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Verma A, Mateo T, Quintero Botero J, Mohankumar N, Fraccia TP. Microfluidics-Based Drying-Wetting Cycles to Investigate Phase Transitions of Small Molecules Solutions. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:472. [PMID: 38672743 PMCID: PMC11050796 DOI: 10.3390/life14040472] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Drying-wetting cycles play a crucial role in the investigation of the origin of life as processes that both concentrate and induce the supramolecular assembly and polymerization of biomolecular building blocks, such as nucleotides and amino acids. Here, we test different microfluidic devices to study the dehydration-hydration cycles of the aqueous solutions of small molecules, and to observe, by optical microscopy, the insurgence of phase transitions driven by self-assembly, exploiting water pervaporation through polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). As a testbed, we investigate solutions of the chromonic dye Sunset Yellow (SSY), which self-assembles into face-to-face columnar aggregates and produces nematic and columnar liquid crystal (LC) phases as a function of concentration. We show that the LC temperature-concentration phase diagram of SSY can be obtained with a fair agreement with previous reports, that droplet hydration-dehydration can be reversibly controlled and automated, and that the simultaneous incubation of samples with different final water contents, corresponding to different phases, can be implemented. These methods can be further extended to study the assembly of diverse prebiotically relevant small molecules and to characterize their phase transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Verma
- IPGG, CBI UMR 8231—CNRS—ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tiphaine Mateo
- IPGG, CBI UMR 8231—CNRS—ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | - Nishanth Mohankumar
- IPGG, CBI UMR 8231—CNRS—ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Tommaso P. Fraccia
- IPGG, CBI UMR 8231—CNRS—ESPCI Paris, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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2
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Vuorte M, Lokka A, Scacchi A, Sammalkorpi M. Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate surfactant self-assembly dependency of solvent hydrophilicity: a modelling study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:27250-27263. [PMID: 37791412 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp02173d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) model surfactant in solvent environments of differing polarity is examined by means of dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) bead model parametrized against Hildebrand solubility parameters from atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The model predicts that in hydrophobic solvents (e.g. dodecane) the surfactant forms small (Nagg ∼ 8) reverse micellar aggregates, while in a solvent corresponding to water lamellar assembly takes place, in good agreement with literature structural parameters. Interestingly, solvents of intermediate polarity lead to formation of large, internally structured aggregates. In these, the surfactant headgroups cluster within the aggregate, surrounded by a continuous phase formed by the hydrocarbon tails. We show that the partitioning of the headgroups between the aggregate surface layer and the inner clustered phase depends primarily on solvent polarity, and can be controlled by the solvent, but also system composition. Finally, we compare the DPD assembly response to simplified effective interaction potentials derived at dilute concentration limit for the interactions. The comparison reveals that the simplified effective potential descriptions provide good level of insight on the assembly morphologies, despite drastic, isotropic interactions simplification involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisa Vuorte
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Aapo Lokka
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Alberto Scacchi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11000, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Maria Sammalkorpi
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
- Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER), Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
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3
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Syms RRA, Wright S. Solvent-pumped evaporation concentration on paper in linear and radial geometries. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:044103. [PMID: 37576441 PMCID: PMC10415022 DOI: 10.1063/5.0161199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Solvent-pumped evaporation-driven concentration of an initial distribution of solutes on a porous substrate is considered in one and two dimensions. Approximate analytic solutions to the isotropic advection-dispersion equations are first found for a Gaussian kernel and an infinite domain, following the smoothed particle approximation. Analytic solutions for more general initial distributions are then found as sums of Gaussians, and comparison is made with numerical solutions. In each case, initial distributions are advected toward the stagnation point and concentrated. Two-dimensional analysis is then extended to describe anisotropy in permeability and diffusion, and hydrodynamic dispersion. Radial-flow experiments are performed using filter papers and water-soluble dyes. Diffusion coefficients, temperature and humidity profiles, and the evolution of spot distributions are measured. The results confirm minor anisotropy in permeability and diffusion, limited hydrodynamic dispersion, and largely uniform evaporation. Péclet numbers over 2500 are demonstrated. Evaporation-driven concentration provides a mechanism for solute transport over long timescales. Potential applications lie in the design of paper spray microanalytical devices operating by solvent pumping rather than capillary flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R. A. Syms
- EEE Department, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Steven Wright
- EEE Department, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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4
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Syms RRA, Wright S. Paper-based evaporation concentrators: Comparison of linear and radial geometries. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:014102. [PMID: 36619875 PMCID: PMC9815885 DOI: 10.1063/5.0129510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Paper-based evaporation concentrators with linear and radial geometries are compared. A new method of finding approximate analytic solutions of the advection-dispersion equation is proposed, based on the behavior of concentrators with infinite sources. Analytic approximations are compared with numerical solutions, and the advantage of radial concentration is highlighted: linear concentration rates scale with the square root of the Péclet number Pe while radial rates scale with Pe itself, leading to faster radial concentration beyond a critical value. Experiments are performed with Brilliant Blue FCF dye, using optical transmission and the Beer-Lambert law for quantitation. Dye concentrations are chosen for operation in the linear absorbance regime. Radial concentration is demonstrated under ambient conditions on filter paper disks with 60 mm diameter evaporation areas fed from a perimeter source, in a reverse of the well-known "coffee stain" experiment. Airflow enhanced concentration in strips and wedges is compared directly, using laser-patterned chromatography paper. The advantage of radial concentration is confirmed (and enhanced by diversion of concentrate to the corners of strips) and concentration factors greater than ∼ 500 (the dynamic range of measurement) are obtained in ∼2 h using 30 mm long columns.
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Bacchin P, Leng J, Salmon JB. Microfluidic Evaporation, Pervaporation, and Osmosis: From Passive Pumping to Solute Concentration. Chem Rev 2021; 122:6938-6985. [PMID: 34882390 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Evaporation, pervaporation, and forward osmosis are processes leading to a mass transfer of solvent across an interface: gas/liquid for evaporation and solid/liquid (membrane) for pervaporation and osmosis. This Review provides comprehensive insight into the use of these processes at the microfluidic scales for applications ranging from passive pumping to the screening of phase diagrams and micromaterials engineering. Indeed, for a fixed interface relative to the microfluidic chip, these processes passively induce flows driven only by gradients of chemical potential. As a consequence, these passive-transport phenomena lead to an accumulation of solutes that cannot cross the interface and thus concentrate solutions in the microfluidic chip up to high concentration regimes, possibly up to solidification. The purpose of this Review is to provide a unified description of these processes and associated microfluidic applications to highlight the differences and similarities between these three passive-transport phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Bacchin
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Jacques Leng
- CNRS, Solvay, LOF, UMR 5258, Université de Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France
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Schroen K, Berton-Carabin C, Renard D, Marquis M, Boire A, Cochereau R, Amine C, Marze S. Droplet Microfluidics for Food and Nutrition Applications. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:863. [PMID: 34442486 PMCID: PMC8400250 DOI: 10.3390/mi12080863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics revolutionizes the way experiments and analyses are conducted in many fields of science, based on decades of basic research. Applied sciences are also impacted, opening new perspectives on how we look at complex matter. In particular, food and nutritional sciences still have many research questions unsolved, and conventional laboratory methods are not always suitable to answer them. In this review, we present how microfluidics have been used in these fields to produce and investigate various droplet-based systems, namely simple and double emulsions, microgels, microparticles, and microcapsules with food-grade compositions. We show that droplet microfluidic devices enable unprecedented control over their production and properties, and can be integrated in lab-on-chip platforms for in situ and time-resolved analyses. This approach is illustrated for on-chip measurements of droplet interfacial properties, droplet-droplet coalescence, phase behavior of biopolymer mixtures, and reaction kinetics related to food digestion and nutrient absorption. As a perspective, we present promising developments in the adjacent fields of biochemistry and microbiology, as well as advanced microfluidics-analytical instrument coupling, all of which could be applied to solve research questions at the interface of food and nutritional sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schroen
- Food Process and Engineering Group, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; (K.S.); (C.B.-C.)
| | - Claire Berton-Carabin
- Food Process and Engineering Group, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; (K.S.); (C.B.-C.)
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Denis Renard
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | | | - Adeline Boire
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Rémy Cochereau
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Chloé Amine
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Sébastien Marze
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
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Amine C, Boire A, Davy J, Reguerre AL, Papineau P, Renard D. Optimization of a Droplet-Based Millifluidic Device to Investigate the Phase Behavior of Biopolymers, Including Viscous Conditions. FOOD BIOPHYS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11483-020-09645-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Wang H, Khodaparast S, Carroll J, Kelly C, Robles ESJ, Cabral JT. A microfluidic-multiwell platform for rapid phase mapping of surfactant solutions. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:045109. [PMID: 32357682 DOI: 10.1063/1.5144770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Measurement of the phase behavior and (meta)stability of liquid formulations, including surfactant solutions, is required for the understanding of mixture thermodynamics, as well as their practical utilization. We report a microfluidic platform with a stepped temperature profile, imposed by a dual Peltier module, connected to an automated multiwell plate injector and optical setup, for rapid solution phase mapping. The measurement protocol is defined by the temperature step ΔT ≡ T1 - T2 (≲100 °C), volumetric flow rate Q ≡ ΔV/Δt (≲50 μl/min), which implicitly set the thermal gradient ΔT/Δt (≃0.1-50 °C/min), and measurement time (which must exceed the intrinsic timescale of the relevant phase transformation). Furthermore, U-shaped microchannels can assess the reversibility of such transformations, yielding a facile measurement of the metastable zone width of the phase diagram. By contrast with traditional approaches, the platform precisely controls the cooling and heating rates by tuning the flow rate, and the absolute temperature excursion by the hot and cold thermal profile, which remain stationary during operation, thus allowing the sequential and reproducible screening of large sample arrays. As a model system, we examined the transition from the micellar (L1) to the liquid crystalline lamellar phase (Lα), upon cooling, of aqueous solutions of sodium linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, a biodegradable anionic surfactant extensively employed in industry. Our findings are validated with quiescent optical microscopy and small angle neutron scattering data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Sepideh Khodaparast
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - John Carroll
- National Formulation Centre, Centre for Process Innovation, Sedgefield DL1 1GL, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Kelly
- National Formulation Centre, Centre for Process Innovation, Sedgefield DL1 1GL, United Kingdom
| | - Eric S J Robles
- Procter & Gamble, Newcastle Innovation Centre, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NE12 9TS, United Kingdom
| | - João T Cabral
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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9
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Streck S, Hong L, Boyd BJ, McDowell A. Microfluidics for the Production of Nanomedicines: Considerations for Polymer and Lipid-based Systems. Pharm Nanotechnol 2019; 7:423-443. [PMID: 31629401 DOI: 10.2174/2211738507666191019154815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microfluidics is becoming increasingly of interest as a superior technique for the synthesis of nanoparticles, particularly for their use in nanomedicine. In microfluidics, small volumes of liquid reagents are rapidly mixed in a microchannel in a highly controlled manner to form nanoparticles with tunable and reproducible structure that can be tailored for drug delivery. Both polymer and lipid-based nanoparticles are utilized in nanomedicine and both are amenable to preparation by microfluidic approaches. AIM Therefore, the purpose of this review is to collect the current state of knowledge on the microfluidic preparation of polymeric and lipid nanoparticles for pharmaceutical applications, including descriptions of the main synthesis modalities. Of special interest are the mechanisms involved in nanoparticle formation and the options for surface functionalisation to enhance cellular interactions. CONCLUSION The review will conclude with the identification of key considerations for the production of polymeric and lipid nanoparticles using microfluidic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Streck
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, 18 Frederick Street, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Linda Hong
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ben J Boyd
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Arlene McDowell
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, 18 Frederick Street, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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10
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Amine C, Boire A, Davy J, Marquis M, Renard D. Droplets-based millifluidic for the rapid determination of biopolymers phase diagrams. Food Hydrocoll 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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11
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Poulos AS, Jones CS, Cabral JT. Dissolution of anionic surfactant mesophases. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:5332-5340. [PMID: 28702657 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01096f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Linear and circular solvent penetration experiments are used to study the dissolution of anionic SLE3S surfactant mesophases in water. We show that a lamellar (Lα) phase in contact with water will transit through a series of cubic, hexagonal, and micellar phase bands with sharp interfaces identified from their optical textures. In both linear and circular geometries, the kinetics of front propagation and eventual dissolution are well described by diffusive penetration of water, and a simple model applies to both geometries, with a different effective diffusion coefficient for water Df as the only fitting parameter. Finally, we show a surprising variation of dissolution rates with initial surfactant concentration that can be well explained by assuming that the driving force for solvent penetration is the osmotic pressure difference between neat water and the aqueous fraction of the mesophase that is highly concentrated in surfactant counterions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas S Poulos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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12
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Bao B, Riordon J, Mostowfi F, Sinton D. Microfluidic and nanofluidic phase behaviour characterization for industrial CO 2, oil and gas. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:2740-2759. [PMID: 28731086 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00301c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic systems that leverage unique micro-scale phenomena have been developed to provide rapid, accurate and robust analysis, predominantly for biomedical applications. These attributes, in addition to the ability to access high temperatures and pressures, have motivated recent expanded applications in phase measurements relevant to industrial CO2, oil and gas applications. We here present a comprehensive review of this exciting new field, separating microfluidic and nanofluidic approaches. Microfluidics is practical, and provides similar phase properties analysis to established bulk methods with advantages in speed, control and sample size. Nanofluidic phase behaviour can deviate from bulk measurements, which is of particular relevance to emerging unconventional oil and gas production from nanoporous shale. In short, microfluidics offers a practical, compelling replacement of current bulk phase measurement systems, whereas nanofluidics is not practical, but uniquely provides insight into phase change phenomena at nanoscales. Challenges, trends and opportunities for phase measurements at both scales are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Bao
- Interface Fluidics, 11421 Saskatchewan Dr. NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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13
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Bouchaudy A, Loussert C, Salmon JB. Steady microfluidic measurements of mutual diffusion coefficients of liquid binary mixtures. AIChE J 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.15890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Bouchaudy
- CNRS, Solvay, LOF, UMR 5258; Univ. Bordeaux; Pessac F-33600 France
| | - Charles Loussert
- CNRS, Solvay, LOF, UMR 5258; Univ. Bordeaux; Pessac F-33600 France
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14
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Syms R. Rapid evaporation-driven chemical pre-concentration and separation on paper. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2017; 11:044116. [PMID: 28868109 PMCID: PMC5570596 DOI: 10.1063/1.4989627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Airflow-enhanced evaporation is investigated as a method for rapid chemical preconcentration on a thin porous substrate. The mechanism is described by combining 1D models of capillary rise, chromatography, and pervaporation concentration. It is shown that the effective length of the column can be shorter than its actual length, allowing concentrate to be held at a stagnation point and then released for separation, and that the Péclet number, which determines the concentration performance, is determined only by the substrate properties. The differential equations are solved dynamically, and it is shown that faster concentration can be achieved during capillary filling. Experiments are carried out using chromatography paper in a ducted airflow, and concentration is quantified by optical imaging of water-soluble food dyes. Good agreement with the model is obtained, and concentration factors of ≈100 are achieved in 10 min using Brilliant Blue FCF. Partial separation of Brilliant Blue from Tartrazine is demonstrated immediately following concentration, on a single unpatterned substrate. The mechanism may provide a method for improving the sensitivity of lab-on-paper devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Syms
- EEE Department, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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15
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Abstract
Water evaporation concerns all land-living organisms, as ambient air is dryer than their corresponding equilibrium humidity. Contrarily to plants, mammals are covered with a skin that not only hinders evaporation but also maintains its rate at a nearly constant value, independently of air humidity. Here, we show that simple amphiphiles/water systems reproduce this behavior, which suggests a common underlying mechanism originating from responding self-assembly structures. The composition and structure gradients arising from the evaporation process were characterized using optical microscopy, infrared microscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering. We observed a thin and dry outer phase that responds to changes in air humidity by increasing its thickness as the air becomes dryer, which decreases its permeability to water, thus counterbalancing the increase in the evaporation driving force. This thin and dry outer phase therefore shields the systems from humidity variations. Such a feedback loop achieves a homeostatic regulation of water evaporation.
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Laval C, Poulin P, Salmon JB. Investigation of the dynamics of growth of polymer materials obtained by combined pervaporation and micro-moulding. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:1810-9. [PMID: 26700069 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm02394g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report an extensive study of the concentration process of aqueous polymer solutions confined within microfluidic channels, owing to the pervaporation of water through the matrix of the chip. Concentration of polymer continuously increases up to the formation of a dense material which eventually invades the channel. This technology can be used to fabricate micro-composites of different shapes starting from dilute inks. We use both theory and screening experiments to show that the dynamics of growth can be predicted by simple conservation equations. More precisely, we establish a quantitative prediction of the growth dynamics taking into account deformations of the soft channels of the moulds, and the solvent chemical activity of the polymer solution. The present results based on general transport equations for binary mixtures provide direct guidance for the design of micro-fabricated materials considering their shape, dimensions, time scale of fabrication, and chemical composition. This quantitative framework is indeed essential to engineer integrated polymer-based micro-devices by using combined pervaporation and microfluidic moulding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cédric Laval
- CNRS, Solvay, LOF, UMR 5258, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France.
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17
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Ziane N, Salmon JB. Solidification of a Charged Colloidal Dispersion Investigated Using Microfluidic Pervaporation. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2015; 31:7943-52. [PMID: 26131999 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b01563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the dynamics of solidification of a charged colloidal dispersion using an original microfluidic technique referred to as micropervaporation. This technique exploits pervaporation within a microfluidic channel to extract the solvent of a dilute colloidal dispersion. Pervaporation concentrates the colloids in a controlled way up to the tip of the channel until a wet solid made of closely packed colloids grows and invades the microfluidic channel. For the charged dispersion under study, we however evidence a liquid to solid transition (LST) preceding the formation of the solid, owing to the presence of long-range electrostatic interactions. This LST is associated with the nucleation and growth of domains confined in the channel. These domains are then compacted anisotropically up to forming a wet solid of closely packed colloids. This solid then invades the whole channel as in directional drying with a growth rate which depends on the microfluidic geometry. In the final steps of the solidification, we observed the occurrence of cracks and shear bands, the delamination of the wet solid from the channel walls, and its invasion by a receding air front. Interestingly, this air front follows specific patterns within the solid which reveal different microscopic colloidal organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Ziane
- CNRS, Solvay, LOF, UMR 5258, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33600 Pessac, France
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18
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Blumenschein NA, Han D, Caggioni M, Steckl AJ. Magnetic particles as liquid carriers in the microfluidic lab-in-tube approach to detect phase change. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2014; 6:8066-8072. [PMID: 24827028 DOI: 10.1021/am502845p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic beads (MBs) with ∼1.9 μm average diameter were used to transport specific microliter-scale volumes of liquids between adjacent reservoirs within a closed tube under the influence of a magnetic field. The tube's inner surface is coated with a hydrophobic layer, enabling the formation of a surface tension valve by inserting an air gap between reservoirs. This transfer process was implemented by keeping the MBs stationary with a fixed external magnet while the liquid reservoirs were translated by a computer-controlled syringe pump system. The magnet induces the aggregation of MBs in a loosely packed cluster (void volume ∼90-95%) against the tube's inner wall. The liquid trapped in the MB cluster is transported across the air gap between reservoirs. Fluorescence intensity from a dye placed in one reservoir is used to measure the volume of liquid transferred between reservoirs. The carry-over liquid volume is controlled by the mass of the MBs within the device. The typical volume of liquid carried by the MB cluster is ∼2 to 3 μL/mg of beads, allowing the use of small samples. This technique can be used to study the effect of small compositional variation on the properties of fluid mixtures. The feasibility of this "lab-in-tube" approach for binary phase diagram determination in a water-surfactant (C12E5) system was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Blumenschein
- Nanoelectronics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing Systems, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0030, United States
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Khvostichenko DS, Kondrashkina E, Perry SL, Pawate AS, Brister K, Kenis PJ. An X-ray transparent microfluidic platform for screening of the phase behavior of lipidic mesophases. Analyst 2013; 138:5384-95. [PMID: 23882463 PMCID: PMC3800112 DOI: 10.1039/c3an01174g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Lipidic mesophases are a class of highly ordered soft materials that form when certain lipids are mixed with water. Understanding the relationship between the composition and the microstructure of mesophases is necessary for fundamental studies of self-assembly in amphiphilic systems and for applications, such as the crystallization of membrane proteins. However, the laborious formulation protocol for highly viscous mesophases and the large amounts of material required for sample formulation are significant obstacles in such studies. Here we report a microfluidic platform that facilitates investigations of the phase behavior of mesophases by reducing sample consumption 300-fold, and automating and parallelizing sample formulation. The mesophases were formulated on-chip using less than 80 nL of material per sample and their microstructure was analyzed in situ using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The 220 μm-thick X-ray compatible platform was comprised of thin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layers sandwiched between cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) sheets. Uniform mesophases were prepared using an active on-chip mixing strategy coupled with periodic cooling of the sample to reduce viscosity. We validated the platform by preparing and analyzing mesophases of the lipid monoolein (MO) mixed with aqueous solutions of different concentrations of β-octylglucoside (βOG), a detergent frequently used in membrane protein crystallization. Four samples were prepared in parallel on chip, by first metering and automatically diluting βOG to obtain detergent solutions of different concentration, then metering MO, and finally mixing by actuation of pneumatic valves. Integration of detergent dilution and subsequent mixing significantly reduced the number of manual steps needed for sample preparation. Three different types of mesophases typical for MO were successfully identified in SAXS data from on-chip samples. Microstructural parameters of identical samples formulated in different chips showed excellent agreement. Phase behavior of samples on-chip (~80 nL per sample) corresponded well with that of samples prepared via the traditional coupled-syringe method using at least two orders of magnitude more material ("off-chip", 35-40 μL per sample), further validating the applicability of the microfluidic platform for on-chip characterization of mesophase microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria S. Khvostichenko
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA. Tel:+1-217-265-0523
| | - Elena Kondrashkina
- Northwestern University, Synchrotron Research Center, LS-CAT, Argonne, IL, USA. Fax: +1-630-252-4664; Tel: +1-630-343-9532
| | - Sarah L. Perry
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA. Tel:+1-217-265-0523
| | - Ashtamurthy S. Pawate
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA. Tel:+1-217-265-0523
| | - Keith Brister
- Northwestern University, Synchrotron Research Center, LS-CAT, Argonne, IL, USA. Fax: +1-630-252-4664; Tel: +1-630-343-9532
| | - Paul J.A. Kenis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Matthews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801 USA. Tel:+1-217-265-0523
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Daubersies L, Leng J, Salmon JB. Steady and out-of-equilibrium phase diagram of a complex fluid at the nanolitre scale: combining microevaporation, confocal Raman imaging and small angle X-ray scattering. LAB ON A CHIP 2013; 13:910-919. [PMID: 23319166 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc41207a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We engineered specific microfluidic devices based on the pervaporation of water through a PDMS membrane, to formulate continuous and steady concentration gradients of a binary aqueous molecular mixture at the nanolitre scale. In the case of a model complex fluid (a triblock copolymer solution), we demonstrate that such a steady gradient crosses the phase diagram from pure water up to a succession of highly viscous mesophases. We then performed in situ spatially resolved measurements (confocal spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering) to quantitatively measure the concentration profile and to determine the microstructure of the different textures. Within a single microfluidic channel, we thus screen quantitatively and continuously the phase diagram of a complex fluid. Beside, as such a gradient corresponds to an out-of-equilibrium regime, we also extract from the concentration measurement a precise estimate of the collective diffusion coefficient of the mixture as a function of the concentration. In the present case of the triblock copolymer, this transport coefficient features discontinuities at some phase boundaries, which have never been observed before.
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Merlin A, Angly J, Daubersies L, Madeira C, Schöder S, Leng J, Salmon JB. Time-resolved microfocused small-angle X-ray scattering investigation of the microfluidic concentration of charged nanoparticles. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2011; 34:58. [PMID: 21674320 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2011-11058-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We describe the concentration process of a dispersion of silica nanoparticles undergoing evaporation in a dedicated microfluidic device. Using microfocused small-angle X-ray scattering, we measure in time and space both the concentration field of the dispersion and its structure factor. We show that the electrostatic interactions affect the concentration rate by strongly enhancing the collective diffusion coefficient of the nanoparticle dispersion. En route towards high concentrations, the nanoparticles eventually undergo a liquid-solid phase transition in which we evidence crystallites of micron size.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Merlin
- UMR Rhodia-CNRS-Bordeaux, Pessac cedex, France
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Puleo CM, Wang TH. Microfluidic means of achieving attomolar detection limits with molecular beacon probes. LAB ON A CHIP 2009; 9:1065-72. [PMID: 19350088 PMCID: PMC3000354 DOI: 10.1039/b819605b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
We used inline, micro-evaporators to concentrate and transport DNA targets to a nanoliter single molecule fluorescence detection chamber for subsequent molecular beacon probe hybridization and analysis. This use of solvent removal as a unique means of target transport in a microanalytical platform led to a greater than 5000-fold concentration enhancement and detection limits that pushed below the femtomolar barrier commonly reported using confocal fluorescence detection. This simple microliter-to-nanoliter interconnect for single molecule counting analysis resolved several common limitations, including the need for excessive fluorescent probe concentrations at low target levels and inefficiencies in direct handling of highly dilute biological samples. In this report, the hundreds of bacteria-specific DNA molecules contained in approximately 25 microliters of a 50 aM sample were shuttled to a four nanoliter detection chamber through micro-evaporation. Here, the previously undetectable targets were enhanced to the pM regime and underwent probe hybridization and highly-efficient fluorescent event analysis via microfluidic recirculation through the confocal detection volume. This use of microfluidics in a single molecule detection (SMD) platform delivered unmatched sensitivity and introduced compliment technologies that may serve to bring SMD to more widespread use in replacing conventional methodologies for detecting rare target biomolecules in both research and clinical labs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Puleo
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3400 N. Charles St., Clark Hall Rm. 123, Baltimore, MD, USA. Fax: 410-516-4771; Tel: 410-516-7576;
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 3400 N. Charles St., Clark Hall Rm. 123, Baltimore, MD, USA. Fax: 410-516-4771; Tel: 410-516-7576;
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Schindler M, Ajdari A. Modeling phase behavior for quantifying micro-pervaporation experiments. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2009; 28:27-45. [PMID: 19139940 DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2008-10419-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2008] [Accepted: 11/19/2008] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We present a theoretical model for the evolution of mixture concentrations in a micro-pervaporation device, similar to those recently presented experimentally. The described device makes use of the pervaporation of water through a thin PDMS membrane to build up a solute concentration profile inside a long microfluidic channel. We simplify the evolution of this profile in binary mixtures to a one-dimensional model which comprises two concentration-dependent coefficients. The model then provides a link between directly accessible experimental observations, such as the widths of dense phases or their growth velocity, and the underlying chemical potentials and phenomenological coefficients. It shall thus be useful for quantifying the thermodynamic and dynamic properties of dilute and dense binary mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Schindler
- Laboratoire PCT, UMR Gulliver CNRS-ESPCI 7083, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France.
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