1
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Chen T, Cui L, He W, Zhao Z, Liu H, Qian L, Yu B. Fabrication of Conical Microstructure Array for Stable Droplet Generation Over Wide Flow Rate Range. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2404819. [PMID: 39328091 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 09/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Droplet generators with the ability to resist flow fluctuations are of importance for microfluidic chip analysis systems. However, obtaining stably desired-size droplets is still a bugbear since even slight fluctuations can cause polydisperse droplets. In this study, a high-performance droplet generator is achieved with a functional conical array housed in the junction of the channels. The conical microstructures are fabricated through the selective etching of the scratched silicon nitride/silicon (Si3N4/Si) substrate in potassium hydroxide (KOH) etchant, where the combination of lateral and normal material removal contributes to the structure formation. It is found that the key role of the conical microstructures is to regulate the flow rate of the continuous phase, which allows droplet generation to turn to the necking phase and enables droplets to shed more easily. It is also noted that the droplet generator with such a conical array can produce monodisperse droplets in wide-range flow, providing new insights for high-quality device design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Licong Cui
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Wang He
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Zhijun Zhao
- Institute of Smart City and Intelligent Transportation, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, China
| | - Huiyun Liu
- Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Linmao Qian
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Bingjun Yu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
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2
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Kheiri S, Yakavets I, Cruickshank J, Ahmadi F, Berman HK, Cescon DW, Young EWK, Kumacheva E. Microfluidic Platform for Generating and Releasing Patient-Derived Cancer Organoids with Diverse Shapes: Insight into Shape-Dependent Tumor Growth. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2410547. [PMID: 39276011 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202410547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024]
Abstract
Multicellular spheroids and patient-derived organoids find many applications in fundamental research, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. Advances in the understanding and recapitulation of organ functionality and disease development require the generation of complex organoid models, including organoids with diverse morphologies. Microfluidics-based cell culture platforms enable time-efficient confined organoid generation. However, the ability to form organoids with different shapes with a subsequent transfer from microfluidic devices to unconstrained environments for studies of morphology-dependent organoid growth is yet to be demonstrated. Here, a microfluidic platform is introduced that enables high-fidelity formation and addressable release of breast cancer organoids with diverse shapes. Using this platform, the impact of organoid morphology on their growth in unconstrained biomimetic hydrogel is explored. It is shown that proliferative cancer cells tend to localize in high positive curvature organoid regions, causing their faster growth, while the overall growth pattern of organoids with diverse shapes tends to reduce interfacial tension at the organoid-hydrogel interface. In addition to the formation of organoids with diverse morphologies, this platform can be integrated into multi-tissue micro-physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
| | - Ilya Yakavets
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Jennifer Cruickshank
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C1, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Ahmadi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Hal K Berman
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C1, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David W Cescon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C1, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E5, Canada
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3
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Nguyen TH, Ezzo N, Chan S, Yim EKF, Ren CL. A simple guideline for designing droplet microfluidic chips to achieve an improved single (bio)particle encapsulation rate using a stratified flow-assisted particle ordering method. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:054110. [PMID: 39397893 PMCID: PMC11466506 DOI: 10.1063/5.0219528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Encapsulation of a single (bio)particle into individual droplets (referred to as single encapsulation) presents tremendous potential for precise biological and chemical reactions at the single (bio)particle level. Previously demonstrated successful strategies often rely on the use of high flow rates, gel, or viscoelastic materials for initial cell ordering prior to encapsulation into droplets, which could potentially challenge the system's operation. We propose to enhance the single encapsulation rate by using a stratified flow structure to focus and pre-order the (bio)particles before encapsulation. The stratified flow structure is formed using two simple aqueous Newtonian fluids with a viscosity contrast, which together serve as the dispersed phase. The single encapsulation rate is influenced by many parameters, including fluid viscosity contrast, geometric conditions, flow conditions and flow rate ratios, and dimensionless numbers such as the capillary number. This study focuses on investigating the influences of these parameters on the focused stream of the stratified flow, which is key for single encapsulation. The results allow the proposal of a simple guideline that can be adopted to design droplet microfluidic chips with an improved single encapsulation rate demanded by a wide range of applications. The guideline was validated by performing the single encapsulation of mouse embryonic stem cells suspended in a gelatin-methacryloyl solution in individual droplets of phosphate buffer saline, achieving a single encapsulation efficiency of up to 70%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu H. Nguyen
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | | | - Sarah Chan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Evelyn K. F. Yim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Carolyn L. Ren
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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4
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Zhang Y, Liu H, Nakagawa Y, Nagasaka Y, Ding T, Tang SY, Yalikun Y, Goda K, Li M. Enhanced CRISPR/Cas12a-based quantitative detection of nucleic acids using double emulsion droplets. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 257:116339. [PMID: 38688231 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Pairing droplet microfluidics and CRISPR/Cas12a techniques creates a powerful solution for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids at the single-molecule level, due to its specificity, sensitivity, and simplicity. However, traditional water-in-oil (W/O) single emulsion (SE) droplets often present stability issues, affecting the accuracy and reproducibility of assay results. As an alternative, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion (DE) droplets offer superior stability and uniformity for droplet digital assays. Moreover, unlike SE droplets, DE droplets are compatible with commercially available flow cytometry instruments for high-throughput analysis. Despite these advantages, no study has demonstrated the use of DE droplets for CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection. In our study, we conducted a comparative analysis to assess the performance of SE and DE droplets in quantitative detection of human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) DNA based on CRISPR/Cas12a. We evaluated the stability of SEs and DEs by examining size variation, merging extent, and content interaction before and after incubation at different temperatures and time points. By integrating DE droplets with flow cytometry, we achieved high-throughput and high-accuracy CRISPR/Cas12a-based quantification of target HPV18 DNA. The DE platform, when paired with CRISPR/Cas12a and flow cytometry techniques, emerges as a reliable tool for absolute quantification of nucleic acid biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Hangrui Liu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Yuta Nakagawa
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yuzuki Nagasaka
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Tianben Ding
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Shi-Yang Tang
- School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Division of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 630-0192, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Keisuke Goda
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei, 430072, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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5
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Li Z, Guo C, Jian Z. Compound Droplet Generation by a Hybrid Microfluidic Device. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 38976874 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00990] [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
Microfluidic technology based on a compound droplet plays an increasingly significant role in different disciplines, such as genetic detection, drug transportation, and cell culture. Low-cost, stable, and rapid methods to produce compound droplets are more and more in demand. In this paper, a hybrid 3D-printed microfluidic device was designed to realize efficient fabrication of multicore compound droplets, where a first oil phase (O1) is cut by a water phase (W) to form pure O1 droplets, and then the W phase containing O1 droplets is cut by a second oil phase (O2) to generate multicore compound droplets. A series of experiments were conducted to determine the influence of the flow rate and viscosity on the formation dynamics of compound droplets. It is found that the number of inner cores is mainly affected by the W and O2 phases, and a W phase with higher viscosity and a higher flow rate is more likely to produce compound droplets with more inner cores. This work provides new insights into the formation dynamics of compound droplets and can contribute to the optimization of emulsion production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics, International Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
- Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Changxin Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics, International Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Zhen Jian
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, Department of Engineering Mechanics, International Center for Applied Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
- Research Institute of Xi'an Jiaotong University Zhejiang, Hangzhou 311215, China
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6
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Aboud MN, Al-Sowdani KH. A smartphone serves as a data logger for a fully automated lab-constructed microfluidic system. MethodsX 2024; 12:102584. [PMID: 38313696 PMCID: PMC10837093 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Fluorescence is an innovative technique that has captivated scholars in recent years due to its superior sensitivity and selectivity. The development of microfluidic components has added to its appeal, particularly given the technology ability to control fluid using very small quantities (microliter range) and achieve high liquid throughput. We have combined these two technologies to develop a lab-constructed simple system for measuring fluorescence, notable for the following features:•The device constructed entirely in our lab and programmed for measuring the fluorescence of liquids using microfluidic technology, delivered excellent results. The regression coefficient R² (0.9995) was obtained five points between 0.001-0.01µg .ml-1. Moreover, the reproducibility standard deviation (%) of 0.008 µg .ml-1 fluorescein dye remained at zero, for ten repeated experiments.•The device was full automated using a smartphone as a data logger, and lab-constructed programs.•The results were satisfactory with a detection limit of 1 × 10-4 µg.ml-1. This proposed system can measure over 200 samples per hour making it highly efficient and eco-friendly due to the reduced use of reagents and lower waste production. The fully automated system can effectively be used to determine fluorescein dye concentrations. Another application (micro pump view) manages all actions required in this microfluidic system, such as operating the two lab-constructed peristaltic pumps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitham Najim Aboud
- Chemistry Department, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
| | - Kamail H. Al-Sowdani
- Chemistry Department, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
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7
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Xu M, Vidler C, Wang J, Chen X, Pan Z, Harley WS, Lee PVS, Collins DJ. Micro-Acoustic Holograms for Detachable Microfluidic Devices. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307529. [PMID: 38174594 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Acoustic microfluidic devices have advantages for diagnostic applications, therapeutic solutions, and fundamental research due to their contactless operation, simple design, and biocompatibility. However, most acoustofluidic approaches are limited to forming simple and fixed acoustic patterns, or have limited resolution. In this study,a detachable microfluidic device is demonstrated employing miniature acoustic holograms to create reconfigurable, flexible, and high-resolution acoustic fields in microfluidic channels, where the introduction of a solid coupling layer makes these holograms easy to fabricate and integrate. The application of this method to generate flexible acoustic fields, including shapes, characters, and arbitrarily rotated patterns, within microfluidic channels, is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxin Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Callum Vidler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Jizhen Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Zijian Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - William S Harley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Peter V S Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Graeme Clarke Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - David J Collins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Graeme Clarke Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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8
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Besanjideh M, Rezaeian M, Shamloo A, Hannani SK. Simple Method for On-Demand Droplet Trapping in a Microfluidic Device Based on the Concept of Hydrodynamic Resistance. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:9406-9413. [PMID: 38652798 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate an innovative method to catch the desired droplets from a train of droplets and immobilize them in traps located in an integrated microfluidic device. To this end, water-in-oil droplets are generated in a flow-focusing junction and then guided to a channel connected to chambers designated for on-demand droplet trapping. Each chamber is connected to a side channel through a batch of microposts. The side channels are also connected to the flexible poly(vinyl chloride) tubes, which can be closed by attaching binder clips. The hydrodynamic resistance of the routes in the device can be changed by opening and closing the binder clips. In this way, droplets are easily guided into individual traps based on the user's demand. A set of numerical simulations was also conducted to investigate the authenticity of the employed idea and to find the optimal geometry for implementing our strategy. This simple method can be easily employed for on-demand droplet trapping without using on-chip valves or complex off-chip actuators proposed in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Besanjideh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11365-11155, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
| | - Masoud Rezaeian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11365-11155, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11365-11155, Iran
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
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9
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Tanaka D, Zheng S, Furuya M, Kobayashi M, Fujita H, Akitsu T, Sekiguchi T, Shoji S. Efficient Separation of Methanol Single-Micron Droplets by Tailing Phenomenon Using a PDMS Microfluidic Device. Molecules 2024; 29:1949. [PMID: 38731440 PMCID: PMC11085517 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29091949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Microdroplet-based fluidic systems have the advantages of small size, short diffusion time, and no cross-contamination; consequently, droplets often provide a fast and precise reaction environment as well as an analytical environment for individual molecules. In order to handle diverse reactions, we developed a method to create organic single-micron droplets (S-MDs) smaller than 5 μm in diameter dispersed in silicone oil without surfactant. The S-MD generation microflow device consists of a mother droplet (MoD) generator and a tapered separation channel featuring multiple side channels. The tapered channel enhanced the shear forces to form tails from the MoDs, causing them to break up. Surface treatment with the fluoropolymer CYTOP protected PDMS fluid devices from organic fluids. The tailing separation of methanol droplets was accomplished without the use of surfactants. The generation of tiny organic droplets may offer new insights into chemical separation and help study the scaling effects of various chemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Tanaka
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Shengqi Zheng
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Masahiro Furuya
- Cooperative Major in Nuclear Energy, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; (M.F.); (M.K.)
| | - Masashi Kobayashi
- Cooperative Major in Nuclear Energy, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; (M.F.); (M.K.)
| | | | - Takashiro Akitsu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 162-0825, Japan;
| | - Tetsushi Sekiguchi
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan;
| | - Shuichi Shoji
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
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10
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Wang X, Zhuang Z, Li X, Yao X. Droplet Manipulation on Bioinspired Slippery Surfaces: From Design Principle to Biomedical Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300253. [PMID: 37246251 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Droplet manipulation with high efficiency, high flexibility, and programmability, is essential for various applications in biomedical sciences and engineering. Bioinspired liquid-infused slippery surfaces (LIS), with exceptional interfacial properties, have led to expanding research for droplet manipulation. In this review, an overview of actuation principles is presented to illustrate how materials or systems can be designed for droplet manipulation on LIS. Recent progress on new manipulation methods on LIS is also summarized and their prospective applications in anti-biofouling and pathogen control, biosensing, and the development of digital microfluidics are presented. Finally, an outlook is made on the key challenges and opportunities for droplet manipulation on LIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Zhicheng Zhuang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Xi Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518075, P. R. China
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11
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Pan S, Zhang T, Zhang C, Liao N, Zhang M, Zhao T. Fabrication of a high performance flexible capacitive porous GO/PDMS pressure sensor based on droplet microfluidic technology. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1668-1675. [PMID: 38304936 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00021h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Porous structures are an effective way to improve the performance of flexible capacitive sensors, but the pore size uniformity of porous structures is not easily controlled by current methods, which may affect the inconsistent performance of different batches of sensors. In this paper, a high performance capacitive flexible porous GO/PDMS pressure sensor was prepared based on droplet microfluidic technology. By testing the performance of the sensor, we found that the sensor with a flow rate ratio of 1 : 3 has relatively good performance, with a degree of hysteresis (DH) of 8.64% and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.2%. Therefore, we studied the sensor performance based on this process. The result shows that the sensitivity of the flexible capacitive porous GO/PDMS pressure sensor reached 0.627 kPa-1 at low pressure (0-3 kPa), which is significantly higher than that of the pure PDMS thin film sensor (about 0.031 kPa-1) and the porous PDMS pressure sensor (0.263 kPa-1). At the same time, the sensor has a large range with a fast response time of 240 ms and a relaxation time of 300 ms at 30 kPa and an ultra-low detection limit (70 Pa). It can maintain stable operation under continuous force loading/unloading cycles and can respond well to different pressure step changes, so the sensor can be used to detect the movement process of each finger, knee, foot and other joints of the human body. In conclusion, the droplet microfluidic technology can effectively prepare high-performance capacitive flexible porous GO/PDMS pressure sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- ShengYuan Pan
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Cheng Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
- Cangnan Research Institute of Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325800, China
| | - Ningbo Liao
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Miao Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
- Cangnan Research Institute of Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325800, China
| | - Tianchen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Air-driven Equipment Technology of Zhejiang Province, Quzhou University, Quzhou 324000, China
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12
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Jiang L, Guo K, Chen Y, Xiang N. Droplet Microfluidics for Current Cancer Research: From Single-Cell Analysis to 3D Cell Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1335-1354. [PMID: 38420753 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Differences in drug resistance and treatment response caused by the heterogeneity of cancer cells are the primary reasons for poor cancer therapy outcomes in patients. In addition, current in vitro anticancer drug-screening methods rely on two-dimensional monolayer-cultured cancer cells, which cannot accurately predict drug behavior in vivo. Therefore, a powerful tool to study the heterogeneity of cancer cells and produce effective in vitro tumor models is warranted to leverage cancer research. Droplet microfluidics has become a powerful platform for the single-cell analysis of cancer cells and three-dimensional cell culture of in vitro tumor spheroids. In this review, we discuss the use of droplet microfluidics in cancer research. Droplet microfluidic technologies, including single- or double-emulsion droplet generation and passive- or active-droplet manipulation, are concisely discussed. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis of cancer cells, circulating tumor cells, and scaffold-free/based 3D cell culture of tumor spheroids have been systematically introduced. Finally, the challenges that must be overcome for the further application of droplet microfluidics in cancer research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Kefan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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13
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Zhao Y, Sun Y, Xie X, Liang Y, Cavalcanti-Adam EA, Feng W. Compact Micropatterned Chip Empowers Undisturbed and Programmable Drug Addition in High-Throughput Cell Screening. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2306814. [PMID: 37793694 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202306814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneously adding multiple drugs and other chemical reagents to individual droplets at specific time points presents a significant challenge, particularly when dealing with tiny droplets in high-throughput screening applications. In this study, a micropatterned polymer chip is developed as a miniaturized platform for light-induced programmable drug addition in cell-based screening. This chip incorporates a porous superhydrophobic polymer film with atom transfer radical polymerization reactivity, facilitating the efficient grafting of azobenzene methacrylate, a photoconformationally changeable group, onto the hydrophilic regions of polymer matrix at targeted locations and with precise densities. By employing light irradiation, the cyclodextrin-azobenzene host-guest complexes formed on the polymer chip can switch from an "associated" to a "dissociated" state, granting precise photochemical control over the supramolecular coding system and its surface patterning ability. Significantly, the exceptional spatial and temporal control offered by these chemical transitions empowers to utilize digital light processing systems for simultaneous regulation and release of cyclodextrin-bearing drugs across numerous droplets containing suspended or adhered cells. This approach minimizes mechanical disruption while achieving precise control over the timing of addition, dosage, and integration varieties of released drugs in high-throughput screening, all programmable to meet specific requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyi Zhao
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yingxue Sun
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Xinjian Xie
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Yujia Liang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | | | - Wenqian Feng
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
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14
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Ma Y, Morozova SM, Kumacheva E. From Nature-Sourced Polysaccharide Particles to Advanced Functional Materials. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2312707. [PMID: 38391153 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Polysaccharides constitute over 90% of the carbohydrate mass in nature, which makes them a promising feedstock for manufacturing sustainable materials. Polysaccharide particles (PSPs) are used as effective scavengers, carriers of chemical and biological cargos, and building blocks for the fabrication of macroscopic materials. The biocompatibility and degradability of PSPs are advantageous for their uses as biomaterials with more environmental friendliness. This review highlights the progresses in PSP applications as advanced functional materials, by describing PSP extraction, preparation, and surface functionalization with a variety of functional groups, polymers, nanoparticles, and biologically active species. This review also outlines the fabrication of PSP-derived macroscopic materials, as well as their applications in soft robotics, sensing, scavenging, water harvesting, drug delivery, and bioengineering. The paper is concluded with an outlook providing perspectives in the development and applications of PSP-derived materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshan Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Sofia M Morozova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
- Center of Fluid Physics and Soft Matter, N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 2-nd Baumanskaya street, Moscow, 105005, Russia
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada
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15
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Huang Y, Liu C, Feng Q, Sun J. Microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials for biomedical applications. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2023; 8:1610-1627. [PMID: 37723984 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00217a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The field of nanomaterials has progressed dramatically over the past decades with important contributions to the biomedical area. The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, such as the size and structure, can be controlled through manipulation of mass and heat transfer conditions during synthesis. In particular, microfluidic systems with rapid mixing and precise fluid control are ideal platforms for creating appropriate synthesis conditions. One notable example of microfluidics-based synthesis is the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA vaccines with accelerated clinical translation and robust efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to LNPs, microfluidic systems have been adopted for the controlled synthesis of a broad range of nanomaterials. In this review, we introduce the fundamental principles of microfluidic technologies including flow field- and multiple field-based methods for fabricating nanoparticles, and discuss their applications in the biomedical field. We conclude this review by outlining several major challenges and future directions in the implementation of microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjuan Huang
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiang Feng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiashu Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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16
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Kheiri S, Chen Z, Yakavets I, Rakhshani F, Young EWK, Kumacheva E. Integrating spheroid-on-a-chip with tubeless rocker platform: A high-throughput biological screening platform. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2200621. [PMID: 37436706 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202200621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Spheroid-on-a-chip platforms are emerging as promising in vitro models that enable screening of the efficacy of biologically active ingredients. Generally, the supply of liquids to spheroids occurs in the steady flow mode with the use of syringe pumps; however, the utilization of tubing and connections, especially for multiplexing and high-throughput screening applications, makes spheroid-on-a-chip platforms labor- and cost-intensive. Gravity-induced flow using rocker platforms overcomes these challenges. Here, a robust gravity-driven technique was developed to culture arrays of cancer cell spheroids and dermal fibroblast spheroids in a high-throughput manner using a rocker platform. The efficiency of the developed rocker-based platform was benchmarked to syringe pumps for generating multicellular spheroids and their use for screening biologically active ingredients. Cell viability, internal spheroid structure as well as the effect of vitamin C on spheroids' protein synthesis was studied. The rocker-based platform not only offers comparable or enhanced performance in terms of cell viability, spheroids formation, and protein production by dermal fibroblast spheroids but also, from a practical perspective, offers a smaller footprint, requires a lower cost, and offers an easier method for handling. These results support the application of rocker-based microfluidic spheroid-on-a-chip platforms for in vitro screening in a high-throughput manner with industrial scaling-up opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ilya Yakavets
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Faeze Rakhshani
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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17
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Orabi M, Lo JF. Emerging Advances in Microfluidic Hydrogel Droplets for Tissue Engineering and STEM Cell Mechanobiology. Gels 2023; 9:790. [PMID: 37888363 PMCID: PMC10606214 DOI: 10.3390/gels9100790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogel droplets are biodegradable and biocompatible materials with promising applications in tissue engineering, cell encapsulation, and clinical treatments. They represent a well-controlled microstructure to bridge the spatial divide between two-dimensional cell cultures and three-dimensional tissues, toward the recreation of entire organs. The applications of hydrogel droplets in regenerative medicine require a thorough understanding of microfluidic techniques, the biocompatibility of hydrogel materials, and droplet production and manipulation mechanisms. Although hydrogel droplets were well studied, several emerging advances promise to extend current applications to tissue engineering and beyond. Hydrogel droplets can be designed with high surface-to-volume ratios and a variety of matrix microstructures. Microfluidics provides precise control of the flow patterns required for droplet generation, leading to tight distributions of particle size, shape, matrix, and mechanical properties in the resultant microparticles. This review focuses on recent advances in microfluidic hydrogel droplet generation. First, the theoretical principles of microfluidics, materials used in fabrication, and new 3D fabrication techniques were discussed. Then, the hydrogels used in droplet generation and their cell and tissue engineering applications were reviewed. Finally, droplet generation mechanisms were addressed, such as droplet production, droplet manipulation, and surfactants used to prevent coalescence. Lastly, we propose that microfluidic hydrogel droplets can enable novel shear-related tissue engineering and regeneration studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joe F. Lo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128, USA;
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18
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Morozova SM, Gevorkian A, Kumacheva E. Design, characterization and applications of nanocolloidal hydrogels. Chem Soc Rev 2023. [PMID: 37464914 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00387f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Nanocolloidal gels (NCGs) are an emerging class of soft matter, in which nanoparticles act as building blocks of the colloidal network. Chemical or physical crosslinking enables NCG synthesis and assembly from a broad range of nanoparticles, polymers, and low-molecular weight molecules. The synergistic properties of NCGs are governed by nanoparticle composition, dimensions and shape, the mechanism of nanoparticle bonding, and the NCG architecture, as well as the nature of molecular crosslinkers. Nanocolloidal gels find applications in soft robotics, bioengineering, optically active coatings and sensors, optoelectronic devices, and absorbents. This review summarizes currently scattered aspects of NCG formation, properties, characterization, and applications. We describe the diversity of NCG building blocks, discuss the mechanisms of NCG formation, review characterization techniques, outline NCG fabrication and processing methods, and highlight most common NCG applications. The review is concluded with the discussion of perspectives in the design and development of NCGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Morozova
- N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 5/1 2-nd Baumanskaya street, 105005, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Albert Gevorkian
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry University of Toronto, 80 Saint George street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry University of Toronto, 200 College street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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19
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Lin W, Xu Y, Hong X, Pang SW. PEGylated Paclitaxel Nanomedicine Meets 3D Confinement: Cytotoxicity and Cell Behaviors. J Funct Biomater 2023; 14:322. [PMID: 37367286 DOI: 10.3390/jfb14060322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigating the effect of nanomedicines on cancer cell behavior in three-dimensional (3D) platforms is beneficial for evaluating and developing novel antitumor nanomedicines in vitro. While the cytotoxicity of nanomedicines on cancer cells has been widely studied on two-dimensional flat surfaces, there is little work using 3D confinement to assess their effects. This study aims to address this gap by applying PEGylated paclitaxel nanoparticles (PEG-PTX NPs) for the first time to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC43) cells in 3D confinement consisting of microwells with different sizes and a glass cover. The cytotoxicity of the small molecule drug paclitaxel (PTX) and PEG-PTX NPs was studied in microwells with sizes of 50 × 50, 100 × 100, and 150 × 150 μm2 both with and without a concealed top cover. The impact of microwell confinement with varying sizes and concealment on the cytotoxicity of PTX and PEG-PTX NPs was analyzed by assessing NPC43 cell viability, migration speed, and cell morphology following treatment. Overall, microwell isolation was found to suppress drug cytotoxicity, and differences were observed in the time-dependent effects of PTX and PEG-PTX NPs on NPC43 cells in isolated and concealed microenvironments. These results not only demonstrate the effect of 3D confinement on nanomedicine cytotoxicity and cell behaviors but also provide a novel method to screen anticancer drugs and evaluate cell behaviors in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhai Lin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanhao Xu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiao Hong
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Stella W Pang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Biosystems, Neuroscience, and Nanotechnology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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20
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Ma X, Guo G, Wu X, Wu Q, Liu F, Zhang H, Shi N, Guan Y. Advances in Integration, Wearable Applications, and Artificial Intelligence of Biomedical Microfluidics Systems. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:mi14050972. [PMID: 37241596 DOI: 10.3390/mi14050972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics attracts much attention due to its multiple advantages such as high throughput, rapid analysis, low sample volume, and high sensitivity. Microfluidics has profoundly influenced many fields including chemistry, biology, medicine, information technology, and other disciplines. However, some stumbling stones (miniaturization, integration, and intelligence) strain the development of industrialization and commercialization of microchips. The miniaturization of microfluidics means fewer samples and reagents, shorter times to results, and less footprint space consumption, enabling a high throughput and parallelism of sample analysis. Additionally, micro-size channels tend to produce laminar flow, which probably permits some creative applications that are not accessible to traditional fluid-processing platforms. The reasonable integration of biomedical/physical biosensors, semiconductor microelectronics, communications, and other cutting-edge technologies should greatly expand the applications of current microfluidic devices and help develop the next generation of lab-on-a-chip (LOC). At the same time, the evolution of artificial intelligence also gives another strong impetus to the rapid development of microfluidics. Biomedical applications based on microfluidics normally bring a large amount of complex data, so it is a big challenge for researchers and technicians to analyze those huge and complicated data accurately and quickly. To address this problem, machine learning is viewed as an indispensable and powerful tool in processing the data collected from micro-devices. In this review, we mainly focus on discussing the integration, miniaturization, portability, and intelligence of microfluidics technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingfeng Ma
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
- Department of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Gang Guo
- Department of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Xuanye Wu
- Department of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
- Shanghai Industrial μTechnology Research Institute, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Shanghai Aure Technology Limited Company, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Fangfang Liu
- Shanghai Industrial μTechnology Research Institute, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Shanghai Aure Technology Limited Company, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Nan Shi
- Shanghai Industrial μTechnology Research Institute, Shanghai 200000, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Yimin Guan
- Department of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200000, China
- Shanghai Aure Technology Limited Company, Shanghai 200000, China
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21
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Ji G, Kanno Y, Nisisako T. Microfluidic Coupling of Step Emulsification and Deterministic Lateral Displacement for Producing Satellite-Free Droplets and Particles. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:622. [PMID: 36985029 PMCID: PMC10055132 DOI: 10.3390/mi14030622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Step emulsification, which uses a geometry-dependent mechanism for generating uniformly sized droplets, has recently gained considerable attention because of its robustness against flow fluctuations. However, like shear-based droplet generation, step emulsification is susceptible to impurities caused by satellite droplets. Herein, we demonstrate the integration of deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) to separate the main and satellite droplets produced during step emulsification. Step-emulsification nozzles (16 μm deep) in the upstream region of the proposed device were arrayed on the sidewalls of the main channel (91 μm deep). In the downstream region, the DLD micropillars were arrayed periodically with a critical diameter (cut-off value for size-based separation) of 37 μm. When an acrylate monomer and aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution were infused as the dispersed and continuous phases, respectively, the nozzles produced monodisperse main droplets in the dripping regime, with an average diameter of ~60 μm, coefficient of variation (CV) value below 3%, and satellite droplets of ~3 μm. Upon entering the DLD region near the sidewall, these main and satellite droplets were gradually separated through the pillars based on their sizes. Finally, off-chip photopolymerization yielded monodisperse polymeric microspheres with an average diameter of 55 μm and a CV value of 2.9% (n = 202).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchong Ji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kanno
- Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
| | - Takasi Nisisako
- Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
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22
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Lathia R, Nampoothiri KN, Sagar N, Bansal S, Modak CD, Sen P. Advances in Microscale Droplet Generation and Manipulation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2461-2482. [PMID: 36779356 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microscale droplet generation and manipulation have widespread applications in numerous fields, from biochemical assays to printing and additive manufacturing. There are several techniques for droplet handling. Most techniques, however, can generate and work with only a limited range of droplet sizes. Furthermore, there are constraints regarding the workable variety of fluid properties (e.g., viscosity, surface tension, mass loading, etc.). Recent works have focused on developing techniques to overcome these limitations. This feature article discusses advances in this area that cover a wide range of droplet sizes from subpicoliter to microliter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutvik Lathia
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Krishnadas Narayanan Nampoothiri
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Chennai 601103, India
| | - Nitish Sagar
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Shubhi Bansal
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Chandantaru Dey Modak
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
- Laboratoire de Biophysique et Evolution, UMR CNRS-ESPCI 8231 Chimie Biologie Innovation, PSL University, ESPCI Paris, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Prosenjit Sen
- Centre for Nano Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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23
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Dong Y, Xiang X, Wang Z, Zhu C, Ma Y, Fu T. Formation of Droplets of Shear-Thinning Non-Newtonian Fluids in Asymmetrical Parallelized Microchannels. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2218-2232. [PMID: 36724386 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fluids containing polymers are frequently utilized in the chemical industry and exhibit shear-thinning characteristics. The flow distribution of non-Newtonian fluids in parallelized microchannels is a key issue to be solved during numbering-up. Numbering-up means increasing the number of parallelized microchannels. In this study, a high-speed camera is used to explore the distribution of fluid flow as well as the uniformity and stability of droplets in conceptual asymmetrical parallelized microchannels. Cyclohexane and carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC) aqueous solutions are used as the continuous phase and dispersed phase, respectively. The effects of fluctuation of pressure difference around the T-junction, the hydrodynamic resistance in microchannels, and the shear-thinning property of fluids on flow distribution and droplet formation are revealed. The uniformity and stability of droplets in microdevices with various cavity settings are compared, and an optimal configuration is proposed. Finally, prediction models for the flow distribution of shear-thinning fluids in asymmetrical parallelized microchannels are established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanpeng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
| | - Xingyu Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
| | - Zhongdong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
| | - Chunying Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
| | - Youguang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
| | - Taotao Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin300072, China
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24
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Yuan W, Yuan H, Jiao K, Zhu J, Lim EG, Mitrovic I, Duan S, Wang Y, Cong S, Zhao C, Sun J, Liu X, Song P. Facile Microembossing Process for Microchannel Fabrication for Nanocellulose-Paper-Based Microfluidics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:6420-6430. [PMID: 36693010 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c19354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nanofibrillated cellulose paper (nanopaper) has gained growing interest as one promising substrate material for paper-based microfluidics, thanks to its ultrasmooth surface, high optical transparency, uniform nanofiber matrix with nanoscale porosity, and tunable chemical properties. Recently, research on nanopaper-based microfluidics has quickly advanced; however, the current technique of patterning microchannels on nanopaper (i.e., 3D printing, spray coating, or manual cutting and sticking), that is fundamental for application development, still has some limitations, such as ease-of-contamination, and more importantly, only enabling millimeter-scale channels. This paper reports a facile process that leverages the simple operations of microembossing with the convenient plastic micro-molds, for the first time, patterning nanopaper microchannels downing to 200 μm, which is 4 times better than the existing methods and is time-saving (<45 mins). We also optimized the patterning parameters and provided one quick look-up table as the guideline for application developments. As proof-of-concept, we first demonstrated two fundamental microfluidic devices on nanopaper, the laminar-mixer and droplet generator, and two functional nanopaper-based analytical devices (NanoPADs) for glucose and Rhodamine B (RhB) sensing based on optical colorimetry and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The two NanoPADs showed outstanding performance with low limits of detection (2 mM for glucose and 19fM for RhB), which are 1.25× and 500× fold improvement compared to the previously reported values. This can be attributed to our newly developed highly accurate microchannel patterning process that enables high integration and fine-tunability of the NanoPADs along with the superior optical properties of nanopaper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Hang Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
| | - Keran Jiao
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
| | - Jia Zhu
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- School of Intelligent Manufacturing and Transportation, Suzhou City University, Suzhou215000, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Eng Gee Lim
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Ivona Mitrovic
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Sixuan Duan
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Yongjie Wang
- School of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology - Shenzhen, Shenzhen518055, China
| | - Shan Cong
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Chun Zhao
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Jie Sun
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, OntarioM5S 2E8, Canada
| | - Pengfei Song
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou215123, China
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolL69 7ZX, U.K
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Jiang Z, Shi H, Tang X, Qin J. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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26
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Jin S, Ye G, Cao N, Liu X, Dai L, Wang P, Wang T, Wei X. Acoustics-Controlled Microdroplet and Microbubble Fusion and Its Application in the Synthesis of Hydrogel Microspheres. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:12602-12609. [PMID: 36194518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Droplet fusion technology is a key technology for many droplet-based biochemical medical applications. By integrating a symmetrical flow channel structure, we demonstrate an acoustics-controlled fusion method of microdroplets using surface acoustic waves. Different kinds of microdroplets can be staggered and ordered in the symmetrical flow channel, proving the good arrangement effect of the microfluidic chip. This method can realize not only the effective fusion of microbubbles but also the effective fusion of microdroplets of different sizes without any modification. Further, we investigate the influence of the input frequency and peak-to-peak value of the driving voltage on microdroplets fusion, giving the effective fusion parameter conditions of microdroplets. Finally, this method is successfully used in the preparation of hydrogel microspheres, offering a new platform for the synthesis of hydrogel microspheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaobo Jin
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Guoyong Ye
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Na Cao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450052, China
| | - Xuling Liu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Liguo Dai
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Pengpeng Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Xueyong Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an710049, China
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Yanagisawa M, Watanabe C, Yoshinaga N, Fujiwara K. Cell-Size Space Regulates the Behavior of Confined Polymers: From Nano- and Micromaterials Science to Biology. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:11811-11827. [PMID: 36125172 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polymer micromaterials in a liquid or gel phase covered with a surfactant membrane are widely used materials in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods. In particular, cell-sized micromaterials of biopolymer solutions covered with a lipid membrane have been studied as artificial cells to understand cells from a physicochemical perspective. The characteristics and phase transitions of polymers confined to a microscopic space often differ from those in bulk systems. The effect that causes this difference is referred to as the cell-size space effect (CSE), but the specific physicochemical factors remain unclear. This study introduces the analysis of CSE on molecular diffusion, nanostructure transition, and phase separation and presents their main factors, i.e., short- and long-range interactions with the membrane surface and small volume (finite element nature). This serves as a guide for determining the dominant factors of CSE. Furthermore, we also introduce other factors of CSE such as spatial closure and the relationships among space size, the characteristic length of periodicity, the structure size, and many others produced by biomolecular assemblies through the analysis of protein reaction-diffusion systems and biochemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Yanagisawa
- Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Chiho Watanabe
- School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Kagamiyama 1-7-1, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Natsuhiko Yoshinaga
- Mathematical Science Group, WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR), Tohoku University, Katahira 2-1-1, Aoba-Ku, Sendai 9808577, Japan
- MathAM-OIL, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
| | - Kei Fujiwara
- Department of Biosciences & Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan
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Talebjedi B, Abouei Mehrizi A, Talebjedi B, Mohseni SS, Tasnim N, Hoorfar M. Machine Learning-Aided Microdroplets Breakup Characteristic Prediction in Flow-Focusing Microdevices by Incorporating Variations of Cross-Flow Tilt Angles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:10465-10477. [PMID: 35973231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Controlling droplet breakup characteristics such as size, frequency, regime, and droplet quality within flow-focusing microfluidic devices is critical for different biomedical applications of droplet microfluidics such as drug delivery, biosensing, and nanomaterial preparation. The development of a prediction platform capable of forecasting droplet breakup characteristics can significantly improve the iterative design and fabrication processes required for achieving desired performance. The present study aims to develop a multipurpose platform capable of predicting the working conditions of user-specific droplet size and frequency and reporting the quality of the generated droplets, regime, and hydrodynamical breakup characteristics in flow-focusing microdevices with different cross-junction tilt angles. Four different neural network-based prediction platforms were compared to accurately estimate capsule size, generation rate, uniformity, and circle metric. The trained capsule size and frequency networks were optimized using the heuristic optimization approach for establishing the Pareto optimal solution plot. To investigate the transition of the droplet generation regime (i.e., squeezing, dripping, and jetting), two different classification models (LDA and MLP) were developed and compared in terms of their prediction accuracy. The MLP model outperformed the LDA model with a cross-validation measure evaluated as 97.85%, demonstrating that the droplet quality and regime prediction models can provide an engineering judgment for the decision maker to choose between the suggested solutions on the Pareto front. The study followed a comprehensive hydrodynamical analysis of the junction angle effect on the dispersed thread formation, pressure, and velocity domains in the orifice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Talebjedi
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
- Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439957131, Iran
| | - Ali Abouei Mehrizi
- Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439957131, Iran
| | - Behnam Talebjedi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo 02150, Finland
| | - Seyed Sepehr Mohseni
- Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 1439957131, Iran
| | - Nishat Tasnim
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
- Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Mina Hoorfar
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
- Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
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