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Jiang L, Guo K, Chen Y, Xiang N. Droplet Microfluidics for Current Cancer Research: From Single-Cell Analysis to 3D Cell Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1335-1354. [PMID: 38420753 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01866] [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: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Differences in drug resistance and treatment response caused by the heterogeneity of cancer cells are the primary reasons for poor cancer therapy outcomes in patients. In addition, current in vitro anticancer drug-screening methods rely on two-dimensional monolayer-cultured cancer cells, which cannot accurately predict drug behavior in vivo. Therefore, a powerful tool to study the heterogeneity of cancer cells and produce effective in vitro tumor models is warranted to leverage cancer research. Droplet microfluidics has become a powerful platform for the single-cell analysis of cancer cells and three-dimensional cell culture of in vitro tumor spheroids. In this review, we discuss the use of droplet microfluidics in cancer research. Droplet microfluidic technologies, including single- or double-emulsion droplet generation and passive- or active-droplet manipulation, are concisely discussed. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis of cancer cells, circulating tumor cells, and scaffold-free/based 3D cell culture of tumor spheroids have been systematically introduced. Finally, the challenges that must be overcome for the further application of droplet microfluidics in cancer research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Kefan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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2
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Review of the role of surfactant dynamics in drop microfluidics. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 312:102844. [PMID: 36708604 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Surfactants are employed in microfluidic systems not just for drop stabilisation, but also to study local phenomena in industrial processes. On the scale of a single drop, these include foaming, emulsification and stability of foams and emulsions using statistically significant ensembles of bubbles or drops respectively. In addition, surfactants are often a part of a formulation in microfluidic drop reactors. In all these applications, surfactant dynamics play a crucial role and need to be accounted for. In this review, the effect of surfactant dynamics is considered on the level of standard microfluidic operations: drop formation, movement in channels and coalescence, but also on a more general level, considering the mechanisms controlling surfactant adsorption on time- and length-scales characteristic of microfluidics. Some examples of relevant calculations are provided. The advantages and challenges of the use of microfluidics to measure dynamic interfacial tension at short time-scales are discussed.
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3
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Jia H, Lv F, Xu L, Kang Y, Wang Y, Xiao X. CFD modeling of two-phase flow with surfactant by an Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian method. Chem Eng Res Des 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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4
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Chagot L, Quilodrán-Casas C, Kalli M, Kovalchuk NM, Simmons MJH, Matar OK, Arcucci R, Angeli P. Surfactant-laden droplet size prediction in a flow-focusing microchannel: a data-driven approach. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3848-3859. [PMID: 36106479 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00416j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The control of droplet formation and size using microfluidic devices is a critical operation for both laboratory and industrial applications, e.g. in micro-dosage. Surfactants can be added to improve the stability and control the size of the droplets by modifying their interfacial properties. In this study, a large-scale data set of droplet size was obtained from high-speed imaging experiments conducted on a flow-focusing microchannel where aqueous surfactant-laden droplets were generated in silicone oil. Three types of surfactants were used including anionic, cationic and non-ionic at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). To predict the final droplet size as a function of flow rates, surfactant type and concentration of surfactant, two data-driven models were built. Using a Bayesian regularised artificial neural network and XGBoost, these models were initially based on four inputs (flow rates of the two phases, interfacial tension at equilibrium and the normalised surfactant concentration). The mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) show that data-driven models are more accurate (MAPE = 3.9%) compared to semi-empirical models (MAPE = 11.4%). To overcome experimental difficulties in acquiring accurate interfacial tension values under some conditions, both models were also trained with reduced inputs by removing the interfacial tension. The results show again a very good prediction of the droplet diameter. Finally, over 10 000 synthetic data were generated, based on the initial data set, with a Variational Autoencoder (VAE). The high-fidelity of the extended synthetic data set highlights that this method can be a quick and low-cost alternative to study microdroplet formation in future lab on a chip applications, where experimental data may not be readily available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loïc Chagot
- ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, UK.
| | - César Quilodrán-Casas
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Maria Kalli
- ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, UK.
| | | | | | - Omar K Matar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Rossella Arcucci
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Panagiota Angeli
- ThAMeS Multiphase, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, UK.
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5
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Zhang L, Wang K, An H, Su Y, Zhang W, Li G, Yang X. Testing and Evaluation of the Emulsifying Properties of Compound Oil Displacement Agents. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:29406-29414. [PMID: 36033671 PMCID: PMC9404487 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Aiming at the phenomenon that the emulsification degree of the composite oil displacement agents affects the recovery factor, composite oil displacement agents of the P/S binary system and the A/S/P ternary system were taken as research objects. Emulsion particle size and stability were tested and evaluated, and the effects of the surfactant and alkali content on the emulsification degree of emulsion were investigated. The concept of the emulsification stability index and its measuring method were put forward, and a method was used to test and evaluate the emulsification stability of the emulsion. The results showed that the emulsion formed by the ternary system had the smallest average particle size, the best stability, and the best emulsification stability. The binary composite system was second, and the polymer solution did not form an emulsion. The emulsification stability index method could effectively quantify the emulsification degree of the emulsion. Within a certain range, the increase of the surfactant and alkali content in the composite oil displacement agent was beneficial to the improvement of the emulsification degree of the emulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Zhang
- Key
Laboratory of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
- Baili
College of Petroleum Engineering, Lanzhou
City University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Keliang Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
| | - Huiming An
- Baili
College of Petroleum Engineering, Lanzhou
City University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yu Su
- Key
Laboratory of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key
Laboratory of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
| | - Gen Li
- Key
Laboratory of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery Ministry of Education, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- Baili
College of Petroleum Engineering, Lanzhou
City University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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6
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Liang X, Li M, Wang K, Luo G. Determination of Time-Evolving interfacial tension and ionic surfactant adsorption kinetics in microfluidic droplet formation process. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 617:106-117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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8
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9
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Effect of surfactant addition and viscosity of the continuous phase on flow fields and kinetics of drop formation in a flow-focusing microfluidic device. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.117183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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10
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Ho TM, Razzaghi A, Ramachandran A, Mikkonen KS. Emulsion characterization via microfluidic devices: A review on interfacial tension and stability to coalescence. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 299:102541. [PMID: 34920366 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Emulsions have gained significant importance in many industries including foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, health care formulations, paints, polymer blends and oils. During emulsion generation, collisions can occur between newly-generated droplets, which may lead to coalescence between the droplets. The extent of coalescence is driven by the properties of the dispersed and continuous phases (e.g. density, viscosity, ion strength and pH), and system conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure or any external applied forces). In addition, the diffusion and adsorption behaviors of emulsifiers which govern the dynamic interfacial tension of the forming droplets, the surface potential, and the duration and frequency of the droplet collisions, contribute to the overall rate of coalescence. An understanding of these complex behaviors, particularly those of interfacial tension and droplet coalescence during emulsion generation, is critical for the design of an emulsion with desirable properties, and for the optimization of the processing conditions. However, in many cases, the time scales over which these phenomena occur are extremely short, typically a fraction of a second, which makes their accurate determination by conventional analytical methods extremely challenging. In the past few years, with advances in microfluidic technology, many attempts have demonstrated that microfluidic systems, characterized by micrometer-size channels, can be successfully employed to precisely characterize these properties of emulsions. In this review, current applications of microfluidic devices to determine the equilibrium and dynamic interfacial tension during droplet formation, and to investigate the coalescence stability of dispersed droplets applicable to the processing and storage of emulsions, are discussed.
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11
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12
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Wang H, Wang S, Wang Y, Fu Y, Cheng Y. Ternary fluid lattice Boltzmann simulation of dynamic interfacial tension induced by mixing inside microdroplets. AIChE J 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.17519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Shiteng Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Yuhang Fu
- Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China
| | - Yi Cheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing China
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13
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Santos TP, Michelon M, Carvalho MS, Cunha RL. Formation and stability of oil-in-water emulsions based on components of bioprocesses: A microfluidic analysis. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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14
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Wu J, Yadavali S, Lee D, Issadore DA. Scaling up the throughput of microfluidic droplet-based materials synthesis: A review of recent progress and outlook. APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS 2021; 8:031304. [PMID: 34484549 PMCID: PMC8293697 DOI: 10.1063/5.0049897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The last two decades have witnessed tremendous progress in the development of microfluidic chips that generate micrometer- and nanometer-scale materials. These chips allow precise control over composition, structure, and particle uniformity not achievable using conventional methods. These microfluidic-generated materials have demonstrated enormous potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, food processing, acoustic, and optical meta-materials, and more. However, because the basis of these chips' performance is their precise control of fluid flows at the micrometer scale, their operation is limited to the inherently low throughputs dictated by the physics of multiphasic flows in micro-channels. This limitation on throughput results in material production rates that are too low for most practical applications. In recent years, however, significant progress has been made to tackle this challenge by designing microchip architectures that incorporate multiple microfluidic devices onto single chips. These devices can be operated in parallel to increase throughput while retaining the benefits of microfluidic particle generation. In this review, we will highlight recent work in this area and share our perspective on the key unsolved challenges and opportunities in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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15
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Effect of Surfactant Dynamics on Flow Patterns Inside Drops Moving in Rectangular Microfluidic Channels. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids5030040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Drops contained in an immiscible liquid phase are attractive as microreactors, enabling sound statistical analysis of reactions performed on ensembles of samples in a microfluidic device. Many applications have specific requirements for the values of local shear stress inside the drops and, thus, knowledge of the flow field is required. This is complicated in commonly used rectangular channels by the flow of the continuous phase in the corners, which also affects the flow inside the drops. In addition, a number of chemical species are present inside the drops, of which some may be surface-active. This work presents a novel experimental study of the flow fields of drops moving in a rectangular microfluidic channel when a surfactant is added to the dispersed phase. Four surfactants with different surface activities are used. Flow fields are measured using Ghost Particle Velocimetry, carried out at different channel depths to account for the 3-D flow structure. It is shown that the effect of the surfactant depends on the characteristic adsorption time. For fast-equilibrating surfactants with a characteristic time scale of adsorption that is much smaller than the characteristic time of surface deformation, this effect is related only to the decrease in interfacial tension, and can be accounted for by the change in capillary number. For slowly equilibrating surfactants, Marangoni stresses accelerate the corner flow, which changes the flow patterns inside the drop considerably.
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16
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Comparison of surfactant mass transfer with drop formation times from dynamic interfacial tension measurements in microchannels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 605:204-213. [PMID: 34329974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.06.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic interfacial tension was studied experimentally during drop formation in a flow-focusing microchannel. A low viscosity silicone oil (4.6 mPa s) was the continuous phase and a mixture of 48% w/w water and 52% w/w glycerol was the dispersed phase. An anionic (sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS), a cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB) and a non-ionic (Triton™ X-100, TX100) surfactant were added in the dispersed phase, at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC). For SDS and DTAB the drop size against continuous phase flowrate curves initially decreased with surfactant concentration and then collapsed to a single curve at concentrations above CMC. For TX100 the curves only collapsed at surfactant concentrations 8.6 times the CMC. From the collapsed curves a correlation of drop size with capillary number was derived, which was used to calculate the dynamic interfacial tension at times as low as 3 ms. The comparison of the surfactant mass transport and adsorption times to the interface against the drop formation times indicated that surfactant adsorption also contributes to the time required to reach equilibrium interfacial tension. Criteria were proposed for drop formation times to ensure that equilibrium interfacial tension has been reached and does not affect the drop formation.
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17
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Investigating the effect of nonionic surfactant on the silica nanoparticles formation and morphology in a microfluidic reactor. J Flow Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41981-021-00139-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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18
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Fathordoobady F, Sannikova N, Guo Y, Singh A, Kitts DD, Pratap-Singh A. Comparing microfluidics and ultrasonication as formulation methods for developing hempseed oil nanoemulsions for oral delivery applications. Sci Rep 2021; 11:72. [PMID: 33420136 PMCID: PMC7794282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79161-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging formulation technologies aimed to produce nanoemulsions with improved characteristics, such as stability are attractive endeavors; however, comparisons between competing technologies are lacking. In this study, two formulation techniques that employed ultrasound and microfluidic approaches, respectively, were examined for relative capacity to produce serviceable oil in water nanoemulsions, based on hempseed oil (HSO). The ultrasound method reached > 99.5% entrapment efficiency with nanoemulsions that had an average droplet size (Z-Ave) < 180 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.15 ± 0.04. Surfactant concentration (% w/v) was found to be a significant factor (p < 0.05) controlling the Z-Ave, PDI and zeta potential of these nanoparticles. On the other hand, the microfluidic approach produced smaller particles compared to ultrasonication, with good stability observed during storage at room temperature. The Z-Ave of < 62.0 nm was achieved for microfluidic nanoemulsions by adjusting the aqueous : organic flow rate ratio and total flow rate at 4:1 and 12 mL/min, respectively. Further analyses including a morphology examination, a simulated gastrointestinal release behavior study, transepithelial transport evaluations and a toxicity test, using a Caco2-cell model, were performed to assess the functionality of the prepared formulations. The results of this study conclude that both approaches of ultrasound and microfluidics have the capability to prepare an HSO-nanoemulsion formulation, with acceptable characteristics and stability for oral delivery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahnaz Fathordoobady
- Food Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | - Yigong Guo
- Food Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Anika Singh
- Food Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - David D Kitts
- Food Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Anubhav Pratap-Singh
- Food Nutrition and Health Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, 2205 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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19
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Ontiveros JF, Company R, Vaz MO, Nardello-Rataj V. Microfluidic emulsification: Process and formulation variables effects in flow behavior pattern on a flow-focusing device. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.125038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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21
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Simulation studies on picolitre volume droplets generation and trapping in T-junction microchannels. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-03198-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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22
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Wang T, Andersen SI, Shapiro A. Coalescence of oil droplets in microchannels under brine flow. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.124864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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23
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Sattari A, Hanafizadeh P, Hoorfar M. Multiphase flow in microfluidics: From droplets and bubbles to the encapsulated structures. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 282:102208. [PMID: 32721624 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2020.102208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic technologies have a unique ability to control more precisely and effectively on two-phase flow systems in comparison with macro systems. Controlling the size of the droplets and bubbles has led to an ever-increasing expansion of this technology in two-phase systems. Liquid-liquid and gas-liquid two-phase flows because of their numerous applications in different branches such as reactions, synthesis, emulsions, cosmetic, food, drug delivery, etc. have been the most critical two-phase flows in microfluidic systems. This review highlights recent progress in two-phase flows in microfluidic devices. The fundamentals of two-phase flows, including some essential dimensionless numbers, governing equations, and some most well-known numerical methods are firstly introduced, followed by a review of standard methods for producing segmented flows such as emulsions in microfluidic systems. Then various encapsulated structures, a common two-phase flow structure in microfluidic devices, and different methods of their production are reviewed. Finally, applications of two-phase microfluidic flows in drug-delivery, biotechnology, mixing, and microreactors are briefly discussed.
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Budhwani KI, Pekmezi GM, Selim MM. Measuring Surface and Interfacial Tension In Situ in Microdripping Mode for Electrohydrodynamic Applications. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11070687. [PMID: 32708571 PMCID: PMC7408038 DOI: 10.3390/mi11070687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Walking on water is made possible, at least for tiny insects, by molecular interaction at the interfaces of dissimilar materials. Impact of these interactions-surface tension (SFT) and, more broadly, interfacial tension (IFT)-is particularly evident at micro and nano sizescales. Thus, implications of walking on water can be significant for SFT or IFT (S/IFT)-driven nanofabrication technologies, such as electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA), in developing next generation biomimetic microphysiological systems (MPS) and drug delivery systems (DDS). However, current methods for estimating S/IFT, based on sessile drops or new surface formation on a ring or plate, are unsuitable for integration with EHDA assemblies used in electrospinning and electrospraying. Here, we show an in situ method for estimating S/IFT specifically devised for EHDA applications using signal processing algorithms that correlate the frequency and periodicity of liquid dispensed in EHDA microdripping mode with numerical solutions from computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Estimated S/IFT was generally in agreement with published ranges for water-air, 70% ethanol-air, chloroform-air, and chloroform-water. SFT for solutions with surfactants decreased with increasing concentrations of surfactant, but at relatively higher than published values. This was anticipated, considering that established methods measure SFT at boundaries with asymmetrically high concentrations of surfactants which lower SFT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim I. Budhwani
- CerFlux, Inc., Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
- School of Medicine and School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (G.M.P.); (M.M.S.)
| | - Gerald M. Pekmezi
- School of Medicine and School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (G.M.P.); (M.M.S.)
| | - Mohamed M. Selim
- School of Medicine and School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (G.M.P.); (M.M.S.)
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Du J, Ibaseta N, Guichardon P. Generation of an O/W emulsion in a flow-focusing microchip: Importance of wetting conditions and of dynamic interfacial tension. Chem Eng Res Des 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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26
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Single Cell Analysis of Neutrophils NETs by Microscopic LSPR Imaging System. MICROMACHINES 2019; 11:mi11010052. [PMID: 31906070 PMCID: PMC7019790 DOI: 10.3390/mi11010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A simple microengraving cell monitoring method for neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released from single neutrophils has been realized using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microwell array (MWA) sheet on a plasmon chip platform. An imbalance between NETs formation and the succeeding degradation (NETosis) are considered associated with autoimmune disease and its pathogenesis. Thus, an alternative platform that can conduct monitoring of this activity on single cell level at minimum cost but with great sensitivity is greatly desired. The developed MWA plasmon chips allow single cell isolation of neutrophils from 150 µL suspension (6.0 × 105 cells/mL) with an efficiency of 36.3%; 105 microwells with single cell condition. To demonstrate the utility of the chip, trapped cells were incubated between 2 to 4 h after introducing with 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) before measurement. Under observation using a hyperspectral imaging system that allows high-throughput screening, the neutrophils stimulated by PMA solution show a significant release of fibrils and NETs after 4 h, with observed maximum areas between 314–758 µm2. An average absorption peak wavelength shows a redshift of Δλ = 1.5 nm as neutrophils release NETs.
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Assessing the arrest of coalescence due to Marangoni effects in flowing emulsions using population balance. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 554:544-553. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Sontti SG, Atta A. Numerical Insights on Controlled Droplet Formation in a Microfluidic Flow-Focusing Device. Ind Eng Chem Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b02137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Somasekhara Goud Sontti
- Multiscale Computational Fluid Dynamics (mCFD) Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
| | - Arnab Atta
- Multiscale Computational Fluid Dynamics (mCFD) Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721302, India
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Azizian P, Azarmanesh M, Dejam M, Mohammadi M, Shamsi M, Sanati-Nezhad A, Mohamad AA. Electrohydrodynamic formation of single and double emulsions for low interfacial tension multiphase systems within microfluidics. Chem Eng Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2018.11.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Experimental studies on droplet formation in a flow-focusing microchannel in the presence of surfactants. Chem Eng Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2018.09.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Liu M, Zheng Y, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Chen Q, Li J, Li J, Huang Y, Yin Q. Effects of surfactant adsorption on the formation of compound droplets in microfluidic devices. RSC Adv 2019; 9:41943-41954. [PMID: 35541619 PMCID: PMC9076507 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra07141e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Driven by the need to prepare monodisperse compound droplets, the formation mechanism of compound droplets was comprehensively investigated. With increasing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) concentration in the W2 phase, the formation mechanism of inner W1 droplet is not affected while the behavior of the O phase in the W2 phase is different. The W1/O compound droplets can form stably in an inner squeezing – outer dripping regime, but the structure of the W1/O compound droplets are affected by the formation time matching between inner W1 droplet and W1/O compound droplets, which influences the stability of the compound droplets. Moreover, the formation process of the W1/O compound droplet is composed of cone recoiling, neck formation, neck developing, neck thinning and neck pinch-off. The formation time of the W1/O compound droplet is mainly determined the neck formation stage. The higher interfacial tension is unfavorable to the neck formation at the initial stages, but it makes the Laplace pressure difference increasing, which promotes the thinning of the neck in the neck pinch-off stage. The results provide more in-depth insights of the effects of surfactants on the formation of compound droplets, benefiting for preparing monodisperse and stable compound droplets. Profile of neck width versus the relative time during the formation process of W1/O droplets.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Meifang Liu
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Yueqing Zheng
- Institute of Mechanical Manufacturing Technology
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Yiyang Liu
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Zhanwen Zhang
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Yuguang Wang
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Jing Li
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Jie Li
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
| | - Yawen Huang
- School of Material Science and Engineering
- Southwest University of Science and Technology
- Mianyang
- China
| | - Qiang Yin
- Research Center of Laser Fusion
- China Academy of Engineering Physics
- Mianyang 621900
- China
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Kahouadji L, Nowak E, Kovalchuk N, Chergui J, Juric D, Shin S, Simmons MJH, Craster RV, Matar OK. Simulation of immiscible liquid-liquid flows in complex microchannel geometries using a front-tracking scheme. MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS 2018; 22:126. [PMID: 30930706 PMCID: PMC6404782 DOI: 10.1007/s10404-018-2149-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The three-dimensional two-phase flow dynamics inside a microfluidic device of complex geometry is simulated using a parallel, hybrid front-tracking/level-set solver. The numerical framework employed circumvents numerous meshing issues normally associated with constructing complex geometries within typical computational fluid dynamics packages. The device considered in the present work is constructed via a module that defines solid objects by means of a static distance function. The construction combines primitive objects, such as a cylinder, a plane, and a torus, for instance, using simple geometrical operations. The numerical solutions predicted encompass dripping and jetting, and transitions in flow patterns are observed featuring the formation of drops, 'pancakes', plugs, and jets, over a wide range of flow rate ratios. We demonstrate the fact that vortex formation accompanies the development of certain flow patterns, and elucidate its role in their underlying mechanisms. Experimental visualisation with a high-speed imaging are also carried out. The numerical predictions are in excellent agreement with the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyes Kahouadji
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Emilia Nowak
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
- College of Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745 New Zealand
| | - Nina Kovalchuk
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - Jalel Chergui
- Laboratoire d’Informatique pour la Mécanique et les Sciences de l’Ingénieur (LIMSI), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris Saclay, Bât. 507, Rue du Belvédère, Campus Universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Damir Juric
- Laboratoire d’Informatique pour la Mécanique et les Sciences de l’Ingénieur (LIMSI), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris Saclay, Bât. 507, Rue du Belvédère, Campus Universitaire, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Seungwon Shin
- Department of Mechanical and System Design Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 121-791 South Korea
| | - Mark J. H. Simmons
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK
| | - Richard V. Craster
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Omar K. Matar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ UK
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Sun X, Zhu C, Fu T, Ma Y, Li HZ. Dynamics of droplet breakup and formation of satellite droplets in a microfluidic T-junction. Chem Eng Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2018.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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34
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Lu Y, Kovalchuk NM, Simmons MJH. Residual film thickness following immiscible fluid displacement in noncircular microchannels at large capillary number. AIChE J 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Lu
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Birmingham B15 2TT U.K
| | - Nina M. Kovalchuk
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Birmingham B15 2TT U.K
| | - Mark J. H. Simmons
- School of Chemical Engineering; University of Birmingham; Birmingham B15 2TT U.K
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