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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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Chembai Ganesh S, Koplik J, Morris JF, Maldarelli C. Thermocapillary migration of a drop with a thermally conducting stagnant cap. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 657:982-992. [PMID: 38103401 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.11.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Hypothesis The thermocapillary migration of a spherical drop with a stagnant cap in the presence of a constant applied temperature gradient can be strongly affected by the finite thermal conductivity of the stagnant cap. Numerics The heat conduction of the stagnant cap is analytically modeled. The effects of the additional interfacial stresses generated by the disturbances to the local temperature field due to the presence of the cap at the fluid-fluid interface and the corresponding velocity of migration of the drop are evaluated by solving for the temperature and hydrodynamic field equations in and around the drop. An asymptotic model is derived to predict the terminal velocity in the presence of an infinitely conducting stagnant cap. Findings The effects of the surface conductivity and size of the stagnation region alongside the bulk thermal conductivities and viscosities of the drop and surrounding media are evaluated. The terminal velocity of the drop is shown to have a monotonic dependence on the conductivity of the stagnant cap. The bounds to the terminal velocity increment due to the stagnant cap are derived. These bounds can be of significance to multiphysics problems involving particle laden drops, Pickering emulsions and other multi-phase technologies where the conductivity of the surface adsorbents is non-negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subramaniam Chembai Ganesh
- Levich Institute and Department of Chemical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031 USA
| | - Joel Koplik
- Levich Institute and Department of Physics, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031 USA
| | - Jeffrey F Morris
- Levich Institute and Department of Chemical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031 USA
| | - Charles Maldarelli
- Levich Institute and Department of Chemical Engineering, City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, 10031 USA.
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Cheng G, Kuan CY, Lou KW, Ho YP. Light-Responsive Materials in Droplet Manipulation for Biochemical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2313935. [PMID: 38379512 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Miniaturized droplets, characterized by well-controlled microenvironments and capability for parallel processing, have significantly advanced the studies on enzymatic evolution, molecular diagnostics, and single-cell analysis. However, manipulation of small-sized droplets, including moving, merging, and trapping of the targeted droplets for complex biochemical assays and subsequent analysis, is not trivial and remains technically demanding. Among various techniques, light-driven methods stand out as a promising candidate for droplet manipulation in a facile and flexible manner, given the features of contactless interaction, high spatiotemporal resolution, and biocompatibility. This review therefore compiles an in-depth discussion of the governing mechanisms underpinning light-driven droplet manipulation. Besides, light-responsive materials, representing the core of light-matter interaction and the key character converting light into different forms of energy, are particularly assessed in this review. Recent advancements in light-responsive materials and the most notable applications are comprehensively archived and evaluated. Continuous innovations and rational engineering of light-responsive materials are expected to propel the development of light-driven droplet manipulation, equip droplets with enhanced functionality, and broaden the applications of droplets for biochemical studies and routine biochemical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Chit Yau Kuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Kuan Wen Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Centre for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Regeneration Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
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Guan X, Cheng G, Ho YP, Binks BP, Ngai T. Light-Driven Spatiotemporal Pickering Emulsion Droplet Manipulation Enabled by Plasmonic Hybrid Microgels. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304207. [PMID: 37490563 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The past decades have witnessed the development of various stimuli-responsive materials with tailored functionalities, enabling droplet manipulation through external force fields. Among different strategies, light exhibits excellent flexibility for contactless control of droplets, particularly in three-dimensional space. Here, we present a facile synthesis of plasmonic hybrid microgels based on the electrostatic heterocoagulation between cationic microgels and anionic Au nanoparticles. The hybrid microgels are effective stabilizers of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions. In addition, the laser irradiation on Au nanoparticles creats a "cascade effect" to thermally responsive microgels, which triggers a change in microgel wettability, resulting in microgel desorption and emulsion destabilization. More importantly, the localized heating generated by a focused laser induces the generation of a vapor bubble inside oil droplets, leading to the formation of a novel air-in-oil-in-water (A/O/W) emulsion. These A/O/W droplets are able to mimic natural microswimmers in an aqueous environment by tracking the motion of a laser spot, thus achieving on-demand droplet merging and chemical communication between isolated droplets. Such proposed systems are expected to extend the applications of microgel-stabilized Pickering emulsions for substance transport, programmed release and controlled catalytic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Guan
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Centre for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Regeneration Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bernard P Binks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - To Ngai
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
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Cheng G, Xiao Q, Kuan CY, Ho YP. On-demand light-driven release of droplets stabilized via a photoresponsive fluorosurfactant. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:89. [PMID: 37448968 PMCID: PMC10336138 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00567-3] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Water-in-oil droplets have emerged as promising microreactors for high-throughput biochemical analysis due to their features of reduced sample consumption and automated operation. For a typical screening application, droplets are often trapped for continuous monitoring of the reaction over an extended period, followed by the selective retrieval of targeted droplets based on the after-effect of biochemical reactions. While techniques for droplet trapping are well developed, retrieval of targeted droplets mainly demands complicated device fabrication or sophisticated control. Herein, facile and rapid selective droplet release is achieved by utilizing a new class of photoresponsive fluorosurfactant based on plasmonic nanoparticles. The intense photothermal response provided by this novel photoresponsive fluorosurfactant is capable of vaporizing the fluorocarbon oil at the droplet interface under laser illumination, resulting in a bubble releasing a trapped droplet on demand. A fully automated fluorescence-activated droplet release platform has also been developed to demonstrate its potential for droplet-based large-scale screening applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyao Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qinru Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chit Yau Kuan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi-Ping Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Hong Kong Branch of CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077 China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Regeneration Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Liu J, Lyu X, Zhou Z, Yang L, Zeng J, Yang Y, Zhao Z, Chen R, Tong X, Li J, Liu H, Zou Y. Multifunctional Droplets Formed by Interfacially Self-Assembled Fluorinated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Biocompatible Single Cell Culture and Magnet-Driven Manipulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:17324-17334. [PMID: 36962257 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c23003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The ability to encapsulate and manipulate droplets with a picoliter volume of samples and reagents shows great potential for practical applications in chemistry, biology, and materials science. Magnetic control is a promising approach for droplet manipulation due to its ability for wireless control and its ease of implementation. However, it is challenged by the poor biocompatibility of magnetic materials in aqueous droplets. Moreover, current droplet technology is problematic because of the molecule leakage between droplets. In the paper, we propose multifunctional droplets with the surface coated by a layer of fluorinated magnetic nanoparticles for magnetically actuated droplet manipulation. Multifunctional droplets show excellent biocompatibility for cell culture, nonleakage of molecules, and high response to a magnetic field. We developed a strategy of coating the F-MNP@SiO2 on the outer surface of droplets instead of adding magnetic material into droplets to enable droplets with a highly magnetic response. The encapsulated bacteria and cells in droplets did not need to directly contact with the magnetic materials at the outer surface, showing high biocompatibility with living cells. These droplets can be precisely manipulated based on magnet distance, the time duration of the magnetic field, the droplet size, and the MNP composition, which well match with theoretical analysis. The precise magnetically actuated droplet manipulation shows great potential for accurate and sensitive droplet-based bioassays like single cell analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahe Liu
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lyu
- Department of Dermatology, Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ziwei Zhou
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402160, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jie Zeng
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yao Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhenghuan Zhao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Xin Tong
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Hailan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yuan Zou
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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Promoting Efficacy and Environmental Safety of Pesticide Synergists via Non-Ionic Gemini Surfactants with Short Fluorocarbon Chains. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27196753. [PMID: 36235302 PMCID: PMC9572613 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improving the utilization rate of pesticides is key to achieve a reduction and synergism, and adding appropriate surfactant to pesticide preparation is an effective way to improve pesticide utilization. Fluorinated surfactants have excellent surface activity, thermal and chemical stability, but long-chain linear perfluoroalkyl derivatives are highly toxic, obvious persistence and high bioaccumulation in the environment. Therefore, new strategies for designing fluorinated surfactants which combine excellent surface activity and environmental safety would be useful. In this study, four non-ionic gemini surfactants with short fluorocarbon chains were synthesized. The surface activities of the resulting surfactants were assessed on the basis of equilibrium surface tension, dynamic surface tension, and contact angle. Compared with their monomeric counterparts, the gemini surfactants had markedly lower critical micelle concentrations and higher diffusivities, as well as better wetting abilities. We selected a single-chain surfactant and a gemini surfactant with good surface activities as synergists for the glyphosate water agent. Both surfactants clearly improved the efficacy of the herbicide, but the gemini surfactant had a significantly greater effect than the single-chain surfactant. An acute toxicity test indicated that the gemini surfactant showed slight toxicity to rats.
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Cowell TW, Dobria A, Han HS. Simplified, Shear Induced Generation of Double Emulsions for Robust Compartmentalization during Single Genome Analysis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20528-20537. [PMID: 35502700 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c22692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drop microfluidics has driven innovations for high throughput, low input analysis techniques such as single-cell RNA-seq. However, the instability of single emulsion (SE) drops occasionally causes significant merging during drop processing, limiting most applications to single-step reactions in drops. Here, we show that double emulsion (DE) drops address this critical limitation and completely prevent drop contents from mixing. DEs show excellent stability during thermal cycling. More importantly, DEs undergo rupture into the continuous phase instead of merging, preventing content mixing and eliminating unstable drops from the downstream analysis. Due to the lack of drop merging, the monodispersity of drops is maintained throughout a workflow, enabling the deterministic manipulation of drops downstream. We also developed a simple, one-layer DE drop maker compatible with simple surface treatment using a plasma cleaner. The device allows for the robust production of single-core DEs at a wide range of flow rates and better control over the shell thickness, both of which have been significant limitations of conventional two-layer devices. This approach makes the fabrication of DE devices much more accessible, facilitating its broader adoption. Finally, we show that DE droplets eliminate content mixing and maintain compartmentalization of single virus genomes during PCR-based amplification and barcoding, while SEs mixed contents due to merging. With their resistance to content mixing, DE drops have key advantages for multistep reactions in drops, which is limited in SEs due to merging and content mixing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Cowell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Andrew Dobria
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hee-Sun Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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