expanded to include automatic flushing, web-based control, and notification via a cellphone application. This set-up constitutes a proof of concept that was successful at inducing a stable process operation at a viable cell concentration of 10-17 × 106 cells/mL in a hybrid mode (with alternating cell retention and cell bleed phases) while significantly reducing both shear stress and channel blockage. In addition to increasing efficiency to nearly 100%, this microfluidic device also improved production conditions by successfully separating dead cells and cell debris and increasing cell viability within the bioreactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Schellenberg
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michaela Dehne
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstr. 1, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
| | - Ferdinand Lange
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Scheper
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dörte Solle
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße 5, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Janina Bahnemann
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstr. 1, 86159 Augsburg, Germany
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Shang R, Li X, Wu X, Chen W. Research on the Comparison Properties of PDMS Specimens Demolding Processes and the Mechanical Performance of Hollow-Solid Ratios of Flexible Telescopic Rods. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1105. [PMID: 37374690 DOI: 10.3390/mi14061105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The main motivation of this work was to demonstrate a hollow telescopic rod structure that could be used for minimally invasive surgery. The telescopic rods were fabricated using 3D printing technology to make mold flips. During fabrication, differences in biocompatibility, light transmission, and ultimate displacement were compared between telescopic rods fabricated via different processes, so as to select the appropriate process. To achieve these goals, flexible telescopic rod structures were designed and 3D-printed molds were fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA) techniques. The results showed that the three molding processes had no impact on the doping of the PDMS specimens. However, the FDM molding process had lower surface flatness accuracy compared to SLA. The SLA mold flip fabrication exhibited superior surface accuracy and light transmission compared to the other methods. The sacrificial template method and the use of HTL direct demolding technique had no significant impact on cellular activity and biocompatibility, but the mechanical properties of the PDMS specimens were weakened after swelling recovery. The height and radius of the hollow rod were found to have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the flexible hollow rod. The hyperelastic model was fitted appropriately with the mechanical test results, and the ultimate elongation increased with an increase in hollow-solid ratios under the uniform force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruining Shang
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Xiaona Li
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Weiyi Chen
- College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
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Garmasukis R, Hackl C, Charvat A, Mayr SG, Abel B. Rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips enabling controlled biotechnology applications in microspace. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102948. [PMID: 37163825 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips is a key enabler for controlled biotechnology applications in microspaces, as it allows for the efficient design and production of microfluidic systems. With rapid prototyping, researchers and engineers can quickly create and test new microfluidic chip designs, which can then be optimized for specific applications in biotechnology. One of the key advantages of microfluidic chips for biotechnology is the ability to manipulate and control biological samples in a microspace, which enables precise and controlled experiments under well-defined conditions. This is particularly useful for applications such as cell culture, drug discovery, and diagnostic assays, where precise control over the biological environment is crucial for obtaining accurate results. Established methods, for example, soft lithography, 3D printing, injection molding, as well as other recently highlighted innovative approaches, will be compared and challenges as well as limitations will be discussed. It will be shown that rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips enables the use of advanced materials and technologies, such as smart materials and digital sensors, which can further enhance the capabilities of microfluidic systems for biotechnology applications. Overall, rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips is an important enabling technology for controlled biotechnology applications in microspaces, as well as for upscaling it into macroscopic bioreactors, and its continued development and improvement will play a critical role in advancing the field. The review will highlight recent trends in terms of materials and competing approaches and shed light on current challenges on the way toward integrated microtechnologies. Also, the possibility to easy and direct implementation of novel functions (membranes, functionalization of interfaces, etc.) is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rokas Garmasukis
- Leibniz-Institute of Surface Engineering Leipzig (IOM), Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Permoserstr.15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Hackl
- Leibniz-Institute of Surface Engineering Leipzig (IOM), Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ales Charvat
- Institute of Chemical Technology, University Leipzig, Linnéstr. 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan G Mayr
- Leibniz-Institute of Surface Engineering Leipzig (IOM), Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bernd Abel
- Institute of Chemical Technology, University Leipzig, Linnéstr. 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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36
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Anilkumar A, Batra A, Talukder S, Sharma R. Microfluidics based bioimaging with cost-efficient fabrication of multi-level micrometer-sized trenches. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:034103. [PMID: 37334275 PMCID: PMC10275646 DOI: 10.1063/5.0151868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices, through their vast applicability as tools for miniaturized experimental setups, have become indispensable for cutting edge research and diagnostics. However, the high operational cost and the requirement of sophisticated equipment and clean room facility for the fabrication of these devices make their use unfeasible for many research laboratories in resource limited settings. Therefore, with the aim of increasing accessibility, in this article, we report a novel, cost-effective micro-fabrication technique for fabricating multi-layer microfluidic devices using only common wet-lab facilities, thereby significantly lowering the cost. Our proposed process-flow-design eliminates the need for a mastermold, does not require any sophisticated lithography tools, and can be executed successfully outside a clean room. In this work, we also optimized the critical steps (such as spin coating and wet etching) of our fabrication process and validated the process flow and the device by trapping and imaging Caenorhabditis elegans. The fabricated devices are effective in conducting lifetime assays and flushing out larvae, which are, in general, manually picked from Petri dishes or separated using sieves. Our technique is not only cost effective but also scalable, as it can be used to fabricate devices with multiple layers of confinements ranging from 0.6 to more than 50 μ m, thus enabling the study of unicellular and multicellular organisms. This technique, therefore, has the potential to be adopted widely by many research laboratories for a variety of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Anilkumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Abhilasha Batra
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Santanu Talukder
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Rati Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, Madhya Pradesh, India
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Pariskar A, Sharma PK, Murty US, Banerjee S. Effect of Tartrazine as Photoabsorber for Improved Printing Resolution of 3D Printed "Ghost Tablets": Non-Erodible Inert Matrices. J Pharm Sci 2023; 112:1020-1031. [PMID: 36410417 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2022.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing of pharmaceuticals suffers from the problem of light scattering, which leads to over-curing, resulting in the printing of objects that are non-compliant with design dimensions and the overloading of drugs. To minimize this problem, photoabsorbers such as tartrazine (food grade) can be used to absorb the stray light produced by scattering, leading to unintended photopolymerization. Ghost tablets (i.e., non-erodible inert matrices) were additively manufactured using SLA with varying ratios of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA): polyethylene glycol (PEG) 300, along with tartrazine concentrations. The 3D printed ghost tablets containing maximum (0.03%) tartrazine were extremely precise in size and adhered to the nominal value of the metformin hydrochloride content. Resolution analysis reinstated the influence of tartrazine in achieving highly precise objects of even 0.07 mm2 area. Furthermore, 3D printed ghost tablets were characterized using analytical means, and swelling studies. Additionally, ghost tablets were tested for their mechanical robustness using dynamic mechanical and texture analysis, and were able to withstand strains of up to 5.0% without structural failure. The printed ghost tablets displayed a fast metformin hydrochloride release profile, with 93.14% release after 12 h when the PEG 300 ratio was at its maximum. Ghost tablets were also subjected to in vivo X-ray imaging, and the tablets remained intact even after four hours of administration and were eventually excreted in an intact form through fecal excretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Pariskar
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, Assam, India
| | - Peeyush Kumar Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, Assam, India; National Centre for Pharmacoengineering, NIPER-Guwahati, Changsari, Assam, India
| | | | - Subham Banerjee
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER)-Guwahati, Changsari, Assam, India; National Centre for Pharmacoengineering, NIPER-Guwahati, Changsari, Assam, India.
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38
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Monteiro RF, Bakht SM, Gomez-Florit M, Stievani FC, Alves ALG, Reis RL, Gomes ME, Domingues RMA. Writing 3D In Vitro Models of Human Tendon within a Biomimetic Fibrillar Support Platform. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 36952613 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c22371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Tendinopathies are poorly understood diseases for which treatment remains challenging. Relevant in vitro models to study human tendon physiology and pathophysiology are therefore highly needed. Here we propose the automated 3D writing of tendon microphysiological systems (MPSs) embedded in a biomimetic fibrillar support platform based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) self-assembly. Tendon decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) was used to formulate bioinks that closely recapitulate the biochemical signature of tendon niche. A monoculture system recreating the cellular patterns and phenotype of the tendon core was first developed and characterized. This system was then incorporated with a vascular compartment to study the crosstalk between the two cell populations. The combined biophysical and biochemical cues of the printed pattern and dECM hydrogel were revealed to be effective in inducing human-adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) differentiation toward the tenogenic lineage. In the multicellular system, chemotactic effects promoted endothelial cells migration toward the direction of the tendon core compartment, while the established cellular crosstalk boosted hASCs tenogenesis, emulating the tendon development stages. Overall, the proposed concept is a promising strategy for the automated fabrication of humanized organotypic tendon-on-chip models that will be a valuable new tool for the study of tendon physiology and pathogenesis mechanisms and for testing new tendinopathy treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa F Monteiro
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Syeda M Bakht
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuel Gomez-Florit
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fernanda C Stievani
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18607-400 Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Ana L G Alves
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), 18607-400 Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Manuela E Gomes
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui M A Domingues
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs─Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017 Barco, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's─PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800 Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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Esparza A, Jimenez N, Joddar B, Natividad-Diaz S. Development of in vitro cardiovascular tissue models within capillary circuit microfluidic devices fabricated with 3D Stereolithography printing. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2667200. [PMID: 36993455 PMCID: PMC10055652 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2667200/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Human cardiovascular tissue and diseases are difficult to study for novel drug discovery and fundamental cellular/molecular processes due to limited availability of physiologically-relevant models in vitro.[1-3] Animal models may resemble human heart structure, however there are significant differences from human cardiovascular physiology including biochemical signaling, and gene expression.[4-6] In vitro microfluidic tissue models provide a less expensive, more controlled, and reproducible platform for better quantification of isolated cellular processes in response to biochemical or biophysical stimulus.[6-12] The capillary driven-flow microfluidic device in this study was manufactured with a 3D stereolithography (SLA) printed mold and is a closed circuit system operating on principles of capillary action allowing continuous fluid movement without external power supply. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human cardiomyocytes (AC16) were encapsulated into a fibrin hydrogel to form vascular (VTM) and cardiac (CTM) tissue models respectively. To determine response to biophysical stimulus, the 3D cardiovascular tissue was directly loaded into the device tissue culture chambers that either had no microposts (DWoP) or microposts (DWPG) for 1, 3 and 5 days. The tissues were analyzed with fluorescent microscopy for morphological differences, average tube length, and cell orientation between tissues cultured in both conditions. In DWPG VTMs displayed capillary-like tube formation with visible cell alignment and orientation, while AC16s continued to elongate around microposts by day 5. VTM and CTM models in devices with posts (DWPG) displayed cell alignment and orientation after 5 days, indicated the microposts induced biophysical cues to guide cell structure and specific organization.
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40
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Villata S, Canta M, Baruffaldi D, Pavan A, Chiappone A, Pirri CF, Frascella F, Roppolo I. 3D printable acrylate polydimethylsiloxane resins for cell culture and drug testing. Biomater Sci 2023; 11:2950-2959. [PMID: 36912680 DOI: 10.1039/d3bm00152k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, most of the microfluidic devices for biological applications are fabricated with only few well-established materials. Among these, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the most used and known. However, it has many limitations, like the operator dependent and time-consuming manufacturing technique and the high molecule retention. TEGORad or Acrylate PDMS is an acrylate polydimethylsiloxane copolymer that can be 3D printed through Digital Light Processing (DLP), a technology that can boast reduction of waste products and the possibility of low cost and rapid manufacturing of complex components. Here, we developed 3D printed Acrylate PDMS-based devices for cell culture and drug testing. Our in vitro study shows that Acrylate PDMS can sustain cell growth of lung and skin epithelium, both of great interest for in vitro drug testing, without causing any genotoxic effect. Moreover, flow experiments with a drug-like solution (Rhodamine 6G) show that Acrylate PDMS drug retention is negligible unlike the high signal shown by PDMS. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that this acrylate resin can be an excellent alternative to PDMS to design stretchable platforms for cell culture and drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Villata
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Marta Canta
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Désirée Baruffaldi
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Alice Pavan
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Chiappone
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Candido Fabrizio Pirri
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy. .,Center for Sustainable Futures @PolitoIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Livorno 60, Turin 10144, Italy
| | - Francesca Frascella
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
| | - Ignazio Roppolo
- Dipartimento di Scienza Applicata e Tecnologia, PolitoBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin 10129, Italy.
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Duncan JL, Schultz J, Barlow Z, Davalos RV. Introducing electric field fabrication: A method of additive manufacturing via liquid dielectrophoresis. ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING LETTERS 2023; 4:100107. [PMID: 36814549 PMCID: PMC9941962 DOI: 10.1016/j.addlet.2022.100107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical devices with millimeter and micron-scaled features have been a promising approach to single-cell analysis, diagnostics, and fundamental biological and chemical studies. These devices, however, have not been able to fully embrace the advantages of additive manufacturing (AM) that offers quick prototypes and complexities not achievable via traditional 2D fabrication techniques (e.g., soft lithography). This slow adoption of AM can be attributed in part to limited material selection, resolution, and inability to easily integrate components mid-print. Here, we present the feasibility of using liquid dielectrophoresis to manipulate and shape a droplet of build material, paired with subsequent curing and stacking, to generate 3D parts. This Electric Field Fabrication (EFF) technique is an additive manufacturing method that offers advantages such as new printable materials and mixed-media parts without post-assembly for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josie L. Duncan
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg VA, USA,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA, USA,Corresponding author. (J.L. Duncan)
| | | | | | - Rafael V. Davalos
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg VA, USA,Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA, USA
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42
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Tolabi H, Davari N, Khajehmohammadi M, Malektaj H, Nazemi K, Vahedi S, Ghalandari B, Reis RL, Ghorbani F, Oliveira JM. Progress of Microfluidic Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds and Organ-on-Chips for the Cartilage Tissue Engineering. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2208852. [PMID: 36633376 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cartilage degeneration is among the fundamental reasons behind disability and pain across the globe. Numerous approaches have been employed to treat cartilage diseases. Nevertheless, none have shown acceptable outcomes in the long run. In this regard, the convergence of tissue engineering and microfabrication principles can allow developing more advanced microfluidic technologies, thus offering attractive alternatives to current treatments and traditional constructs used in tissue engineering applications. Herein, the current developments involving microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds, promising structures for cartilage regeneration, ranging from hydrogels with microfluidic channels to hydrogels prepared by the microfluidic devices, that enable therapeutic delivery of cells, drugs, and growth factors, as well as cartilage-related organ-on-chips are reviewed. Thereafter, cartilage anatomy and types of damages, and present treatment options are briefly overviewed. Various hydrogels are introduced, and the advantages of microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds over traditional hydrogels are thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, available technologies for fabricating microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds and microfluidic chips are presented. The preclinical and clinical applications of microfluidic hydrogel-based scaffolds in cartilage regeneration and the development of cartilage-related microfluidic chips over time are further explained. The current developments, recent key challenges, and attractive prospects that should be considered so as to develop microfluidic systems in cartilage repair are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Tolabi
- New Technologies Research Center (NTRC), Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, 15875-4413, Iran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, 15875-4413, Iran
| | - Niyousha Davari
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, 143951561, Iran
| | - Mehran Khajehmohammadi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, 89195-741, Iran
- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, 8916877391, Iran
| | - Haniyeh Malektaj
- Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, Fibigerstraede 16, Aalborg, 9220, Denmark
| | - Katayoun Nazemi
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Samaneh Vahedi
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, 34149-16818, Iran
| | - Behafarid Ghalandari
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Farnaz Ghorbani
- Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Cauerstrasse 6, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joaquim Miguel Oliveira
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, 4805-017, Portugal
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Rodríguez CF, Andrade-Pérez V, Vargas MC, Mantilla-Orozco A, Osma JF, Reyes LH, Cruz JC. Breaking the clean room barrier: exploring low-cost alternatives for microfluidic devices. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1176557. [PMID: 37180035 PMCID: PMC10172592 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1176557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses both science and engineering, which aims to design and fabricate devices capable of manipulating extremely low volumes of fluids on a microscale level. The central objective of microfluidics is to provide high precision and accuracy while using minimal reagents and equipment. The benefits of this approach include greater control over experimental conditions, faster analysis, and improved experimental reproducibility. Microfluidic devices, also known as labs-on-a-chip (LOCs), have emerged as potential instruments for optimizing operations and decreasing costs in various of industries, including pharmaceutical, medical, food, and cosmetics. However, the high price of conventional prototypes for LOCs devices, generated in clean room facilities, has increased the demand for inexpensive alternatives. Polymers, paper, and hydrogels are some of the materials that can be utilized to create the inexpensive microfluidic devices covered in this article. In addition, we highlighted different manufacturing techniques, such as soft lithography, laser plotting, and 3D printing, that are suitable for creating LOCs. The selection of materials and fabrication techniques will depend on the specific requirements and applications of each individual LOC. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the numerous alternatives for the development of low-cost LOCs to service industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - María Camila Vargas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Johann F. Osma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luis H. Reyes
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Luis H. Reyes, ; Juan C. Cruz,
| | - Juan C. Cruz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Luis H. Reyes, ; Juan C. Cruz,
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Combining 3D Printing and Microfluidic Techniques: A Powerful Synergy for Nanomedicine. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16010069. [PMID: 36678566 PMCID: PMC9867206 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomedicine has grown tremendously in recent years as a responsive strategy to find novel therapies for treating challenging pathological conditions. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop novel formulations capable of providing adequate therapeutic treatment while overcoming the limitations of traditional protocols. Lately, microfluidic technology (MF) and additive manufacturing (AM) have both acquired popularity, bringing numerous benefits to a wide range of life science applications. There have been numerous benefits and drawbacks of MF and AM as distinct techniques, with case studies showing how the careful optimization of operational parameters enables them to overcome existing limitations. Therefore, the focus of this review was to highlight the potential of the synergy between MF and AM, emphasizing the significant benefits that this collaboration could entail. The combination of the techniques ensures the full customization of MF-based systems while remaining cost-effective and less time-consuming compared to classical approaches. Furthermore, MF and AM enable highly sustainable procedures suitable for industrial scale-out, leading to one of the most promising innovations of the near future.
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Ji Z, Liu X, Song Y, Zhong Y, Wang D, Chen B, Fang M, Nie X, Hou J, Ma J, Ma H, Xu X, Yi Z, Xu X. Space-Confined seeding and growth of ordered arrays of TiO2 hierarchical nanostructures. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 630:436-443. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.10.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Kang H, Xiong Y, Ma L, Yang T, Xu X. Recent advances in micro-/nanostructure array integrated microfluidic devices for efficient separation of circulating tumor cells. RSC Adv 2022; 12:34892-34903. [PMID: 36540264 PMCID: PMC9724214 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra06339e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) released from the primary tumor to peripheral blood are promising targets for liquid biopsies. Their biological information is vital for early cancer detection, efficacy assessment, and prognostic monitoring. Despite the tremendous clinical applications of CTCs, development of effective separation techniques are still demanding. Traditional separation methods usually use batch processing for enrichment, which inevitably destroy cell integrity and affect the complete information acquisition. Considering the rarity and heterogeneity of CTCs, it is urgent to develop effective separation methods. Microfluidic chips with precise fluid control at the micron level are promising devices for CTC separation. Their further combination with micro-/nanostructure arrays adds more biomolecule binding sites and exhibit unique fluid barrier effect, which significantly improve the CTC capture efficiency, purity, and sensitivity. This review summarized the recent advances in micro-/nanostructure array integrated microfluidic devices for CTC separation, including microrods, nanowires, and 3D micro-/nanostructures. The mechanisms by which these structures contribute to improved capture efficiency are discussed. Two major categories of separation methods, based on the physical and biological properties of CTCs, are discussed separately. Physical separation includes the design and preparation of micro-/nanostructure arrays, while chemical separation additionally involves the selection and modification of specific capture probes. These emerging technologies are expected to become powerful tools for disease diagnosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyue Kang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Yuting Xiong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Tongqing Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
| | - Xiaobin Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University Shanghai 201804 China
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Weigel N, Li Y, Fery A, Thiele J. From microfluidics to hierarchical hydrogel materials. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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48
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Sebechlebská T, Vaněčková E, Choińska-Młynarczyk MK, Navrátil T, Poltorak L, Bonini A, Vivaldi F, Kolivoška V. 3D Printed Platform for Impedimetric Sensing of Liquids and Microfluidic Channels. Anal Chem 2022; 94:14426-14433. [PMID: 36200526 PMCID: PMC9951178 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fused deposition modeling 3D printing (FDM-3DP) employing electrically conductive filaments has recently been recognized as an exceptionally attractive tool for the manufacture of sensing devices. However, capabilities of 3DP electrodes to measure electric properties of materials have not yet been explored. To bridge this gap, we employ bimaterial FDM-3DP combining electrically conductive and insulating filaments to build an integrated platform for sensing conductivity and permittivity of liquids by impedance measurements. The functionality of the device is demonstrated by measuring conductivity of aqueous potassium chloride solution and bottled water samples and permittivity of water, ethanol, and their mixtures. We further implement an original idea of applying impedance measurements to investigate dimensions of 3DP channels as base structures of microfluidic devices, complemented by their optical microscopic analysis. We demonstrate that FDM-3DP allows the manufacture of microchannels of width down to 80 μm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Táňa Sebechlebská
- Department
of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynska Dolina, Ilkovicova 6, 84215Bratislava 4, Slovakia
| | - Eva Vaněčková
- J.
Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of
Sciences, Dolejskova
3, 18223Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Tomáš Navrátil
- J.
Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of
Sciences, Dolejskova
3, 18223Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lukasz Poltorak
- Department
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Tamka 12, 91-403Lodz, Poland
| | - Andrea Bonini
- Department
of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University
of Pisa, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Vivaldi
- Department
of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University
of Pisa, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124Pisa, Italy,
| | - Viliam Kolivoška
- J.
Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of
Sciences, Dolejskova
3, 18223Prague, Czech Republic,
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49
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Validation of Easy Fabrication Methods for PDMS-Based Microfluidic (Bio)Reactors. SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sci4040036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The common method for producing casting molds for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chips is standard photolithography. This technique offers high resolution from hundreds of nanometers to a few micrometers. However, this mold fabrication method is costly, time-consuming, and might require clean room facilities. Additionally, there is a need for non-micromechanics experts, who do not have specialized equipment to easily and quickly prototype chips themselves. Simple, so-called, makerspace technologies are increasingly being explored as alternatives that have potential to enable anyone to fabricate microfluidic structures. We therefore tested simple fabrication methods for a PDMS-based microfluidic device. On the one hand, channels were replicated from capillaries and tape. On the other hand, different mold fabrication methods, namely laser cutting, fused layer 3D printing, stereolithographic 3D printing, and computer numerical control (CNC) milling, were validated in terms of machine accuracy and tightness. Most of these methods are already known, but the incorporation and retention of particles with sizes in the micrometer range have been less investigated. We therefore tested two different types of particles, which are actually common carriers for the immobilization of enzymes, so that the resulting reactor could ultimately be used as a microfluidic bioreactor. Furthermore, CNC milling provide the most reliable casting mold fabrication method. After some optimization steps with regard to manufacturing settings and post-processing polishing, the chips were tested for the retention of two different particle types (spherical and non-spherical particles). In this way, we successfully tested the obtained PDMS-based microfluidic chips for their potential applicability as (bio)reactors with enzyme immobilization carrier beads.
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50
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He C, Chen X, Sun Y, Xie M, Yu K, He J, Lu J, Gao Q, Nie J, Wang Y, He Y. Rapid and mass manufacturing of soft hydrogel microstructures for cell patterns assisted by 3D printing. Biodes Manuf 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42242-022-00207-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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