1
|
Li W, Yao Z, Ma T, Ye Z, He K, Wang L, Wang H, Fu Y, Xu X. Acoustofluidic precise manipulation: Recent advances in applications for micro/nano bioparticles. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 332:103276. [PMID: 39146580 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103276] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Acoustofluidic technologies that integrate acoustic waves and microfluidic chips have been widely used in bioparticle manipulation. As a representative technology, acoustic tweezers have attracted significant attention due to their simple manufacturing, contact-free operation, and low energy consumption. Recently, acoustic tweezers have enabled the efficient and smart manipulation of biotargets with sizes covering millimeters (such as zebrafish) and nanometers (such as DNA). In addition to acoustic tweezers, other related acoustofluidic chips including acoustic separating, mixing, enriching, and transporting chips, have also emerged to be powerful platforms to manipulate micro/nano bioparticles (cells in blood, extracellular vesicles, liposomes, and so on). Accordingly, some interesting applications were also developed, such as smart sensing. In this review, we firstly introduce the principles of acoustic tweezers and various related technologies. Second, we compare and summarize recent applications of acoustofluidics in bioparticle manipulation and sensing. Finally, we outlook the future development direction from the perspectives such as device design and interdisciplinary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanglu Li
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment and Robotics for Agriculture of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhihao Yao
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; Lab of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Tongtong Ma
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment and Robotics for Agriculture of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zihong Ye
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Kaiyu He
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Liu Wang
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Yingchun Fu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Equipment and Robotics for Agriculture of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Xiahong Xu
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vardin AP, Aksoy F, Yesiloz G. A Novel Acoustic Modulation of Oscillating Thin Elastic Membrane for Enhanced Streaming in Microfluidics and Nanoscale Liposome Production. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403463. [PMID: 39324290 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Liposomes are widely utilized in therapeutic nanosystems as promising drug carriers for cancer treatment, which requires a meticulous synthesis approach to control the nanoprecipitation process. Acoustofluidic platforms offer a favorable synthesis environment by providing robust agitation and rapid mixing. Here, a novel high-throughput acoustofluidic micromixer is presented for a solvent and solvent-free synthesis of ultra-small and size-tunable liposomes. The size-tunability is achieved by incorporating glycerol as a new technique into the synthesis reagents, serving as a size regulator. The proposed device utilizes the synergistic effects of vibrating trapped microbubbles and an oscillating thin elastic membrane to generate vigorous acoustic microstreaming. The working principle and mixing mechanism of the device are explored numerically and experimentally. The platform exhibits remarkable mixing efficacy for aqueous and viscous solutions at flow rates up to 8000 µL/h, which makes it unique for high-throughput liposome formation and preventing aggregation. As a proof of concept, this study investigates the impact of phospholipid type and concentration, flow rate, and glycerol on the size and size distribution of liposomes. The results reveal a significant size reduction, from ≈900 nm to 40 nm, achieved by merely introducing 75% glycerol into the synthesis reagents, highlighting an innovative approach toward size-tunable liposomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Pourabdollah Vardin
- National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM)- Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
- Institute of Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
| | - Faruk Aksoy
- National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM)- Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
- Institute of Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
| | - Gurkan Yesiloz
- National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM)- Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
- Institute of Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, Cankaya-Ankara, 06800, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jia Y, Wang M, Li J, An S, Li T, Liu S. Selective Acoustic Trapping, Translating, Rotating, and Orienting of Organism From Heterogeneous Mixture. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:1542-1551. [PMID: 38117632 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2023.3342093] [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: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Selective contactless manipulation of organisms with intrinsic mobility from heterogeneous mixture is essential for biomedical engineering and microbiology. Acoustic manipulation, compared to its optical, magnetic, and electrostatic counterparts, provides superior bio-compatibility and additive-free properties. In this study, we present an acoustic manipulation system capable of selectively trapping, translating, rotating, and orienting individual organisms from in-Petri dish organism mixture using a phased transducer array and microscope, by dynamically steering the acoustic field. Specifically, using brine shrimp and zebrafish populations as example, the to-be-manipulated organisms with different sizes or morphologies can be manually designated by the user in microscopic image and interactively localized. Thereafter, the selected organisms can be automatically trapped from the heterogeneous mixture using a multiple focal point-based acoustic field steering method. Finally, the trapped organisms can be translated, rotated, and oriented in regard to the user's distinct manipulation objectives in instant response. In different tasks, closed-loop positioning and real-time motion planning control are performed, highlighting the innovation in terms of automation and accuracy of our manipulation technique. The results demonstrate that our acoustic manipulation system and acoustic field steering method enable selective, stable, precision, real-time, and in-Petri dish manipulation of organisms from heterogeneous mixture.
Collapse
|
4
|
Kvåle Løvmo M, Deng S, Moser S, Leitgeb R, Drexler W, Ritsch-Marte M. Ultrasound-induced reorientation for multi-angle optical coherence tomography. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2391. [PMID: 38493195 PMCID: PMC10944478 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46506-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Organoid and spheroid technology provide valuable insights into developmental biology and oncology. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a label-free technique that has emerged as an excellent tool for monitoring the structure and function of these samples. However, mature organoids are often too opaque for OCT. Access to multi-angle views is highly desirable to overcome this limitation, preferably with non-contact sample handling. To fulfil these requirements, we present an ultrasound-induced reorientation method for multi-angle-OCT, which employs a 3D-printed acoustic trap inserted into an OCT imaging system, to levitate and reorient zebrafish larvae and tumor spheroids in a controlled and reproducible manner. A model-based algorithm was developed for the physically consistent fusion of multi-angle data from a priori unknown angles. We demonstrate enhanced penetration depth in the joint 3D-recovery of reflectivity, attenuation, refractive index, and position registration for zebrafish larvae, creating an enabling tool for future applications in volumetric imaging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mia Kvåle Løvmo
- Institute of Biomedical Physics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Shiyu Deng
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Moser
- Institute of Biomedical Physics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rainer Leitgeb
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Drexler
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Ritsch-Marte
- Institute of Biomedical Physics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhang Z, Cao Y, Caviglia S, Agrawal P, Neuhauss SCF, Ahmed D. A vibrating capillary for ultrasound rotation manipulation of zebrafish larvae. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:764-775. [PMID: 38193588 PMCID: PMC10863645 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00817g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Multifunctional micromanipulation systems have garnered significant attention due to the growing interest in biological and medical research involving model organisms like zebrafish (Danio rerio). Here, we report a novel acoustofluidic rotational micromanipulation system that offers rapid trapping, high-speed rotation, multi-angle imaging, and 3D model reconstruction of zebrafish larvae. An ultrasound-activated oscillatory glass capillary is used to trap and rotate a zebrafish larva. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that both the vibrating mode and geometric placement of the capillary contribute to the developed polarized vortices along the long axis of the capillary. Given its capacities for easy-to-operate, stable rotation, avoiding overheating, and high-throughput manipulation, our system poses the potential to accelerate zebrafish-directed biomedical research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Zhang
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Yilin Cao
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Sara Caviglia
- Neuhauss Laboratory, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Prajwal Agrawal
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Stephan C F Neuhauss
- Neuhauss Laboratory, Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Laboratory, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Del Campo Fonseca A, Ahmed D. Ultrasound robotics for precision therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 205:115164. [PMID: 38145721 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the application of microrobots in precision therapy has gained significant attention. The small size and maneuverability of these micromachines enable them to potentially access regions that are difficult to reach using traditional methods; thus, reducing off-target toxicities and maximizing treatment effectiveness. Specifically, acoustic actuation has emerged as a promising method to exert control. By harnessing the power of acoustic energy, these small machines potentially navigate the body, assemble at the desired sites, and deliver therapies with enhanced precision and effectiveness. Amidst the enthusiasm surrounding these miniature agents, their translation to clinical environments has proven difficult. The primary objectives of this review are threefold: firstly, to offer an overview of the fundamental acoustic principles employed in the field of microrobots; secondly, to assess their current applications in medical therapies, encompassing tissue targeting, drug delivery or even cell infiltration; and lastly, to delve into the continuous efforts aimed at integrating acoustic microrobots into in vivo applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Del Campo Fonseca
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Dutta S, Noh S, Gual RS, Chen X, Pané S, Nelson BJ, Choi H. Recent Developments in Metallic Degradable Micromotors for Biomedical and Environmental Remediation Applications. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2023; 16:41. [PMID: 38032424 PMCID: PMC10689718 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-023-01259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic micromotor has gained substantial attention in biomedicine and environmental remediation. Metal-based degradable micromotor composed of magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) have promise due to their nontoxic fuel-free propulsion, favorable biocompatibility, and safe excretion of degradation products Recent advances in degradable metallic micromotor have shown their fast movement in complex biological media, efficient cargo delivery and favorable biocompatibility. A noteworthy number of degradable metal-based micromotors employ bubble propulsion, utilizing water as fuel to generate hydrogen bubbles. This novel feature has projected degradable metallic micromotors for active in vivo drug delivery applications. In addition, understanding the degradation mechanism of these micromotors is also a key parameter for their design and performance. Its propulsion efficiency and life span govern the overall performance of a degradable metallic micromotor. Here we review the design and recent advancements of metallic degradable micromotors. Furthermore, we describe the controlled degradation, efficient in vivo drug delivery, and built-in acid neutralization capabilities of degradable micromotors with versatile biomedical applications. Moreover, we discuss micromotors' efficacy in detecting and destroying environmental pollutants. Finally, we address the limitations and future research directions of degradable metallic micromotors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Dutta
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungmin Noh
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
- DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Roger Sanchis Gual
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xiangzhong Chen
- Institute of Optoelectronics, State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Shanghai Frontiers Science Research Base of Intelligent Optoelectronics and Perception, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Salvador Pané
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bradley J Nelson
- Multi-Scale Robotics Lab, Institute of Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hongsoo Choi
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
- DGIST-ETH Microrobotics Research Center, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu Y, Yin Q, Luo Y, Huang Z, Cheng Q, Zhang W, Zhou B, Zhou Y, Ma Z. Manipulation with sound and vibration: A review on the micromanipulation system based on sub-MHz acoustic waves. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 96:106441. [PMID: 37216791 PMCID: PMC10213378 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Manipulation of micro-objects have been playing an essential role in biochemical analysis or clinical diagnostics. Among the diverse technologies for micromanipulation, acoustic methods show the advantages of good biocompatibility, wide tunability, a label-free and contactless manner. Thus, acoustic micromanipulations have been widely exploited in micro-analysis systems. In this article, we reviewed the acoustic micromanipulation systems that were actuated by sub-MHz acoustic waves. In contrast to the high-frequency range, the acoustic microsystems operating at sub-MHz acoustic frequency are more accessible, whose acoustic sources are at low cost and even available from daily acoustic devices (e.g. buzzers, speakers, piezoelectric plates). The broad availability, with the addition of the advantages of acoustic micromanipulation, make sub-MHz microsystems promising for a variety of biomedical applications. Here, we review recent progresses in sub-MHz acoustic micromanipulation technologies, focusing on their applications in biomedical fields. These technologies are based on the basic acoustic phenomenon, such as cavitation, acoustic radiation force, and acoustic streaming. And categorized by their applications, we introduce these systems for mixing, pumping and droplet generation, separation and enrichment, patterning, rotation, propulsion and actuation. The diverse applications of these systems hold great promise for a wide range of enhancements in biomedicines and attract increasing interest for further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Qiu Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yucheng Luo
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ziyu Huang
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Quansheng Cheng
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Wenming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mechanical System and Vibration, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bingpu Zhou
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Yinning Zhou
- Joint Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China.
| | - Zhichao Ma
- Institute of Medical Robotics, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jiang R, Yoo P, Sudarshana AM, Pelegri-O'Day E, Chhabra S, Mock M, Lee AP. Microfluidic viscometer by acoustic streaming transducers. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2577-2585. [PMID: 37133350 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00101f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Measurement of fluid viscosity represents a huge need for many biomedical and materials processing applications. Sample fluids containing DNA, antibodies, protein-based drugs, and even cells have become important therapeutic options. The physical properties, including viscosity, of these biologics are critical factors in the optimization of the biomanufacturing processes and delivery of therapeutics to patients. Here we demonstrate an acoustic microstreaming platform termed as microfluidic viscometer by acoustic streaming transducers (μVAST) that induces fluid transport from second-order microstreaming to measure viscosity. Validation of our platform is achieved with different glycerol content mixtures to reflect different viscosities and shows that viscosity can be estimated based on the maximum speed of the second-order acoustic microstreaming. The μVAST platform requires only a small volume of fluid sample (∼1.2 μL), which is 16-30 times smaller than that of commercial viscometers. In addition, μVAST can be scaled up for ultra-high throughput measurements of viscosity. Here we demonstrate 16 samples within 3 seconds, which is an attractive feature for automating the process flows in drug development and materials manufacturing and production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Jiang
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Paul Yoo
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | | | - Emma Pelegri-O'Day
- Amgen Research, Biologics Therapeutic Discovery, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA
| | - Sandeep Chhabra
- Amgen Research, Biologics Therapeutic Discovery, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA
| | - Marissa Mock
- Amgen Research, Biologics Therapeutic Discovery, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA
| | - Abraham P Lee
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Suzuki M, Kawai S, Shee CF, Yamada R, Uchida S, Yasukawa T. Development of a simultaneous electrorotation device with microwells for monitoring the rotation rates of multiple single cells upon chemical stimulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:692-701. [PMID: 36355051 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00627h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Here, we described a unique simultaneous electrorotation (ROT) device for monitoring the rotation rate of Jurkat cells via chemical stimulation without fluorescent labeling and an algorithm for estimating cell rotation rates. The device comprised two pairs of interdigitated array electrodes that were stacked orthogonally through a 20 μm-thick insulating layer with rectangular microwells. Four microelectrodes (two were patterned on the bottom of the microwells and the other two on the insulating layer) were arranged on each side of the rectangular microwells. The cells, which were trapped in the microwells, underwent ROT when AC voltages were applied to the four microelectrodes to generate a rotating electric field. These microwells maintained the cells even in fluid flows. Thereafter, the ROT rates of the trapped cells were estimated and monitored during the stimulation. We demonstrated the feasibility of estimating the chemical efficiency of cells by monitoring the ROT rates of the cells. After introducing a Jurkat cell suspension into the device, the cells were subjected to ROT by applying an AC signal. Further, the rotating cells were chemically stimulated by adding an ionomycin (a calcium ionophore)-containing aliquot. The ROT rate of the ionomycin-stimulated cells decreased gradually to 90% of the initial rate after 30 s. The ROT rate was reduced by an increase in membrane capacitance. Thus, our device enabled the simultaneous chemical stimulation-induced monitoring of the alterations in the membrane capacitances of many cells without fluorescent labeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masato Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan.
- Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Shikiho Kawai
- Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan.
| | - Chean Fei Shee
- Department of Advanced Information Technology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryoga Yamada
- Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan.
| | - Seiichi Uchida
- Department of Advanced Information Technology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yasukawa
- Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan.
- Advanced Medical Engineering Research Institute, University of Hyogo, Hyogo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang Z, Chen X, Tian J, Wei J, Hu Y. Noncontact Manipulation of Intracellular Structure Based on Focused Surface Acoustic Waves. Anal Chem 2023; 95:827-835. [PMID: 36594897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell orientation is essential in many applications in biology, medicine, and chemistry, such as cellular injection, intracellular biopsy, and genetic screening. However, the manual cell orientation technique is a trial-and-error approach, which suffers from low efficiency and low accuracy. Although several techniques have improved these issues to a certain extent, they still face problems deforming or disrupting cell membranes, physical damage to the intracellular structure, and limited particle size. This study proposes a noncontact and noninvasive cell orientation method that rotates a cell using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). To realize the acoustic cell orientation process, we have fabricated a microdevice consisting of two pairs of focused interdigital transducers (FIDTs). Instead of rotating the entire cell, the proposed method rotates the intracellular structure, the cytoplasm, directly through the cell membrane by acoustic force. We have tested the rotational manipulation process on 30 zebrafish embryos. The system was able to orientate a cell to a target orientation with a one-time success rate of 93%. Furthermore, the postoperation survival rate was 100%. Our acoustic rotational manipulation technique is noninvasive and easy to use, which provides a starting point for cell-manipulation-essential tasks, such as single-cell analysis, organism studies, and drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zenan Wang
- Center for Cognitive Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Guangdong518055, China
| | - Xiaotong Chen
- Center for Cognitive Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Guangdong518055, China.,School of Electrical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan250022, Shandong, China
| | - Jun Tian
- Center for Cognitive Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Guangdong518055, China.,School of Electrical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan250022, Shandong, China
| | - Jun Wei
- School of Electrical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan250022, Shandong, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Center for Cognitive Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Guangdong518055, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Y, Tong N, Li F, Zhao K, Wang D, Niu Y, Xu F, Cheng J, Wang J. Trapping of a Single Microparticle Using AC Dielectrophoresis Forces in a Microfluidic Chip. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:159. [PMID: 36677221 PMCID: PMC9863554 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Precise trap and manipulation of individual cells is a prerequisite for single-cell analysis, which has a wide range of applications in biology, chemistry, medicine, and materials. Herein, a microfluidic trapping system with a 3D electrode based on AC dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology is proposed, which can achieve the precise trapping and release of specific microparticles. The 3D electrode consists of four rectangular stereoscopic electrodes with an acute angle near the trapping chamber. It is made of Ag-PDMS material, and is the same height as the channel, which ensures the uniform DEP force will be received in the whole channel space, ensuring a better trapping effect can be achieved. The numerical simulation was conducted in terms of electrode height, angle, and channel width. Based on the simulation results, an optimal chip structure was obtained. Then, the polystyrene particles with different diameters were used as the samples to verify the effectiveness of the designed trapping system. The findings of this research will contribute to the application of cell trapping and manipulation, as well as single-cell analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanjuan Wang
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Ning Tong
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Fengqi Li
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
- College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Deguang Wang
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Yijie Niu
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Fengqiang Xu
- Software Institute, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
| | - Jiale Cheng
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
- College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Junsheng Wang
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
- College of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Clerc T, Boscq S, Attia R, Kaminski Schierle GS, Charrier B, Läubli NF. Cultivation and Imaging of S. latissima Embryo Monolayered Cell Sheets Inside Microfluidic Devices. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9110718. [PMID: 36421119 PMCID: PMC9687954 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9110718] [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: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The culturing and investigation of individual marine specimens in lab environments is crucial to further our understanding of this highly complex ecosystem. However, the obtained results and their relevance are often limited by a lack of suitable experimental setups enabling controlled specimen growth in a natural environment while allowing for precise monitoring and in-depth observations. In this work, we explore the viability of a microfluidic device for the investigation of the growth of the alga Saccharina latissima to enable high-resolution imaging by confining the samples, which usually grow in 3D, to a single 2D plane. We evaluate the specimen’s health based on various factors such as its growth rate, cell shape, and major developmental steps with regard to the device’s operating parameters and flow conditions before demonstrating its compatibility with state-of-the-art microscopy imaging technologies such as the skeletonisation of the specimen through calcofluor white-based vital staining of its cell contours as well as the immunolocalisation of the specimen’s cell wall. Furthermore, by making use of the on-chip characterisation capabilities, we investigate the influence of altered environmental illuminations on the embryonic development using blue and red light. Finally, live tracking of fluorescent microspheres deposited on the surface of the embryo permits the quantitative characterisation of growth at various locations of the organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Clerc
- Morphogenesis of Macroalgae, Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, Sorbonne University, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Samuel Boscq
- Morphogenesis of Macroalgae, Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, Sorbonne University, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Rafaele Attia
- Ecology of Marine Plankton, Laboratory of Adaptation and Diversity in the Marine Environment, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, Sorbonne University, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Bénédicte Charrier
- Morphogenesis of Macroalgae, Laboratory of Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS, Sorbonne University, 29680 Roscoff, France
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (N.F.L.)
| | - Nino F. Läubli
- Molecular Neuroscience Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (N.F.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Durrer J, Agrawal P, Ozgul A, Neuhauss SCF, Nama N, Ahmed D. A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6370. [PMID: 36289227 PMCID: PMC9605990 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid manipulation is the foundation of most laboratory processes. For macroscale liquid handling, both do-it-yourself and commercial robotic systems are available; however, for microscale, reagents are expensive and sample preparation is difficult. Over the last decade, lab-on-a-chip (LOC) systems have come to serve for microscale liquid manipulation; however, lacking automation and multi-functionality. Despite their potential synergies, each has grown separately and no suitable interface yet exists to link macro-level robotics with micro-level LOC or microfluidic devices. Here, we present a robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector (RAEE) system, comprising a robotic arm and an acoustofluidic end effector, that combines robotics and microfluidic functionalities. We further carried out fluid pumping, particle and zebrafish embryo trapping, and mobile mixing of complex viscous liquids. Finally, we pre-programmed the RAEE to perform automated mixing of viscous liquids in well plates, illustrating its versatility for the automatic execution of chemical processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Durrer
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Prajwal Agrawal
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ali Ozgul
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephan C F Neuhauss
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nitesh Nama
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Daniel Ahmed
- Acoustic Robotics Systems Lab, Institute or Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang L, Chen L, Zheng X, Yu Z, Lv W, Sheng M, Wang L, Nie P, Li H, Guan D, Cui H. Multimodal Bubble Microrobot Near an Air-Water Interface. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2203872. [PMID: 36045100 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202203872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of multifunctional and robust swimming microrobots working at the free air-liquid interface has encountered challenge as new manipulation strategies are needed to overcome the complicated interfacial restrictions. Here, flexible but reliable mechanisms are shown that achieve a remote-control bubble microrobot with multiple working modes and high maneuverability by the assistance of a soft air-liquid interface. This bubble microrobot is developed from a hollow Janus microsphere (JM) regulated by a magnetic field, which can implement switchable working modes like pusher, gripper, anchor, and sweeper. The collapse of the microbubble and the accompanying directional jet flow play a key role for functioning in these working modes, which is analogous to a "bubble tentacle." Using a simple gamepad, the orientation and the navigation of the bubble microrobot can be easily manipulated. In particular, a speed modulation method is found for the bubble microrobot, which uses vertical magnetic field to control the orientation of the JM and the direction of the bubble-induced jet flow without changing the fuel concentration. The findings demonstrate a substantial advance of the bubble microrobot specifically working at the air-liquid interface and depict some nonintuitive mechanisms that can help develop more complicated microswimmers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Wang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Li Chen
- School of Building Services Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Xu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Zexiong Yu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Wenchao Lv
- School of Building Services Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Minjia Sheng
- School of Building Services Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Lina Wang
- School of Building Services Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Pengcheng Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hangyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Dongshi Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Engineering Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Haihang Cui
- School of Building Services Science and Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lin L, Dang H, Zhu R, Liu Y, You H. Effects of Side Profile on Acoustic Streaming by Oscillating Microstructures in Channel. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13091439. [PMID: 36144062 PMCID: PMC9504731 DOI: 10.3390/mi13091439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In microchannels, microstructure-induced acoustic streaming can be achieved at low frequencies, providing simple platforms for biomedicine and microfluidic manipulation. Nowadays, microstructures are generally fabricated by photolithography or soft photolithography. Existing studies mainly focused on the projection plane, while ignoring the side profile including microstructure's sidewall and channel's upper wall. Based on the perturbation theory, the article focuses on the effect of microstructure's sidewall errors caused by machining and the viscous dissipation of upper wall on the streaming. We discovered that the side profile parameters, particularly the gap (gap g between the top of the structure and the upper wall of the channel), have a significant impact on the maximum velocity, mode, and effective area of the streaming.To broaden the applicability, we investigated boundary layer thickness parameters including frequency and viscosity. Under different thickness parameters, the effects of side profile parameters on the streaming are similar. But the maximum streaming velocity is proportional to the frequency squared and inversely proportional to the viscosity. Besides, the ratio factor θ of the maximum streaming velocity to the vibration velocity is affected by the side profile parameter gap g and sidewall profile angle α.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Lab of Manufacturing System and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Nanning 530003, China
| | - Haojie Dang
- Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Lab of Manufacturing System and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Nanning 530003, China
| | - Rongxin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Lab of Manufacturing System and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Nanning 530003, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Engineering Safety, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Hui You
- Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention and Structural Safety of Ministry of Education, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Lab of Manufacturing System and Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Nanning 530003, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Li CY, Liu JX, Xin MK, He JW, Chen YL. A Self-Made Optical Tweezers Integrated Upconversion Luminescence Confocal Scanning Instrument Enables Stable and Noninvasive Long-Term In Situ Imaging a Single Suspension Cell Under Exceptionally Efficient Luminescent Resonance Energy Transfer Sensing. Anal Chem 2022; 94:6909-6917. [PMID: 35481762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
It is necessary to explore labeling probes with worthy optical properties and a noninvasive fluorescence imaging manner for stable long-term in situ measuring a single suspension cell. In response to these goals, we herein make a breakthrough on two fronts. On one hand, a co-sensitizer-induced efficient 808 nm near-infrared light-excited luminescence-confined upconversion nanoparticle with a low thermal effect is fabricated by employing a layer-by-layer seed growing approach to develop a sandwich structure, under which the luminescence domain is vastly restricted into an extremely thin inner shell (∼ 2.77 nm) to finally bring about a high-efficiency luminescent resonance energy transfer (LRET) sensing behavior. On the other hand, a self-made optical tweezers integrated upconversion luminescence confocal scanning instrument is applied to enhance the imaging accuracy, after which the liquid viscous force is sufficiently overcome by the resulting single beam gradient force and the analyzed suspension cell is always immobilized to the focal plane to ensure a constant luminescence excitation condition. By making use of a metal ion-dependent DNAzyme and a hairpin DNA strand to design a corresponding LRET sensing system, our nanoprobe shows satisfactory assay performance for two model biomolecules (Ca2+ and TK1 messenger RNA). Following the optical trapping-assisted imaging, this exceptional measurement method is capable of effectively monitoring the intracellular target changes in different physiological states, endowing a powerful toolbox for single cell analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yu Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Xian Liu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Kun Xin
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-Wei He
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Ling Chen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gerlt MS, Ruppen P, Leuthner M, Panke S, Dual J. Acoustofluidic medium exchange for preparation of electrocompetent bacteria using channel wall trapping. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4487-4497. [PMID: 34668506 PMCID: PMC8577197 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00406a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensive integration of process steps into a miniaturised version of synthetic biology workflows remains a crucial task in automating the design of biosystems. However, each of these process steps has specific demands with respect to the environmental conditions, including in particular the composition of the surrounding fluid, which makes integration cumbersome. As a case in point, transformation, i.e. reprogramming of bacteria by delivering exogenous genetic material (such as DNA) into the cytoplasm, is a key process in molecular engineering and modern biotechnology in general. Transformation is often performed by electroporation, i.e. creating pores in the membrane using electric shocks in a low conductivity environment. However, cell preparation for electroporation can be cumbersome as it requires the exchange of growth medium (high-conductivity) for low-conductivity medium, typically performed via multiple time-intensive centrifugation steps. To simplify and miniaturise this step, we developed an acoustofluidic device capable of trapping the bacterium Escherichia coli non-invasively for subsequent exchange of medium, which is challenging in acoustofluidic devices due to detrimental acoustic streaming effects. With an improved etching process, we were able to produce a thin wall between two microfluidic channels, which, upon excitation, can generate streaming fields that complement the acoustic radiation force and therefore can be utilised for trapping of bacteria. Our novel design robustly traps Escherichia coli at a flow rate of 10 μL min-1 and has a cell recovery performance of 47 ± 3% after washing the trapped cells. To verify that the performance of the medium exchange device is sufficient, we tested the electrocompetence of the recovered cells in a standard transformation procedure and found a transformation efficiency of 8 × 105 CFU per μg of plasmid DNA. Our device is a low-volume alternative to centrifugation-based methods and opens the door for miniaturisation of a plethora of microbiological and molecular engineering protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M S Gerlt
- Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - P Ruppen
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Leuthner
- Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - S Panke
- Bioprocess Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
- NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, BPR 1095, Mattenstrasse 24a, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - J Dual
- Mechanics and Experimental Dynamics, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich), Tannenstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|