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Cai Y, Li Z, Sun C, Zhao X, Wu S, Huang G, Tang S, Dai P, Wei X, You H. A centrifugal-driven spiral microchannel microfiltration chip for emulsion and deformable particle sorting. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3738-3751. [PMID: 38978468 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00260a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Droplet sorting and enrichment, as a prominent field within microfluidic technology, represent a pivotal stage in the manipulation of droplets and particles. In recent times, droplet sorting methods based on lab-on-disk (LOD) have garnered significant interest among researchers for their inherent merits, including high throughput, ease of operation, seamless device integration, and independence from supplementary driving forces. This study introduces a centrifugal force-driven microfluidic chip comprising spiral microchannels. The chip incorporates microhole arrays along the sidewall of the spiral channels, enabling size-based sorting and enrichment of microdroplets under the influence of multiple forces. Firstly, a comparative analysis was performed to assess the influence of the separation port structure and rotational speed on efficiency, and a mechanical modeling approach was employed to conduct kinetic analyses of droplet behavior during instantaneous separation. Those findings demonstrated a good agreement with the experimental results at ω < 100 rpm. Subsequently, sorting experiments on homogeneous droplets indicated that repetitive sorting could increase the recovery ratios, RT(α), of high-concentration droplets (20.7%) from 35.3% to over 80%. We also conducted a sorting experiment on three-component homogeneous-phase emulsions using a serially connected chip array, and the sorting throughput was 0.58 mL min-1. As a result, the RT(α) for 60 and 160 μm droplets were 99.4% and 88.9%, respectively. Lastly, we conducted elution experiments and dual-sample sorting on a single chip, and the fluorescence results demonstrated that this study provided an efficient and non-cross-contaminating sorting method for non-homogenous phase multi-sample microreactor units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Cai
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Zekun Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Cuimin Sun
- School of Computer, Electronics and Information, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Xuan Zhao
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Shixiong Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Guangyong Huang
- School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Shengchang Tang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Peng Dai
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Xiangfu Wei
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - Hui You
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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Huang C, Jiang Y, Li Y, Zhang H. Droplet Detection and Sorting System in Microfluidics: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2022; 14:mi14010103. [PMID: 36677164 PMCID: PMC9867185 DOI: 10.3390/mi14010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Since being invented, droplet microfluidic technologies have been proven to be perfect tools for high-throughput chemical and biological functional screening applications, and they have been heavily studied and improved through the past two decades. Each droplet can be used as one single bioreactor to compartmentalize a big material or biological population, so millions of droplets can be individually screened based on demand, while the sorting function could extract the droplets of interest to a separate pool from the main droplet library. In this paper, we reviewed droplet detection and active sorting methods that are currently still being widely used for high-through screening applications in microfluidic systems, including the latest updates regarding each technology. We analyze and summarize the merits and drawbacks of each presented technology and conclude, with our perspectives, on future direction of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
| | - Yuqian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yuwen Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
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Zhang H, Huang C, Li Y, Gupte R, Samuel R, Dai J, Guzman A, Sabnis R, de Figueiredo P, Han A. FIDELITY: A quality control system for droplet microfluidics. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabc9108. [PMID: 35857442 PMCID: PMC9269891 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc9108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic systems have been widely deployed to interrogate biological and chemical systems. The major limitations of these systems are the relatively high error rates from critical droplet manipulation functions. To address these limitations, we describe the development of FIDELITY (Flotation and Interdigitated electrode forces on Droplets to Enable Lasting system IntegriTY), a highly sensitive and accurate size-based droplet bandpass filter that leverages the natural buoyancy of aqueous droplets and highly localized dielectrophoretic force generated by interdigitated electrode arrays. Droplet manipulation accuracies greater than 99% were achieved at a throughput of up to 100 droplets/s and separation of droplets that differed in diameter by only 6 μm was demonstrated. Last, the utility of FIDELITY was demonstrated in a droplet size quality control application and also in a droplet-based in vitro transcription/translation workflow. We anticipate FIDELITY to be integrated into a broad range of droplet microfluidic configurations to achieve exceptional operational accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Can Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Yuwen Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rohit Gupte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ryan Samuel
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jing Dai
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Adrian Guzman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rushant Sabnis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Paul de Figueiredo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Corresponding author.
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5
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Coskun UC, Kus F, Rehman AU, Morova B, Gulle M, Baser H, Kul D, Kiraz A, Baysal K, Erten A. An Easy-to-Fabricate Microfluidic Shallow Trench Induced Three-Dimensional Cell Culturing and Imaging (STICI3D) Platform. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:8281-8293. [PMID: 35309421 PMCID: PMC8928507 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Compared to the established monolayer approach of two-dimensional cell cultures, three-dimensional (3D) cultures more closely resemble in vivo models; that is, the cells interact and form clusters mimicking their organization in native tissue. Therefore, the cellular microenvironment of these 3D cultures proves to be more clinically relevant. In this study, we present a novel easy-to-fabricate microfluidic shallow trench induced 3D cell culturing and imaging (STICI3D) platform, suitable for rapid fabrication as well as mass manufacturing. Our design consists of a shallow trench, within which various hydrogels can be formed in situ via capillary action, between and fully in contact with two side channels that allow cell seeding and media replenishment, as well as forming concentration gradients of various molecules. Compared to a micropillar-based burst valve design, which requires sophisticated microfabrication facilities, our capillary-based STICI3D can be fabricated using molds prepared with simple adhesive tapes and razors alone. The simple design supports the easy applicability of mass-production methods such as hot embossing and injection molding as well. To optimize the STICI3D design, we investigated the effect of individual design parameters such as corner radii, trench height, and surface wettability under various inlet pressures on the confinement of a hydrogel solution within the shallow trench using Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations supported with experimental validation. We identified ideal design values that improved the robustness of hydrogel confinement and reduced the effect of end-user dependent factors such as hydrogel solution loading pressure. Finally, we demonstrated cultures of human mesenchymal stem cells and human umbilical cord endothelial cells in the STICI3D to show that it supports 3D cell cultures and enables precise control of cellular microenvironment and real-time microscopic imaging. The easy-to-fabricate and highly adaptable nature of the STICI3D platform makes it suitable for researchers interested in fabricating custom polydimethylsiloxane devices as well as those who are in need of ready-to-use plastic platforms. As such, STICI3Ds can be used in imaging cell-cell interactions, angiogenesis, semiquantitative analysis of drug response in cells, and measurement of transport through cell sheet barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umut Can Coskun
- Faculty
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Istanbul
Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
| | - Funda Kus
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Ateeq Ur Rehman
- Biomedical
Eng. Technology Program, Foundation University
Islamabad, Islamabad Phase-I, DHA, Pakistan
| | - Berna Morova
- Department
of Physics, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Merve Gulle
- Department
of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
| | - Hatice Baser
- Department
of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Demet Kul
- School of
Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Koç
University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Alper Kiraz
- Department
of Physics, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Department
of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Kemal Baysal
- School of
Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Koç
University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- KUTTAM,
Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Erten
- Department
of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul 34469, Turkey
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Duchamp M, Arnaud M, Bobisse S, Coukos G, Harari A, Renaud P. Microfluidic Device for Droplet Pairing by Combining Droplet Railing and Floating Trap Arrays. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:1076. [PMID: 34577720 PMCID: PMC8470175 DOI: 10.3390/mi12091076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics are characterized by the generation and manipulation of discrete volumes of solutions, generated with the use of immiscible phases. Those droplets can then be controlled, transported, analyzed or their content modified. In this wide droplet microfluidic toolbox, no means are available to generate, in a controlled manner, droplets co-encapsulating to aqueous phases. Indeed, current methods rely on random co-encapsulation of two aqueous phases during droplet generation or the merging of two random droplets containing different aqueous phases. In this study, we present a novel droplet microfluidic device to reliably and efficiently co-encapsulate two different aqueous phases in micro-droplets. In order to achieve this, we combined existing droplet microfluidic modules in a novel way. The different aqueous phases are individually encapsulated in droplets of different sizes. Those droplet populations are then filtered in order to position each droplet type towards its adequate trapping compartment in traps of a floating trap array. Single droplets, each containing a different aqueous phase, are thus paired and then merged. This pairing at high efficiency is achieved thanks to a unique combination of floating trap arrays, a droplet railing system and a droplet size-based filtering mechanism. The microfluidic chip design presented here provides a filtering threshold with droplets larger than 35 μm (big droplets) being deviated to the lower rail while droplets smaller than 20 μm (small droplets) remain on the upper rail. The effects of the rail height and the distance between the two (upper and lower) rails were investigated. The optimal trap dimensions provide a trapping efficiency of 100% for small and big droplets with a limited double trapping (both compartments of the traps filled with the same droplet type) of 5%. The use of electrocoalescence enables the generation of a droplet while co-encapsulating two aqueous phases. Using the presented microfluidic device libraries of 300 droplets, dual aqueous content can be generated in less than 30 min.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Duchamp
- Laboratory of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
| | - Marion Arnaud
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; (M.A.); (S.B.); (G.C.); (A.H.)
| | - Sara Bobisse
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; (M.A.); (S.B.); (G.C.); (A.H.)
| | - George Coukos
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; (M.A.); (S.B.); (G.C.); (A.H.)
| | - Alexandre Harari
- Department of Oncology, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; (M.A.); (S.B.); (G.C.); (A.H.)
| | - Philippe Renaud
- Laboratory of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland;
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