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Monserrat Lopez D, Rottmann P, Fussenegger M, Lörtscher E. Silicon-Based 3D Microfluidics for Parallelization of Droplet Generation. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1289. [PMID: 37512600 PMCID: PMC10386391 DOI: 10.3390/mi14071289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Both the diversity and complexity of microfluidic systems have experienced a tremendous progress over the last decades, enabled by new materials, novel device concepts and innovative fabrication routes. In particular the subfield of high-throughput screening, used for biochemical, genetic and pharmacological samples, has extensively emerged from developments in droplet microfluidics. More recently, new 3D device architectures enabled either by stacking layers of PDMS or by direct 3D-printing have gained enormous attention for applications in chemical synthesis or biomedical assays. While the first microfluidic devices were based on silicon and glass structures, those materials have not yet been significantly expanded towards 3D despite their high chemical compatibility, mechanical strength or mass-production potential. In our work, we present a generic fabrication route based on the implementation of vertical vias and a redistribution layer to create glass-silicon-glass 3D microfluidic structures. It is used to build different droplet-generating devices with several flow-focusing junctions in parallel, all fed from a single source. We study the effect of having several of these junctions in parallel by varying the flow conditions of both the continuous and the dispersed phases. We demonstrate that the generic concept enables an upscaling in the production rate by increasing the number of droplet generators per device without sacrificing the monodispersity of the droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Monserrat Lopez
- IBM Research Europe-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Rottmann
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Emanuel Lörtscher
- IBM Research Europe-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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2
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Zhu H, Roode LW, Parry AJ, Erkamp NA, Rodriguez-Garcia M, Narita M, Shen Y, Ou Y, Toprakcioglu Z, Narita M, Knowles TP. Core–Shell Spheroid‐Laden Microgels Crosslinked under Biocompatible Conditions for Probing Cancer‐Stromal Communication. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hongjia Zhu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Lianne W.Y. Roode
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Aled J. Parry
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute University of Cambridge Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way Cambridge CB2 0RE UK
| | - Nadia A. Erkamp
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Marc Rodriguez-Garcia
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Masako Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute University of Cambridge Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way Cambridge CB2 0RE UK
| | - Yi Shen
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Yangteng Ou
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Masashi Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute University of Cambridge Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way Cambridge CB2 0RE UK
- Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI) Institute of Innovative Research Tokyo Institute of Technology Yokohama, Tokyo 152-8550 Japan
| | - Tuomas P.J. Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
- Department of Physics University of Cambridge JJ Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0HE UK
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3
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Technique Evolutions for Microorganism Detection in Complex Samples: A Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12125892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rapid detection of microorganisms is a major challenge in the medical and industrial sectors. In a pharmaceutical laboratory, contamination of medical products may lead to severe health risks for patients, such as sepsis. In the specific case of advanced therapy medicinal products, contamination must be detected as early as possible to avoid late production stop and unnecessary costs. Unfortunately, the conventional methods used to detect microorganisms are based on time-consuming and labor-intensive approaches. Therefore, it is important to find new tools to detect microorganisms in a shorter time frame. This review sums up the current methods and represents the evolution in techniques for microorganism detection. First, there is a focus on promising ligands, such as aptamers and antimicrobial peptides, cheaper to produce and with a broader spectrum of detection. Then, we describe methods achieving low limits of detection, thanks to Raman spectroscopy or precise handling of samples through microfluids devices. The last part is dedicated to techniques in real-time, such as surface plasmon resonance, preventing the risk of contamination. Detection of pathogens in complex biological fluids remains a scientific challenge, and this review points toward important areas for future research.
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4
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Abstract
The gas–liquid slug flow characteristics in a novel honeycomb microchannel reactor were investigated numerically and experimentally. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was carried out with Comsol finite element software using the phase-field method, and the simulation results were verified by micro-particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) analysis. The breakups of liquid slugs at the bifurcations of current honeycomb microchannel followed a complex behavior, leading to non-uniformity in each branch. The pressure distribution inside the microreactor was closely related to the phase distribution. The increasing inlet gas velocity increased the gas phase volume fraction, as well as the gas slug length. Higher gas velocity resulted in stronger turbulence of the liquid phase flow field and a deviation of residence time distribution from normal distribution, but it was favorable to even more residence time during the liquid phase. There also exists a secondary flow in the gas–liquid interface. This work reveals the intrinsic intensified effect of honeycomb microchannel, and it provides guidance on future microreactor design for chemical energy conversion.
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5
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Kukkar D, Zhang D, Jeon B, Kim KH. Recent advances in wearable biosensors for non-invasive monitoring of specific metabolites and electrolytes associated with chronic kidney disease: Performance evaluation and future challenges. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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6
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Ferrofluid droplet breakup process and neck evolution under steady and pulse-width modulated magnetic fields. J Mol Liq 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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7
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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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8
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Singh K, Nalabotala R, Koo KM, Bose S, Nayak R, Shiddiky MJA. Separation of distinct exosome subpopulations: isolation and characterization approaches and their associated challenges. Analyst 2021; 146:3731-3749. [PMID: 33988193 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00024a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that serve as a communications system between cells and have shown tremendous promise as liquid biopsy biomarkers in diagnostic, prognostic, and even therapeutic use in different human diseases. Due to the natural heterogeneity of exosomes, there is a need to separate exosomes into distinct biophysical and/or biochemical subpopulations to enable full interrogation of exosome biology and function prior to the possibility of clinical translation. Currently, there exists a multitude of different exosome isolation and characterization approaches which can, in limited capacity, separate exosomes based on biophysical and/or biochemical characteristics. While notable reviews in recent years have reviewed these approaches for bulk exosome sorting, we herein present a comprehensive overview of various conventional technologies and modern microfluidic and nanotechnological advancements towards isolation and characterization of exosome subpopulations. The benefits and limitations of these different technologies to improve their use for distinct exosome subpopulations in clinical practices are also discussed. Furthermore, an overview of the most commonly encountered technical and biological challenges for effective separation of exosome subpopulations is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Singh
- Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201301, UP, India.
| | - Ruchika Nalabotala
- Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201301, UP, India.
| | - Kevin M Koo
- The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
| | - Sudeep Bose
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201301, UP, India
| | - Ranu Nayak
- Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida 201301, UP, India.
| | - Muhammad J A Shiddiky
- School of Environment and Natural Sciences and Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.
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9
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Pärnamets K, Pardy T, Koel A, Rang T, Scheler O, Le Moullec Y, Afrin F. Optical Detection Methods for High-Throughput Fluorescent Droplet Microflow Cytometry. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12030345. [PMID: 33807031 PMCID: PMC8004903 DOI: 10.3390/mi12030345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput microflow cytometry has become a focal point of research in recent years. In particular, droplet microflow cytometry (DMFC) enables the analysis of cells reacting to different stimuli in chemical isolation due to each droplet acting as an isolated microreactor. Furthermore, at high flow rates, the droplets allow massive parallelization, further increasing the throughput of droplets. However, this novel methodology poses unique challenges related to commonly used fluorometry and fluorescent microscopy techniques. We review the optical sensor technology and light sources applicable to DMFC, as well as analyze the challenges and advantages of each option, primarily focusing on electronics. An analysis of low-cost and/or sufficiently compact systems that can be incorporated into portable devices is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiser Pärnamets
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (A.K.); (T.R.); (Y.L.M.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tamas Pardy
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (T.P.); (O.S.)
| | - Ants Koel
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (A.K.); (T.R.); (Y.L.M.); (F.A.)
| | - Toomas Rang
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (A.K.); (T.R.); (Y.L.M.); (F.A.)
| | - Ott Scheler
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (T.P.); (O.S.)
| | - Yannick Le Moullec
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (A.K.); (T.R.); (Y.L.M.); (F.A.)
| | - Fariha Afrin
- Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia; (A.K.); (T.R.); (Y.L.M.); (F.A.)
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10
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Hengoju S, Tovar M, Man DKW, Buchheim S, Rosenbaum MA. Droplet Microfluidics for Microbial Biotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 179:129-157. [PMID: 32888037 DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has recently evolved as a prominent platform for high-throughput experimentation for various research fields including microbiology. Key features of droplet microfluidics, like compartmentalization, miniaturization, and parallelization, have enabled many possibilities for microbiology including cultivation of microorganisms at a single-cell level, study of microbial interactions in a community, detection and analysis of microbial products, and screening of extensive microbial libraries with ultrahigh-throughput and minimal reagent consumptions. In this book chapter, we present several aspects and applications of droplet microfluidics for its implementation in various fields of microbial biotechnology. Recent advances in the cultivation of microorganisms in droplets including methods for isolation and domestication of rare microbes are reviewed. Similarly, a comparison of different detection and analysis techniques for microbial activities is summarized. Finally, several microbial applications are discussed with a focus on exploring new antimicrobials and high-throughput enzyme activity screening. We aim to highlight the advantages, limitations, and current developments in droplet microfluidics for microbial biotechnology while envisioning its enormous potential applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundar Hengoju
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany
| | - Miguel Tovar
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - DeDe Kwun Wai Man
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Stefanie Buchheim
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany
| | - Miriam A Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany. .,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany.
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11
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Gelin P, Bihi I, Ziemecka I, Thienpont B, Christiaens J, Hellemans K, Maes D, De Malsche W. Microfluidic Device for High-Throughput Production of Monodisperse Droplets. Ind Eng Chem Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b05935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Gelin
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Ilyesse Bihi
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Iwona Ziemecka
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Benoit Thienpont
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Jo Christiaens
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Karine Hellemans
- Unit Diabetes Pathology and Therapy, Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1000, Belgium
| | - Dominique Maes
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Wim De Malsche
- μFlow group, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels 1050 , Belgium
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12
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Agnihotri SN, Raveshi MR, Bhardwaj R, Neild A. Microfluidic Valves for Selective on-Chip Droplet Splitting at Multiple Sites. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:1138-1146. [PMID: 31968938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We describe a microfluidic system for control of droplet division at two locations using a T-junction and expansion channel which are placed one after another. Droplets generated at a standard T-junction are introduced into the droplet division section of the microchannel. In the first set of experiments, the droplet division section consists of two consecutive identical T-junctions branching from the main channel. With this geometry, we were able to produce daughter droplets only at the first junction while there was no droplet division at the second junction. Resistive network analysis is used to redesign the microchannel geometry with an expansion channel in place of the second junction, to have the same quantity of flow entering in both the junctions. We observed five different regimes of droplet breakup, namely, (1) no droplet breakup in both junctions, (2) droplet breakup in the first junction, (3) droplet breakup in both junctions with higher daughter droplet volume in the first junction, (4) daughter droplet volume higher in the second junction, and (5) intermittent droplet breakup in both the junctions. Under specific flow conditions, droplet interaction with both the junctions is similar. We then showed design requirements for location of microvalves, simulated by deformation of the main channel wall and by experiments to break the droplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar N Agnihotri
- IITB-Monash Research Academy , IIT Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria 3800 , Australia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
| | - Mohammad Reza Raveshi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria 3800 , Australia
| | - Rajneesh Bhardwaj
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , Mumbai 400076 , India
| | - Adrian Neild
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering , Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria 3800 , Australia
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13
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Qin X, Wang H, Wei X. Intra-droplet particle enrichment in a focused acoustic field. RSC Adv 2020; 10:11565-11572. [PMID: 35496581 PMCID: PMC9050619 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra01512a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Particle enrichment is an important preparation or collection process in biomedical and biochemical experiments, but the enrichment process in droplets is harder to realize than in continuous fluid. Here we demonstrate an on-chip, label-free and controllable intra-droplet particle enrichment realized in a focused acoustic field. In this process, droplets containing microparticles are trapped, merged together and split off in the focused acoustic region, resulting in droplets with particles of high concentration. By changing the experimental conditions, the degree of enrichment of this method can be tuned up to 26 times, which enables it to meet requirements for sample preparation in various applications. Particle enrichment is an important preparation/collection process in biomedical and biochemical experiments, but enrichment in droplets is harder to realize than in continuous fluid. We demonstrate an intra-droplet particle enrichment in a focused acoustic field.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianming Qin
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Xi'an
- China
| | - Hairong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Xi'an
- China
| | - Xueyong Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering
- Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Xi'an
- China
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14
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Zhou M, Wu Z, Zhao Y, Yang Q, Ling W, Li Y, Xu H, Wang C, Huang X. Droplets as Carriers for Flexible Electronic Devices. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1901862. [PMID: 31871863 PMCID: PMC6918117 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201901862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Coupling soft bodies and dynamic motions with multifunctional flexible electronics is challenging, but is essential in satisfying the urgent and soaring demands of fully soft and comprehensive robotic systems that can perform tasks in spite of rigorous spatial constraints. Here, the mobility and adaptability of liquid droplets with the functionality of flexible electronics, and techniques to use droplets as carriers for flexible devices are combined. The resulting active droplets (ADs) with volumes ranging from 150 to 600 µL can conduct programmable functions, such as sensing, actuation, and energy harvesting defined by the carried flexible devices and move under the excitation of gravitational force or magnetic force. They work in both dry and wet environments, and adapt to the surrounding environment through reversible shape shifting. These ADs can achieve controllable motions at a maximum velocity of 226 cm min-1 on a dry surface and 32 cm min-1 in a liquid environment. The conceptual system may eventually lead to individually addressable ADs that offer sophisticated functions for high-throughput molecule analysis, drug assessment, chemical synthesis, and information collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Zhou
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Ziyue Wu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Yicong Zhao
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Qing Yang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Wei Ling
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Ya Li
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Hang Xu
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringMissouri University of Science and Technology400 West 13th StreetRollaMO65401USA
| | - Xian Huang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringTianjin University92 Weijin RoadTianjin300072P. R. China
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15
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Malic L, Daoud J, Geissler M, Boutin A, Lukic L, Janta M, Elmanzalawy A, Veres T. Epigenetic subtyping of white blood cells using a thermoplastic elastomer-based microfluidic emulsification device for multiplexed, methylation-specific digital droplet PCR. Analyst 2019; 144:6541-6553. [DOI: 10.1039/c9an01316d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Digital droplet PCR for epigenetic leukocyte subtyping from clinically relevant samples is implemented using a thermoplastic elastomer microfluidic droplet generator as a first step towards an economical, customizable and easily deployable system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidija Malic
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | - Jamal Daoud
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | - Matthias Geissler
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | - Alex Boutin
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | - Ljuboje Lukic
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | - Mojra Janta
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
| | | | - Teodor Veres
- Life Sciences Division
- National Research Council of Canada
- Boucherville
- Canada
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16
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Grant J, Goudarzi SH, Mrksich M. High-Throughput Enzyme Kinetics with 3D Microfluidics and Imaging SAMDI Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2018; 90:13096-13103. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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17
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Postek W, Kaminski TS, Garstecki P. A precise and accurate microfluidic droplet dilutor. Analyst 2018; 142:2901-2911. [PMID: 28676870 DOI: 10.1039/c7an00679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a microfluidic system for the precise (coefficient of variance between repetitions below 4%) and highly accurate (average difference from two-fold dilution below 1%) serial dilution of solutions inside droplets with a volume of ca. 1 μl. The two-fold dilution series can be prepared with the correlation coefficient as high as R2 = 0.999. The technique that we here describe uses hydrodynamic traps to precisely meter every droplet used in subsequent dilutions. We use only one metering trap to meter each and every droplet involved in the process of preparation of the dilution series. This eliminates the error of metering that would arise from the finite fidelity of fabrication of multiple metering traps. Metering every droplet at the same trap provides for high reproducibility of the volumes of the droplets, and thus high reproducibility of dilutions. We also present a device and method to precisely and accurately dilute one substance and simultaneously maintain the concentration of another substance throughout the dilution series without mixing their stock solutions. We compare the here-described precise and accurate dilution systems with a simple microdroplet dilutor that comprises several traps - each trap for a subsequent dilution. We describe the effect of producing more reproducible dilutions in a simple microdroplet dilutor thanks to the application of an alternating electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Postek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
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18
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Islam MM, Loewen A, Allen PB. Simple, low-cost fabrication of acrylic based droplet microfluidics and its use to generate DNA-coated particles. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8763. [PMID: 29884895 PMCID: PMC5993776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel microparticles were copolymerized with surface-immobilized DNA. Particles derived from a microfluidic device and particles derived from mechanical homogenization were compared. The hypothesis was tested that a controlled droplet generation mechanism would produce more homogeneous particles. Surprisingly, the DNA content of both particle types was similarly inhomogeneous. To make this test possible, a simple, low cost, and rapid method was developed to fabricate a microfluidic chip for droplet generation and in-line polymerization. This method used a low-cost laser cutter ($400) and direct heat bonding (no adhesives or intermediate layers). The flow focusing droplet generator produced droplets and hydrogel particles 10-200 μm in diameter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mamunul Islam
- University of Idaho, Department of Chemistry, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, ID, 83844-2343, USA
| | - Amanda Loewen
- University of Idaho, Department of Chemistry, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, ID, 83844-2343, USA
| | - Peter B Allen
- University of Idaho, Department of Chemistry, 875 Perimeter Dr., Moscow, ID, 83844-2343, USA.
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19
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Wu H, Chen X, Gao X, Zhang M, Wu J, Wen W. High-Throughput Generation of Durable Droplet Arrays for Single-Cell Encapsulation, Culture, and Monitoring. Anal Chem 2018; 90:4303-4309. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Han Wu
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- College of Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xinlian Chen
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xinghua Gao
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Mengying Zhang
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- College of Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Jinbo Wu
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Weijia Wen
- Materials Genome Institute, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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20
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Resolution improvement of 3D stereo-lithography through the direct laser trajectory programming: Application to microfluidic deterministic lateral displacement device. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1000:239-247. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2017.11.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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21
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Park J, Jung JH, Park K, Destgeer G, Ahmed H, Ahmad R, Sung HJ. On-demand acoustic droplet splitting and steering in a disposable microfluidic chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:422-432. [PMID: 29220055 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc01083d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
On-chip droplet splitting is one of the fundamental droplet-based microfluidic unit operations to control droplet volume after production and increase operational capability, flexibility, and throughput. Various droplet splitting methods have been proposed, and among them the acoustic droplet splitting method is promising because of its label-free operation without any physical or thermal damage to droplets. Previous acoustic droplet splitting methods faced several limitations: first, they employed a cross-type acoustofluidic device that precluded multichannel droplet splitting; second, they required irreversible bonding between a piezoelectric substrate and a microfluidic chip, such that the fluidic chip was not replaceable. Here, we present a parallel-type acoustofluidic device with a disposable microfluidic chip to address the limitations of previous acoustic droplet splitting devices. In the proposed device, an acoustic field is applied in the direction opposite to the flow direction to achieve multichannel droplet splitting and steering. A disposable polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip is employed in the developed device, thereby removing the need for permanent bonding and improving the flexibility of the droplet microfluidic device. We experimentally demonstrated on-demand acoustic droplet bi-splitting and steering with precise control over the droplet splitting ratio, and we investigated the underlying physical mechanisms of droplet splitting and steering based on Laplace pressure and ray acoustics analyses, respectively. We also demonstrated droplet tri-splitting to prove the feasibility of multichannel droplet splitting. The proposed on-demand acoustic droplet splitting device enables on-chip droplet volume control in various droplet-based microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsoo Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Korea.
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22
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Caen O, Schütz S, Jammalamadaka MSS, Vrignon J, Nizard P, Schneider TM, Baret JC, Taly V. High-throughput multiplexed fluorescence-activated droplet sorting. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2018; 4:33. [PMID: 31057921 PMCID: PMC6220162 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-018-0033-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence-activated droplet sorting (FADS) is one of the most important features provided by droplet-based microfluidics. However, to date, it does not allow to compete with the high-throughput multiplexed sorting capabilities offered by flow cytometery. Here, we demonstrate the use of a dielectrophoretic-based FADS, allowing to sort up to five different droplet populations simultaneously. Our system provides means to select droplets of different phenotypes in a single experimental run to separate initially heterogeneous populations. Our experimental results are rationalized with the help of a numerical model of the actuation of droplets in electric fields providing guidelines for the prediction of sorting designs for upscaled or downscaled microsystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouriel Caen
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Simon Schütz
- Emergent Complexity in Physical Systems Laboratory (ECPS), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - M. S. Suryateja Jammalamadaka
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Jérémy Vrignon
- CNRS, University Bordeaux, CRPP, UMR 5031, 115 Avenue Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Philippe Nizard
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Tobias M. Schneider
- Emergent Complexity in Physical Systems Laboratory (ECPS), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- CNRS, University Bordeaux, CRPP, UMR 5031, 115 Avenue Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Valérie Taly
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
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23
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Zhang Q, Li H, Zhu C, Fu T, Ma Y, Li HZ. Micro-magnetofluidics of ferrofluid droplet formation in a T-junction. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2017.10.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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24
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Messner JJ, Glenn HL, Meldrum DR. Laser-fabricated cell patterning stencil for single cell analysis. BMC Biotechnol 2017; 17:89. [PMID: 29258486 PMCID: PMC5735507 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-017-0408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise spatial positioning and isolation of mammalian cells is a critical component of many single cell experimental methods and biological engineering applications. Although a variety of cell patterning methods have been demonstrated, many of these methods subject cells to high stress environments, discriminate against certain phenotypes, or are a challenge to implement. Here, we demonstrate a rapid, simple, indiscriminate, and minimally perturbing cell patterning method using a laser fabricated polymer stencil. The stencil fabrication process requires no stencil-substrate alignment, and is readily adaptable to various substrate geometries and experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Honor L Glenn
- Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines, and Virotherapy, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
| | - Deirdre R Meldrum
- Center for Biosignatures Discovery Automation, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave., P.O. Box 877101, Tempe, AZ, 85287-7101, USA.
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25
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Abstract
Small-molecule drug discovery can be viewed as a challenging multidimensional problem in which various characteristics of compounds - including efficacy, pharmacokinetics and safety - need to be optimized in parallel to provide drug candidates. Recent advances in areas such as microfluidics-assisted chemical synthesis and biological testing, as well as artificial intelligence systems that improve a design hypothesis through feedback analysis, are now providing a basis for the introduction of greater automation into aspects of this process. This could potentially accelerate time frames for compound discovery and optimization and enable more effective searches of chemical space. However, such approaches also raise considerable conceptual, technical and organizational challenges, as well as scepticism about the current hype around them. This article aims to identify the approaches and technologies that could be implemented robustly by medicinal chemists in the near future and to critically analyse the opportunities and challenges for their more widespread application.
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26
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Sesen M, Alan T, Neild A. Droplet control technologies for microfluidic high throughput screening (μHTS). LAB ON A CHIP 2017. [PMID: 28631799 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00005g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The transition from micro well plate and robotics based high throughput screening (HTS) to chip based screening has already started. This transition promises reduced droplet volumes thereby decreasing the amount of fluids used in these studies. Moreover, it significantly boosts throughput allowing screening to keep pace with the overwhelming number of molecular targets being discovered. In this review, we analyse state-of-the-art droplet control technologies that exhibit potential to be used in this new generation of screening devices. Since these systems are enclosed and usually planar, even some of the straightforward methods used in traditional HTS such as pipetting and reading can prove challenging to replicate in microfluidic high throughput screening (μHTS). We critically review the technologies developed for this purpose in depth, describing the underlying physics and discussing the future outlooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhsincan Sesen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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27
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Scheler O, Pacocha N, Debski PR, Ruszczak A, Kaminski TS, Garstecki P. Optimized droplet digital CFU assay (ddCFU) provides precise quantification of bacteria over a dynamic range of 6 logs and beyond. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:1980-1987. [PMID: 28480460 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00206h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Standard digital assays need a large number of compartments for precise quantification of a sample over a broad dynamic range. We address this issue with an optimized droplet digital approach that uses a drastically reduced number of compartments for quantification. We generate serial logarithmic dilutions of an initial bacterial sample as an array of microliter-sized droplet plugs. In a subsequent step, these droplets are split into libraries of nanoliter droplets and pooled together for incubation and analysis. We show that our technology is at par with traditional dilution plate count for quantification of bacteria, but has the advantage of simplifying the experimental setup and reducing the manual workload. The method also has the potential to reduce the assay time significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Scheler
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland. and Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia
| | - N Pacocha
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - P R Debski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - A Ruszczak
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - T S Kaminski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - P Garstecki
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
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28
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Lu H, Caen O, Vrignon J, Zonta E, El Harrak Z, Nizard P, Baret JC, Taly V. High throughput single cell counting in droplet-based microfluidics. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1366. [PMID: 28465615 PMCID: PMC5431057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01454-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics is extensively and increasingly used for high-throughput single-cell studies. However, the accuracy of the cell counting method directly impacts the robustness of such studies. We describe here a simple and precise method to accurately count a large number of adherent and non-adherent human cells as well as bacteria. Our microfluidic hemocytometer provides statistically relevant data on large populations of cells at a high-throughput, used to characterize cell encapsulation and cell viability during incubation in droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Ouriel Caen
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Jeremy Vrignon
- CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, CRPP, UPR 8641, 115 Avenue Schweitzer, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Eleonora Zonta
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Zakaria El Harrak
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Nizard
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France
| | | | - Valérie Taly
- INSERM UMR-S1147, CNRS SNC5014, Paris Descartes University, Equipe labellisée Ligue Nationale contre le cancer, Paris, France.
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29
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Sesen M, Devendran C, Malikides S, Alan T, Neild A. Surface acoustic wave enabled pipette on a chip. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:438-447. [PMID: 27995242 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01318j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Mono-disperse droplet formation in microfluidic devices allows the rapid production of thousands of identical droplets and has enabled a wide range of chemical and biological studies through repeat tests performed at pico-to-nanoliter volume samples. However, it is exactly this efficiency of production which has hindered the ability to carefully control the location and quantity of the distribution of various samples on a chip - the key requirement for replicating micro well plate based high throughput screening in vastly reduced volumetric scales. To address this need, here, we present a programmable microfluidic chip capable of pipetting samples from mobile droplets with high accuracy using a non-contact approach. Pipette on a chip (PoaCH) system selectively ejects (pipettes) part of a droplet into a customizable reaction chamber using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Droplet pipetting is shown to range from as low as 150 pL up to 850 pL with precision down to tens of picoliters. PoaCH offers ease of integration with existing lab on a chip systems as well as a robust and contamination-free droplet manipulation technique in closed microchannels enabling potential implementation in screening and other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhsincan Sesen
- Laboratory for Microsystems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Citsabehsan Devendran
- Laboratory for Microsystems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Sean Malikides
- Laboratory for Microsystems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Tuncay Alan
- Laboratory for Microsystems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Adrian Neild
- Laboratory for Microsystems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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30
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Wang X, Liu Z, Pang Y. Concentration gradient generation methods based on microfluidic systems. RSC Adv 2017. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ra04494a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Various concentration gradient generation methods based on microfluidic systems are summarized in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Wang
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
| | - Zhaomiao Liu
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
| | - Yan Pang
- College of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Electronics Technology
- Beijing University of Technology
- Beijing 100124
- China
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31
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Choi JW, Vasamsetti BMK, Kim KW, Seo SH, Lee DH, Chang SI, Choo J, Kim HY. Analysis of ribonuclease activity in sub-nanoliter droplets by label-free fluorescence measurements. Analyst 2017; 142:2610-2616. [DOI: 10.1039/c6an02724e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report the results of a label-free analysis of ribonuclease activity using droplet-based microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Won Choi
- Department of Biochemistry
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju 28644
- Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kyu-Wan Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- College of Medicine
- Seoul National University
- Seoul 03087
- Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Seo
- Department of Biochemistry
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju 28644
- Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Microbiology
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju 28644
- Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences
| | - Soo-Ik Chang
- Department of Biochemistry
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju 28644
- Republic of Korea
| | - Jaebum Choo
- Department of Bionano Technology
- Hanyang University
- Ansan 15588
- Republic of Korea
| | - Hak Yong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju 28644
- Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences
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32
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Kaminski TS, Scheler O, Garstecki P. Droplet microfluidics for microbiology: techniques, applications and challenges. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:2168-87. [PMID: 27212581 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00367b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has rapidly emerged as one of the key technologies opening up new experimental possibilities in microbiology. The ability to generate, manipulate and monitor droplets carrying single cells or small populations of bacteria in a highly parallel and high throughput manner creates new approaches for solving problems in diagnostics and for research on bacterial evolution. This review presents applications of droplet microfluidics in various fields of microbiology: i) detection and identification of pathogens, ii) antibiotic susceptibility testing, iii) studies of microbial physiology and iv) biotechnological selection and improvement of strains. We also list the challenges in the dynamically developing field and new potential uses of droplets in microbiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz S Kaminski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
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33
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Parekh DP, Ladd C, Panich L, Moussa K, Dickey MD. 3D printing of liquid metals as fugitive inks for fabrication of 3D microfluidic channels. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:1812-20. [PMID: 27025537 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00198j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This paper demonstrates a simple method to fabricate 3D microchannels and microvasculature at room temperature by direct-writing liquid metal as a sacrificial template. The formation of a surface oxide skin on the low-viscosity liquid metal stabilizes the shape of the printed metal for planar and out-of-plane structures. The printed structures can be embedded in a variety of soft (e.g. elastomeric) and rigid (e.g. thermoset) polymers. Both acid and electrochemical reduction are capable of removing the oxide skin that forms on the metal, which destabilizes the ink so that it withdraws from the encapsulating material due to capillary forces, resulting in nearly full recovery of the fugitive ink at room temperature. Whereas conventional fabrication procedures typically confine microchannels to 2D planes, the geometry of the printed microchannels can be varied from a simple 2D network to complex 3D architectures without using lithography. The method produces robust monolithic structures without the need for any bonding or assembling techniques that often limit the materials of construction of conventional microchannels. Removing select portions of the metal leaves behind 3D metal features that can be used as antennas, interconnects, or electrodes for interfacing with lab-on-a-chip devices. This paper describes the capabilities and limitations of this simple process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dishit P Parekh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, USA.
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34
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Scheler O, Kaminski TS, Ruszczak A, Garstecki P. Dodecylresorufin (C12R) Outperforms Resorufin in Microdroplet Bacterial Assays. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:11318-11325. [PMID: 27100211 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b02360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper proves that dodecylresorufin (C12R) outperforms resorufin (the conventional form of this dye) in droplet microfluidic bacterial assays. Resorufin is a marker dye that is widely used in different fields of microbiology and has increasingly been applied in droplet microfluidic assays and experiments. The main concern associated with resorufin in droplet-based systems is dye leakage into the oil phase and neighboring droplets. The leakage decreases the performance of assays because it causes averaging of the signal between the positive (bacteria-containing) and negative (empty) droplets. Here we show that C12R is a promising alternative to conventional resorufin because it maintains higher sensitivity, specificity, and signal-to-noise ratio over time. These characteristics make C12R a suitable reagent for droplet digital assays and for monitoring of microbial growth in droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ott Scheler
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences , Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu , Riia 23, 51010 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tomasz S Kaminski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences , Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Artur Ruszczak
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences , Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Garstecki
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences , Kasprzaka 44/52, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland
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35
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Chang L, Hu J, Chen F, Chen Z, Shi J, Yang Z, Li Y, Lee LJ. Nanoscale bio-platforms for living cell interrogation: current status and future perspectives. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:3181-3206. [PMID: 26745513 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06694h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The living cell is a complex entity that dynamically responds to both intracellular and extracellular environments. Extensive efforts have been devoted to the understanding intracellular functions orchestrated with mRNAs and proteins in investigation of the fate of a single-cell, including proliferation, apoptosis, motility, differentiation and mutations. The rapid development of modern cellular analysis techniques (e.g. PCR, western blotting, immunochemistry, etc.) offers new opportunities in quantitative analysis of RNA/protein expression up to a single cell level. The recent entries of nanoscale platforms that include kinds of methodologies with high spatial and temporal resolution have been widely employed to probe the living cells. In this tutorial review paper, we give insight into background introduction and technical innovation of currently reported nanoscale platforms for living cell interrogation. These highlighted technologies are documented in details within four categories, including nano-biosensors for label-free detection of living cells, nanodevices for living cell probing by intracellular marker delivery, high-throughput platforms towards clinical current, and the progress of microscopic imaging platforms for cell/tissue tracking in vitro and in vivo. Perspectives for system improvement were also discussed to solve the limitations remains in current techniques, for the purpose of clinical use in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqian Chang
- NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212, USA.
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36
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Zhang JM, Aguirre-Pablo AA, Li EQ, Buttner U, Thoroddsen ST. Droplet generation in cross-flow for cost-effective 3D-printed “plug-and-play” microfluidic devices. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra11724d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel low-cost 3D-printed plug-and-play microfluidic devices have been developed for droplet generation and applications. By combining a commercial tubing with the printed channel design we can generate well-controlled droplets down to 50 μm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ming Zhang
- Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- Thuwal
- Saudi Arabia
| | - Andres A. Aguirre-Pablo
- Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- Thuwal
- Saudi Arabia
| | - Er Qiang Li
- Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- Thuwal
- Saudi Arabia
| | - Ulrich Buttner
- Division of Computer
- Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- Thuwal
- Saudi Arabia
| | - Sigurdur T. Thoroddsen
- Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
- Thuwal
- Saudi Arabia
- Clean Combustion Research Center
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