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Zeng Y, Gan X, Xu Z, Hu X, Hu C, Ma H, Tu H, Chai B, Yang C, Hu S, Chai Y. AIEgens-enhanced rapid sensitive immunofluorescent assay for SARS-CoV-2 with digital microfluidics. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1298:342398. [PMID: 38462346 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342398] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensitive and rapid antigen detection is critical for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, but conventional ELISAs including chemiluminescence-based assays are limited in sensitivity and require many operation steps. Fluorescence immunoassays are fast and convenient but often show limited sensitivity and dynamic range. RESULTS To address the need, an aggregation-induced emission fluorgens (AIEgens) enhanced immunofluorescent assay with beads-based quantification on the digital microfluidic (DMF) platform was developed. Portable DMF devices and chips with small electrodes were fabricated, capable of manipulating droplets within 100 nL and boosting the reaction efficiency. AIEgen nanoparticles (NPs) with high fluorescence and photostability were synthesized to enhance the test sensitivity and detection range. The integration of AIEgen probes, transparent DMF chip design, and the large magnetic beads (10 μm) as capture agents enabled rapid and direct image-taking and signal calculation of the test result. The performance of this platform was demonstrated by point-of-care quantification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein. Within 25 min, a limit of detection of 5.08 pg mL-1 and a limit of quantification of 8.91 pg mL-1 can be achieved using <1 μL sample. The system showed high reproducibility across the wide dynamic range (10-105 pg mL-1), with the coefficient of variance ranging from 2.6% to 9.8%. SIGNIFICANCE This rapid, sensitive AIEgens-enhanced immunofluorescent assay on the DMF platform showed simplified reaction steps and improved performance, providing insight into the small-volume point-of-care testing of different biomarkers in research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Xiangyu Gan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Zhourui Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Xiaoxiang Hu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Chenxuan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
| | - Hanbin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China; Guangdong ACXEL Micro & Nano Tech Co., Ltd, Foshan, Guangdong province, China.
| | - Hangjia Tu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Bao Chai
- Department of Dermatology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518052, China; Department of Dermatology, The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518052, China.
| | - Chengbin Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
| | - Siyi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yujuan Chai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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Wu T, Wu Y, Yan J, Zhang J, Wang S. Microfluidic chip as a promising evaluation method in assisted reproduction: A systematic review. Bioeng Transl Med 2024; 9:e10625. [PMID: 38435817 PMCID: PMC10905557 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is to select the high-quality sperm, oocytes, and embryos, and finally achieve a successful pregnancy. However, functional evaluation is hindered by intra- and inter-operator variability. Microfluidic chips emerge as the one of the most powerful tools to analyze biological samples for reduced size, precise control, and flexible extension. Herein, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore databases until March 2023. We displayed and prospected all detection strategies based on microfluidics in the ART field. After full-text screening, 71 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion. The percentages of human and mouse studies equaled with 31.5%. The prominent country in terms of publication number was the USA (n = 13). Polydimethylsiloxane (n = 49) and soft lithography (n = 28) were the most commonly used material and fabrication method, respectively. All articles were classified into three types: sperm (n = 38), oocytes (n = 20), and embryos (n = 13). The assessment contents included motility, counting, mechanics, permeability, impedance, secretion, oxygen consumption, and metabolism. Collectively, the microfluidic chip technology facilitates more efficient, accurate, and objective evaluation in ART. It can even be combined with artificial intelligence to assist the daily activities of embryologists. More well-designed clinical studies and affordable integrated microfluidic chips are needed to validate the safety, efficacy, and reproducibility. Trial registration: The protocol was registered in the Open Science Frame REGISTRIES (identification: osf.io/6rv4a).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological DiseasesTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of EducationTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Yangyang Wu
- College of Animal Science and TechnologySichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anSichuanChina
| | - Jinfeng Yan
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological DiseasesTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of EducationTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- School of Materials Science and EngineeringHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological DiseasesTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of EducationTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shixuan Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological DiseasesTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of EducationTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyTongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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Yang C, Gan X, Zeng Y, Xu Z, Xu L, Hu C, Ma H, Chai B, Hu S, Chai Y. Advanced design and applications of digital microfluidics in biomedical fields: An update of recent progress. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 242:115723. [PMID: 37832347 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115723] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Significant breakthroughs have been made in digital microfluidic (DMF)-based technologies over the past decades. DMF technology has attracted great interest in bioassays depending on automatic microscale liquid manipulations and complicated multi-step processing. In this review, the recent advances of DMF platforms in the biomedical field were summarized, focusing on the integrated design and applications of the DMF system. Firstly, the electrowetting-on-dielectric principle, fabrication of DMF chips, and commercialization of the DMF system were elaborated. Then, the updated droplets and magnetic beads manipulation strategies with DMF were explored. DMF-based biomedical applications were comprehensively discussed, including automated sample preparation strategies, immunoassays, molecular diagnosis, blood processing/testing, and microbe analysis. Emerging applications such as enzyme activity assessment and DNA storage were also explored. The performance of each bioassay was compared and discussed, providing insight into the novel design and applications of the DMF technology. Finally, the advantages, challenges, and future trends of DMF systems were systematically summarized, demonstrating new perspectives on the extensive applications of DMF in basic research and commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Yang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Xiangyu Gan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yuping Zeng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Zhourui Xu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Longqian Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
| | - Chenxuan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
| | - Hanbin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China; Guangdong ACXEL Micro & Nano Tech Co., Ltd, Foshan, China.
| | - Bao Chai
- Department of Dermatology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China; Department of Dermatology, The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Siyi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yujuan Chai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
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Zeng Z, Tian J, Ren Z, Yang Y, Gong Q, Sun R, Zhang X, Liu W, Chen C. Digital droplet immunoassay based on a microfluidic chip with magnetic beads for the detection of prostate-specific antigen. J Sep Sci 2023; 46:e2300471. [PMID: 37905470 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202300471] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Sensitive biomarker detection techniques are beneficial for both disease diagnosis and postoperative examinations. In this study, we report an integrated microfluidic chip designed for the immunodetection of prostate-specific antigens (PSAs). The microfluidic chip is based on the three-dimensional structure of quartz capillaries. The outlet channel extends to 1.8 cm, effectively facilitating the generation of uniform droplets ranging in size from 3 to 50 μm. Furthermore, we successfully immobilized the captured antibodies onto the surface of magnetic beads using an activator, and we constructed an immunosandwich complex by employing biotinylated antibodies. A key feature of this microfluidic chip is its integration of microfluidic droplet technology advantages, such as high-throughput parallelism, enzymatic signal amplification, and small droplet size. This integration results in an exceptionally sensitive PSA detection capability, with the detection limit reduced to 7.00 ± 0.62 pg/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokui Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingjing Tian
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zixuan Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Cancer Hospital/The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruowei Sun
- Hunan Zaochen Nanorobot Co.Ltd, Liuyang, China
| | - Xun Zhang
- Hunan Zaochen Nanorobot Co.Ltd, Liuyang, China
| | - Wenfang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chuanpin Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
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5
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Yang Z, Ren M, Li Y, Zhou M, Peng J, Lin S, Du K, Huang X. Fully Integrated Microfluidic Device for Magnetic Bead Manipulation to Assist Rapid Reaction and Cleaning. Anal Chem 2023; 95:14934-14943. [PMID: 37752733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Methods to manipulate magnetic beads are essential factors to determine the efficiency and dimension of an in vitro diagnostic system. Currently, using movable permanent magnets and planar electromagnets is still the major approach to achieve magnetic bead control, causing significant constraint in the miniaturization of in vitro diagnostic systems. Here, we propose techniques to construct a fully integrated microfluidic device that can conduct automatic magnetic bead manipulation as well as rapid chemical reaction and cleaning in a minimized dimension similar to a USB disk. The device combines the precision control of multiple electromagnetic coils with the compactness of microfluidic channels, leading to one of the smallest automatic magnetic bead manipulation systems that can complete several major magnetic bead-based operation steps such as sample injection, reaction, cleaning, and collection. The influencing factors such as coil driving parameters, surface treatment of the microchannels, and properties of magnetic particles have also been investigated to optimize the device performance. The device can drive mixtures of Fe3O4 microparticles and polymer magnetic beads (PMBs) with a weight ratio of 1:1 at a maximum speed of 0.5 cm·s-1 and reduce the time for DNA binding and dissociation reactions from 20 min to only 48 s. This device has significantly advanced the conventional manipulation methods of magnetic beads and has demonstrated the possibility to construct an automatic and ultraminiaturized in vitro diagnostic system that may facilitate portable or even wearable chemical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Miaoning Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Ya Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Mingxing Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jingyi Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Si Lin
- Beijing Savant Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Technological Development Zone, Daxing District, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Kang Du
- Beijing Savant Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Technological Development Zone, Daxing District, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Xian Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
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6
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Karcz A, Van Soom A, Smits K, Van Vlierberghe S, Verplancke R, Pascottini OB, Van den Abbeel E, Vanfleteren J. Development of a Microfluidic Chip Powered by EWOD for In Vitro Manipulation of Bovine Embryos. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13040419. [PMID: 37185494 PMCID: PMC10136516 DOI: 10.3390/bios13040419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Digital microfluidics (DMF) holds great potential for the alleviation of laboratory procedures in assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). The electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) technology provides dynamic culture conditions in vitro that may better mimic the natural embryo microenvironment. Thus far, EWOD microdevices have been proposed for in vitro gamete and embryo handling in mice and for analyzing the human embryo secretome. This article presents the development of the first microfluidic chip utilizing EWOD technology designed for the manipulation of bovine embryos in vitro. The prototype sustains the cell cycles of embryos manipulated individually on the chips during in vitro culture (IVC). Challenges related to the chip fabrication as well as to its application during bovine embryo IVC in accordance with the adapted on-chip protocol are thoroughly discussed, and future directions for DMF in ARTs are indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Karcz
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Building S4, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rik Verplancke
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
| | - Osvaldo Bogado Pascottini
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Etienne Van den Abbeel
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Vanfleteren
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
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7
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Ho M, Au A, Flick R, Vuong TV, Sklavounos AA, Swyer I, Yip CM, Wheeler AR. Antifouling Properties of Pluronic and Tetronic Surfactants in Digital Microfluidics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:6326-6337. [PMID: 36696478 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Fouling at liquid-solid interfaces is a pernicious problem for a wide range of applications, including those that are implemented by digital microfluidics (DMF). There are several strategies that have been used to combat surface fouling in DMF, the most common being inclusion of amphiphilic surfactant additives in the droplets to be manipulated. Initial studies relied on Pluronic additives, and more recently, Tetronic additives have been used, which has allowed manipulation of complex samples like serum and whole blood. Here, we report our evaluation of 19 different Pluronic and Tetronic additives, with attempts to determine (1) the difference in antifouling performance between the two families, (2) the structural similarities that predict exceptional antifouling performance, and (3) the mechanism of the antifouling behavior. Our analysis shows that both Pluronic and Tetronic additives with modest molar mass, poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) ≥50 units, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) mass percentage ≤50%, and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) ca. 13-15 allow for exceptional antifouling performance in DMF. The most promising candidates, P104, P105, and T904, were able to support continuous movement of droplets of serum for more than 2 h, a result (for devices operating in air) previously thought to be out of reach for this technique. Additional results generated using device longevity assays, intrinsic fluorescence measurements, dynamic light scattering, asymmetric flow field flow fractionation, supercritical angle fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance measurements suggest that the best-performing surfactants are more likely to operate by forming a protective layer at the liquid-solid interface than by complexation with proteins. We propose that these results and their implications are an important step forward for the growing community of users of this technique, which may provide guidance in selecting surfactants for manipulating biological matrices for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Ho
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80. St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Aaron Au
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Robert Flick
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Thu V Vuong
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Alexandros A Sklavounos
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80. St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Ian Swyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80. St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Christopher M Yip
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aaron R Wheeler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80. St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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Song ZR, Zeng J, Zhou JL, Yan BY, Gu Z, Wang HF. Optimization of Electrode Patterns for an ITO-Based Digital Microfluidic through the Finite Element Simulation. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1563. [PMID: 36295916 PMCID: PMC9611684 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Indium tin oxide (ITO)-based digital microfluidics (DMF) with unique optical and electrical properties are promising in the development of integrated, automatic and portable analytical systems. The fabrication technique using laser direct etching (LDE) on ITO glass has the advantages of being rapid, low cost and convenient. However, the fabrication resolution of LDE limits the minimum line width for patterns on ITO glasses, leading to a related wider lead wire for the actuating electrodes of DMF compared with photolithography. Therefore, the lead wire of electrodes could affect the droplet motion on the digital microfluidic chip due to the increased contact line with the droplet. Herein, we developed a finite element model of a DMF with improved efficiency to investigate the effect of the lead wire. An optimized electrode pattern was then designed based on a theoretical analysis and validated by a simulation, which significantly decreased the deformation of the droplets down to 0.012 mm. The performance of the optimized electrode was also verified in an experiment. The proposed simulation method could be further extended to other DMF systems or applications to provide an efficient approach for the design and optimization of DMF chips.
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Curtin K, Fike BJ, Binkley B, Godary T, Li P. Recent Advances in Digital Biosensing Technology. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090673. [PMID: 36140058 PMCID: PMC9496261 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Digital biosensing assays demonstrate remarkable advantages over conventional biosensing systems because of their ability to achieve single-molecule detection and absolute quantification. Unlike traditional low-abundance biomarking screening, digital-based biosensing systems reduce sample volumes significantly to the fL-nL level, which vastly reduces overall reagent consumption, improves reaction time and throughput, and enables high sensitivity and single target detection. This review presents the current technology for compartmentalizing reactions and their applications in detecting proteins and nucleic acids. We also analyze existing challenges and future opportunities associated with digital biosensing and research opportunities for developing integrated digital biosensing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrine Curtin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Bethany J. Fike
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Brandi Binkley
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Toktam Godary
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- Correspondence:
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Lee MS, Chang YC, Huang HY, Hsu W. Single-type Reporter Multiplexing with A Single Droplet Through Bead-based Digital Microfluidics. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 219:114877. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Karcz A, Van Soom A, Smits K, Verplancke R, Van Vlierberghe S, Vanfleteren J. Electrically-driven handling of gametes and embryos: taking a step towards the future of ARTs. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1852-1875. [PMID: 35510672 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01160j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of gametes and embryos and on-chip manipulation of microdroplets of culture medium serve as promising tools for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Thus far, dielectrophoresis (DEP), electrorotation (ER) and electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) proved compatible with most laboratory procedures offered by ARTs. Positioning, entrapment and selection of reproductive cells can be achieved with DEP and ER, while EWOD provides the dynamic microenvironment of a developing embryo to better mimic the functions of the oviduct. Furthermore, these techniques are applicable for the assessment of the developmental competence of a mammalian embryo in vitro. Such research paves the way towards the amelioration and full automation of the assisted reproduction methods. This article aims to provide a summary on the recent developments regarding electrically stimulated lab-on-chip devices and their application for the manipulation of gametes and embryos in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Karcz
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4 entrance 4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Soom
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4 entrance 4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Katrien Smits
- Reproductive Biology Unit (RBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Reproduction and Population Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133 D4 entrance 4, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Rik Verplancke
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials Group, Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, building S4, Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Vanfleteren
- Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), Imec and Ghent University, Technologiepark Zwijnaarde 126, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Ghent, Belgium.
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12
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Bead Number Effect in a Magnetic-Beads-Based Digital Microfluidic Immunoassay. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12050340. [PMID: 35624641 PMCID: PMC9138409 DOI: 10.3390/bios12050340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In a biomedical diagnosis with a limited sample volume and low concentration, droplet-based microfluidics, also called digital microfluidics, becomes a very attractive approach. Previously, our group developed a magnetic-beads-based digital microfluidic immunoassay with a bead number of around 100, requiring less than 1 μL of sample volume to achieve a pg/mL level limit of detection (LOD). However, the bead number in each measurement was not the same, causing an unstable coefficient of variation (CV) in the calibration curve. Here, we investigated whether a fixed number of beads in this bead-based digital microfluidic immunoassay could provide more stable results. First, the bead screening chips were developed to extract exactly 100, 49, and 25 magnetic beads with diameters of less than 6 μm. Then, four calibration curves were established. One calibration curve was constructed by using varying bead numbers (50–160) in the process. The other three calibration curves used a fixed number of beads, (100, 49, and 25). The results indicated that the CVs for a fixed number of beads were evidently smaller than the CVs for varying bead numbers, especially in the range of 1 pg/mL to 100 pg/mL, where the CVs for 100 beads were less than 10%. Furthermore, the calculated LOD, based on the composite calibration curves, could be reduced by three orders, from 3.0 pg/mL (for the unfixed bead number) to 0.0287 pg/mL (for 100 beads). However, when the bead numbers were too high (more than 500) or too low (25 or fewer), the bead manipulation for aggregation became more difficult in the magnetic-beads-based digital microfluidic immunoassay chip.
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13
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Bonner MG, Gudapati H, Mou X, Musah S. Microfluidic systems for modeling human development. Development 2022; 149:274363. [PMID: 35156682 PMCID: PMC8918817 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The proper development and patterning of organs rely on concerted signaling events emanating from intracellular and extracellular molecular and biophysical cues. The ability to model and understand how these microenvironmental factors contribute to cell fate decisions and physiological processes is crucial for uncovering the biology and mechanisms of life. Recent advances in microfluidic systems have provided novel tools and strategies for studying aspects of human tissue and organ development in ways that have previously been challenging to explore ex vivo. Here, we discuss how microfluidic systems and organs-on-chips provide new ways to understand how extracellular signals affect cell differentiation, how cells interact with each other, and how different tissues and organs are formed for specialized functions. We also highlight key advancements in the field that are contributing to a broad understanding of human embryogenesis, organogenesis and physiology. We conclude by summarizing the key advantages of using dynamic microfluidic or microphysiological platforms to study intricate developmental processes that cannot be accurately modeled by using traditional tissue culture vessels. We also suggest some exciting prospects and potential future applications of these emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie G. Bonner
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Hemanth Gudapati
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Xingrui Mou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Samira Musah
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Center for Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA,Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA,MEDx Investigator and Faculty Member at the Duke Regeneration Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA,Author for correspondence ()
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14
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Single Cell Proteomics Profiling Reveals That Embryo-Secreted TNF-α Plays a Critical Role During Embryo Implantation to the Endometrium. Reprod Sci 2022; 29:1608-1617. [PMID: 35084714 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00833-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
It has been long-known that endometrium-secreted cytokines play a critical role during embryo implantation. However, whether cytokines secreted from the embryo are relevant to the process of embryo implantation remains unclear. The concentration of cytokines in embryo culture medium was tested using a newly developed, high-sensitivity single-cell proteomic platform and evaluated in comparison to embryo quality and clinical outcome. The effect of TNF-α on embryo and endometrium Ishikawa cells was investigated using immunofluorescence staining, CCK-8 assay, TUNEL staining, and RT-qPCR. Of the 10 cytokines measured, only TNF-α concentration was significantly higher in the group with embryo implantation failure. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of TNF-α was unevenly distributed in blastocysts, and the expression level was significantly correlated with the blastocyst inner cell mass (ICM) quality score. Gene profiling showed that addition of TNF-α led to increased expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and apoptosis-related genes and that this could be inhibited by the TNF-α receptor inhibitor etanercept (ETA). In addition, an increased expression of water and ion channels, including AQP3, CFTR, ENaCA, and CRISP2 was also observed which could also be inhibited by ETA. Our results show that higher embryo-secreted TNF-α levels are associated with implantation failure through activation of TNF-α receptor, and TNF-α may be an independent predictor for pre-transfer assessment of the embryo development potential in IVF patients.
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15
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Hang Y, Boryczka J, Wu N. Visible-light and near-infrared fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering point-of-care sensing and bio-imaging: a review. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:329-375. [PMID: 34897302 PMCID: PMC9135580 DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00621d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
This review article deals with the concepts, principles and applications of visible-light and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in in vitro point-of-care testing (POCT) and in vivo bio-imaging. It has discussed how to utilize the biological transparency windows to improve the penetration depth and signal-to-noise ratio, and how to use surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to amplify fluorescence and SERS signals. This article has highlighted some plasmonic fluorescence and SERS probes. It has also reviewed the design strategies of fluorescent and SERS sensors in the detection of metal ions, small molecules, proteins and nucleic acids. Particularly, it has provided perspectives on the integration of fluorescent and SERS sensors into microfluidic chips as lab-on-chips to realize point-of-care testing. It has also discussed the design of active microfluidic devices and non-paper- or paper-based lateral flow assays for in vitro diagnostics. In addition, this article has discussed the strategies to design in vivo NIR fluorescence and SERS bio-imaging platforms for monitoring physiological processes and disease progression in live cells and tissues. Moreover, it has highlighted the applications of POCT and bio-imaging in testing toxins, heavy metals, illicit drugs, cancers, traumatic brain injuries, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, HIV and sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Hang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9303, USA.
| | - Jennifer Boryczka
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9303, USA.
| | - Nianqiang Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003-9303, USA.
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16
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Colorimetric Sensing with Gold Nanoparticles on Electrowetting-Based Digital Microfluidics. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12111423. [PMID: 34832834 PMCID: PMC8621347 DOI: 10.3390/mi12111423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Digital microfluidic (DMF) has been a unique tool for manipulating micro-droplets with high flexibility and accuracy. To extend the application of DMF for automatic and in-site detection, it is promising to introduce colorimetric sensing based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which have advantages including high sensitivity, label-free, biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. However, there is still a lack of studies for investigating the movement and stability of AuNPs for in-site detection on the electrowetting-based digital microfluidics. Herein, to demonstrate the ability of DMF for colorimetric sensing with AuNPs, we investigated the electrowetting property of the AuNPs droplets on the hydrophobic interface of the DMF chip and examined the stability of the AuNPs on DMF as well as the influence of evaporation to the colorimetric sensing. As a result, we found that the electrowetting of AuNPs fits to a modified Young–Lippmann equation, which suggests that a higher voltage is required to actuate AuNPs droplets compared with actuating water droplets. Moreover, the stability of AuNPs was maintained during the processing of electrowetting. We also proved that the evaporation of droplets has a limited influence on the detections that last several minutes. Finally, a model experiment for the detection of Hg2+ was carried out with similar results to the detections in bulk solution. The proposed method can be further extended to a wide range of AuNPs-based detection for label-free, automatic, and low-cost detection of small molecules, biomarkers, and metal ions.
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17
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Virtual Stencil for Patterning and Modeling in a Quantitative Volume Using EWOD and DEP Devices for Microfluidics. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12091104. [PMID: 34577747 PMCID: PMC8464762 DOI: 10.3390/mi12091104] [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] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Applying microfluidic patterning, droplets were precisely generated on an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) chip considering these parameters: number of generating electrodes, number of cutting electrodes, voltage, frequency and gap between upper and lower plates of the electrode array on the EWOD chip. In a subsequent patterning experiment, an environment with three generating electrodes, one cutting electrode and a gap height 10 μm, we obtained a quantitative volume for patterning. Propylene carbonate liquid and a mixed colloid of polyphthalate carbonate (PPC) and photosensitive polymer material were manipulated into varied patterns. With support from a Z-axis lifting platform and a UV lamp, a cured 3D structure was stacked. Using an EWOD system, a multi-layer three-dimensional structure was produced for the patterning. A two-plate EWOD system patterned propylene carbonate in a quantitative volume at 140 Vpp/20 kHz with automatic patterning.
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18
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Jin K, Hu C, Hu S, Hu C, Li J, Ma H. "One-to-three" droplet generation in digital microfluidics for parallel chemiluminescence immunoassays. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2892-2900. [PMID: 34196334 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00421b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In digital microfluidics, droplet generation is a fundamental operation for quantitative liquid manipulation. The generation of well-defined micro-droplets on a chip with restricted device geometries has become a real obstacle for digital microfluidics platforms to be used in parallel for in vitro diagnostic applications. Here, we propose a "one-to-three" droplet splitting technique that is able to generate sub-microlitre droplets beyond the "well-known" geometry limit in electrowetting-on-dielectric digital microfluidics. Accordingly, we realized an on-chip magnetic bead chemiluminescence immunoassay for parallel detection with the "one-to-three" technique. With the help of the generated micro droplets, we were able to retain the magnetic beads by a significantly reduced magnetic force. We have shown the detection of five B-type natriuretic peptide analyte samples on a single chip for around 10 minutes. The correlation coefficient of the calibration curve was 0.9942, and the detection limit was lower than 5 pg mL-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Jin
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Nanophotonics and Biophotonics Key Laboratory of Jilin Province, School of Science, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, Jilin province 130022, P.R.China. and CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu province 215163, P.R.China.
| | - Chenxuan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu province 215163, P.R.China.
| | - Siyi Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu province 215163, P.R.China.
| | - Chengyou Hu
- Guangdong ACXEL Micro & Nano Tech Co., Ltd, Guangdong province 528000, P.R.China
| | - Jinhua Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Nanophotonics and Biophotonics Key Laboratory of Jilin Province, School of Science, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, Jilin province 130022, P.R.China.
| | - Hanbin Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 88 Keling Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu province 215163, P.R.China.
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19
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Alias AB, Huang HY, Yao DJ. A Review on Microfluidics: An Aid to Assisted Reproductive Technology. Molecules 2021; 26:4354. [PMID: 34299629 PMCID: PMC8303723 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a state of the male or female reproductive system that is defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy even after 12 or more months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) plays a crucial role in addressing infertility. Various ART are now available for infertile couples. Fertilization in vitro (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) are the most common techniques in this regard. Various microfluidic technologies can incorporate various ART procedures such as embryo and gamete (sperm and oocyte) analysis, sorting, manipulation, culture and monitoring. Hence, this review intends to summarize the current knowledge about the application of this approach towards cell biology to enhance ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anand Baby Alias
- Institute of NanoEngineering and MicroSystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan;
| | - Hong-Yuan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung University and College of Medicine, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan
| | - Da-Jeng Yao
- Institute of NanoEngineering and MicroSystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan;
- Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
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20
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Tirgar P, Sarmadi F, Najafi M, Kazemi P, AzizMohseni S, Fayazi S, Zandi G, Ziaie N, Shoushtari Zadeh Naseri A, Ehrlicher A, Dashtizad M. Toward embryo cryopreservation-on-a-chip: A standalone microfluidic platform for gradual loading of cryoprotectants to minimize cryoinjuries. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:034104. [PMID: 34025896 PMCID: PMC8133792 DOI: 10.1063/5.0047185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Embryo vitrification is a fundamental practice in assisted reproduction and fertility preservation. A key step of this process is replacing the internal water with cryoprotectants (CPAs) by transferring embryos from an isotonic to a hypertonic solution of CPAs. However, this applies an abrupt osmotic shock to embryos, resulting in molecular damages that have long been a source of concern. In this study, we introduce a standalone microfluidic system to automate the manual process and minimize the osmotic shock applied to embryos. This device provides the same final CPA concentrations as the manual method but with a gradual increase over time instead of sudden increases. Our system allows the introduction of the dehydrating non-permeating CPA, sucrose, from the onset of CPA-water exchange, which in turn reduced the required time of CPA loading for successful vitrification without compromising its outcomes. We compared the efficacy of our device and the conventional manual procedure by studying vitrified-warmed mouse blastocysts based on their re-expansion and hatching rates and transcription pattern of selected genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, heat shock, and apoptosis. While both groups of embryos showed comparable re-expansion and hatching rates, on-chip loading reduced the detrimental gene expression of cryopreservation. The device developed here allowed us to automate the CPA loading process and push the boundaries of cryopreservation by minimizing its osmotic stress, shortening the overall process, and reducing its molecular footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mojgan Najafi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | | | | | - Samaneh Fayazi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Zandi
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Nikta Ziaie
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Aida Shoushtari Zadeh Naseri
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
| | - Allen Ehrlicher
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A0B9, Canada
| | - Mojtaba Dashtizad
- Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory (EmBio Lab), Department of Animal Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran 1497716316, Iran
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21
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Universal Plasma Jet for Droplet Manipulation on a PDMS Surface towards Wall-Less Scaffolds. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13081321. [PMID: 33920710 PMCID: PMC8073805 DOI: 10.3390/polym13081321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Droplet manipulation is important in the fields of engineering, biology, chemistry, and medicine. Many techniques, such as electrowetting and magnetic actuation, have been developed for droplet manipulation. However, the fabrication of the manipulation platform often takes a long time and requires well-trained skills. Here we proposed a novel method that can directly generate and manipulate droplets on a polymeric surface using a universal plasma jet. One of its greatest advantages is that the jet can tremendously reduce the time for the platform fabrication while it can still perform stable droplet manipulation with controllable droplet size and motion. There are two steps for the proposed method. First, the universal plasma jet is set in plasma mode for modifying the manipulation path for droplets. Second, the jet is switched to air-jet mode for droplet generation and manipulation. The jetted air separates and pushes droplets along the plasma-treated path for droplet generation and manipulation. According to the experimental results, the size of the droplet can be controlled by the treatment time in the first step, i.e., a shorter treatment time of plasma results in a smaller size of the droplet, and vice versa. The largest and the smallest sizes of the generated droplets in the results are about 6 µL and 0.1 µL, respectively. Infrared spectra of absorption on the PDMS surfaces with and without the plasma treatment are investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Tests of generating and mixing two droplets on a PDMS surface are successfully achieved. The aging effect of plasma treatment for the proposed method is also discussed. The proposed method provides a simple, fast, and low-cost way to generate and manipulate droplets on a polymeric surface. The method is expected to be applied to droplet-based cell culture by manipulating droplets encapsulating living cells and towards wall-less scaffolds on a polymeric surface.
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22
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Abstract
Over the past decades, microfluidic devices based on many advanced techniques have aroused widespread attention in the fields of chemical, biological, and analytical applications. Integration of microdevices with a variety of chip designs will facilitate promising functionality. Notably, the combination of microfluidics with functional nanomaterials may provide creative ideas to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of various biospecies. In this review, focused on the microfluids and microdevices in terms of their fabrication, integration, and functions, we summarize the up-to-date developments in microfluidics-based analysis of biospecies, where biomarkers, small molecules, cells, and pathogens as representative biospecies have been explored in-depth. The promising applications of microfluidic biosensors including clinical diagnosis, food safety control, and environmental monitoring are also discussed. This review aims to highlight the importance of microfluidics-based biosensors in achieving high throughput, highly sensitive, and low-cost analysis and to promote microfluidics toward a wider range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlong Xing
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Linlu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Ziyi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Chuanzhu Lv
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Feifei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Fabiao Yu
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
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23
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Zmuidinaite R, Sharara FI, Iles RK. Current Advancements in Noninvasive Profiling of the Embryo Culture Media Secretome. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052513. [PMID: 33802374 PMCID: PMC7959312 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There have been over 8 million babies born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and this number continues to grow. There is a global trend to perform elective single embryo transfers, avoiding risks associated with multiple pregnancies. It is therefore important to understand where current research of noninvasive testing for embryos stands, and what are the most promising techniques currently used. Furthermore, it is important to identify the potential to translate research and development into clinically applicable methods that ultimately improve live birth and reduce time to pregnancy. The current focus in the field of human reproductive medicine is to develop a more rapid, quantitative, and noninvasive test. Some of the most promising fields of research for noninvasive assays comprise cell-free DNA analysis, microscopy techniques coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) and omics analysis of the spent blastocyst media. High-throughput proteomics and metabolomics technologies are valuable tools for noninvasive embryo analysis. The biggest advantages of such technology are that it can differentiate between the embryos that appear morphologically identical and has the potential to identify the ploidy status noninvasively prior to transfer in a fresh cycle or before vitrification for a later frozen embryo transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raminta Zmuidinaite
- MAP Sciences Ltd., The iLab, Stannard Way, Priory Business Park, Bedford MK44 3RZ, UK;
| | - Fady I. Sharara
- Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine, Reston, VA 20190, USA;
| | - Ray K. Iles
- MAP Sciences Ltd., The iLab, Stannard Way, Priory Business Park, Bedford MK44 3RZ, UK;
- NISAD (Lund), Medicon Village, SE-223 81 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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24
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Gu Z, Wu ML, Yan BY, Wang HF, Kong C. Integrated Digital Microfluidic Platform for Colorimetric Sensing of Nitrite. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:11196-11201. [PMID: 32455243 PMCID: PMC7241042 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a palm-size digital microfluidic (DMF) platform integrated with colorimetric analysis was developed for quantifying the concentration of nitrite. To realize the on-chip repeatable colorimetric analysis, a novel printed circuit board (PCB)-based DMF chip was designed with an embedded aperture on the actuator electrode, forming a vertical light path for online measurement of the droplets. The capabilities of the DMF platform enable automatic manipulation of microliter-level droplets to implement Griess assay without the use of external systems such as syringe, pump, or valve, which provides the benefits including high flexibility, portability, miniature size, and low cost. Results indicated the characteristics of good linearity (R 2 = 0.9974), the ignorable crosstalk for reusability, and the limit of detection (LOD) of nitrite as low as 5 μg/L. Furthermore, the presented platform was successfully applied to determine nitrite levels in food products with reliable results and satisfactory recoveries. This integrated DMF platform can be a promising new tool for a wide range of applications involving step-by-step solution mixing and optical detection in environmental monitoring, food safety analysis, and point-of-care testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Gu
- Key
Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes
Ministry of Education, East China University
of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Ming-Lei Wu
- Key
Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes
Ministry of Education, East China University
of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Bing-Yong Yan
- Key
Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes
Ministry of Education, East China University
of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Hui-Feng Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Advanced Control and Optimization for Chemical Processes
Ministry of Education, East China University
of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China
| | - Cong Kong
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine (Academy of Forensic Science), Shanghai 200063, P. R. China
- Key
Laboratory of East China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, East China
Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai 200090, P. R. China
| |
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