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Dou J, Yang Z, Singh B, Ma B, Lu Z, Xu J, He Y. Discussion: Embracing microfluidics to advance environmental science and technology. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 937:173597. [PMID: 38810741 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidics, also called lab-on-a-chip, represents an emerging research platform that permits more precise and manipulation of samples at the microscale or even down to the nanoscale (nanofluidic) including picoliter droplets, microparticles, and microbes within miniaturized and highly integrated devices. This groundbreaking technology has made significant strides across multiple disciplines by providing an unprecedented view of physical, chemical, and biological events, fostering a holistic and an in-depth understanding of complex systems. The application of microfluidics to address the challenges in environmental science is likely to contribute to our better understanding, however, it's not yet fully developed. To raise researchers' interest, this discussion first delineates the valuable and underutilized environmental applications of microfluidic technology, ranging from environmental surveillance to acting as microreactors for investigating interfacial dynamic processes, and facilitating high-throughput bioassays. We highlight, with examples, how rationally designed microfluidic devices lead to new insights into the advancement of environmental science and technology. We then critically review the key challenges that hinder the practical adoption of microfluidic technologies. Specifically, we discuss the extent to which microfluidics accurately reflect realistic environmental scenarios, outline the areas to be improved, and propose strategies to overcome bottlenecks that impede the broad application of microfluidics. We also envision new opportunities and future research directions, aiming to provide guidelines for the broader utilization of microfluidics in environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jibo Dou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhugen Yang
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Baljit Singh
- MiCRA Biodiagnostics Technology Gateway and Health, Engineering & Materials Science (HEMS) Research Hub, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Dublin D24 FKT9, Ireland
| | - Bin Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhijiang Lu
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Jianming Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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2
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O'Connor E, Micklefield J, Cai Y. Searching for the optimal microbial factory: high-throughput biosensors and analytical techniques for screening small molecules. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103125. [PMID: 38547587 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
High-throughput screening technologies have been lacking in comparison to the plethora of high-throughput genetic diversification techniques developed in biotechnology. This review explores the challenges and advancements in high-throughput screening for high-value natural products, focusing on the critical need to expand ligand targets for biosensors and increase the throughput of analytical techniques in screening microbial cell libraries for optimal strain performance. The engineering techniques to broaden the scope of ligands for biosensors, such as transcription factors, G protein-coupled receptors and riboswitches are discussed. On the other hand, integration of microfluidics with traditional analytical methods is explored, covering fluorescence-activated cell sorting, Raman-activated cell sorting and mass spectrometry, emphasising recent developments in maximising throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise O'Connor
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Jason Micklefield
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Yizhi Cai
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK.
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3
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Guo Z, Zhao Y, Jin Z, Chang Y, Wang X, Guo G, Zhao Y. Monolithic 3D nanoelectrospray emitters based on a continuous fluid-assisted etching strategy for glass droplet microfluidic chip-mass spectrometry. Chem Sci 2024; 15:7781-7788. [PMID: 38784731 PMCID: PMC11110156 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc01700e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Glass microfluidic chips are suitable for coupling with mass spectrometry (MS) due to their flexible design, optical transparency and resistance to organic reagents. However, due to the high hardness and brittleness of glass, there is a lack of simple and feasible technology to manufacture a monolithic nanospray ionization (nESI) emitter on a glass microchip, which hinders its coupling with mass spectrometry. Here, a continuous fluid-assisted etching strategy is proposed to fabricate monolithic three-dimensional (3D) nESI emitters integrated into glass microchips. A continuous fluid of methanol is adopted to protect the inner wall of the channels and the bonding interface of the glass microfluidic chip from being wet-etched, forming sharp 3D nESI emitters. The fabricated 3D nESI emitter can form a stable electrospray plume, resulting in consistent nESI detection of acetylcholine with an RSD of 4.5% within 10 min. The fabricated 3D emitter is integrated on a glass microfluidic chip designed with a T-junction droplet generator, which can realize efficient analysis of acetylcholine in picoliter-volume droplets by nESI-MS. Stability testing of over 20 000 droplets detected by the established system resulted in an RSD of 9.1% over approximately 180 min. The detection of ten neurochemicals in rat cerebrospinal fluid droplets is achieved. The established glass droplet microfluidic chip-MS system exhibits potential for broad applications such as in vivo neurochemical monitoring and single-cell analysis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
| | - Yingqi Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
| | - Zhao Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
| | - Yaran Chang
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
| | - Xiayan Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
| | - Guangsheng Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
- Minzu University of China Beijing 100081 China
| | - Yaoyao Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology Beijing 100124 China
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4
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Zhang Y, Li L, Li J, Ma Q. Integrating aptasensor with an explosive mass-tag signal amplification strategy for ultrasensitive and multiplexed analysis using a miniature mass spectrometer. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 249:116010. [PMID: 38215638 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116010] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Mass probes attached with aptamers and mass tags offer excellent specificity and sensitivity for multiplexed detection, wherein the dissociation of mass tags from the mass probes is as important as their labeling. Herein, aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen)-tagged mass probes (AIEMPs) were established to analyze estrogens, which integrated aptasensor with an explosive mass-tag signal amplification strategy via a simple ultrasound-assisted emulsification of nanoliposomes. The AIEMPs were assembled by the hybridization of aptamer-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe NPs@Apt) and nanoliposomes loaded with massive AIEgen mass tags and partially complementary DNA strands (AIE NLs@cDNA). The aptamer was preferentially and specifically bound to estrogen, resulting in the detachment of AIE NLs from AIEMPs. Subsequently, the AIEMPs were deposited with electrospray solvents for explosive release of mass tags. Using nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS), the AIEMP-based aptasensor achieved ultrasensitive analysis of estrogens with limits of detection of 0.168-0.543 pg/mL and accuracies in the range of 87.9-114.0%. Compared to direct nanoESI-MS detection, the AIEMP-based aptasensor provides a signal amplification of four orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the utilization of different AIEMPs enables multiplexed detection of three estrogens with a miniature mass spectrometer, showing promising potential for on-site detection. This work expands the diversity of mass-tagging strategy and provides a versatile mass probe-based aptasensor platform for routine MS detection of trace analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Consumer Product Quality Safety Inspection and Risk Assessment for State Market Regulation, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Linsen Li
- Key Laboratory of Consumer Product Quality Safety Inspection and Risk Assessment for State Market Regulation, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- College of Chemistry, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Consumer Product Quality Safety Inspection and Risk Assessment for State Market Regulation, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China.
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5
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Gong L, He L, Lu N, Petchakup C, Li KHH, Tay CY, Hou HW. Label-Free Single Microparticles and Cell Aggregates Sorting in Continuous Cell-Based Manufacturing. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2304529. [PMID: 38465888 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
There is a paradigm shift in biomanufacturing toward continuous bioprocessing but cell-based manufacturing using adherent and suspension cultures, including microcarriers, hydrogel microparticles, and 3D cell aggregates, remains challenging due to the lack of efficient in-line bioprocess monitoring and cell harvesting tools. Herein, a novel label-free microfluidic platform for high throughput (≈50 particles/sec) impedance bioanalysis of biomass, cell viability, and stem cell differentiation at single particle resolution is reported. The device is integrated with a real-time piezo-actuated particle sorter based on user-defined multi-frequency impedance signatures. Biomass profiling of Cytodex-3 microcarriers seeded with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) is first performed to sort well-seeded or confluent microcarriers for downstream culture or harvesting, respectively. Next, impedance-based isolation of microcarriers with osteogenic differentiated ADSCs is demonstrated, which is validated with a twofold increase of calcium content in sorted ADSCs. Impedance profiling of heterogenous ADSCs-encapsulated hydrogel (alginate) microparticles and 3D ADSC aggregate mixtures is also performed to sort particles with high biomass and cell viability to improve cell quality. Overall, the scalable microfluidic platform technology enables in-line sample processing from bioreactors directly and automated analysis of cell quality attributes to maximize cell yield and improve the control of cell quality in continuous cell-based manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyan Gong
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Linwei He
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Nan Lu
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Chayakorn Petchakup
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - King Ho Holden Li
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
| | - Chor Yong Tay
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Environmental Chemistry and Materials Centre, Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute, Singapore, 637141, Singapore
| | - Han Wei Hou
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
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6
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Zohouri D, Lienard-Mayor T, Obeid S, Taverna M, Mai TD. A review on hyphenation of droplet microfluidics to separation techniques: From instrumental conception to analytical applications for limited sample volumes. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1291:342090. [PMID: 38280779 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.342090] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we review various strategies to couple sample processing in microfluidic droplets with different separation techniques, including liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and capillary electrophoresis. Separation techniques interfaced with droplet microfluidics represent an emerging trend in analytical chemistry, in which micro to femtoliter droplets serve as microreactors, a bridge between analytical modules, as well as carriers of target analytes between sample treatment and separation/detection steps. This allows to overcome the hurdles encountered in separation science, notably the low degree of module integration, working volume incompatibility, and cross contamination between different operational stages. For this droplet-separation interfacing purpose, this review covers different instrumental designs from all works on this topic up to May 2023, together with our viewpoints on respective advantages and considerations. Demonstration and performance of droplet-interfaced separation strategies for limited sample volumes are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delaram Zohouri
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Théo Lienard-Mayor
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Sameh Obeid
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Myriam Taverna
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France
| | - Thanh Duc Mai
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, 91400, Orsay, France.
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7
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Hu H, Singh AN, Lehnherr D, Mdluli V, Chun SW, Makarewicz AM, Gouker JR, Ukaegbu O, Li S, Wen X, McLaren DG, Velasquez JE, Moore JC, Galanie S, Appiah-Amponsah E, Regalado EL. Accelerating Pharmaceutical Process Development with an Acoustic Droplet Ejection-Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry Workflow. Anal Chem 2024; 96:1138-1146. [PMID: 38165811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Fast-paced pharmaceutical process developments (e.g., high-throughput experimentation, directed evolution, and machine learning) involve the introduction of fast, sensitive, and accurate analytical assays using limited sample volumes. In recent years, acoustic droplet ejection (ADE) coupled with an open port interface has been invented as a sampling technology for mass spectrometry, providing high-throughput nanoliter analytical measurements directly from the standard microplates. Herein, we introduce an ADE-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry (ADE-MRM-MS) workflow to accelerate pharmaceutical process research and development (PR&D). This systematic workflow outlines the selection of MRM transitions and optimization of assay parameters in a data-driven manner using rapid measurements (1 sample/s). The synergy between ADE sampling and MRM analysis enables analytical assays with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and speed for PR&D reaction screenings. This workflow was utilized to develop new ADE-MRM-MS assays guiding a variety of industrial processes, including (1) screening of Ni-based catalysts for C-N cross-coupling reaction at 1 Hz and (2) high-throughput regioisomer analysis-enabled enzyme library screening for peptide ligation reaction. ADE-MRM-MS assays were demonstrated to deliver accurate results that are comparable to conventional liquid chromatography (LC) experiments while providing >100-fold throughput enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Hu
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Andrew N Singh
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Dan Lehnherr
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Velabo Mdluli
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Stephanie W Chun
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Amanda M Makarewicz
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Joseph R Gouker
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Ophelia Ukaegbu
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Shasha Li
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Xiujuan Wen
- Quantitative Biosciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - David G McLaren
- Quantitative Biosciences, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Juan E Velasquez
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Jeffrey C Moore
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Stephanie Galanie
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | | | - Erik L Regalado
- Analytical Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
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8
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Thoben C, Schlottmann F, Kobelt T, Nitschke A, Gloeden GL, Naylor CN, Kirk AT, Zimmermann S. Ultra-Fast Ion Mobility Spectrometer for High-Throughput Chromatography. Anal Chem 2023; 95:17073-17081. [PMID: 37953497 PMCID: PMC10666085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Fast chromatography systems especially developed for high sample throughput applications require sensitive detectors with a high repetition rate. These high throughput techniques, including various chip-based microfluidic designs, often benefit from detectors providing subsequent separation in another dimension, such as mass spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), giving additional information about the analytes or monitoring reaction kinetics. However, subsequent separation is required at a high repetition rate. Here, we therefore present an ultra-fast drift tube IMS operating at ambient pressure. Short drift times while maintaining high resolving power are reached by several key instrumental design features: short length of the drift tube, resistor network of the drift tube, tristate ion shutter, and improved data acquisition electronics. With these design improvements, even slow ions with a reduced mobility of just 0.94 cm2/(V s) have a drift time below 1.6 ms. Such short drift times allow for a significantly increased repetition rate of 600 Hz compared with previously reported values. To further reduce drift times and thus increase the repetition rate, helium can be used as the drift gas, which allows repetition rates of up to 2 kHz. Finally, these significant improvements enable IMS to be used as a detector following ultra-fast separation including chip-based chromatographic systems or droplet microfluidic applications requiring high repetition rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Thoben
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Schlottmann
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Tim Kobelt
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Nitschke
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Gian-Luca Gloeden
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Cameron N. Naylor
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ansgar T. Kirk
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Zimmermann
- Institute of Electrical Engineering
and Measurement Technology, Department of Sensors and Measurement
Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
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9
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Harriot J, Yeh M, Pabba M, DeVoe DL. Programmable Control of Nanoliter Droplet Arrays using Membrane Displacement Traps. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2023; 8:2300963. [PMID: 38495529 PMCID: PMC10939115 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202300963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
A unique droplet microfluidic technology enabling programmable deterministic control over complex droplet operations is presented. The platform provides software control over user-defined combinations of droplet generation, capture, ejection, sorting, splitting, and merging sequences to enable the design of flexible assays employing nanoliter-scale fluid volumes. The system integrates a computer vision system with an array of membrane displacement traps capable of performing selected unit operations with automated feedback control. Sequences of individual droplet handling steps are defined through a robust Python-based scripting language. Bidirectional flow control within the microfluidic chips is provided using an H-bridge channel topology, allowing droplets to be transported to arbitrary trap locations within the array for increased operational flexibility. By enabling automated software control over all droplet operations, the system significantly expands the potential of droplet microfluidics for diverse biological and biochemical applications by combining the functionality of robotic liquid handling with the advantages of droplet-based fluid manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Harriot
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
- Fishell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Michael Yeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
- Fishell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Mani Pabba
- Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Don L. DeVoe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
- Fishell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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10
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Payne EM, Murray BE, Penabad LI, Abbate E, Kennedy RT. Mass-Activated Droplet Sorting for the Selection of Lysine-Producing Escherichia coli. Anal Chem 2023; 95:15716-15724. [PMID: 37820298 PMCID: PMC11025463 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c03080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology relies on engineering cells to have desirable properties, such as the production of select chemicals. A bottleneck in engineering methods is often the need to screen and sort variant libraries for potential activity. Droplet microfluidics is a method for high-throughput sample preparation and analysis which has the potential to improve the engineering of cells, but a limitation has been the reliance on fluorescent analysis. Here, we show the ability to select cell variants grown in 20 nL droplets at 0.5 samples/s using mass-activated droplet sorting (MADS), a method for selecting droplets based on the signal intensity measured by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Escherichia coli variants producing lysine were used to evaluate the applicability of MADS for synthetic biology. E. coli were shown to be effectively grown in droplets, and the lysine produced by these cells was detectable using ESI-MS. Sorting of lysine-producing cells based on the MS signal was shown, yielding 96-98% purity for high-producing variants in the selected pool. Using this technique, cells were recovered after screening, enabling downstream validation via phenotyping. The presented method is translatable to whole-cell engineering for biocatalyst production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emory M. Payne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
| | - Bridget E. Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
| | - Laura I. Penabad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
| | - Eric Abbate
- Applications Development, Inscripta Inc., Pleasanton, CA 94588
| | - Robert T. Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
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11
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Pandian K, Matsui M, Hankemeier T, Ali A, Okubo-Kurihara E. Advances in single-cell metabolomics to unravel cellular heterogeneity in plant biology. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:949-965. [PMID: 37338502 PMCID: PMC10517197 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell metabolomics is a powerful tool that can reveal cellular heterogeneity and can elucidate the mechanisms of biological phenomena in detail. It is a promising approach in studying plants, especially when cellular heterogeneity has an impact on different biological processes. In addition, metabolomics, which can be regarded as a detailed phenotypic analysis, is expected to answer previously unrequited questions which will lead to expansion of crop production, increased understanding of resistance to diseases, and in other applications as well. In this review, we will introduce the flow of sample acquisition and single-cell techniques to facilitate the adoption of single-cell metabolomics. Furthermore, the applications of single-cell metabolomics will be summarized and reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchana Pandian
- Metabolomics and Analytics Centre, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einstein Road 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Minami Matsui
- RIKEN, Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Thomas Hankemeier
- Metabolomics and Analytics Centre, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einstein Road 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Metabolomics and Analytics Centre, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Einstein Road 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Emiko Okubo-Kurihara
- RIKEN, Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
- College of Science, Rikkyo University, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan
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12
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Robinson JP, Ostafe R, Iyengar SN, Rajwa B, Fischer R. Flow Cytometry: The Next Revolution. Cells 2023; 12:1875. [PMID: 37508539 PMCID: PMC10378642 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Unmasking the subtleties of the immune system requires both a comprehensive knowledge base and the ability to interrogate that system with intimate sensitivity. That task, to a considerable extent, has been handled by an iterative expansion in flow cytometry methods, both in technological capability and also in accompanying advances in informatics. As the field of fluorescence-based cytomics matured, it reached a technological barrier at around 30 parameter analyses, which stalled the field until spectral flow cytometry created a fundamental transformation that will likely lead to the potential of 100 simultaneous parameter analyses within a few years. The simultaneous advance in informatics has now become a watershed moment for the field as it competes with mature systematic approaches such as genomics and proteomics, allowing cytomics to take a seat at the multi-omics table. In addition, recent technological advances try to combine the speed of flow systems with other detection methods, in addition to fluorescence alone, which will make flow-based instruments even more indispensable in any biological laboratory. This paper outlines current approaches in cell analysis and detection methods, discusses traditional and microfluidic sorting approaches as well as next-generation instruments, and provides an early look at future opportunities that are likely to arise.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Paul Robinson
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Raluca Ostafe
- Molecular Evolution, Protein Engineering and Production Facility (PI4D), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Bartek Rajwa
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Rainer Fischer
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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13
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Murray BE, Penabad LI, Kennedy RT. Advances in coupling droplet microfluidics to mass spectrometry. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 82:102962. [PMID: 37336080 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics enables development of workflows with low sample consumption and high throughput. Fluorescence-based assays are most used with droplet microfluidics; however, the requirement of a fluorescent reporter restricts applicability of this approach. The coupling of droplets to mass spectrometry (MS) has enabled selective assays on complex mixtures to broaden the analyte scope. Droplet microfluidics has been interfaced to MS via electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). The works reviewed herein outline the development of this nascent field as well as initial exploration of its application in biotechnology and bioanalysis, including synthetic biology, reaction development, and in vivo sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget E Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Laura I Penabad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA
| | - Robert T Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, 930 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA.
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14
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D'Amico CI, Robbins G, Po I, Fang Z, Slaney TR, Tremml G, Tao L, Ruotolo BT, Kennedy RT. Screening Clones for Monoclonal Antibody Production Using Droplet Microfluidics Interfaced to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2023. [PMID: 37192521 DOI: 10.1021/jasms.3c00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most critical steps in process development for protein therapeutics, clone selection and cell culture optimization require a large number of samples to be screened for high titer and desirable molecular profiles. Typical analytical techniques, such as chromatographic approaches, often take minutes per sample which are inefficient for large-scale screenings. Droplet microfluidics coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) represents an attractive approach due to its low volume requirements, high-throughput capabilities, label-free nature, and ability to handle complex mixtures. In this work, we coupled a modified protein cleanup protocol with a droplet-MS workflow for mAb titer screening to guide clone selection. With this droplet approach we achieved a throughput of 0.04 samples/s with an LoD of 0.15 mg/mL and an LoQ of 0.45 mg/mL. To test its performance in a real-world setting, this workflow was applied to a 35-clone screen, where the top 20% producing clones were identified. In addition, we coupled our sample cleanup protocol to a high-resolution MS and compared the glycan profiles of the high titer clones. This work demonstrates that droplet-MS provides a rapid way of clone screening and cell culture optimization based on titer and molecular structure of the expressed proteins. Future work is aimed at increasing the throughput and automation of this droplet-MS technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara I D'Amico
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Gillian Robbins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Iris Po
- Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Zhichao Fang
- Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Thomas R Slaney
- Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Gabi Tremml
- Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Li Tao
- Biologics Development, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Brandon T Ruotolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Robert T Kennedy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan 48109, United States
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15
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Jiang J, Yang G, Ma F. Fluorescence coupling strategies in fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) for ultrahigh-throughput screening of enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108173. [PMID: 37169102 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108173] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) has emerged as a powerful tool for ultrahigh-throughput screening of enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Fluorescence coupling strategies (FCSs) are key to the development of new FADS methods through their coupling of analyte properties such as concentration, activities, and affinity with fluorescence signals. Over the last decade, a series of FCSs have been developed, greatly expanding applications of FADS. Here, we review recent advances in FCS for different analyte types, providing a critical comparison of the available FCSs and further classification into four categories according to their principles. We also summarize successful FADS applications employing FCSs in enzymes, metabolites, and antibodies. Further, we outline possible future developments in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Jiang
- Medical Enzyme Engineering Center, CAS Key Lab of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China
| | - Guangyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
| | - Fuqiang Ma
- Medical Enzyme Engineering Center, CAS Key Lab of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215163, China.
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16
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Payne EM, Taraji M, Murray BE, Holland-Moritz DA, Moore JC, Haddad PR, Kennedy RT. Evaluation of Analyte Transfer between Microfluidic Droplets by Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2023; 95:4662-4670. [PMID: 36862378 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics enables high-throughput experimentation and screening by encapsulating chemical and biochemical samples in aqueous droplets segmented by an immiscible fluid. In such experiments, it is critical that each droplet remains chemically distinct. A common approach is to use fluorinated oils with surfactants to stabilize droplets. However, some small molecules have been observed to transport between droplets under these conditions. Attempts to study and mitigate this effect have relied on evaluating crosstalk using fluorescent molecules, which inherently limits the analyte scope and conclusions drawn about the mechanism of the effect. In this work, transport of low molecular weight compounds between droplets was investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for measurement. The use of ESI-MS significantly expands the scope of analytes that can be tested. We tested 36 structurally diverse analytes that were found to exhibit crosstalk ranging from negligible to complete transfer using HFE 7500 as the carrier fluid and 008-fluorosurfactant as a surfactant. Using this data set, we developed a predictive tool showing that high log P and log D values correlate with high crosstalk, and high polar surface area and log S correlate with low crosstalk. We then investigated several carrier fluids, surfactants, and flow conditions. It was discovered that transport is strongly dependent on all of these factors and that experimental design and surfactant tailoring can reduce carryover. We present evidence for mixed crosstalk mechanisms including both micellar and oil partitioning transfer. By understanding the driving mechanisms, surfactant and oil compositions can be designed to better reduce chemical transport for screening workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emory M Payne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, United States
| | - Maryam Taraji
- The Australian Wine Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia 5064, Australia.,Metabolomics Australia, Adelaide, South Australia 5064, Australia.,School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Bridget E Murray
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, United States
| | - Daniel A Holland-Moritz
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Jeffrey C Moore
- Process Research and Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey 07065, United States
| | - Paul R Haddad
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Robert T Kennedy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, United States
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17
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Chantipmanee N, Xu Y. Toward nanofluidics‐based mass spectrometry for exploring the unknown complex and heterogenous subcellular worlds. VIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20220036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nattapong Chantipmanee
- Department of Chemical Engineering Graduate School of Engineering Osaka Metropolitan University Sakai Japan
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Chemical Engineering Graduate School of Engineering Osaka Metropolitan University Sakai Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO Kawaguchi Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) CREST Kawaguchi Japan
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18
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D'Amico CI, Polasky DA, Steyer DJ, Ruotolo BT, Kennedy RT. Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Coupled to Droplet Microfluidics for Rapid Protein Structure Analysis and Drug Discovery. Anal Chem 2022; 94:13084-13091. [PMID: 36098981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Native mass spectrometry coupled to ion mobility (IM-MS) has become an important tool for the investigation of protein structure and dynamics upon ligand binding. Additionally, collisional activation or collision induced unfolding (CIU) can further probe conformational changes induced by ligand binding; however, larger scale screens have not been implemented due to limitations associated with throughput and sample introduction. In this work we explore the high-throughput capabilities of CIU fingerprinting. Fingerprint collection times were reduced 10-fold over traditional data collections through the use of improved smoothing and interpolation algorithms. Fast-CIU was then coupled to a droplet sample introduction approach using 40 nL droplet sample volumes and 2 s dwell times at each collision voltage. This workflow, which increased throughput by ∼16-fold over conventional nanospray CIU methods, was applied to a 96-compound screen against Sirtuin-5, a protein target of clinical interest. Over 20 novel Sirtuin-5 binders were identified, and it was found that Sirtuin-5 inhibitors will stabilize specific Sirtuin-5 gas-phase conformations. This work demonstrates that droplet-CIU can be implemented as a high-throughput biophysical characterization approach. Future work will focus on improving the throughput of this workflow and on automating data acquisition and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara I D'Amico
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Daniel A Polasky
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Daniel J Steyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Brandon T Ruotolo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Robert T Kennedy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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19
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Heiligenthal L, van der Loh M, Polack M, Blaha ME, Moschütz S, Keim A, Sträter N, Belder D. Analysis of double-emulsion droplets with ESI mass spectrometry for monitoring lipase-catalyzed ester hydrolysis at nanoliter scale. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:6977-6987. [PMID: 35995875 PMCID: PMC9436884 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04266-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic double-emulsion droplets allow the realization and study of biphasic chemical processes such as chemical reactions or extractions on the nanoliter scale. Double emulsions of the rare type (o1/w/o2) are used here to realize a lipase-catalyzed reaction in the non-polar phase. The surrounding aqueous phase induces the transfer of the hydrophilic product from the core oil phase, allowing on-the-fly MS analysis in single double droplets. A microfluidic two-step emulsification process is developed to generate the (o1/w/o2) double-emulsion droplets. In this first example of microfluidic double-emulsion MS coupling, we show in proof-of-concept experiments that the chemical composition of the water layer can be read online using ESI–MS. Double-emulsion droplets were further employed as two-phase micro-reactors for the hydrolysis of the lipophilic ester p-nitrophenyl palmitate catalyzed by the Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB). Finally, the formation of the hydrophilic reaction product p-nitrophenol within the double-emulsion droplet micro-reactors is verified by subjecting the double-emulsion droplets to online ESI–MS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Heiligenthal
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marie van der Loh
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Polack
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maximilian E Blaha
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne Moschütz
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Keim
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Norbert Sträter
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Deutscher Platz 5, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Detlev Belder
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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20
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Allert RD, Briegel KD, Bucher DB. Advances in nano- and microscale NMR spectroscopy using diamond quantum sensors. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:8165-8181. [PMID: 35796253 PMCID: PMC9301930 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc01546c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Quantum technologies have seen a rapid developmental surge over the last couple of years. Though often overshadowed by quantum computation, quantum sensors show tremendous potential for widespread applications in chemistry and biology. One system stands out in particular: the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, an atomic-sized sensor allowing the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals at unprecedented length scales down to a single proton. In this article, we review the fundamentals of NV center-based quantum sensing and its distinct impact on nano- and microscale NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, we highlight possible future applications of this novel technology ranging from energy research, materials science, to single-cell biology, and discuss the associated challenges of these rapidly developing NMR sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin D Allert
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Karl D Briegel
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Dominik B Bucher
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, 80799 München, Germany
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21
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Wink K, van der Loh M, Hartner N, Polack M, Dusny C, Schmid A, Belder D. Quantification of Biocatalytic Transformations by Single Microbial Cells Enabled by Tailored Integration of Droplet Microfluidics and Mass Spectrometry. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202204098. [PMID: 35511505 PMCID: PMC9401594 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202204098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Improving the performance of chemical transformations catalysed by microbial biocatalysts requires a deep understanding of cellular processes. While the cellular heterogeneity of cellular characteristics, such as the concentration of high abundant cellular content, is well studied, little is known about the reactivity of individual cells and its impact on the chemical identity, quantity, and purity of excreted products. Biocatalytic transformations were monitored chemically specific and quantifiable at the single-cell level by integrating droplet microfluidics, cell imaging, and mass spectrometry. Product formation rates for individual Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were obtained by i) incubating nanolitre-sized droplets for product accumulation in microfluidic devices, ii) an imaging setup to determine the number of cells in the droplets, and iii) electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry for reading the chemical contents of individual droplets. These findings now enable the study of whole-cell biocatalysis at single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Wink
- University of LeipzigInstitute of Analytical Chemistry04107LeipzigGermany
| | - Marie van der Loh
- University of LeipzigInstitute of Analytical Chemistry04107LeipzigGermany
| | - Nora Hartner
- University of LeipzigInstitute of Analytical Chemistry04107LeipzigGermany
| | - Matthias Polack
- University of LeipzigInstitute of Analytical Chemistry04107LeipzigGermany
| | - Christian Dusny
- Department Solar MaterialsHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)04318LeipzigGermany
| | - Andreas Schmid
- Department Solar MaterialsHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)04318LeipzigGermany
| | - Detlev Belder
- University of LeipzigInstitute of Analytical Chemistry04107LeipzigGermany
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22
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Covey T. Where have all the ions gone, long time passing? Tandem quadrupole mass spectrometers with atmospheric pressure ionization sensitivity gains since the mid-1970s. A perspective. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2022:e9354. [PMID: 35830299 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The gains in sensitivity since 1975 for quadrupole mass spectrometers equipped with atmospheric pressure ionization (API), and in particular triple quadrupole mass spectrometers (QqQs) since 1981, have been driven by the needs of the environmental, biomedical, agricultural, and other scientific research, industrial, regulatory, legal, and sporting communities to continually achieve lower limits of quantitation and identification. QqQs have realized a one-million-fold improvement in sensitivity attempting to address these needs over the past two score years. It is the purpose of this article to describe how that came about, not through an exhaustive review of the literature, but rather by describing what general approaches were used across the industry to improve sensitivity and provide some examples to illustrate its evolution. The majority of the gains came from the ion source and its interface to the vacuum system. "Sampling efficiency" is a measurement of the losses in this area so will be a focus of this review. The discovery of the phenomenon of collisional focusing was key to improving sampling efficiency because it enabled designs that increased the ion-containing gas loads from the ion source, using staged differential pumping backed by increasingly larger pumps, and prevented the scattering losses of ions in the resulting gas expansion inside vacuum. Likewise, systems with smaller pumps and lower ion-containing gas loads could be designed with size and cost reduction in mind while maintaining reasonable sampling efficiencies. As a consequence, advancements in the designs of both larger and smaller turbomolecular vacuum pumps were accelerated by pump manufacturers to accommodate the explosive growth in the use of API-QqQ and API-ion trap mass spectrometers that occurred in the 1990s and continued into the new millennium. Sampling efficiency was further improved by increasing the ion yield from electrospray by increasing the rate of droplet desolvation. An estimate of the practical limit to further sensitivity improvements beyond what has been achieved to date is provided to shed light on what to expect in the future. Lastly, the implications and unforeseen consequences of the sensitivity gains are considered with a particular focus on how they have enabled a dramatic increase in daily sample throughput on triple quadrupole and other types of mass spectrometers.
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23
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Yu S, Zeng W, Xu S, Zhou J. Expediting the growth of plant-based meat alternatives by microfluidic technology: identification of the opportunities and challenges. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 75:102720. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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24
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Wink K, Loh M, Hartner N, Polack M, Dusny C, Schmid A, Belder D. Quantifizierung biokatalytischer Umwandlungen durch einzelne mikrobielle Zellen mittels maßgeschneiderter Integration von Tröpfchenmikrofluidik und Massenspektrometrie. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202204098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Wink
- Universität Leipzig Institut für Analytische Chemie 04107 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Marie Loh
- Universität Leipzig Institut für Analytische Chemie 04107 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Nora Hartner
- Universität Leipzig Institut für Analytische Chemie 04107 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Matthias Polack
- Universität Leipzig Institut für Analytische Chemie 04107 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Christian Dusny
- Department Solare Materialien Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) 04318 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Andreas Schmid
- Department Solare Materialien Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) 04318 Leipzig Deutschland
| | - Detlev Belder
- Universität Leipzig Institut für Analytische Chemie 04107 Leipzig Deutschland
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25
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Liu C. Acoustic Ejection Mass Spectrometry: Fundamentals and Applications in High-Throughput Drug Discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:775-787. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2084069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- SCIEX, 71 Four Valley Drive, Concord, ON, L4K 4V8, Canada
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26
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Towards one sample per second for mass spectrometric screening of engineered microbial strains. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 76:102725. [PMID: 35489307 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102725] [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] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Microbial cell factories convert renewable feedstocks into desirable chemicals and materials. Due to the lack of predictive modeling, high-throughput screening remains essential for microbial strain engineering. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a label-free modality with superior sensitivity and chemical specificity. Critical advances in improving the throughput of MS assays on complex microbial samples include massively parallel cultivation, robotic sample preparation, and chromatography-free instrumentation. Here, we review the recent development and application of rapid MS assays in screening microbial libraries, achieving or approaching a rate of one sample per second. We conclude with unique challenges associated with MS screening of strain libraries and discuss future solutions.
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27
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Wang M, Liao X, Tchounwou PB, Liu YM. Coupling a droplet generator with conventional ESI-MS for quantitative analysis of small-volume samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022; 414:1809-1817. [PMID: 35061061 PMCID: PMC8828272 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03808-4] [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: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative mass spectrometric analysis of small-volume samples (e.g., < 1 μL) has been a challenge mainly due to the difficulties with sample handling and its injection into the system for analysis. Herein we report a microfluidic analytical platform coupling a droplet generator with conventional electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) that enables multiple analyses of a μL-sized sample with sensitivity and repeatability. In an analysis by droplet generator-assisted ESI-MS (DG-ESI-MS), a sample of μL volume is pulled into a sampling capillary and its equal nL-sized portions are generated by a droplet generator and analyzed by ESI-MS at time intervals of choice. The droplet generator is made of PMMA sheets by laser engraving conveniently and at a low cost. In a study to achieve effective ESI-MS detection of water-in-oil droplets, it's found that the problem of MS signal suppression by oil can be solved by using an appropriate organic carrier with ESI-enhancing additives. The proposed DG-ESI-MS method has linear calibration curves for both adenine and phenylalanine with LODs at the sub-μM level. Application of the present analytical platform for monitoring substrate concentration changes in an enzymatic reaction solution of 3 μL is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyuan Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Xun Liao
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Paul B. Tchounwou
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
| | - Yi-Ming Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217, USA
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28
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Zhang Y, Kim S, Shi W, Zhao Y, Park I, Brenden C, Iyer H, Jha P, Bashir R, Sweedler JV, Vlasov Y. Droplet-assisted electrospray phase separation using an integrated silicon microfluidic platform. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:40-46. [PMID: 34897344 PMCID: PMC8691365 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00758k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We report a silicon microfluidic platform that enables monolithic integration of transparent micron-scale microfluidic channels, an on-chip segmentation of analyte flows into picoliter-volume droplets, and a nano-electrospray ionization emitter that enables spatial and temporal separation of oil and aqueous phases during electro-spray for subsequent mass spectrometry analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Sungho Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Weihua Shi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Yaoyao Zhao
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Insu Park
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Christopher Brenden
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hrishikesh Iyer
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Prasoon Jha
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
| | - Rashid Bashir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yurii Vlasov
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, IL 61801, USA
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29
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Hartner NT, Wink K, Raddatz CR, Thoben C, Schirmer M, Zimmermann S, Belder D. Coupling Droplet Microfluidics with Ion Mobility Spectrometry for Monitoring Chemical Conversions at Nanoliter Scale. Anal Chem 2021; 93:13615-13623. [PMID: 34592821 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We introduce the coupling of droplet microfluidics and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to address the challenges of label-free and chemical-specific detection of compounds in individual droplets. In analogy to the established use of mass spectrometry, droplet-IMS coupling can be also achieved via electrospray ionization but with significantly less instrumental effort. Because IMS instruments do not require high-vacuum systems, they are very compact, cost-effective, and robust, making them an ideal candidate as a chemical-specific end-of-line detector for segmented flow experiments. Herein, we demonstrate the successful coupling of droplet microfluidics with a custom-built high-resolution drift tube IMS system for monitoring chemical reactions in nL-sized droplets in an oil phase. The analytes contained in each droplet were assigned according to their characteristic ion mobility with limit of detections down to 200 nM to 1 μM and droplet frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 Hz. Using a custom sheath flow electrospray interface, we have further achieved the chemical-specific monitoring of a biochemical transformation catalyzed by a few hundred yeast cells, at single droplet level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora T Hartner
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Konstantin Wink
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian-Robert Raddatz
- Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Institute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christian Thoben
- Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Institute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Schirmer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ Leipzig, Leipzig 04318, Germany
| | - Stefan Zimmermann
- Department of Sensors and Measurement Technology, Institute of Electrical Engineering and Measurement Technology, Leibniz University Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Detlev Belder
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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30
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Zhou L, Zhang Q, Xu X, Huo X, Zhou Q, Wang X, Yu Q. Fabricating an Electrospray Ionization Chip Based on Induced Polarization and Liquid Splitting. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12091034. [PMID: 34577678 PMCID: PMC8472801 DOI: 10.3390/mi12091034] [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: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The coupling of the microfluidic chip to mass spectrometry (MS) has attracted considerable attention in the area of chemical and biological analysis. The most commonly used ionization technique in the chip–MS system is electrospray ionization (ESI). Traditional chip-based ESI devices mainly employ direct electrical contact between the electrode and the spray solvent. In this study, a microchip ESI source based on a novel polarization-splitting approach was developed. Specifically, the droplet in the microchannel is first polarized by the electric field and then split into two sub-droplets. In this process, the charge generated by polarization is retained in the liquid, resulting in the generation of two charged droplets with opposite polarities. Finally, when these charged droplets reach the emitter, the electrospray process is initiated and both positive and negative ions are formed from the same solution. Preliminary experimental results indicate that the coupling of this polarization-splitting ESI (PS-ESI) chip with a mass spectrometer enables conventional ESI-MS analysis of various analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lvhan Zhou
- Open FIESTA, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China;
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Qian Zhang
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Xiangchun Xu
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Xinming Huo
- Division of Life Science & Health, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China;
| | - Qian Zhou
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Xiaohao Wang
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.W.); (Q.Y.)
| | - Quan Yu
- Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Q.Z.); (X.X.); (Q.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.W.); (Q.Y.)
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31
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Bennett JL, Nguyen GTH, Donald WA. Protein-Small Molecule Interactions in Native Mass Spectrometry. Chem Rev 2021; 122:7327-7385. [PMID: 34449207 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Small molecule drug discovery has been propelled by the continual development of novel scientific methodologies to occasion therapeutic advances. Although established biophysical methods can be used to obtain information regarding the molecular mechanisms underlying drug action, these approaches are often inefficient, low throughput, and ineffective in the analysis of heterogeneous systems including dynamic oligomeric assemblies and proteins that have undergone extensive post-translational modification. Native mass spectrometry can be used to probe protein-small molecule interactions with unprecedented speed and sensitivity, providing unique insights into polydisperse biomolecular systems that are commonly encountered during the drug discovery process. In this review, we describe potential and proven applications of native MS in the study of interactions between small, drug-like molecules and proteins, including large multiprotein complexes and membrane proteins. Approaches to quantify the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of ligand binding are discussed, alongside a summary of gas-phase ion activation techniques that have been used to interrogate the structure of protein-small molecule complexes. We additionally highlight some of the key areas in modern drug design for which native mass spectrometry has elicited significant advances. Future developments and applications of native mass spectrometry in drug discovery workflows are identified, including potential pathways toward studying protein-small molecule interactions on a whole-proteome scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack L Bennett
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Giang T H Nguyen
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - William A Donald
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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32
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Abstract
Biological mass spectrometry (MS) encompasses a range of methods for characterizing proteins and other biomolecules. MS is uniquely powerful for the structural analysis of endogenous protein complexes, which are often heterogeneous, poorly abundant, and refractive to characterization by other methods. Here, we focus on how biological MS can contribute to the study of endogenous protein complexes, which we define as complexes expressed in the physiological host and purified intact, as opposed to reconstituted complexes assembled from heterologously expressed components. Biological MS can yield information on complex stoichiometry, heterogeneity, topology, stability, activity, modes of regulation, and even structural dynamics. We begin with a review of methods for isolating endogenous complexes. We then describe the various biological MS approaches, focusing on the type of information that each method yields. We end with future directions and challenges for these MS-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rivkah Rogawski
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Michal Sharon
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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33
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Yi D, Bayer T, Badenhorst CPS, Wu S, Doerr M, Höhne M, Bornscheuer UT. Recent trends in biocatalysis. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:8003-8049. [PMID: 34142684 PMCID: PMC8288269 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01575j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Biocatalysis has undergone revolutionary progress in the past century. Benefited by the integration of multidisciplinary technologies, natural enzymatic reactions are constantly being explored. Protein engineering gives birth to robust biocatalysts that are widely used in industrial production. These research achievements have gradually constructed a network containing natural enzymatic synthesis pathways and artificially designed enzymatic cascades. Nowadays, the development of artificial intelligence, automation, and ultra-high-throughput technology provides infinite possibilities for the discovery of novel enzymes, enzymatic mechanisms and enzymatic cascades, and gradually complements the lack of remaining key steps in the pathway design of enzymatic total synthesis. Therefore, the research of biocatalysis is gradually moving towards the era of novel technology integration, intelligent manufacturing and enzymatic total synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yi
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Thomas Bayer
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Christoffel P. S. Badenhorst
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Shuke Wu
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Mark Doerr
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Matthias Höhne
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
| | - Uwe T. Bornscheuer
- Department of Biotechnology & Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University GreifswaldFelix-Hausdorff-Str. 4D-17487 GreifswaldGermany
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34
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Soheilmoghaddam F, Rumble M, Cooper-White J. High-Throughput Routes to Biomaterials Discovery. Chem Rev 2021; 121:10792-10864. [PMID: 34213880 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Many existing clinical treatments are limited in their ability to completely restore decreased or lost tissue and organ function, an unenviable situation only further exacerbated by a globally aging population. As a result, the demand for new medical interventions has increased substantially over the past 20 years, with the burgeoning fields of gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine showing promise to offer solutions for full repair or replacement of damaged or aging tissues. Success in these fields, however, inherently relies on biomaterials that are engendered with the ability to provide the necessary biological cues mimicking native extracellular matrixes that support cell fate. Accelerating the development of such "directive" biomaterials requires a shift in current design practices toward those that enable rapid synthesis and characterization of polymeric materials and the coupling of these processes with techniques that enable similarly rapid quantification and optimization of the interactions between these new material systems and target cells and tissues. This manuscript reviews recent advances in combinatorial and high-throughput (HT) technologies applied to polymeric biomaterial synthesis, fabrication, and chemical, physical, and biological screening with targeted end-point applications in the fields of gene therapy, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Limitations of, and future opportunities for, the further application of these research tools and methodologies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Soheilmoghaddam
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - Madeleine Rumble
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
| | - Justin Cooper-White
- Tissue Engineering and Microfluidics Laboratory (TEaM), Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072.,School of Chemical Engineering, University Of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia 4072
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35
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Piendl SK, Schönfelder T, Polack M, Weigelt L, van der Zwaag T, Teutenberg T, Beckert E, Belder D. Integration of segmented microflow chemistry and online HPLC/MS analysis on a microfluidic chip system enabling enantioselective analyses at the nanoliter scale. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2614-2624. [PMID: 34008641 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00078k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we introduce an approach to merge droplet microfluidics with an HPLC/MS functionality on a single chip to analyze the contents of individual droplets. This is achieved by a mechanical rotor-stator interface that precisely positions a microstructured PEEK rotor on a microfluidic chip in a pressure-tight manner. The developed full-body fused silica chip, manufactured by selective laser-induced etching, contained a segmented microflow compartment followed by a packed HPLC channel, which were interconnected by the microfluidic PEEK rotor on the fused silica lid with hair-thin through-holes. This enabled the targeted and leakage-free transfer of 10 nL fractions of droplets as small as 25 nL from the segmented microflow channel into the HPLC compartment that operated at pressures of up to 60 bar. In a proof of concept study, this approach was successfully applied to monitor reactions at the nanoliter scale and to distinguish the formed enantiomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian K Piendl
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Thomas Schönfelder
- Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF), Albert-Einstein-Str. 7, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Polack
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Laura Weigelt
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Till van der Zwaag
- Institut für Energie - und Umwelttechnik e. V., Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Teutenberg
- Institut für Energie - und Umwelttechnik e. V., Bliersheimer Str. 58-60, 47229, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Erik Beckert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF), Albert-Einstein-Str. 7, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Detlev Belder
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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36
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Bouzetos E, Ganar KA, Mastrobattista E, Deshpande S, van der Oost J. (R)evolution-on-a-chip. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:60-76. [PMID: 34049723 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Billions of years of Darwinian evolution has led to the emergence of highly sophisticated and diverse life forms on Earth. Inspired by natural evolution, similar principles have been adopted in laboratory evolution for the fast optimization of genes and proteins for specific applications. In this review, we highlight state-of-the-art laboratory evolution strategies for protein engineering, with a special emphasis on in vitro strategies. We further describe how recent progress in microfluidic technology has allowed the generation and manipulation of artificial compartments for high-throughput laboratory evolution experiments. Expectations for the future are high: we foresee a revolution on-a-chip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenios Bouzetos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ketan Ashok Ganar
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Enrico Mastrobattista
- Pharmaceutics Division, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Siddharth Deshpande
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter, Wageningen University and Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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37
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Kempa EE, Galman JL, Parmeggiani F, Marshall JR, Malassis J, Fontenelle CQ, Vendeville JB, Linclau B, Charnock SJ, Flitsch SL, Turner NJ, Barran PE. Rapid Screening of Diverse Biotransformations for Enzyme Evolution. JACS AU 2021; 1:508-516. [PMID: 34056634 PMCID: PMC8154213 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The lack of label-free high-throughput screening technologies presents a major bottleneck in the identification of active and selective biocatalysts, with the number of variants often exceeding the capacity of traditional analytical platforms to assess their activity in a practical time scale. Here, we show the application of direct infusion of biotransformations to the mass spectrometer (DiBT-MS) screening to a variety of enzymes, in different formats, achieving sample throughputs equivalent to ∼40 s per sample. The heat map output allows rapid selection of active enzymes within 96-well plates facilitating identification of industrially relevant biocatalysts. This DiBT-MS screening workflow has been applied to the directed evolution of a phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) as a case study, enhancing its activity toward electron-rich cinnamic acid derivatives which are relevant to lignocellulosic biomass degradation. Additional benefits of the screening platform include the discovery of biocatalysts (kinases, imine reductases) with novel activities and the incorporation of ion mobility technology for the identification of product hits with increased confidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Kempa
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - James L Galman
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Parmeggiani
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy
| | - James R Marshall
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Julien Malassis
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Clement Q Fontenelle
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Bruno Linclau
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, SO17 1BJ Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J Charnock
- Prozomix Ltd., Building 4, West End Ind. Estate, Haltwhistle, Northumberland NE49 9HA, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine L Flitsch
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J Turner
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Perdita E Barran
- School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
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38
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Fu X, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Sun X, Meng F. Recent Advances on Sorting Methods of High-Throughput Droplet-Based Microfluidics in Enzyme Directed Evolution. Front Chem 2021; 9:666867. [PMID: 33996758 PMCID: PMC8114877 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.666867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics has been widely applied in enzyme directed evolution (DE), in either cell or cell-free system, due to its low cost and high throughput. As the isolation principles are based on the labeled or label-free characteristics in the droplets, sorting method contributes mostly to the efficiency of the whole system. Fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) is the mostly applied labeled method but faces challenges of target enzyme scope. Label-free sorting methods show potential to greatly broaden the microfluidic application range. Here, we review the developments of droplet sorting methods through a comprehensive literature survey, including labeled detections [FADS and absorbance-activated droplet sorting (AADS)] and label-free detections [electrochemical-based droplet sorting (ECDS), mass-activated droplet sorting (MADS), Raman-activated droplet sorting (RADS), and nuclear magnetic resonance-based droplet sorting (NMR-DS)]. We highlight recent cases in the last 5 years in which novel enzymes or highly efficient variants are generated by microfluidic DE. In addition, the advantages and challenges of different sorting methods are briefly discussed to provide an outlook for future applications in enzyme DE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhi Fu
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Yueying Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaomeng Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Fanda Meng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Jinan, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
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