Microfluidics in cardiovascular disease research: state of the art and future outlook

Microfluidic platforms for monitoring cardiomyocyte electromechanical activity

Cardiovascular diseases account for ~40% of global deaths annually. This situation has revealed the urgent need for the investigation and development of corresponding drugs for pathogenesis due to the complexity of research methods and detection techniques. An in vitro cardiomyocyte model is commonly used for cardiac drug screening and disease modeling since it can respond to microphysiological environmental variations through mechanoelectric feedback. Microfluidic platforms are capable of accurate fluid control and integration with analysis and detection techniques. Therefore, various microfluidic platforms (i.e., heart-on-a-chip) have been applied for the reconstruction of the physiological environment and detection of signals from cardiomyocytes. They have demonstrated advantages in mimicking the cardiovascular structure and function in vitro and in monitoring electromechanical signals. This review presents a summary of the methods and technologies used to monitor the contractility and electrophysiological signals of cardiomyocytes within microfluidic platforms. Then, applications in common cardiac drug screening and cardiovascular disease modeling are presented, followed by design strategies for enhancing physiology studies. Finally, we discuss prospects in the tissue engineering and sensing techniques of microfluidic platforms.

Periodic Flows in Microfluidics

Microfluidics, the science and technology of manipulating fluids in microscale channels, offers numerous advantages, such as low energy consumption, compact device size, precise control, fast reaction, and enhanced portability. These benefits have led to applications in biomedical assays, disease diagnostics, drug discovery, neuroscience, and so on. Fluid flow within microfluidic channels is typically in the laminar flow region, which is characterized by low Reynolds numbers but brings the challenge of efficient mixing of fluids. Periodic flows are time-dependent fluid flows, featuring repetitive patterns that can significantly improve fluid mixing and extend the effective length of microchannels for submicron and nanoparticle manipulation. Besides, periodic flow is crucial in organ-on-a-chip (OoC) for accurately modeling physiological processes, advancing disease understanding, drug development, and personalized medicine. Various techniques for generating periodic flows have been reported, including syringe pumps, peristalsis, and actuation based on electric, magnetic, acoustic, mechanical, pneumatic, and fluidic forces, yet comprehensive reviews on this topic remain limited. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of periodic flows in microfluidics, from fundamental mechanisms to generation techniques and applications. The challenges and future perspectives are also discussed to exploit the potential of periodic flows in microfluidics.

A Co-Culture System for Studying Cellular Interactions in Vascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, characterized by complications such as heart failure, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. The vascular endothelium, forming the inner lining of blood vessels, plays a pivotal role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. The dysfunction of endothelial cells contributes significantly to the progression of CVDs, particularly through impaired cellular communication and paracrine signaling with other cell types, such as smooth muscle cells and macrophages. In recent years, co-culture systems have emerged as advanced in vitro models for investigating these interactions and mimicking the pathological environment of CVDs. This review provides an in-depth analysis of co-culture models that explore endothelial cell dysfunction and the role of cellular interactions in the development of vascular diseases. It summarizes recent advancements in multicellular co-culture models, their physiological and therapeutic relevance, and the insights they provide into the molecular mechanisms underlying CVDs. Additionally, we evaluate the advantages and limitations of these models, offering perspectives on how they can be utilized for the development of novel therapeutic strategies and drug testing in cardiovascular research.

Recent Advances of PDMS In Vitro Biomodels for Flow Visualizations and Measurements: From Macro to Nanoscale Applications

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has become a popular material in microfluidic and macroscale in vitro models due to its elastomeric properties and versatility. PDMS-based biomodels are widely used in blood flow studies, offering a platform for improving flow models and validating numerical simulations. This review highlights recent advances in bioflow studies conducted using both PDMS microfluidic devices and macroscale biomodels, particularly in replicating physiological environments. PDMS microchannels are used in studies of blood cell deformation under confined conditions, demonstrating the potential to distinguish between healthy and diseased cells. PDMS also plays a critical role in fabricating arterial models from real medical images, including pathological conditions such as aneurysms. Cutting-edge applications, such as nanofluid hemodynamic studies and nanoparticle drug delivery in organ-on-a-chip platforms, represent the latest developments in PDMS research. In addition to these applications, this review critically discusses PDMS properties, fabrication methods, and its expanding role in micro- and nanoscale flow studies.

A bypass flow model to study endothelial cell mechanotransduction across diverse flow environments

Disturbed flow is one of the pathological initiators of endothelial dysfunction in intimal hyperplasia (IH) which is commonly seen in vascular bypass grafts, and arteriovenous fistulas. Various in vitro disease models have been designed to simulate the hemodynamic conditions found in the vasculature. Nonetheless, prior investigations have encountered challenges in establishing a robust disturbed flow model, primarily attributed to the complex bifurcated geometries and distinctive flow dynamics. In the present study, we aim to address this gap by introducing an in vitro bypass flow model capable of inducing disturbed flow and other hemodynamics patterns through a pulsatile flow in the same model. To assess the model's validity, we employed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate hemodynamics and compared the morphology and functions of human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) under disturbed flow conditions to those in physiological flow or stagnant conditions. CFD analysis revealed the generation of disturbed flow within the model, pinpointing the specific location in the channel where the effects of disturbed flow were observed. High-content screening, a single-cell morphological profile assessment, demonstrated that HUVECs in the disturbed flow area exhibited random orientation, and morphological features were significantly distinct compared to cells in the physiological flow or stagnant condition after a two days of flow exposure. Furthermore, HUVECs exposed to disturbed flow underwent extensive remodeling of the adherens junctions and expressed higher levels of endothelial cell activation markers compared to other hemodynamic conditions. In conclusion, our in vitro bypass flow model provides a robust platform for investigating the associations between disturbed flow pattern and vascular diseases.

Recent advances of biocompatible optical nanobiosensors in liquid biopsy: towards early non-invasive diagnosis

Liquid biopsy is a non-invasive diagnostic method that can reduce the risk of complications and offers exceptional benefits in the dynamic monitoring and acquisition of heterogeneous cell population information. Optical nanomaterials with excellent light absorption, luminescence, and photoelectrochemical properties have accelerated the development of liquid biopsy technologies. Owing to the unique size effect of optical nanomaterials, their improved optical properties enable them to exhibit good sensitivity and specificity for mitigating signal interference from various molecules in body fluids. Nanomaterials with biocompatible and optical sensing properties play a crucial role in advancing the maturity and diversification of liquid biopsy technologies. This article offers a comprehensive review of recent advanced liquid biopsy technologies that utilize novel biocompatible optical nanomaterials, including fluorescence, colorimetric, photoelectrochemical, and Raman broad-spectrum-based biosensors. We focused on liquid biopsy for the most significant early biomarkers in clinical medicine, and specifically reviewed reports on the effectiveness of optical nanosensing technology in the detection of real patient samples, which may provide basic evidence for the transition of optical nanosensing technology from engineering design to clinical practice. Furthermore, we introduced the integration of optical nanosensing-based liquid biopsy with modern devices, such as smartphones, to demonstrate the potential of the technology in portable clinical diagnosis.

Integrating Computational and Biological Hemodynamic Approaches to Improve Modeling of Atherosclerotic Arteries

Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of cardiovascular disease, resulting in mortality, elevated healthcare costs, diminished productivity, and reduced quality of life for individuals and their communities. This is exacerbated by the limited understanding of its underlying causes and limitations in current therapeutic interventions, highlighting the need for sophisticated models of atherosclerosis. This review critically evaluates the computational and biological models of atherosclerosis, focusing on the study of hemodynamics in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Computational models account for the geometrical complexities and hemodynamics of the blood vessels and stenoses, but they fail to capture the complex biological processes involved in atherosclerosis. Different in vitro and in vivo biological models can capture aspects of the biological complexity of healthy and stenosed vessels, but rarely mimic the human anatomy and physiological hemodynamics, and require significantly more time, cost, and resources. Therefore, emerging strategies are examined that integrate computational and biological models, and the potential of advances in imaging, biofabrication, and machine learning is explored in developing more effective models of atherosclerosis.

Advancing Point-of-Care Applications with Droplet Microfluidics: From Single-Cell to Multicellular Analysis

Recent advances in single-cell and multicellular microfluidics technology have provided powerful tools for studying cancer biology and immunology. The ability to create controlled microenvironments, perform high-throughput screenings, and monitor cellular interactions at the single-cell level has significantly advanced our understanding of tumor biology and immune responses. We discuss cutting-edge multicellular and single-cell microfluidic technologies and methodologies utilized to investigate cancer-immune cell interactions and assess the effectiveness of immunotherapies. We explore the advantages and limitations of the wide range of 3D spheroid and single-cell microfluidic models recently developed, highlighting the various approaches in device generation and applications in immunotherapy screening for potential opportunities for point-of-care approaches.

Microfluidic-based cardiovascular systems for advanced study of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a significant global health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Extensive efforts have been made to replicate the cardiovascular system and explore the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of AS. Microfluidics has emerged as a valuable technology for modeling the cardiovascular system and studying AS. Here a brief review of the advances of microfluidic-based cardiovascular systems for AS research is presented. The critical pathogenetic mechanisms of AS investigated by microfluidic-based cardiovascular systems are categorized and reviewed, with a detailed summary of accurate diagnostic methods for detecting biomarkers using microfluidics represented. Furthermore, the review covers the evaluation and screening of AS drugs assisted by microfluidic systems, along with the fabrication of novel drug delivery carriers. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for advancing microfluidic-based cardiovascular systems in AS research are discussed and proposed, particularly regarding new opportunities in multi-disciplinary fundamental research and therapeutic applications for a broader range of disease treatments.

The Edifice of Vasculature-On-Chips: A Focused Review on the Key Elements and Assembly of Angiogenesis Models

The conception of vascularized organ-on-a-chip models provides researchers with the ability to supply controlled biological and physical cues that simulate the in vivo dynamic microphysiological environment of native blood vessels. The intention of this niche research area is to improve our understanding of the role of the vasculature in health or disease progression in vitro by allowing researchers to monitor angiogenic responses and cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions in real time. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the essential elements, including cells, biomaterials, microenvironmental factors, microfluidic chip design, and standard validation procedures that currently govern angiogenesis-on-a-chip assemblies. In addition, we emphasize the importance of incorporating a microvasculature component into organ-on-chip devices in critical biomedical research areas, such as tissue engineering, drug discovery, and disease modeling. Ultimately, advances in this area of research could provide innovative solutions and a personalized approach to ongoing medical challenges.

Rapid diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction through integrated microfluidic chips for detection of characteristic targets

Myoglobin (Myo), creatine kinase-MB (CKMB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) are crucial biomarkers for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) The accurate and rapid detection of these three targets can greatly improve the prognosis of AMI patients. Herein, this study developed a microfluidic immunofluorescence method that can detect all three targets in 10-15 min. Ultrasonic atomization and spray technology are used to modify the surface of the injection-molded microfluidic chip (MFC), which effectively solves the problem of biological cross-linking and antibody immobilization on the MFC surface. In addition, it improves the hydrophilicity of the chip surface, thus enhancing fluid self-driving effect. The linear response towards Myo, CKMB and cTnI range from 5 ng/mL to 500 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL to 70 ng/mL, and 0.05 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL, respectively. The intra-batch precision is ≤ 10%, and the inter-batch precision is ≤ 15%. Furthermore, this method shows good consistency compared with the BECKMAN ACCESS2 chemiluminescent immunoanalyzer. The present work provides an AMI diagnostic method with high sensitivity, good repeatability, high accuracy and simple operation, which can satisfy the needs of clinical diagnosis, and shows promising application prospects.

Autophagy and mitophagy as potential therapeutic targets in diabetic heart condition: Harnessing the power of nanotheranostics

Autophagy and mitophagy pose unresolved challenges in understanding the pathology of diabetic heart condition (DHC), which encompasses a complex range of cardiovascular issues linked to diabetes and associated cardiomyopathies. Despite significant progress in reducing mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), heart failure remains a major cause of increased morbidity among diabetic patients. These cellular processes are essential for maintaining cellular balance and removing damaged or dysfunctional components, and their involvement in the development of diabetic heart disease makes them attractive targets for diagnosis and treatment. While a variety of conventional diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are available, DHC continues to present a significant challenge. Point-of-care diagnostics, supported by nanobiosensing techniques, offer a promising alternative for these complex scenarios. Although conventional medications have been widely used in DHC patients, they raise several concerns regarding various physiological aspects. Modern medicine places great emphasis on the application of nanotechnology to target autophagy and mitophagy in DHC, offering a promising approach to deliver drugs beyond the limitations of traditional therapies. This article aims to explore the potential connections between autophagy, mitophagy and DHC, while also discussing the promise of nanotechnology-based theranostic interventions that specifically target these molecular pathways.

Microfluidics as diagnostic tools

The challenges in the management of human diseases are largely determined by the precision, speed and ease of diagnostic procedures available. Developments in biomedical engineering technologies have greatly helped in transforming human health care, especially for disease diagnosis which in turn lead to better patient outcomes. One such development is in the form of microfluidic chip technology which has transformed various aspects of human health care. We present in this review, a comprehensive account on the utility of microfluidic chip technologies for the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. We have included the diseases posing global threat such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, pernicious anemia, tuberculosis, COVID-19, influenza, alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Apart from discussing the ways of microfluidic chip in diagnosis, we included a section presenting electrochemical, electrical, optical, and acoustic detection technologies for the precise diagnosis of CVDs. Microfluidics platforms have thus revolutionized novel capabilities in addressing the requirements of point-of-care diagnostics enabling miniaturization by integrating multiple laboratory functions into a single chip resulting in "one flow - one solution" systems. Hence, the precision and early diagnoses of diseases are now possible due to the advancements of microfluidics-based technology.

Microfluidics-Based Nanobiosensors for Healthcare Monitoring

Efficient healthcare management demands prompt decision-making based on fast diagnostics tools, astute data analysis, and informatics analysis. The rapid detection of analytes at the point of care is ensured using microfluidics in synergy with nanotechnology and biotechnology. The nanobiosensors use nanotechnology for testing, rapid disease diagnosis, monitoring, and management. In essence, nanobiosensors detect biomolecules through bioreceptors by modulating the physicochemical signals generating an optical and electrical signal as an outcome of the binding of a biomolecule with the help of a transducer. The nanobiosensors are sensitive and selective and play a significant role in the early identification of diseases. This article reviews the detection method used with the microfluidics platform for nanobiosensors and illustrates the benefits of combining microfluidics and nanobiosensing techniques by various examples. The fundamental aspects, and their application are discussed to illustrate the advancement in the development of microfluidics-based nanobiosensors and the current trends of these nano-sized sensors for point-of-care diagnosis of various diseases and their function in healthcare monitoring.

Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells in Myocardial Regeneration

Myocardial infarction results in the significant loss of cardiomyocytes (CMs) due to the ischemic injury following coronary occlusion leading to impaired contractility, fibrosis, and ultimately heart failure. Stem cell therapy emerged as a promising regenerative strategy to replenish the otherwise terminally differentiated CM to restore cardiac function. Multiple strategies have been applied to successfully differentiate diverse stem cell populations into CM-like phenotypes characterized by the expression status of signature biomarkers and observable spontaneous contractions. This article discusses the current understanding and applications of various stem cell phenotypes to drive the differentiation machinery toward CM-like lineage. Impact Statement Ischemic heart disease (IHD) extensively affects a large proportion of the population worldwide. Unfortunately, current treatments for IHD are insufficient to restore cardiac effectiveness and functionality. A growing field in regenerative cardiology explores the potential for stem cell therapy following cardiovascular ischemic episodes. The thorough understanding regarding the potential and shortcomings of translational approaches to drive versatile stem cells to cardiomyocyte lineage paves the way for multiple opportunities for next-generation cardiac management.

Heart-on-a-chip systems with tissue-specific functionalities for physiological, pathological, and pharmacological studies

Recent advances in heart-on-a-chip systems hold great promise to facilitate cardiac physiological, pathological, and pharmacological studies. This review focuses on the development of heart-on-a-chip systems with tissue-specific functionalities. For one thing, the strategies for developing cardiac microtissues on heart-on-a-chip systems that closely mimic the structures and behaviors of the native heart are analyzed, including the imitation of cardiac structural and functional characteristics. For another, the development of techniques for real-time monitoring of biophysical and biochemical signals from cardiac microtissues on heart-on-a-chip systems is introduced, incorporating cardiac electrophysiological signals, contractile activity, and biomarkers. Furthermore, the applications of heart-on-a-chip systems in intelligent cardiac studies are discussed regarding physiological/pathological research and pharmacological assessment. Finally, the future development of heart-on-a-chip toward a higher level of systematization, integration, and maturation is proposed.

Self-assembled and perfusable microvasculature-on-chip for modeling leukocyte trafficking

Leukocyte recruitment from blood to tissue is a process that occurs at the level of capillary vessels during both physiological and pathological conditions. This process is also relevant for evaluating novel adoptive cell therapies, in which the trafficking of therapeutic cells such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells throughout the capillaries of solid tumors is important. Local variations in blood flow, mural cell concentration, and tissue stiffness contribute to the regulation of capillary vascular permeability and leukocyte trafficking throughout the capillary microvasculature. We developed a platform to mimic a biologically functional human arteriole-venule microcirculation system consisting of pericytes (PCs) and arterial and venous primary endothelial cells (ECs) embedded within a hydrogel, which self-assembles into a perfusable, heterogeneous microvasculature. Our device shows a preferential association of PCs with arterial ECs that drives the flow-dependent formation of microvasculature networks. We show that PCs stimulate basement membrane matrix synthesis, which affects both vessel diameter and permeability in a manner correlating with the ratio of ECs to PCs. Moreover, we demonstrate that hydrogel concentration can affect capillary morphology but has no observed effect on vascular permeability. The biological function of our capillary network was demonstrated using an inflammation model, where significantly higher expression of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules was observed after tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) treatment. Accordingly, T cell adherence and transendothelial migration were significantly increased in the immune-activated state. Taken together, our platform allows the generation of a perfusable microvasculature that recapitulates the structure and function of an in vivo capillary bed that can be used as a model for developing potential immunotherapies.

Step-by-step fabrication of heart-on-chip systems as models for cardiac disease modeling and drug screening

Cardiovascular diseases are caused by hereditary factors, environmental conditions, and medication-related issues. On the other hand, the cardiotoxicity of drugs should be thoroughly examined before entering the market. In this regard, heart-on-chip (HOC) systems have been developed as a more efficient and cost-effective solution than traditional methods, such as 2D cell culture and animal models. HOCs must replicate the biology, physiology, and pathology of human heart tissue to be considered a reliable platform for heart disease modeling and drug testing. Therefore, many efforts have been made to find the best methods to fabricate different parts of HOCs and to improve the bio-mimicry of the systems in the last decade. Beating HOCs with different platforms have been developed and techniques, such as fabricating pumpless HOCs, have been used to make HOCs more user-friendly systems. Recent HOC platforms have the ability to simultaneously induce and record electrophysiological stimuli. Additionally, systems including both heart and cancer tissue have been developed to investigate tissue-tissue interactions' effect on cardiac tissue response to cancer drugs. In this review, all steps needed to be considered to fabricate a HOC were introduced, including the choice of cellular resources, biomaterials, fabrication techniques, biomarkers, and corresponding biosensors. Moreover, the current HOCs used for modeling cardiac diseases and testing the drugs are discussed. We finally introduced some suggestions for fabricating relatively more user-friendly HOCs and facilitating the commercialization process.

Integrating mechanical cues with engineered platforms to explore cardiopulmonary development and disease

Mechanical forces provide critical biological signals to cells during healthy and aberrant organ development as well as during disease processes in adults. Within the cardiopulmonary system, mechanical forces, such as shear, compressive, and tensile forces, act across various length scales, and dysregulated forces are often a leading cause of disease initiation and progression such as in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cardiomyopathies. Engineered in vitro models have supported studies of mechanical forces in a number of tissue and disease-specific contexts, thus enabling new mechanistic insights into cardiopulmonary development and disease. This review first provides fundamental examples where mechanical forces operate at multiple length scales to ensure precise lung and heart function. Next, we survey recent engineering platforms and tools that have provided new means to probe and modulate mechanical forces across in vitro and in vivo settings. Finally, the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations to inform novel therapeutic approaches for a number of cardiopulmonary diseases are discussed.

Low-noise fluorescent detection of cardiac troponin I in human serum based on surface acoustic wave separation

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a life-threatening disease when sudden blockage of coronary artery occurs. As the most specific biomarker, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is usually checked separately to diagnose or eliminate AMI, and achieving the accurate detection of cTnI is of great significance to patients' life and health. Compared with other methods, fluorescent detection has the advantages of simple operation, high sensitivity and wide applicability. However, due to the strong fluorescence interference of biological molecules in body fluids, it is often difficult to obtain high sensitivity. In order to solve this problem, in this study, surface acoustic wave separation is designed to purify the target to achieve more sensitive detection performance of fluorescent detection. Specifically, the interference of background noise is almost completely removed on a microfluidic chip by isolating microbeads through acoustic radiation force, on which the biomarkers are captured by the immobilized detection probe. And then, the concentration of cTnI in human serum is detected by the fluorescence intensity change of the isolated functionalized beads. By this way, the detection limit of our biosensor calculated by 3σ/K method is 44 pg/mL and 0.34 ng/mL in PBS buffer and human serum respectively. Finally, the reliability of this method has been validated by comparison with clinical tests from the nephelometric analyzer in hospital.

Turning catalytically active pores into active pumps

We develop a semi-analytical model of self-diffusioosmotic transport in active pores, which includes advective transport and the inverse chemical reaction that consumes solute. In previous work [Antunes et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 188003 (2022)], we have demonstrated the existence of a spontaneous symmetry breaking in fore-aft symmetric pores that enables them to function as a micropump. We now show that this pumping transition is controlled by three timescales. Two timescales characterize advective and diffusive transport. The third timescale corresponds to how long a solute molecule resides in the pore before being consumed. Introducing asymmetry to the pore (either via the shape or the catalytic coating) reveals a second type of advection-enabled transition. In asymmetric pores, the flow rate exhibits discontinuous jumps and hysteresis loops upon tuning the parameters that control the asymmetry. This work demonstrates the interconnected roles of shape and catalytic patterning in the dynamics of active pores and shows how to design a pump for optimum performance.

Paper-Based All-in-One Origami Nanobiosensor for Point-of-Care Detection of Cardiac Protein Markers in Whole Blood

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) at the earliest stage is of paramount importance to improve the treatment outcomes and avoid irreversible damage to a patient's cardiovascular system. Microfluidic paper-based devices (μPADs) represent a promising platform for rapid CVD diagnosis at the point of care (POC). This paper presents an electrochemical μPAD (E-μPAD) with an all-in-one origami design for rapid and POC testing of cardiac protein markers in whole blood. Based on the label-free, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) immunoassay, the E-μPAD integrates all essential components on a single chip, including three electrochemical cells, a plasma separation membrane, and a buffer absorption pad, enabling easy and streamlined operations for multiplexed detection of three cardiac protein markers [cardiac troponin I (cTnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)-32, and D-Dimer] on a finger-prick whole blood sample within 46 min. Superior analytical performance is achieved through sensitive EIS measurement on carbon electrodes decorated with semiconductor zinc oxide nanowires (ZnO NWs). Using spiked human plasma samples, ultralow limits of detection (LODs) of E-μPAD are achieved at 4.6 pg/mL (190 fM) for cTnI, 1.2 pg/mL (40 fM) for BNP-32, and 146 pg/mL (730 fM) for D-Dimer. Real human blood samples spiked with purified proteins are also tested, and the device's analytical performance was proven to be comparable to commercial ELISA kits. The all-in-one E-μPAD will allow rapid and sensitive testing of cardiac protein markers through easy operations, which holds great potential for on-site screening of acute CVDs in nonlaboratory settings such as emergency rooms, doctor's offices, or patient homes.

Development and Prospective Applications of 3D Membranes as a Sensor for Monitoring and Inducing Tissue Regeneration

For decades, tissue regeneration has been a challenging issue in scientific modeling and human practices. Although many conventional therapies are already used to treat burns, muscle injuries, bone defects, and hair follicle injuries, there remains an urgent need for better healing effects in skin, bone, and other unique tissues. Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing and real-time monitoring technologies have enabled the creation of tissue-like membranes and the provision of an appropriate microenvironment. Using tissue engineering methods incorporating 3D printing technologies and biomaterials for the extracellular matrix (ECM) containing scaffolds can be used to construct a precisely distributed artificial membrane. Moreover, advances in smart sensors have facilitated the development of tissue regeneration. Various smart sensors may monitor the recovery of the wound process in different aspects, and some may spontaneously give feedback to the wound sites by releasing biological factors. The combination of the detection of smart sensors and individualized membrane design in the healing process shows enormous potential for wound dressings. Here, we provide an overview of the advantages of 3D printing and conventional therapies in tissue engineering. We also shed light on different types of 3D printing technology, biomaterials, and sensors to describe effective methods for use in skin and other tissue regeneration, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Finally, we highlight the value of 3D bioengineered membranes in various fields, including the modeling of disease, organ-on-a-chip, and drug development.

Strain-induced self-rolled-up microtubes for multifunctional on-chip microfluidic applications

On-chip microfluidics are characterized as miniaturized devices that can be either integrated with other components on-chip or can individually serve as a standalone lab-on-a-chip system for a variety of applications ranging from biochemical sensing to macromolecular manipulation. Heterogenous integration with various materials and form factors is, therefore, key to enhancing the performance of such microfluidic systems. The fabrication of complex three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic components that can be easily integrated with other material systems and existing state-of-the-art microfluidics is of rising importance. Research on producing self-assembled 3D architectures by the emerging self-rolled-up membrane (S-RuM) technology may hold the key to such integration. S-RuM technology relies on a strain-induced deformation mechanism to spontaneously transform stacked thin-film materials into 3D cylindrical hollow structures virtually on any kind of substrate. Besides serving as a compact microfluidic chamber, the S-RuM-based on-chip microtubular architecture exhibits several other advantages for microfluidic applications including customizable geometry, biocompatibility, chemical stability, ease of integration, uniform field distributions, and increased surface area to volume ratio. In this Review, we will highlight some of the applications related to molecule/particle sensing, particle delivery, and manipulation that utilized S-RuM technology to their advantage.

3D engineered tissue models for studying human-specific infectious viral diseases

Viral infections cause damage to various organ systems by inducing organ-specific symptoms or systemic multi-organ damage. Depending on the infection route and virus type, infectious diseases are classified as respiratory, nervous, immune, digestive, or skin infections. Since these infectious diseases can widely spread in the community and their catastrophic effects are severe, identification of their causative agent and mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis is an urgent necessity. Although infection-associated mechanisms have been studied in two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models and animal models, they have shown limitations in organ-specific or human-associated pathogenesis, and the development of a human-organ-mimetic system is required. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue models, which can present human organ-like physiology in terms of the 3D structure, utilization of human-originated cells, recapitulation of physiological stimuli, and tight cell–cell interactions, were developed. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that these models can recapitulate infection-associated pathologies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in 3D engineered tissue models that mimic organ-specific viral infections. First, we briefly described the limitations of the current 2D and animal models in recapitulating human-specific viral infection pathology. Next, we provided an overview of recently reported viral infection models, focusing particularly on organ-specific infection pathologies. Finally, a future perspective that must be pursued to reconstitute more human-specific infectious diseases is presented.

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3D in vitro models are different from the traditional model in the infection process.

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Human-specific infection research requires a 3D microenvironment and human cells.

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3D in vitro infectious models can be useful for basic research on infectious disease.

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3D in vitro infectious models recapitulate the complex cell-virus-immune interaction.

Progress in Biomaterials for Cardiac Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading global causes of morbidity and mortality, posing considerable health and economic burden on patients and medical systems worldwide. This phenomenon is attributed to two main motives: poor regeneration capacity of adult cardiac tissues and insufficient therapeutic options. Thus, the context calls for upgrading treatments to deliver better outcomes. In this respect, recent research has approached the topic from an interdisciplinary perspective. Combining the advances encountered in chemistry, biology, material science, medicine, and nanotechnology, performant biomaterial-based structures have been created to carry different cells and bioactive molecules for repairing and restoring heart tissues. In this regard, this paper aims to present the advantages of biomaterial-based approaches for cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration, focusing on four main strategies: cardiac patches, injectable hydrogels, extracellular vesicles, and scaffolds and reviewing the most recent developments in these fields.

Addressing blood-brain-tumor-barrier heterogeneity in pediatric brain tumors with innovative preclinical models

Brain tumors represent the leading cause of disease-related mortality and morbidity in children, with effective treatments urgently required. One factor limiting the effectiveness of systemic therapy is the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), which limits the brain penetration of many anticancer drugs. BBB integrity is often compromised in tumors, referred to as the blood-brain-tumor-barrier (BBTB), and the impact of a compromised BBTB on the therapeutic sensitivity of brain tumors has been clearly shown for a few selected agents. However, the heterogeneity of barrier alteration observed within a single tumor and across distinct pediatric tumor types represents an additional challenge. Herein, we discuss what is known regarding the heterogeneity of tumor-associated vasculature in pediatric brain tumors. We discuss innovative and complementary preclinical model systems that will facilitate real-time functional analyses of BBTB for all pediatric brain tumor types. We believe a broader use of these preclinical models will enable us to develop a greater understanding of the processes underlying tumor-associated vasculature formation and ultimately more efficacious treatment options.

Microfluidics for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a type of circulatory system disease related to the lesions of the cardiovascular system, has become one of the main diseases that endanger human health. Currently, the clinical diagnosis of most CVDs relies on a combination of imaging technology and blood biochemical test. However, the existing technologies for diagnosis of CVDs still have limitations in terms of specificity, detection range, and cost. In order to break through the current bottleneck, microfluidic with the advantages of low cost, simple instruments and easy integration, has been developed to play an important role in the early prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Here, we have reviewed the recent various applications of microfluidic in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CVDs, including microfluidic devices for detecting CVD markers, the cardiovascular models based on microfluidic, and the microfluidic used for CVDs drug screening and delivery. In addition, we have briefly looked forward to the prospects and challenges of microfluidics in diagnosis and treatment of CVDs.

Organ-on-a-chip: Its use in cardiovascular research

Organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) has attracted great attention during the last decade as a revolutionary alternative to conventional animal models. This cutting-edge technology has also brought constructive changes to the field of cardiovascular research. The cardiovascular system, especially the heart as a well-protected vital organ, is virtually impossible to replicate in vitro with conventional approaches. This made scientists assume that they needed to use animal models for cardiovascular research. However, the frequent failure of animal models to correctly reflect the native cardiovascular system necessitated a search for alternative platforms for preclinical studies. Hence, as a promising alternative to conventional animal models, OOAC technology is being actively developed and tested in a wide range of biomedical fields, including cardiovascular research. Therefore, in this review, the current literature on the use of OOACs for cardiovascular research is presented with a focus on the basis for using OOACs, and what has been specifically achieved by using OOACs is also discussed. By providing an overview of the current status of OOACs in cardiovascular research and its future perspectives, we hope that this review can help to develop better and optimized research strategies for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as well as identify novel applications of OOACs in the near future.

Biomedical Applications of Microfluidic Devices: A Review

Both passive and active microfluidic chips are used in many biomedical and chemical applications to support fluid mixing, particle manipulations, and signal detection. Passive microfluidic devices are geometry-dependent, and their uses are rather limited. Active microfluidic devices include sensors or detectors that transduce chemical, biological, and physical changes into electrical or optical signals. Also, they are transduction devices that detect biological and chemical changes in biomedical applications, and they are highly versatile microfluidic tools for disease diagnosis and organ modeling. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the significant advances that have been made in the development of microfluidics devices. We will discuss the function of microfluidic devices as micromixers or as sorters of cells and substances (e.g., microfiltration, flow or displacement, and trapping). Microfluidic devices are fabricated using a range of techniques, including molding, etching, three-dimensional printing, and nanofabrication. Their broad utility lies in the detection of diagnostic biomarkers and organ-on-chip approaches that permit disease modeling in cancer, as well as uses in neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, and pulmonary diseases. Biosensor applications allow for point-of-care testing, using assays based on enzymes, nanozymes, antibodies, or nucleic acids (DNA or RNA). An anticipated development in the field includes the optimization of techniques for the fabrication of microfluidic devices using biocompatible materials. These developments will increase biomedical versatility, reduce diagnostic costs, and accelerate diagnosis time of microfluidics technology.

Red blood cells tracking and cell-free layer formation in a microchannel with hyperbolic contraction: A CFD model validation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

In recent years, progress in microfabrication technologies has attracted the attention of researchers across disciplines. Microfluidic devices have the potential to be developed into powerful tools that can elucidate the biophysical behavior of blood flow in microvessels. Such devices can also be used to separate the suspended physiological fluid from whole in vitro blood, which includes cells. Therefore, it is essential to acquire a detailed description of the complex interaction between erythrocytes (red blood cells; RBCs) and plasma. RBCs tend to undergo axial migration caused by occurrence of the Fåhræus-Lindqvist effect. These dynamics result in a cell-free layer (CFL), or a low volume fraction of cells, near the vessel wall. The aim of the paper is to develop a numerical model capable of reproducing the behavior of multiphase flow in a microchannel obtained under laboratory conditions and to compare two multiphase modelling techniques Euler-Euler and Euler-Lagrange.

METHODS

In this work, we employed a numerical Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of the blood flow within microchannels with two hyperbolic contraction shapes. The simulation was used to reproduce the blood flow behavior in a microchannel under laboratory conditions, where the CFL formation is visible downstream of the hyperbolic contraction. The multiphase numerical model was developed using Euler-Euler and hybrid Euler-Lagrange approaches. The hybrid CFD simulation of the RBC transport model was performed using a Discrete Phase Model. Blood was assumed to be a nonhomogeneous mixture of two components: dextran, whose properties are consistent with plasma, and RBCs, at a hematocrit of 5% (percent by volume of RBCs).

RESULTS

The results show a 5 μm thick CFL in a microchannel with a broader contraction and a 35 μm thick CFL in a microchannel with a narrower contraction. The RBC volume fraction in the CFL is less than 2%, compared to 7-8% in the core flow. The results are consistent for both multiphase simulation techniques used. The simulation results were then validated against the experimentally-measured CFL in each of the studied microchannel geometries.

CONCLUSIONS

Reasonable agreement between experiments and simulations was achieved. A validated model such as the one tested in this study can expedite the microchannel design process by minimizing the need to prefabricate prototypes and test them under laboratory conditions.

Pumping and Mixing in Active Pores

We show both numerically and analytically that a chemically patterned active pore can act as a micro- or nanopump for fluids, even if it is fore-aft symmetric. This is possible due to a spontaneous symmetry breaking which occurs when advection rather than diffusion is the dominant mechanism of solute transport. We further demonstrate that, for pumping and tuning the flow rate, a combination of geometrical and chemical inhomogeneities is required. For certain parameter values, the flow is unsteady, and persistent oscillations with a tunable frequency appear. Finally, we find that the flow exhibits convection rolls and hence promotes mixing in the low Reynolds number regime.

Microfluidics in vascular biology research: a critical review for engineers, biologists, and clinicians

Neovascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, has received much research attention due to its implications for physiological processes and diseases. Most studies using traditional in vitro and in vivo platforms find challenges in recapitulating key cellular and mechanical cues of the neovascularization processes. Microfluidic in vitro models have been presented as an alternative to these limitations due to their capacity to leverage microscale physics to control cell organization and integrate biochemical and mechanical cues, such as shear stress, cell-cell interactions, or nutrient gradients, making them an ideal option for recapitulating organ physiology. Much has been written about the use of microfluidics in vascular biology models from an engineering perspective. However, a review introducing the different models, components and progress for new potential adopters of these technologies was absent in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims to approach the use of microfluidic technologies in vascular biology from a perspective of biological hallmarks to be studied and written for a wide audience ranging from clinicians to engineers. Here we review applications of microfluidics in vascular biology research, starting with design considerations and fabrication techniques. After that, we review the state of the art in recapitulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, according to the hallmarks recapitulated and complexity of the models. Finally, we discuss emerging research areas in neovascularization, such as drug discovery, and potential future directions.

Research Progress and Future Trends of Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices in In-Vitro Diagnosis

In vitro diagnosis (IVD) has become a hot topic in laboratory research and achievement transformation. However, due to the high cost, and time-consuming and complex operation of traditional technologies, some new technologies are being introduced into IVD, to solve the existing problems. As a result, IVD has begun to develop toward point-of-care testing (POCT), a subdivision field of IVD. The pandemic has made governments and health institutions realize the urgency of accelerating the development of POCT. Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs), a low-cost, high-efficiency, and easy-to-operate detection platform, have played a significant role in advancing the development of IVD. μPADs are composed of paper as the core material, certain unique substances as reagents for processing the paper, and sensing devices, as auxiliary equipment. The published reviews on the same topic lack a comprehensive and systematic introduction to μPAD classification and research progress in IVD segmentation. In this paper, we first briefly introduce the origin of μPADs and their role in promoting IVD, in the introduction section. Then, processing and detection methods for μPADs are summarized, and the innovative achievements of μPADs in IVD are reviewed. Finally, we discuss and prospect the upgrade and improvement directions of μPADs, in terms of portability, sensitivity, and automation, to help researchers clarify the progress and overcome the difficulties in subsequent μPAD research.

Current Advancements and Future Road Map to Develop ASSURED Microfluidic Biosensors for Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases

Better diagnostics are always essential for the treatment and prevention of a disease. Existing technologies for detecting infectious and non-infectious diseases are mostly tedious, expensive, and do not meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) ASSURED (affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid and robust, equipment-free, and deliverable to end user) criteria. Hence, more accurate, sensitive, and faster diagnostic technologies that meet the ASSURED criteria are highly required for timely and evidenced-based treatment. Presently, the diagnostics industry is finding interest in microfluidics-based biosensors, as this integration comprises all qualities, such as reduction in the size of the equipment, rapid turnaround time, possibility of parallel multiple analysis or multiplexing, etc. Microfluidics deal with the manipulation/analysis of fluid within micrometer-sized channels. Biosensors comprise biomolecules immobilized on a physicochemical transducer for the detection of a specific analyte. In this review article, we provide an outline of the history of microfluidics, current practices in the selection of materials in microfluidics, and how and where microfluidics-based biosensors have been used for the diagnosis of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Our inclination in this review article is toward the employment of microfluidics-based biosensors for the improvement of already existing/traditional methods in order to reduce efforts without compromising the accuracy of the diagnostic test. This article also suggests the possible improvements required in microfluidic chip-based biosensors in order to meet the ASSURED criteria.

Fiber-integrated WGM optofluidic chip enhanced by microwave photonic analyzer for cardiac biomarker detection with ultra-high resolution

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) plays an important role in emergency diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, which exists predominately in the form of cardiac troponin I-C (cTnI-C) complex. We proposed a fiber-integrated optofluidic chip immunosensor with time-delay-dispersion based microwave photonic analyzer (MPA) for cTnI-C detection. The whispering gallery mode (WGM) fiber probe was fabricated by embedding a polydopamine functionalized hollow glass microsphere (HGMS) into the etched capillary-fiber structure, and the WGMs could be excited through the efficient coupling between the thin-wall capillary and the HGMS. The reflective WGM optofluidic chip functioned as a wavelength tuner to construct fiber ring laser cavity, whose laser output wavelength was cTnI-C concentration-dependent. The tiny wavelength variation of sensing laser was converted into a radio-frequency (RF) response, which was retrieved by measuring the change of RF-domain free spectrum range (FSR) in time-delay-dispersion based MPA, and the quantitative detection of cTnI-C complex can be achieved with high resolution. Experimental results show that this immunosensor had a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.59 ng/mL, and a detection resolution of 1.2 fg/mL. The relative resolving power was 10²-10⁴-fold higher than that of others optical fiber cTnI biosensors. The proposed fiber-integrated optofluidic chip provides an innovative lab-on-chip diagnostic tool for myocardial damage.

Self-assembled microtubular electrodes for on-chip low-voltage electrophoretic manipulation of charged particles and macromolecules

On-chip manipulation of charged particles using electrophoresis or electroosmosis is widely used for many applications, including optofluidic sensing, bioanalysis and macromolecular data storage. We hereby demonstrate a technique for the capture, localization, and release of charged particles and DNA molecules in an aqueous solution using tubular structures enabled by a strain-induced self-rolled-up nanomembrane (S-RuM) platform. Cuffed-in 3D electrodes that are embedded in cylindrical S-RuM structures and biased by a constant DC voltage are used to provide a uniform electrical field inside the microtubular devices. Efficient charged-particle manipulation is achieved at a bias voltage of <2-4 V, which is ~3 orders of magnitude lower than the required potential in traditional DC electrophoretic devices. Furthermore, Poisson-Boltzmann multiphysics simulation validates the feasibility and advantage of our microtubular charge manipulation devices over planar and other 3D variations of microfluidic devices. This work lays the foundation for on-chip DNA manipulation for data storage applications.

Microfluidic Point-of-Care (POC) Devices in Early Diagnosis: A Review of Opportunities and Challenges

The early diagnosis of infectious diseases is critical because it can greatly increase recovery rates and prevent the spread of diseases such as COVID-19; however, in many areas with insufficient medical facilities, the timely detection of diseases is challenging. Conventional medical testing methods require specialized laboratory equipment and well-trained operators, limiting the applicability of these tests. Microfluidic point-of-care (POC) equipment can rapidly detect diseases at low cost. This technology could be used to detect diseases in underdeveloped areas to reduce the effects of disease and improve quality of life in these areas. This review details microfluidic POC equipment and its applications. First, the concept of microfluidic POC devices is discussed. We then describe applications of microfluidic POC devices for infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, tumors (cancer), and chronic diseases, and discuss the future incorporation of microfluidic POC devices into applications such as wearable devices and telemedicine. Finally, the review concludes by analyzing the present state of the microfluidic field, and suggestions are made. This review is intended to call attention to the status of disease treatment in underdeveloped areas and to encourage the researchers of microfluidics to develop standards for these devices.

Microfluidic Characterization of Red Blood Cells Microcirculation under Oxidative Stress

Microcirculation is one of the basic functional processes where the main gas exchange between red blood cells (RBCs) and surrounding tissues occurs. It is greatly influenced by the shape and deformability of RBCs, which can be affected by oxidative stress induced by different drugs and diseases leading to anemia. Here we investigated how in vitro microfluidic characterization of RBCs transit velocity in microcapillaries can indicate cells damage and its correlation with clinical hematological analysis. For this purpose, we compared an SU-8 mold with an Si-etched mold for fabrication of PDMS microfluidic devices and quantitatively figured out that oxidative stress induced by tert-Butyl hydroperoxide splits all RBCs into two subpopulations of normal and slow cells according to their transit velocity. Obtained results agree with the hematological analysis showing that such changes in RBCs velocities are due to violations of shape, volume, and increased heterogeneity of the cells. These data show that characterization of RBCs transport in microfluidic devices can directly reveal violations of microcirculation caused by oxidative stress. Therefore, it can be used for characterization of the ability of RBCs to move in microcapillaries, estimating possible side effects of cancer chemotherapy, and predicting the risk of anemia.

Aortic valve cell microenvironment: Considerations for developing a valve-on-chip

Cardiac valves are sophisticated, dynamic structures residing in a complex mechanical and hemodynamic environment. Cardiac valve disease is an active and progressive disease resulting in severe socioeconomic burden, especially in the elderly. Valve disease also leads to a 50% increase in the possibility of associated cardiovascular events. Yet, valve replacement remains the standard of treatment with early detection, mitigation, and alternate therapeutic strategies still lacking. Effective study models are required to further elucidate disease mechanisms and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Organ-on-chip models offer a unique and powerful environment that incorporates the ease and reproducibility of in vitro systems along with the complexity and physiological recapitulation of the in vivo system. The key to developing effective valve-on-chip models is maintaining the cell and tissue-level microenvironment relevant to the study application. This review outlines the various components and factors that comprise and/or affect the cell microenvironment that ought to be considered while constructing a valve-on-chip model. This review also dives into the advancements made toward constructing valve-on-chip models with a specific focus on the aortic valve, that is, in vitro studies incorporating three-dimensional co-culture models that incorporate relevant extracellular matrices and mechanical and hemodynamic cues.

Bifunctional alginate/chitosan stabilized perfluorohexane nanodroplets as smart vehicles for ultrasound and pH responsive delivery of anticancer agents

The combination of ultrasound and chemotherapy has been proposed as a promising strategy to achieve a better anticancer therapeutic efficacy. Here we present a facile strategy to construct novel bifunctional nanodroplets as smart vehicles for ultrasound and pH responsive delivery of anticancer agents. PFH is used as core and chitosan/alginate complexes are used as the stable shells of the nanodroplets. The effects of alginate/chitosan ratio, and the amount of surfactant as well as PFH on the size, size distribution, and encapsulation efficiency of nanodroplets are systematically investigated with the optimized formulation identified. The release of the encapsulated doxorubicin hydrochloride can be triggered by changing the pH value of the surrounding environment and the exposure to ultrasound. The nanodroplets also show strong ultrasound contrast via droplet-to-bubble transition as demonstrated by B-mode ultrasound imaging. The hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity are further studied, revealing the biocompatibility of the nanodroplets. The in vivo antitumor results demonstrate that the prepared droplets show excellent antitumor therapeutic efficacy and outstanding tumor-targeting ability. The proposed alginate/chitosan stabilized PFH nanodroplets represent an important advance in fabricating multifunctional therapeutic materials with great promises in the applications of combined antitumor therapies.

ARRHYTHMIA CLASSIFICATION USING DEEP RESIDUAL NEURAL NETWORKS

Arrhythmia classification with electrocardiogram (ECG) is of great importance for the identification of arrhythmia diseases. However, since the variance of ECG signal in wave appears frequently, it is still a very challenging task to obtain a very good classification result. In this paper, an arrhythmia classification with ECG based on deep residual networks is proposed, of which two improved residual blocks are used to combine soft and hard subsampling. With such blocks, the network can well hold spatial information and improve the classification performance with a simple model structure. Experiments on the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database show that the proposed method obtained an average classification accuracy of 99.59% and an average classification specificity 99.63%, which are 0.26% and 0.57% higher than that of the most state-of-art method based on deep learning.

Integrated Microfluidic-Based Platforms for On-Site Detection and Quantification of Infectious Pathogens: Towards On-Site Medical Translation of SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Platforms

The rapid detection and quantification of infectious pathogens is an essential component to the control of potentially lethal outbreaks among human populations worldwide. Several of these highly infectious pathogens, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), have been cemented in human history as causing epidemics or pandemics due to their lethality and contagiousness. SARS-CoV-2 is an example of these highly infectious pathogens that have recently become one of the leading causes of globally reported deaths, creating one of the worst economic downturns and health crises in the last century. As a result, the necessity for highly accurate and increasingly rapid on-site diagnostic platforms for highly infectious pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, has grown dramatically over the last two years. Current conventional non-microfluidic diagnostic techniques have limitations in their effectiveness as on-site devices due to their large turnaround times, operational costs and the need for laboratory equipment. In this review, we first present criteria, both novel and previously determined, as a foundation for the development of effective and viable on-site microfluidic diagnostic platforms for several notable pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. This list of criteria includes standards that were set out by the WHO, as well as our own "seven pillars" for effective microfluidic integration. We then evaluate the use of microfluidic integration to improve upon currently, and previously, existing platforms for the detection of infectious pathogens. Finally, we discuss a stage-wise means to translate our findings into a fundamental framework towards the development of more effective on-site SARS-CoV-2 microfluidic-integrated platforms that may facilitate future pandemic diagnostic and research endeavors. Through microfluidic integration, many limitations in currently existing infectious pathogen diagnostic platforms can be eliminated or improved upon.

Armored Droplets as Soft Nanocarriers for Encapsulation and Release under Flow Conditions

Technical challenges in precision medicine and environmental remediation create an increasing demand for smart materials that can select and deliver a probe load to targets with high precision. In this context, soft nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to simultaneously adapt their morphology and functionality to complex ambients. Two major challenges are to precisely control this adaptability under dynamic conditions and provide predesigned functionalities that can be manipulated by external stimuli. Here, we report on the computational design of a distinctive class of soft nanocarriers, built from armored nanodroplets, able to selectively encapsulate or release a probe load under specific flow conditions. First, we describe in detail the mechanisms at play in the formation of pocket-like structures in armored nanodroplets and their stability under external flow. Then we use that knowledge to test the capacity of these pockets to yield flow-assisted encapsulation or expulsion of a probe load. Finally, the rheological properties of these nanocarriers are put into perspective with those of delivery systems employed in pharmaceutical and cosmetic technology.

Recent progress of graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials for cancer treatment

Background

In the last decade, graphene oxide-based nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), have attracted more and more attention in the field of biomedicine. Due to the versatile surface functionalization, ultra-high surface area, and excellent biocompatibility of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials, which hold better promise for potential applications than among other nanomaterials in biomedical fields including drug/gene delivery, biomolecules detection, tissue engineering, especially in cancer treatment.

Results

Here, we review the recent progress of graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials for cancer treatment. A comprehensive and in-depth depiction of unique property of graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials is first interpreted, with particular descriptions about the suitability for applying in cancer therapy. Afterward, recently emerging representative applications of graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials in antitumor therapy, including as an ideal carrier for drugs/genes, phototherapy, and bioimaging, are systematically summarized. Then, the biosafety of the graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials is reviewed.

Conclusions

Finally, the conclusions and perspectives on further advancing the graphene oxide-based multifunctional nanomaterials toward potential and versatile development for fundamental researches and nanomedicine are proposed.

Graphic abstract

Investigation of Wall Shear Stress in Cardiovascular Research and in Clinical Practice-From Bench to Bedside

In the 1900s, researchers established animal models experimentally to induce atherosclerosis by feeding them with a cholesterol-rich diet. It is now accepted that high circulating cholesterol is one of the main causes of atherosclerosis; however, plaque localization cannot be explained solely by hyperlipidemia. A tremendous amount of studies has demonstrated that hemodynamic forces modify endothelial athero-susceptibility phenotypes. Endothelial cells possess mechanosensors on the apical surface to detect a blood stream-induced force on the vessel wall, known as "wall shear stress (WSS)", and induce cellular and molecular responses. Investigations to elucidate the mechanisms of this process are on-going: on the one hand, hemodynamics in complex vessel systems have been described in detail, owing to the recent progress in imaging and computational techniques. On the other hand, investigations using unique in vitro chamber systems with various flow applications have enhanced the understanding of WSS-induced changes in endothelial cell function and the involvement of the glycocalyx, the apical surface layer of endothelial cells, in this process. In the clinical setting, attempts have been made to measure WSS and/or glycocalyx degradation non-invasively, for the purpose of their diagnostic utilization. An increasing body of evidence shows that WSS, as well as serum glycocalyx components, can serve as a predicting factor for atherosclerosis development and, most importantly, for the rupture of plaques in patients with high risk of coronary heart disease.