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Zheng J, Zhang W, Gong Y, Liang W, Leng Y. A novel near-infrared polymethine dye biosensor for rapid and selective detection of lithocholic acid. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 259:116383. [PMID: 38749286 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116383] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Lithocholic acid (LCA), a secondary bile acid, has emerged as a potential early diagnostic biomarker for various liver diseases. In this study, we introduce a novel near-infrared (NIR) polymethine dye-based biosensor, capable of sensitive and selective detection of LCA in phosphate buffer and artificial urine (AU) solutions. The detection mechanism relies on the formation of J-aggregates resulting from the interplay of 3,3-Diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide (DiSC2(7)) dye molecules and LCA, which induces a distinctive red shift in both absorption and fluorescence spectra. The biosensor demonstrates a detection limit for LCA of 70 μM in PBS solution (pH 7.4), while in AU solution, it responds to an LCA concentration as low as ∼60 μM. Notably, the proposed biosensor exhibits outstanding selectivity for LCA, effectively distinguishing it from common interferents such as uric acid, ascorbic acid, and glucose. This rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective spectrometer-based method underscores its potential for early diagnosis of liver diseases by monitoring LCA concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlu Zheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China; Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8505, Japan
| | - Wencui Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China; Equipe Chimie des Polymères, Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (UMR-CNRS 8232), Sorbonne Université, 75252, Paris, France
| | - Yanli Gong
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Wenlang Liang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China.
| | - Yongxiang Leng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Technologies of Materials, Ministry of Education and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
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2
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Pradhan SR, Pathinti RS, Kandimalla R, Chithari K, Veeramalla N MR, Vallamkondu J. Label-free detection of Aβ-42: a liquid crystal droplet approach for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. RSC Adv 2024; 14:12107-12118. [PMID: 38628477 PMCID: PMC11019351 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra00615a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
This study introduces a biosensor based on liquid crystals (LC) designed to detect the Aβ-42 biomarker, commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease. The sensor utilizes LC droplets created using a PEI/Tween-20 surfactant mixture, arranged radially in an aqueous solution. These droplets are coated with the Aβ1-16 antibody, enabling the detection of the Aβ1-42 biomarker. The key advantage of this biosensor lies in its ability to directly translate the antigen-antibody interaction into a change in the molecular orientation of the LC droplets, simplifying the detection process by removing additional procedural steps. Specifically, this immunoassay induces a transformation in the nematic droplets orientation from radial to bipolar upon successful antigen binding. When only the Aβ1-16 antibody coated the LC droplets, no change in orientation was detected, confirming the reaction's specificity. The orientation shift in the LC droplets indicates the formation of an immunocomplex between the Aβ1-16 antibody and the Aβ1-42 antigen. The LC droplet immunoassay effectively detected Aβ1-42 antigen concentrations ranging from 45 to 112.5 μM, with the Aβ1-16 antibody immobilized on the droplets at a concentration of 1 μg mL-1. These findings suggest that the LC microdroplets' orientational behavior can be harnessed to develop a biosensor for the in vivo detection of various proteins or pathogens in a PBS aqueous medium. Owing to its label-free nature and distinct optical signaling, this LC droplet-based immunoassay holds promise for further development into a cost-effective, portable diagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- Department of Biochemistry, Kakatiya Medical College Warangal 506007 India
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3
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Piñeres-Quiñones OH, Oñate-Socarras MK, Wang F, Lynn DM, Acevedo-Vélez C. Pickering Emulsions of Thermotropic Liquid Crystals Stabilized by Amphiphilic Gold Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 38320298 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
We report emulsions of thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) in water that are stabilized using amphiphilic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and retain their ability to respond to aqueous analytes for extended periods (e.g., up to 1 year after preparation). These LC emulsions exhibit exceptional colloidal stability that results from the adsorption of AuNPs that are functionalized with thiol-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-thiol) and hexadecanethiol (C16-thiol) to LC droplet interfaces. These stabilized LC emulsions respond to the presence of model anionic (SDS), cationic (C12TAB), and nonionic (C12E4) surfactants in the surrounding aqueous media, as evidenced by ordering transitions in the LC droplets that can be readily observed using polarized light microscopy. Our results reveal significant differences in the sensitivity of the stabilized LC droplets toward each of these analytes. In particular, these stabilized droplets can detect the cationic C12TAB at concentrations that are lower than those required for bare LC droplets under similar experimental conditions (0.5 and 2 mM, respectively). These results demonstrate an enhanced sensitivity of the LC toward C12TAB when the PEG/C16-thiol-coated AuNPs are adsorbed at LC droplet interfaces. In contrast, the concentrations of SDS required to observe optical transformations in the stabilized LC droplets are higher than those required for the bare LC droplets, suggesting that the presence of the PEG/C16-thiol AuNPs reduces the sensitivity of the LC toward this analyte. When combined, our results show that this Pickering stabilization approach using amphiphilic AuNPs as stabilizing agents for LC-in-water emulsions provides a promising platform for developing LC droplet-based optical sensors with long-term colloidal stability as well as opportunities to tune the sensitivity and selectivity of the response to target aqueous analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar H Piñeres-Quiñones
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681-9000, United States
| | - Maria K Oñate-Socarras
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681-9000, United States
| | - Fengrui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - David M Lynn
- Department of Chemistry, 1101 University Avenue, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, 1415 Engineering Drive, University of Wisconsin─Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Claribel Acevedo-Vélez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR 00681-9000, United States
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4
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Fameau AL, Bordes R, Evenäs L, Stubenrauch C. Liquid foams as sensors for the detection of biomarkers. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 651:987-991. [PMID: 37586153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.061] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioassays are widely used in healthcare to detect and quantify biomarkers, such as molecules or enzymes, which are crucial in monitoring diseases and health conditions. In developed countries, healthcare professionals use specialized reagents and equipment's to perform these bioassays. However, in less-industrialized countries, the creation of low cost, fast, and technically simple bioassays is required. Herein, we propose a simple approach for detecting biochemical markers using host-guest complexes containing a surfactant. When the biochemical marker is present, the host-guest complex is disrupted, releasing the surfactant and producing foam. The read-out mechanism relies on the change of foam volume as function of biomarker concentration. This change is quantifiable by the naked eye and can be measured with a simple ruler. We claim that the use of foams as sensing tool is an attractive, inexpensive, fast, and easy to handle on-site detection method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Fameau
- INRAe, University Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, UMET, 59000 Lille, France.
| | - Romain Bordes
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Lars Evenäs
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Cosima Stubenrauch
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
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5
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Aery S, Parry A, Araiza-Calahorra A, Evans SD, Gleeson HF, Dan A, Sarkar A. Ultra-stable liquid crystal droplets coated by sustainable plant-based materials for optical sensing of chemical and biological analytes. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY. C 2023; 11:5831-5845. [PMID: 37153011 PMCID: PMC10158717 DOI: 10.1039/d3tc00598d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of ultra-stable, spherical, nematic liquid crystal (LC) droplets of narrow size polydispersity coated by sustainable, biodegradable, plant-based materials that trigger a typical bipolar-to-radial configurational transition in dynamic response to chemical and biological analytes. Specifically, a highly soluble polymer, potato protein (PoP) and a physically-crosslinked potato protein microgel (PoPM) of ∼100 nm in diameter, prepared from the PoP, a byproduct of the starch industry, were compared for their ability to coat LC droplets. Although both PoP and PoPM were capable of reducing the interfacial tension between water and n-tetradecane <30 mN m-1, PoPM-coated LC droplets showed better stability than the PoP-coated droplets via a Pickering-like mechanism. Strikingly, the Pickering LC droplets outperformed PoP-stabilized droplets in terms of dynamic response with 5× lower detection limit to model chemical analytes (sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS) due to the difference in SDS-binding features between the protein and the microgel. To eliminate the effect of size polydispersity on the response, monodisperse Pickering LC droplets of diameter ∼16 μm were additionally obtained using microfluidics, which mirrored the response to chemical as well as biological analytes, i.e., primary bile acid, an important biomarker of liver diseases. We demonstrate that these eco-friendly microgels used for creating monodisperse, ultra-stable, LC complex colloids are powerful templates for fabricating next generation, sustainable optical sensors for early diagnosis in clinical settings and other sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Aery
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University Chandigarh 160014 India
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Adele Parry
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Andrea Araiza-Calahorra
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Stephen D Evans
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Helen F Gleeson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Abhijit Dan
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University Chandigarh 160014 India
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Simhat Haringhata West Bengal 741249 India
| | - Anwesha Sarkar
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds LS2 9JT UK
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6
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Stabilizing liquid crystal droplets with hydrogel films and its application in monitoring adenosine triphosphate. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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7
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Liquid Crystal Droplet-Based Biosensors: Promising for Point-of-Care Testing. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090758. [PMID: 36140143 PMCID: PMC9496589 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of biosensing platforms has been impressively accelerated by advancements in liquid crystal (LC) technology. High response rate, easy operation, and good stability of the LC droplet-based biosensors are all benefits of the long-range order of LC molecules. Bioprobes emerged when LC droplets were combined with biotechnology, and these bioprobes are used extensively for disease diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. The LC droplet biosensors have high sensitivity and excellent selectivity, making them an attractive tool for the label-free, economical, and real-time detection of different targets. Portable devices work well as the accessory kits for LC droplet-based biosensors to make them easier to use by anyone for on-site monitoring of targets. Herein, we offer a review of the latest developments in the design of LC droplet-based biosensors for qualitative target monitoring and quantitative target analysis.
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8
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Wang H, Wei Z, Vagin SI, Zhang X, Rieger B, Meldrum A. Ultrasensitive Picomolar Detection of Aqueous Acids in Microscale Fluorescent Droplets. ACS Sens 2022; 7:245-252. [PMID: 34936335 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c02076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We report on a fluorescent-droplet-based acid-sensing scheme that allows limits of detection below 100 pM for weak acids. The concept is based on a strong partitioning of acid from an aqueous phase into octanol droplets. Using salicylic acid as a demonstration, we show that at a high concentration, the acid partitions into the organic phase by a factor of 260, which is approximately consistent with literature values. However, at lower concentrations, we obtain a partition coefficient as high as 106, which is partly responsible for the excellent sensing performance. The enhanced equilibrium partitioning is likely due to the interaction of the dissociated acid phase with the sensor dye employed for this work. The effect of droplet size was determined, after which we derived a simple model to predict the time dependence of the color change as a function of droplet size. This work shows that color-change fluorescent-droplet-based detection is a promising avenue that can lead to exceptional sensing performance from an aqueous analyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Zixiang Wei
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Sergei I. Vagin
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Xuehua Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Bernhard Rieger
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Alkiviathes Meldrum
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
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9
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Piñeres-Quiñones OH, Lynn DM, Acevedo-Vélez C. Environmentally Responsive Emulsions of Thermotropic Liquid Crystals with Exceptional Long-Term Stability and Enhanced Sensitivity to Aqueous Amphiphiles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:957-967. [PMID: 35001623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We report colloidally stable emulsions of thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) that can detect the presence of amphiphilic analytes in aqueous environments. Our approach makes use of a Pickering stabilization strategy consisting of surfactant-nanoparticle complexes (SiO2/CnTAB, n = 8, 12, 16) that adsorb to aqueous/LC droplet interfaces. This strategy can stabilize LC emulsions against coalescence for at least 3 months. These stabilized LC emulsions also retain the ability to respond to the presence of model anionic, cationic, and nonionic amphiphiles (e.g., SDS, C12TAB, C12E4) in aqueous solutions by undergoing "bipolar-to-radial" changes in LC droplet configurations that can be readily observed and quantified using polarized light microscopy. Our results reveal these ordering transitions to depend upon the length of the hydrocarbon tail of the CnTAB surfactant used to form the stabilizing complexes. In general, increasing CnTAB surfactant tail length leads to droplets that respond at lower analyte concentrations, demonstrating that this Pickering stabilization strategy can be used to tune the sensitivities of the stabilized LC droplets. Finally, we demonstrate that these colloidally stable LC droplets can report the presence of rhamnolipid, a biosurfactant produced by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Overall, our results demonstrate that this Pickering stabilization strategy provides a useful tool for the design of LC droplet-based sensors with substantially improved colloidal stability and new strategies to tune their sensitivities. These advances could increase the potential practical utility of these responsive soft materials as platforms for the detection and reporting of chemical and biological analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar H Piñeres-Quiñones
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681-9000, United States
| | - David M Lynn
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Claribel Acevedo-Vélez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Call Box 9000, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico 00681-9000, United States
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10
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Khan M, Liu S, Qi L, Ma C, Munir S, Yu L, Hu Q. Liquid crystal-based sensors for the detection of biomarkers at the aqueous/LC interface. Trends Analyt Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2021.116434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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11
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Applications of Microfluidics in Liquid Crystal-Based Biosensors. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11100385. [PMID: 34677341 PMCID: PMC8534167 DOI: 10.3390/bios11100385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) with stimuli-responsive configuration transition and optical anisotropic properties have attracted enormous interest in the development of simple and label-free biosensors. The combination of microfluidics and the LCs offers great advantages over traditional LC-based biosensors including small sample consumption, fast analysis and low cost. Moreover, microfluidic techniques provide a promising tool to fabricate uniform and reproducible LC-based sensing platforms. In this review, we emphasize the recent development of microfluidics in the fabrication and integration of LC-based biosensors, including LC planar sensing platforms and LC droplets. Fabrication and integration of LC-based planar platforms with microfluidics for biosensing applications are first introduced. The generation and entrapment of monodisperse LC droplets with different microfluidic structures, as well as their applications in the detection of chemical and biological species, are then summarized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensors are proposed. This review will promote the understanding of microfluidic techniques in LC-based biosensors and facilitate the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensing devices with high performance.
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12
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Patel M, Radhakrishnan ANP, Bescher L, Hunter-Sellars E, Schmidt-Hansberg B, Amstad E, Ibsen S, Guldin S. Temperature-induced liquid crystal microdroplet formation in a partially miscible liquid mixture. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:947-954. [PMID: 33284300 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01742f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-in-liquid droplets are typically generated by the partitioning of immiscible fluids, e.g. by mechanical shearing with macroscopic homogenisers or microfluidic flow focussing. In contrast, partially miscible liquids with a critical solution temperature display a temperature-dependent mixing behaviour. In this work, we demonstrate how, for a blend of methanol (MeOH) and the thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) 4-Cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB), cooling from a miscible to an immiscible state allows the controlled formation of microdroplets. A near-room-temperature-induced phase separation leads to nucleation, growth and coalescence of mesogen-rich droplets. The size and number of the droplets is tunable on the microscopic scale by variation of temperature quench depth and cooling rate. Further cooling induces a phase transition to nematic droplets with radial configuration, well-defined sizes and stability over the course of an hour. This temperature-induced approach offers a scalable and reversible alternative to droplet formation with relevance in diagnostics, optoelectronics, materials templating and extraction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehzabin Patel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
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13
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Dan A, Aery S, Zhang S, Baker DL, Gleeson HF, Sarkar A. Protein Microgel-Stabilized Pickering Liquid Crystal Emulsions Undergo Analyte-Triggered Configurational Transition. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:10091-10102. [PMID: 32787024 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report a novel approach that involves Pickering stabilization of micometer-sized liquid crystal (LC) droplets with biocompatible soft materials such as a whey protein microgel (WPM) to facilitate the analysis of analyte-induced configurational transition of the LC droplets. The WPM particles were able to irreversibly adsorb at the LC-water interface, and the resulting WPM-stabilized LC droplets possessed a remarkable stability against coalescence over time. Although the LC droplets were successfully protected by a continuous network of the WPM layer, the LC-water interface was still accessible for small molecules such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) that could diffuse through the meshes of the adsorbed WPM network or through the interfacial pores and induce an LC response. This approach was exploited to investigate the dynamic range of the WPM-stabilized LC droplet response to SDS. Nevertheless, the presence of the unadsorbed WPM in the aqueous medium reduced the access of SDS molecules to the LC droplets, thus suppressing the configuration transition. An improved LC response to SDS with a lower detection limit was achieved after washing off the unadsorbed WPM. Interestingly, the LC exhibited a detection limit as low as ∼0.85 mM for SDS within the initial WPM concentration ranging from 0.005 to 0.1 wt %. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the dose-response behavior was strongly influenced by the number of droplets exposed to the aqueous analytes and the type of surfactants such as anionic SDS, cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and nonionic tetra(ethylene glycol)monododecyl ether (C12E4). Thus, our results address key issues associated with the quantification of aqueous analytes and provide a promising colloidal platform toward the development of new classes of biocompatible LC droplet-based optical sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Dan
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Shikha Aery
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University - Chandigarh, Sector 14, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Shuning Zhang
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Daniel L Baker
- Soft Matter Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Helen F Gleeson
- Soft Matter Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
| | - Anwesha Sarkar
- Food Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K
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14
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Han X, Han D, Zeng J, Deng J, Hu N, Yang J. Fabrication and performance of monodisperse liquid crystal droplet-based microchips for the on-chip detection of bile acids. Microchem J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.105057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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15
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Chattaraj R, Blum NT, Goodwin AP. Design and Application of Stimulus-Responsive Droplets and Bubbles Stabilized by Phospholipid Monolayers. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 40:14-24. [PMID: 31086500 PMCID: PMC6510502 DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Biomimetic colloidal particles are promising agents for biosensing, but current technologies fall far short of Nature's capabilities for sensing, assessing, and responding to stimuli. Phospholipid-containing cell membranes are capable of binding and responding to an enormous variety of biomolecules by virtue of membrane organization and the presence of receptor proteins. By tuning the composition and functionalization of simulated membranes, soft colloids such as droplets and bubbles can be designed to respond to various stimuli. Moreover, because lipid monolayers can surround almost any hydrophobic phase, the interior of the colloid can be selected to provide a sensitive readout, for example in the form of optical microscopy or acoustic detection. In this work, we review some advances made by our group and others in the formulation of lipid-coated particles with different internal phases such as fluorocarbons, hydrocarbons, or liquid crystals. In some cases, binding or displacement of stabilizing lipids gives rise to conformational changes or disruptions in local membrane geometry, which can be amplified by the interior phase. In other cases, multivalent analytes can promote aggregation or even membrane fusion, which can be utilized for optical or acoustic readout. By highlighting a few recent examples, we hope to show that lipid monolayers represent an extremely versatile biosensing platform that can react to and detect biomolecules by leveraging the unique capabilities of phospholipid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajarshi Chattaraj
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder. Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Nicholas T. Blum
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. University of Colorado Boulder. Boulder, CO 80303
| | - Andrew P. Goodwin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. University of Colorado Boulder. Boulder, CO 80303
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16
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Wang X, Zhou Y, Kim YK, Tsuei M, Yang Y, de Pablo JJ, Abbott NL. Thermally reconfigurable Janus droplets with nematic liquid crystalline and isotropic perfluorocarbon oil compartments. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:2580-2590. [PMID: 30816895 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02600a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We report that mixtures of perfluorocarbon oils and hydrocarbon mesogens can be used to prepare multi-compartment (Janus) emulsion drops comprising coexisting nematic liquid crystalline (LC) and isotropic oil phases. The droplets exhibit stable spherical shapes with internal Janus-type morphologies that can be tuned widely through changes in temperature or adsorbates. In particular, we observe evidence of preferential adsorption of hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon surfactants on the interfaces of nematic versus isotropic domains, respectively, providing added control over the droplet structure. Comparisons of experiments and numerical simulations using a Landau-de Gennes continuum model provide insight into the relative importance of the LC elasticity and orientational-dependent interfacial energies on droplet morphologies and properties. We show that the hierarchical organization of the LC compartments generates optical properties and responsiveness not found in emulsions of isotropic oils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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17
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Deng J, Wang X, Liang W, Richardson D, Lu Q, Fang J. Surface modified liquid crystal droplets as an optical probe for the detection of bile acids in microfluidic channels. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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18
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Verma I, Sidiq S, Pal SK. Poly(l-lysine)-Coated Liquid Crystal Droplets for Sensitive Detection of DNA and Their Applications in Controlled Release of Drug Molecules. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:7936-7945. [PMID: 30023567 PMCID: PMC6045355 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b01175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Interactions between DNA and adsorbed poly(l-lysine) (PLL) on liquid crystal (LC) droplets were investigated using polarizing optical microcopy and epi-fluorescence microscopy. Earlier, we demonstrated that adsorption of PLL to the LC/aqueous interface resulted in homeotropic orientation of the LC and thus exhibited a radial configuration of the LC confined within the droplets. Subsequent adsorption of DNA (single-stranded DNA/double-stranded DNA) at PLL-coated LC droplets was found to trigger an LC reorientation within the droplets, leading to preradial/bipolar configuration of those droplets. To our surprise, subsequent exposure of complementary ssDNA to ssDNA/adsorbed PLL-modified LC droplets did not cause the LC reorientation. This is likely due to the formation of polyplexes (DNA-PLL complex) as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In addition, dsDNA-adsorbed PLL droplets have been found to be effectively useful to displace (controlled release) propidium iodide (a model drug) encapsulated within dsDNA over time. These observations suggest the potential for a label-free droplet-based LC detection system that can respond to DNA and may provide a simple method to develop DNA-based drug nanocarriers.
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19
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Hussain A, Semeano ATS, Palma SICJ, Pina AS, Almeida J, Medrado BF, Pádua ACCS, Carvalho AL, Dionísio M, Li RWC, Gamboa H, Ulijn RV, Gruber J, Roque ACA. Tunable Gas Sensing Gels by Cooperative Assembly. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2017; 27:1700803. [PMID: 28747856 PMCID: PMC5524183 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201700803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The cooperative assembly of biopolymers and small molecules can yield functional materials with precisely tunable properties. Here, the fabrication, characterization, and use of multicomponent hybrid gels as selective gas sensors are reported. The gels are composed of liquid crystal droplets self-assembled in the presence of ionic liquids, which further coassemble with biopolymers to form stable matrices. Each individual component can be varied and acts cooperatively to tune gels' structure and function. The unique molecular environment in hybrid gels is explored for supramolecular recognition of volatile compounds. Gels with distinct compositions are used as optical and electrical gas sensors, yielding a combinatorial response conceptually mimicking olfactory biological systems, and tested to distinguish volatile organic compounds and to quantify ethanol in automotive fuel. The gel response is rapid, reversible, and reproducible. These robust, versatile, modular, pliant electro-optical soft materials possess new possibilities in sensing triggered by chemical and physical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Hussain
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana T. S. Semeano
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Susana I. C. J. Palma
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Pina
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), City University of New York, New York 10031, USA
| | - José Almeida
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Bárbara F. Medrado
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Ana C. C. S. Pádua
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Ana L. Carvalho
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Madalena Dionísio
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Rosamaria W. C. Li
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brasil; Centro Universitário Estácio Radial de São Paulo, Vila dos Remédios, CEP 05107-001 São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Hugo Gamboa
- Laboratório de Instrumentação, Engenharia Biomédica e Física da Radiação (LIBPhys-UNL), Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Monte da Caparica, 2892-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Rein V. Ulijn
- Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), City University of New York, New York 10031, USA; Hunter College, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; PhD Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jonas Gruber
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748 CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Ana C. A. Roque
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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20
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Liquid crystal-based capillary sensory platform for the detection of bile acids. Chem Phys Lipids 2017; 204:10-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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21
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Sidiq S, Prasad GVRK, Mukhopadhaya A, Pal SK. Poly(l-lysine)-Coated Liquid Crystal Droplets for Cell-Based Sensing Applications. J Phys Chem B 2017; 121:4247-4256. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sumyra Sidiq
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and §Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISERM), Knowledge
City, Sector-81, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, India
| | - G. V. R. Krishna Prasad
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and §Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISERM), Knowledge
City, Sector-81, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, India
| | - Arunika Mukhopadhaya
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and §Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISERM), Knowledge
City, Sector-81, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, India
| | - Santanu Kumar Pal
- Department
of Chemical Sciences and §Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISERM), Knowledge
City, Sector-81, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, India
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22
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Detecting trypsin at liquid crystal/aqueous interface by using surface-immobilized bovine serum albumin. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 78:213-220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.11.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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Deng J, Lu X, Constant C, Dogariu A, Fang J. Design of β-CD-surfactant complex-coated liquid crystal droplets for the detection of cholic acid via competitive host-guest recognition. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 51:8912-5. [PMID: 25892566 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc01561h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
β-CD-C14TAB complex-coated 5CB droplets are designed by the adsorption of β-CD-C14TAB complexes at the 5CB/aqueous interface. We show that the 5CB droplets can be used as an optical probe for the selective detection of cholic acid in aqueous solution containing uric acid and urea via competitive host-guest recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinan Deng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.
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24
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Lee K, Gupta KC, Park SY, Kang IK. Anti-IgG-anchored liquid crystal microdroplets for label free detection of IgG. J Mater Chem B 2016; 4:704-715. [DOI: 10.1039/c5tb02131f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
AIgG anchored LC microdroplets showing configurational transition from radial (a) to bipolar (b) upon interaction with IgG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyubae Lee
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Kailash Chandra Gupta
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
- Polymer Research Laboratory
| | - Soo-Young Park
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Inn-Kyu Kang
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
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25
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Ding W, Gupta KC, Park SY, Kim YK, Kang IK. In vitro detection of human breast cancer cells (SK-BR3) using herceptin-conjugated liquid crystal microdroplets as a sensing platform. Biomater Sci 2016; 4:1473-84. [DOI: 10.1039/c6bm00404k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Polarized light micrographs showing bipolar orientation of 5CB molecules in herceptin-conjugated LC microdroplets on selective interactions with SK-BR3 cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Ding
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- South Korea
| | - Kailash Chandra Gupta
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- South Korea
- Polymer Research Laboratory
| | - Soo-Young Park
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- South Korea
| | - Young-Kyoo Kim
- Organic Electronic Laboratory
- Department of Chemical Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- South Korea
| | - Inn-Kyu Kang
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- South Korea
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26
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Ma CD, Adamiak L, Miller DS, Wang X, Gianneschi NC, Abbott NL. Liquid Crystal Interfaces Programmed with Enzyme-Responsive Polymers and Surfactants. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2015; 11:5747-5751. [PMID: 26418129 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201502137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Synthesis of biologically active peptide-polymer amphiphiles (PPAs), and characterization of assemblies formed by PPAs at the interfaces of liquid crystal (LC) microdroplets, is shown to permit the use of PPAs in strategies that can trigger ordering transitions in LC microdroplets in response to targeted biomolecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Derek Ma
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Lisa Adamiak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Daniel S Miller
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, USA
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27
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Lag-burst kinetics of surfactant displacement from the liquid crystal/aqueous interface by bile acids. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2015.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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28
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Bera T, Deng J, Fang J. Tailoring the surface of liquid crystal droplets with chitosan/surfactant complexes for the selective detection of bile acids in biological fluids. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra09937d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface of 5CB droplets dispersed in aqueous solution is tailored by the adsorption of CHI/SC14S complexes at the 5CB/aqueous interface. The CHI/SC14S complex-coated 5CB droplets can be used as an optical probe to detect CA in biological fluids without dilution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanmay Bera
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- University of Central Florida
- Orlando
- USA
| | - Jinan Deng
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- University of Central Florida
- Orlando
- USA
| | - Jiyu Fang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- University of Central Florida
- Orlando
- USA
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29
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Choi Y, Lee K, Gupta KC, Park SY, Kang IK. The role of ligand–receptor interactions in visual detection of HepG2 cells using a liquid crystal microdroplet-based biosensor. J Mater Chem B 2015; 3:8659-8669. [DOI: 10.1039/c5tb01213a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Optical (a) and polarized (b) micrographs showing orientational transition in a LC microdroplet on contacting with a HepG2 cell in PBS solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Choi
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Kyubae Lee
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Kailash C. Gupta
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
- Polymer Research Laboratory
| | - Soo-Young Park
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
| | - Inn-Kyu Kang
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering
- Kyungpook National University
- Daegu 702-701
- Republic of Korea
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30
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Carlton R, Zayas-Gonzalez YM, Manna U, Lynn DM, Abbott NL. Surfactant-induced ordering and wetting transitions of droplets of thermotropic liquid crystals "caged" inside partially filled polymeric capsules. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:14944-53. [PMID: 24911044 PMCID: PMC4270404 DOI: 10.1021/la501596b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report a study of the wetting and ordering of thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) droplets that are trapped (or "caged") within micrometer-sized cationic polymeric microcapsules dispersed in aqueous solutions of surfactants. When they were initially dispersed in water, we observed caged, nearly spherical droplets of E7, a nematic LC mixture, to occupy ∼40% of the interior volume of the polymeric capsules [diameter of 6.7 ± 0.3 μm, formed via covalent layer-by-layer assembly of branched polyethylenimine and poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone)] and to contact the interior surface of the capsule wall at an angle of ∼157 ± 11°. The internal ordering of LC within the droplets corresponded to the so-called bipolar configuration (distorted by contact with the capsule walls). While the effects of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the internal ordering of "free" LC droplets are similar, we observed the two surfactants to trigger strikingly different wetting and configurational transitions when LC droplets were caged within polymeric capsules. Specifically, upon addition of SDS to the aqueous phase, we observed the contact angles (θ) of caged LC on the interior surface of the capsule to decrease, resulting in a progression of complex droplet shapes, including lenses (θ ≈ 130 ± 10°), hemispheres (θ ≈ 89 ± 5°), and concave hemispheres (θ < 85°). The wetting transitions induced by SDS also resulted in changes in the internal ordering of the LC to yield states topologically equivalent to axial and radial configurations. Although topologically equivalent to free droplets, the contributions that surface anchoring, LC elasticity, and topological defects make to the free energy of caged LC droplets differ from those of free droplets. Overall, these results and others reported herein lead us to conclude that caged LC droplets offer a platform for new designs of LC-droplet-based responsive soft matter that cannot be realized in dispersions of free droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca
J. Carlton
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Yashira M. Zayas-Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Uttam Manna
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - David M. Lynn
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Nicholas L. Abbott
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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31
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Miller DS, Wang X, Abbott NL. Design of Functional Materials based on Liquid Crystalline Droplets. CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS : A PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2014; 26:496-506. [PMID: 24882944 PMCID: PMC4036738 DOI: 10.1021/cm4025028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This brief perspective focuses on recent advances in the design of functional soft materials that are based on confinement of low molecular weight liquid crystals (LCs) within micrometer-sized droplets. While the ordering of LCs within micrometer-sized domains has been explored extensively in polymer-dispersed LC materials, recent studies performed with LC domains with precisely defined size and interfacial chemistry have unmasked observations of confinement-induced ordering of LCs that do not follow previously reported theoretical predictions. These new findings, which are enabled in part by advances in the preparation of LCs encapsulated in polymeric shells, are opening up new opportunities for the design of soft responsive materials based on surface-induced ordering transitions. These materials are also providing new insights into the self-assembly of biomolecular and colloidal species at defects formed by LCs confined to micrometer-sized domains. The studies presented in this perspective serve additionally to highlight gaps in knowledge regarding the ordering of LCs in confined systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Miller
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Xiaoguang Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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32
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Sidiq S, Das D, Pal SK. A new pathway for the formation of radial nematic droplets within a lipid-laden aqueous-liquid crystal interface. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra48044e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A new pathway for the formation of liquid crystal (LC) droplets with radial LC ordering is reported for the first time in the presence of surfactants and lipids. Interactions of an enzyme with the topological defects in the LC mediate the response of these droplets and thus provide new designs for stimuli-responsive soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumyra Sidiq
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
- Mohali 140306, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
- Mohali 140306, India
| | - Santanu Kumar Pal
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali
- Mohali 140306, India
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33
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Chang CY, Chen CH. Oligopeptide-decorated liquid crystal droplets for detecting proteases. Chem Commun (Camb) 2014; 50:12162-5. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cc04651j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We prepared the oligopeptide-decorated liquid crystal (LC) droplets for detecting proteases through the transition of LC configuration inside the droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Yun Chang
- Department of Chemistry
- Tamkang University
- New Taipei City 25137, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsin Chen
- Department of Chemistry
- Tamkang University
- New Taipei City 25137, Taiwan
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34
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Miller DS, Wang X, Buchen J, Lavrentovich OD, Abbott NL. Analysis of the internal configurations of droplets of liquid crystal using flow cytometry. Anal Chem 2013; 85:10296-303. [PMID: 24079265 DOI: 10.1021/ac4021193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We report the use of flow cytometry to identify the internal ordering (director configurations) of micrometer-sized droplets of thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) dispersed in aqueous solutions of adsorbates (surfactants and phospholipids). We reveal that changes in the configurations of the LC droplets induced by the adsorbates generate distinct changes in light scattering plots (side versus forward scattering). Specifically, when compared to bipolar droplets, radial droplets generate a narrower distribution of side scattering intensities (SSC, large angle light scattering) for a given intensity of forward scattering (FSC, small angle light scattering). This difference is shown to arise from the rotational symmetry of a radial LC droplet which is absent for the bipolar configuration of the LC droplet. In addition, the scatter plots for radial droplets possess a characteristic "S-shape", with two or more SSC intensities observed for each intensity of FSC. The origin of the experimentally observed S-shape is investigated via calculation of form factors and established to be due to size-dependent interference effects that differ for the forward and side scattered light. Finally, by analyzing emulsions composed of mixtures of bipolar and radial droplets at rates of up to 10,000 droplets per second, we demonstrate that flow cytometry permits precise determination of the percentage of radial droplets within the mixture with a coefficient of determination of 0.98 (as validated by optical microscopy). Overall, the results presented in this paper demonstrate that flow cytometry provides a promising approach for high throughput quantification of the internal configurations of LC emulsion microdroplets. Because large numbers of droplets can be characterized, it enables statistically robust analyses of LC droplets. The methodology also appears promising for quantification of chemical and biological assays based on adsorbate-induced ordering transitions within LC droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Miller
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison , 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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