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Jia N, Deng T, Larouche C, Galstian T, Bégin-Drolet A, Greener J. Microflow sensing and control using an in-channel birefringent biomembrane. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2633-2643. [PMID: 38639159 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00985h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
This study describes the function, optimization, and demonstration of a new class of passive, low-cost microfluidic flow meters based on birefringent chitosan biomembranes analyzed by polarized microscopy. We subjected the membrane to dynamic flow conditions while monitoring the real-time response of its optical properties. We obtained figures of merit, including the linear response operating range (0 to 65 μL min-1), minimum response time (250 ms), sensitivity (2.03% × 10-3 μL-1 min), and minimum sensor longevity (1 week). In addition, possible sources of interference were identified. Finally, we demonstrate the membrane as a low-cost flow rate measurement device for the close loop control of a commercial pressure-driven pump. Preliminary experiments using a basic PID controller with the membrane-based flow rate measurement device showed that stable control could be achieved and the system could reach steady-state behavior in less than 15 seconds. Analysis of fundamental limits to sensor response time indicate the potential for faster steady-state behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jia
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Tianyang Deng
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Charles Larouche
- Département de génie mécanique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Tigran Galstian
- Centre d'optique, photonique et laser, Département de physique, génie physique et optique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - André Bégin-Drolet
- Département de génie mécanique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jesse Greener
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
- CHU de Québec, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
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Ly KL, Hu P, Raub CB, Luo X. Programmable Physical Properties of Freestanding Chitosan Membranes Electrofabricated in Microfluidics. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:294. [PMID: 36984680 PMCID: PMC10052736 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030294] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic-integrated freestanding membranes with suitable biocompatibility and tunable physicochemical properties are in high demand for a wide range of life science and biological studies. However, there is a lack of facile and rapid methods to integrate such versatile membranes into microfluidics. A recently invented interfacial electrofabrication of chitosan membranes offers an in-situ membrane integration strategy that is flexible, controllable, simple, and biologically friendly. In this follow-up study, we explored the ability to program the physical properties of these chitosan membranes by varying the electrofabrication conditions (e.g., applied voltage and pH of alginate). We found a strong association between membrane growth rate, properties, and fabrication parameters: high electrical stimuli and pH of alginate resulted in high optical retardance and low permeability, and vice versa. This suggests that the molecular alignment and density of electrofabricated chitosan membranes could be actively tailored according to application needs. Lastly, we demonstrated that this interfacial electrofabrication could easily be expanded to produce chitosan membrane arrays with higher uniformity than the previously well-established flow assembly method. This study demonstrates the tunability of the electrofabricated membranes' properties and functionality, thus expanding the utility of such membranes for broader applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh L. Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Piao Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Christopher B. Raub
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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Pham LHP, Colon-Ascanio M, Ou J, Ly K, Hu P, Choy JS, Luo X. Probing mutual interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans in a biofabricated membrane-based microfluidic platform. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4349-4358. [PMID: 36239125 PMCID: PMC9756269 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00728b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microbes are typically found in multi-species (polymicrobial) communities. Cooperative and competitive interactions between species, mediated by diffusible factors and physical contact, leads to highly dynamic communities that undergo changes in composition diversity and size. Infections can be more severe or more difficult to treat when caused by multiple species. Interactions between species can improve the ability of one or more species to tolerate anti-microbial treatments and host defenses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), a ubiquitous bacterium, and the opportunistic pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans (Ca), are frequently found together in cystic fibrosis lung infections and wound infections. While significant progress has been made in determining interactions between Pa and Ca, there are still important questions that remain unanswered. Here, we probe the mutual interactions between Pa and Ca in a custom-made microfluidic device using biopolymer chitosan membranes that support cross-species communication. By assembling microbes in physically separated, chemically communicating populations or bringing into direct interactions in a mixed culture, in situ polymicrobial growth and biofilm morphology were qualitatively characterized and quantified. Our work reveals new dynamic details of their mutual interactions including cooperation, competition, invasion, and biofilm formation. The membrane-based microfluidic platform can be further developed to understand the polymicrobial interactions within a controlled interactive microenvironment to improve microbial infection prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Hoang Phu Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - Mariliz Colon-Ascanio
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - Jin Ou
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - Khanh Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Piao Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - John S Choy
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA.
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Yang C, Wang M, Wang W, Liu H, Deng H, Du Y, Shi X. Electrodeposition induced covalent cross-linking of chitosan for electrofabrication of hydrogel contact lenses. Carbohydr Polym 2022; 292:119678. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Hu P, Ly KL, Pham LPH, Pottash AE, Sheridan K, Wu HC, Tsao CY, Quan D, Bentley WE, Rubloff GW, Sintim HO, Luo X. Bacterial chemotaxis in static gradients quantified in a biopolymer membrane-integrated microfluidic platform. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3203-3216. [PMID: 35856590 PMCID: PMC9756273 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00481j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis is a fundamental bacterial response mechanism to changes in chemical gradients of specific molecules known as chemoattractant or chemorepellent. The advancement of biological platforms for bacterial chemotaxis research is of significant interest for a wide range of biological and environmental studies. Many microfluidic devices have been developed for its study, but challenges still remain that can obscure analysis. For example, cell migration can be compromised by flow-induced shear stress, and bacterial motility can be impaired by nonspecific cell adhesion to microchannels. Also, devices can be complicated, expensive, and hard to assemble. We address these issues with a three-channel microfluidic platform integrated with natural biopolymer membranes that are assembled in situ. This provides several unique attributes. First, a static, steady and robust chemoattractant gradient was generated and maintained. Second, because the assembly incorporates assembly pillars, the assembled membrane arrays connecting nearby pillars can be created longer than the viewing window, enabling a wide 2D area for study. Third, the in situ assembled biopolymer membranes minimize pressure and/or chemiosmotic gradients that could induce flow and obscure chemotaxis study. Finally, nonspecific cell adhesion is avoided by priming the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel surfaces with Pluronic F-127. We demonstrated chemotactic migration of Escherichia coli as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa under well-controlled easy-to-assemble glucose gradients. We characterized motility using the chemotaxis partition coefficient (CPC) and chemotaxis migration coefficient (CMC) and found our results consistent with other reports. Further, random walk trajectories of individual cells in simple bright field images were conveniently tracked and presented in rose plots. Velocities were calculated, again in agreement with previous literature. We believe the biopolymer membrane-integrated platform represents a facile and convenient system for robust quantitative assessment of cellular motility in response to various chemical cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piao Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
| | - Khanh L Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA
| | - Le P H Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
| | - Alex E Pottash
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kathleen Sheridan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA
| | - Hsuan-Chen Wu
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Chen-Yu Tsao
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - David Quan
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Gary W Rubloff
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Herman O Sintim
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia 20064, USA.
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Lam VK, Phan T, Ly K, Luo X, Nehmetallah G, Raub CB. Dual-modality digital holographic and polarization microscope to quantify phase and birefringence signals in biospecimens with a complex microstructure. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:805-823. [PMID: 35284161 PMCID: PMC8884236 DOI: 10.1364/boe.449125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Optical phase and birefringence signals occur in cells and thin, semi-transparent biomaterials. A dual-modality quantitative phase and polarization microscope was designed to study the interaction of cells with extracellular matrix networks and to relate optical pathlength and birefringence signals within structurally anisotropic biomaterial constructs. The design was based on an existing, custom-built digital holographic microscope, to which was added a polarization microscope utilizing liquid crystal variable retarders. Phase and birefringence channels were calibrated, and data was acquired sequentially from cell-seeded collagen hydrogels and electrofabricated chitosan membranes. Computed phase height and retardance from standard targets were accurate within 99.7% and 99.8%, respectively. Phase height and retardance channel background standard deviations were 35 nm and 0.6 nm, respectively. Human fibroblasts, visible in the phase channel, aligned with collagen network microstructure, with retardance and azimuth visible in the polarization channel. Electrofabricated chitosan membranes formed in 40 µm tall microfluidic channels possessed optical retardance ranging from 7 to 11 nm, and phase height from 37 to 39 µm. These results demonstrate co-registered dual-channel acquisition of phase and birefringence parameter maps from microstructurally-complex biospecimens using a novel imaging system combining digital holographic microscopy with voltage-controlled polarization microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van K. Lam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Thuc Phan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Khanh Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - George Nehmetallah
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
| | - Christopher B. Raub
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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Ly KL, Hu P, Pham LHP, Luo X. Flow-assembled chitosan membranes in microfluidics: recent advances and applications. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:3258-3283. [PMID: 33725061 PMCID: PMC8369861 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb00045d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The integration of membranes in microfluidic devices has been extensively exploited for various chemical engineering and bioengineering applications over the past few decades. To augment the applicability of membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms for biomedical and tissue engineering studies, a biologically friendly fabrication process with naturally occurring materials is highly desired. The in situ preparation of membranes involving interfacial reactions between parallel laminar flows in microfluidic networks, known as the flow-assembly technique, is one of the most biocompatible approaches. Membranes of many types with flexible geometries have been successfully assembled inside complex microchannels using this facile and versatile flow-assembly approach. Chitosan is a naturally abundant polysaccharide known for its pronounced biocompatibility, biodegradability, good mechanical stability, ease of modification and processing, and film-forming ability under near-physiological conditions. Chitosan membranes assembled by flows in microfluidics are freestanding, robust, semipermeable, and well-aligned in microstructure, and show high affinity to bioactive reagents and biological components (e.g. biomolecules, nanoparticles, or cells) that provide facile biological functionalization of microdevices. Here, we discuss the recent developments and optimizations in the flow-assembly of chitosan membranes and chitosan-based membranes in microfluidics. Furthermore, we recapitulate the applications of the chitosan membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms dedicated to biology, biochemistry, and drug release fields, and envision the future developments of this important platform with versatile functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh L Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC 20064, USA
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An Oral-mucosa-on-a-chip sensitively evaluates cell responses to dental monomers. Biomed Microdevices 2021; 23:7. [PMID: 33426594 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-021-00543-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of human gingival cell responses to dental monomers is critical for the development of new dental materials. Testing standards have been developed to provide guidelines to evaluate biological functionality of dental materials and devices. However, one shortcoming of the traditional testing platforms is that they do not recapitulate the multi-layered configuration of gingiva, and thus cannot evaluate the layer-specific cellular responses. An oral mucosa-chip with two cell layers was previously developed as an alternative platform to assess the oral mucosa responses to dental biomaterials. The mucosa-chip consists of an apical keratinocyte layer attached to a fibroblast-embedded collagen hydrogel through interconnecting pores in a three-microchannel network. Here, cell responses in the mucosa-chip were evaluated against 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), a common monomer used in restorative and aesthetic dentistry. The response of mucosal cell viability was evaluated by exposing the chip to HEMA of concentrations ranging from 1.56 to 25 mM and compared to cells in conventional well-plate monoculture. The co-cultured cells were then stained and imaged with epifluorescence and confocal microscopy to determine the layer-specific responses to the treatment. Mucosa-chips were demonstrated to be more sensitive to assess HEMA-altered cell viability than well-plate cultures, especially at lower doses (1.56 and 6.25 mM). The findings suggest that the mucosa-chip is a promising alternative to traditional platforms or assays to test a variety of biomaterials by offering a multi-layered tissue geometry, accessible layer-specific information, and higher sensitivity in detecting cellular responses.
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