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Julius LA, Torres Delgado SM, Mishra R, Kent N, Carthy E, Korvink JG, Mager D, Ducrée J, Kinahan DJ. Programmable fluidic networks on centrifugal microfluidic discs. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1288:342159. [PMID: 38220291 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.342159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomedical diagnostic and lab automation solutions built on the Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) platform has great potential due to their independence from specialised micro-pumps and their ease of integration, through direct pipetting, with manual or automated workflows. However, a challenge for all microfluidic chips is their cost of manufacture when each microfluidic disc must be customized for a specific application. In this paper, we present centrifugal discs with programmable fluidic networks. RESULTS Based on dissolvable film valves, we present two technologies. The first, based on recently introduced pulse-actuated dissolvable film valves, is a centrifugal disc which, depending on how it is loaded, is configured to perform either six sequential reagent releases through one reaction chamber or three sequential reagent releases through two reaction chambers. In the second approach, we use the previously introduced electronic Lab-on-a-Disc (eLoaD) wireless valve array, which can actuate up to 128 centrifugo-pneumatic dissolvable film valves in a pre-defined sequence. In this approach we present a disc which can deliver any one of 8 reagent washes to any one of four reaction chambers. We use identical discs to demonstrate the first four sequential washes through two reaction chambers and then two sequential washes through four reaction chambers. SIGNIFICANCE These programmable fluidic networks have the potential to allow a single disc architecture to be applied to multiple different assay types and so can offer a lower-cost and more integrated alternative to the standard combination of micro-titre plate and liquid handling robot. Indeed, it may even be possible to conduct multiple different assays concurrently. This can have the effect of reducing manufacturing costs and streamlining supply-chains and so results in a more accessible diagnostic platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes An Julius
- Fraunhofer Project Center at Dublin City University (FPC@DCU), Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Sarai M Torres Delgado
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer Project Center at Dublin City University (FPC@DCU), Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Nigel Kent
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Eadaoin Carthy
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Jan G Korvink
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Dario Mager
- Institute of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Lepolshafen, 76344, Germany
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland; I-Form, The SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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Julius L, Saeed MM, Kuijpers T, Sandu S, Henihan G, Dreo T, Schoen CD, Mishra R, Dunne NJ, Carthy E, Ducrée J, Kinahan DJ. Low-High-Low Rotationally Pulse-Actuated Serial Dissolvable Film Valves Applied to Solid Phase Extraction and LAMP Isothermal Amplification for Plant Pathogen Detection on a Lab-on-a-Disc. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:3262-3275. [PMID: 38284094 PMCID: PMC10809376 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The ability of the centrifugal Lab-on-a-Disc (LoaD) platform to closely mimic the "on bench" liquid handling steps (laboratory unit operations (LUOs)) such as metering, mixing, and aliquoting supports on-disc automation of bioassay without the need for extensive biological optimization. Thus, well-established bioassays, normally conducted manually using pipettes or using liquid handling robots, can be relatively easily automated in self-contained microfluidic chips suitable for use in point-of-care or point-of-use settings. The LoaD's ease of automation is largely dependent on valves that can control liquid movement on the rotating disc. The optimum valving strategy for a true low-cost and portable device is rotationally actuated valves, which are actuated by changes in the disc spin-speed. However, due to tolerances in disc manufacturing and variations in reagent properties, most of these valving technologies have inherent variation in their actuation spin-speed. Most valves are actuated through stepped increases in disc spin-speed until the motor reaches its maximum speed (rarely more than 6000 rpm). These manufacturing tolerances combined with this "analogue" mechanism of valve actuation limits the number of LUOs that can be placed on-disc. In this work, we present a novel valving mechanism called low-high-low serial dissolvable film (DF) valves. In these valves, a DF membrane is placed in a dead-end pneumatic chamber. Below an actuation spin-speed, the trapped air prevents liquid wetting and dissolving the membrane. Above this spin-speed, the liquid will enter and wet the DF and open the valve. However, as DFs take ∼40 s to dissolve, the membrane can be wetted, and the disc spin-speed reduced before the film opens. Thus, by placing valves in a series, we can govern on which "digital pulse" in spin-speeding a reagent is released; a reservoir with one serial valve will open on the first pulse, a reservoir with two serial valves on the second, and so on. This "digital" flow control mechanism allows the automation of complex assays with high reliability. In this work, we first describe the operation of the valves, outline the theoretical basis for their operation, and support this analysis with an experiment. Next, we demonstrate how these valves can be used to automate the solid-phase extraction of DNA on on-disc LAMP amplification for applications in plant pathogen detection. The disc was successfully used to extract and detect, from a sample lysed off-disc, DNA indicating the presence of thermally inactivated Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis (Cmm), a bacterial pathogen on tomato leaf samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes
AN Julius
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Muhammad Mubashar Saeed
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- SFI Centre
for Research Training in Machine Learning (ML-Laboratories), Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Tim Kuijpers
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sergei Sandu
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Grace Henihan
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Tanja Dreo
- National
Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cor D Schoen
- Wageningen
University and Research, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rohit Mishra
- Fraunhofer
Project Centre at Dublin City University, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - Nicholas J Dunne
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eadaoin Carthy
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School
of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- National
Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin
City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- Biodesign
Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland
- School
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin D09 V209, Dublin, Ireland
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Carthy É, Hughes B, Higgins E, Early P, Merne C, Walsh D, Parle-McDermott A, Kinahan DJ. Automated solid phase DNA extraction on a lab-on-a-disc with two-degrees of freedom instrumentation. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1280:341859. [PMID: 37858565 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341859] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lab-on-a-disc (LoaD) technology has emerged as a transformative approach for point-of-care diagnostics and high-throughput testing. The promise of integrating multiple laboratory functions onto a single integrated platform has significant implications for healthcare, especially in resource-limited settings. However, one of the primary challenges faced in the design and manufacture of LoaD devices is the integration of effective valving mechanisms. These valves are essential for fluid control and routing, but their intricacy often leads to complexities in design and increased vulnerability to failure. This emphasizes the need for improved designs and manufacturing processes without complex, integrated valving mechanisms. (96) RESULTS: We describe a fully automated biological workflow and reagent actuation on a LoaD device without an integrated valving system. The Two Degrees-of-Freedom (2DoF) custom centrifuge alters the centre of rotation, facilitating fluid flow direction changes on the microfluidic platform through a custom programmed interface. A novel 360-degree fluid manipulation approach via secondary planetary gear motion enabled sequential assay reagent actuation without embedded valve triggering, with the addition of infinite incubation times and efficient use of platform realty. The simplified LoaD platform uses clever design, with intermediate flow chambers to avoid cross contamination between reagent steps. Notably, the optimized LoaD platform demonstrated a two-fold DNA yield at higher HEK-293 cell concentrations compared to commercially available spin-column kits. This significantly simplified LoaD platform successfully automated a common, complex workflow without inhibiting DNA purification. (129) SIGNIFICANCE: This system exhibits the clever coupling of both 2DoF and centrifugal microfluidics to create an autonomous testing package capable of eradicating the need for complex valving systems to automate biological workflows on LoaDs. This automated system has outperformed commercially available DNA extraction kits for higher cell counts. The platform's elimination of valve requirements ensures unlimited sample incubation times and enhances reliability, making it a straightforward option for automated biological workflows, particularly in diagnostics. (73).
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Affiliation(s)
- Éadaoin Carthy
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Brian Hughes
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eimear Higgins
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Phil Early
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cian Merne
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darren Walsh
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Parle-McDermott
- National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J Kinahan
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland; Biodesign Europe, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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Khodadadi R, Pishbin E, Eghbal M, Abrinia K. Real-time monitoring and actuation of a hybrid siphon valve for hematocrit-independent plasma separation from whole blood. Analyst 2023; 148:5456-5468. [PMID: 37750420 DOI: 10.1039/d3an00862b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Centrifugal microfluidics have emerged as a pivotal area of research spanning multiple domains, including medicine and chemistry. Among passive valving strategies, siphon valves have gained prominence due to their inherent simplicity and self-reliance, eliminating the need for external equipment. However, achieving optimal valve performance mandates supplementary elements like surface adjustments or pneumatic pressure. These introduce intricacies such as time-dependent behavior and augmented spatial demands. This research introduces inventive design and manufacturing methodologies to amplify siphon valve functionality. Our proposed innovation situates the siphon microchannel on the external surface of the primary chamber, linked via an inlet. The crux of novelty lies in the adaptable material selection for the microchannel's upper or lower surfaces, allowing the integration of hydrophilic materials such as glass or super hydrophilic coverslips, ensuring a leakage-free operation. Our approach offers a streamlined concept and manufacturing process, ensures consistent time-independent functionality, and accommodates the integration of multiple siphon valves within a solitary chamber, tailored for specific applications. Experimental evaluations validate a robust alignment between acquired data and analytical outcomes based on a modified equation. A customized disc is engineered, featuring four siphon valves meticulously calibrated for hematocrit (HCT) levels spanning from 20% to 50% at 10% intervals. Harnessing these valves yields a substantial surge in plasma separation efficiency, scaling up to 75%. Notably, this performance eclipses traditional single-valve reliant microfluidic methodologies, achieving a purity level exceeding 99% in plasma separation. These findings underscore the auspicious practical applicability of our proposed technique in plasma separation, fostering heightened platelet concentration, and expediting blood sample analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Khodadadi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmail Pishbin
- Bio-microfluidics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Manouchehr Eghbal
- Bio-microfluidics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Karen Abrinia
- School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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Early PL, Kilcawley NA, McArdle NA, Renou M, Kearney SM, Mishra R, Dimov N, Glynn MT, Ducrée J, Kinahan DJ. Digital process control of multi-step assays on centrifugal platforms using high-low-high rotational-pulse triggered valving. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291165. [PMID: 37682949 PMCID: PMC10490917 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their capability for comprehensive sample-to-answer automation, the interest in centrifugal microfluidic systems has greatly increased in industry and academia over the last quarter century. The main applications of these "Lab-on-a-Disc" (LoaD) platforms are in decentralised bioanalytical point-of-use / point-of-care testing. Due to the unidirectional and omnipresent nature of the centrifugal force, advanced flow control is key to coordinate multi-step / multi-reagent assay formats on the LoaD. Formerly, flow control was often achieved by capillary burst valves which require gradual increments of the spin speed of the system-innate spindle motor. Recent advanced introduced a flow control scheme called 'rotational pulse actuated valves'. In these valves the sequence of valve actuation is determined by the architecture of the disc while actuation is triggered by freely programmable upward spike (i.e. Low-High-Low (LHL)) in the rotational frequency. This paradigm shift from conventional 'analogue' burst valves to 'digital' pulsing significantly increases the number of sequential while also improving the overall robustness of flow control. In this work, we expand on these LHL valves by introducing High-Low-High (HLH) pulse-actuated (PA) valving which are actuated by 'downward' spike in the disc spin-rate. These HLH valves are particularly useful for high spin-rate operations such as centrifugation of blood. We introduce two different HLH architectures and then combine the most promising with LHL valves to implement the time-dependent liquid handling protocol underlying a common liver function test panel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L. Early
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh A. Kilcawley
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niamh A. McArdle
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marine Renou
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- Telecom Physique Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sinéad M. Kearney
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rohit Mishra
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nikolay Dimov
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Macdara T. Glynn
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jens Ducrée
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J. Kinahan
- School of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
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