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Faust CD, Klettner CA, Toso M, Hageman GS, Eames I, Luthert PJ, Zouache MA. The vascular geometry of the choriocapillaris is associated with spatially heterogeneous molecular exchange with the outer retina. J Physiol 2024; 602:1273-1295. [PMID: 38513000 DOI: 10.1113/jp285050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Vision relies on the continuous exchange of material between the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium and choriocapillaris, a dense microvascular bed located underneath the outer retina. The anatomy and physiology of the choriocapillaris and their association with retinal homeostasis have proven difficult to characterize, mainly because of the unusual geometry of this vascular bed. By analysing tissue dissected from 81 human eyes, we show that the thickness of the choriocapillaris does not vary significantly over large portions of the macula or with age. Assessments of spatial variations in the anatomy of the choriocapillaris in three additional human eyes indicate that the location of arteriolar and venular vessels connected to the plane of the choriocapillaris is non-random, and that venular insertions cluster around arteriolar ones. Mathematical models built upon these anatomical analyses reveal that the choriocapillaris contains regions where the transport of passive elements is dominated by diffusion, and that these diffusion-limited regions represent areas of reduced exchange with the outer retina. The width of diffusion-limited regions is determined by arterial flow rate and the relative arrangement of arteriolar and venular insertions. These analyses demonstrate that the apparent complexity of the choriocapillaris conceals a fine balance between several anatomical and functional parameters to effectively support homeostasis of the outer retina. KEY POINTS: The choriocapillaris is the capillary bed supporting the metabolism of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium, two critical components of the visual system located in the outer part of the retina. The choriocapillaris has evolved a planar multipolar vascular geometry that differs markedly from the branched topology of most vasculatures in the human body. Here, we report that this planar multipolar vascular geometry is associated with spatially heterogenous molecular exchange between choriocapillaris and outer retina. Our data and analyses highlight a necessary balance between choriocapillaris anatomical and functional parameters to effectively support homeostasis of the outer retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin D Faust
- John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - Marc Toso
- John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Gregory S Hageman
- John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ian Eames
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Luthert
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Moussa A Zouache
- John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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2
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Zhang Q, Xie T, Yi X, Xing G, Feng S, Chen S, Li Y, Lin JM. Microfluidic Aqueous Two-Phase Focusing of Chemical Species for In Situ Subcellular Stimulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:45640-45650. [PMID: 37733946 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Confinement of chemical species in a controllable micrometer-level (several to a dozen micrometers) space in an aqueous environment is essential for precisely manipulating chemical events in subcellular regions. However, rapid diffusion and hard-to-control micrometer-level fluids make it a tough challenge. Here, a versatile open microfluidic method based on an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is developed to restrict species inside an open space with micron-level width. Unequal standard chemical potentials of the chemical species in two phases and space-time correspondence in the microfluidic system prevent outward diffusion across the phase interface, retaining the target species inside its preferred phase flow and creating a sharp boundary with a dramatic concentration change. Then, the chemical flow (the preferred phase with target chemical species) is precisely manipulated by a microfluidic probe, which can be compressed to a micron-level width and aimed at an arbitrary position of the sample. As a demonstration of the feasibility and versatility of the strategy, chemical flow is successfully applied to subcellular regions of various kinds of living single cells. Subcellular regions are successfully labeled (cytomembrane and mitochondria) and damaged. Healing-regeneration behaviors of living single cells are triggered by subcellular damage and analyzed. The method is relatively general regarding the species of chemicals and biosamples, which could promote deeper cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tianze Xie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xizhen Yi
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Gaowa Xing
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuo Feng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shulang Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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3
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Boulais E, Gervais T. The 2D microfluidics cookbook - modeling convection and diffusion in plane flow devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:1967-1980. [PMID: 36884010 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01033j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of microfluidic systems operate not through networks of microchannels but instead through using 2D flow fields. While the design rules for channel networks are already well-known and exposed in microfluidics textbooks, the knowledge underlying transport in 2D microfluidics remains scattered piecemeal and is not easily accessible to experimentalists and engineers. In this tutorial review, we formulate a unified framework for understanding, analyzing and designing 2D microfluidic technologies. We first show how a large number of seemingly different devices can all be modelled using the same concepts, namely flow and diffusion in a Hele-Shaw cell. We then expose a handful of mathematical tools, accessible to any engineer with undergraduate level mathematics knowledge, namely potential flow, superposition of charges, conformal transforms and basic convection-diffusion. We show how these tools can be combined to obtain a simple "recipe" that models almost any imaginable 2D microfluidic system. We end by pointing to more advanced topics beyond 2D microfluidics, namely interface problems and flow and diffusion in the third dimension. This forms the basis of a complete theory allowing for the design and operation of new microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Boulais
- Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
| | - Thomas Gervais
- Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Institut du Cancer de Montréal (ICM) and Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Canada
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4
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Pixelated Microfluidics for Drug Screening on Tumour Spheroids and Ex Vivo Microdissected Tumour Explants. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041060. [PMID: 36831403 PMCID: PMC9954565 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Anticancer drugs have the lowest success rate of approval in drug development programs. Thus, preclinical assays that closely predict the clinical responses to drugs are of utmost importance in both clinical oncology and pharmaceutical research. 3D tumour models preserve the tumoral architecture and are cost- and time-efficient. However, the short-term longevity, limited throughput, and limitations of live imaging of these models have so far driven researchers towards less realistic tumour models such as monolayer cell cultures. Here, we present an open-space microfluidic drug screening platform that enables the formation, culture, and multiplexed delivery of several reagents to various 3D tumour models, namely cancer cell line spheroids and ex vivo primary tumour fragments. Our platform utilizes a microfluidic pixelated chemical display that creates isolated adjacent flow sub-units of reagents, which we refer to as fluidic 'pixels', over tumour models in a contact-free fashion. Up to nine different treatment conditions can be tested over 144 samples in a single experiment. We provide a proof-of-concept application by staining fixed and live tumour models with multiple cellular dyes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the response of the tumour models to biological stimuli can be assessed using the platform. Upscaling the microfluidic platform to larger areas can lead to higher throughputs, and thus will have a significant impact on developing treatments for cancer.
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5
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Ota N, Tanaka N, Sato A, Shen Y, Yalikun Y, Tanaka Y. Microenvironmental Analysis and Control for Local Cells under Confluent Conditions via a Capillary-Based Microfluidic Device. Anal Chem 2022; 94:16299-16307. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nobutoshi Ota
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Tanaka
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Asako Sato
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Yigang Shen
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
| | - Yaxiaer Yalikun
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara630-0192, Japan
| | - Yo Tanaka
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
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Taylor DP, Mathur P, Renaud P, Kaigala GV. Microscale hydrodynamic confinements: shaping liquids across length scales as a toolbox in life sciences. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1415-1437. [PMID: 35348555 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01101d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Hydrodynamic phenomena can be leveraged to confine a range of biological and chemical species without needing physical walls. In this review, we list methods for the generation and manipulation of microfluidic hydrodynamic confinements in free-flowing liquids and near surfaces, and elucidate the associated underlying theory and discuss their utility in the emerging area of open space microfluidics applied to life-sciences. Microscale hydrodynamic confinements are already starting to transform approaches in fundamental and applied life-sciences research from precise separation and sorting of individual cells, allowing localized bio-printing to multiplexing for clinical diagnosis. Through the choice of specific flow regimes and geometrical boundary conditions, hydrodynamic confinements can confine species across different length scales from small molecules to large cells, and thus be applied to a wide range of functionalities. We here provide practical examples and implementations for the formation of these confinements in different boundary conditions - within closed channels, in between parallel plates and in an open liquid volume. Further, to enable non-microfluidics researchers to apply hydrodynamic flow confinements in their work, we provide simplified instructions pertaining to their design and modelling, as well as to the formation of hydrodynamic flow confinements in the form of step-by-step tutorials and analytical toolbox software. This review is written with the idea to lower the barrier towards the use of hydrodynamic flow confinements in life sciences research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Taylor
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
- Microsystems Laboratory 4, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Prerit Mathur
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
- Dept. of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Renaud
- Microsystems Laboratory 4, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Govind V Kaigala
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
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7
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Zhang Q, Feng S, Lin L, Mao S, Lin JM. Emerging open microfluidics for cell manipulation. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5333-5348. [PMID: 33972984 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01516d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cell manipulation is the foundation of biochemical studies, which demands user-friendly, multifunctional and precise tools. Based on flow confinement principles, open microfluidics can control the movement of microscale liquid in open space. Every position of the circuit is accessible to external instruments, making it possible to perform precise treatment and analysis of cells at arbitrary target positions especially at the single-cell/sub-cell level. Benefiting from its unique superiority, various manipulations including patterned cell culture, 3D tissue modelling, localized chemical stimulation, online cellular factor analysis, single cell sampling, partial cell treatment, and subcellular free radical attack can be easily realized. In this tutorial review, we summarize two basic ideas to design open microfluidics: open microfluidic networks and probes. The principles of mainstream open microfluidic methods are explained, and their recent important applications are introduced. Challenges and developing trends of open microfluidics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Shuo Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Sifeng Mao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiohsawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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8
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Brimmo AT, Menachery A, Sukumar P, Qasaimeh MA. Noncontact Multiphysics Probe for Spatiotemporal Resolved Single-Cell Manipulation and Analyses. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2100801. [PMID: 34008302 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202100801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Heterogeneity and spatial arrangement of individual cells within tissues are critical to the identity of the host multicellular organism. While current single-cell techniques are capable of resolving heterogeneity, they mostly rely on extracting target cells from their physiological environment and hence lose the spatiotemporal resolution required for understanding cellular networks. Here, a multifunctional noncontact scanning probe that can precisely perform multiple manipulation procedures on living single-cells, while within their physiological tissue environment, is demonstrated. The noncontact multiphysics probe (NMP) consists of fluidic apertures and "hump" shaped electrodes that simultaneously confine reagents and electric signals with a single-cell resolution. The NMP's unique electropermealization-based approach in transferring macromolecules through the cell membrane is presented. The technology's adjustable spatial ability is demonstrated by transfecting adjacent single-cells with different DNA plasmid vectors. The NMP technology also opens the door for controllable cytoplasm extraction from living single-cells. This powerful application is demonstrated by executing multiple time point biopsies on adherent cells without affecting the integrity of the extracted macromolecules or the viability of cells. Furthermore, the NMP's function as an electro-thermal based microfluidic whole-cell tweezer is reported. This work offers a multifunctional tool with unprecedented probing features for spatiotemporal single-cell analysis within tissue samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoola T Brimmo
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
| | - Anoop Menachery
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Pavithra Sukumar
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Mohammad A Qasaimeh
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), P.O. Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA
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9
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Zhang Q, Feng S, Li W, Xie T, Zhang W, Lin J. In Situ Stable Generation of Reactive Intermediates by Open Microfluidic Probe for Subcellular Free Radical Attack and Membrane Labeling. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202016171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Shuo Feng
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Tianze Xie
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Wanling Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jin‐Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
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10
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Zhang Q, Feng S, Li W, Xie T, Zhang W, Lin J. In Situ Stable Generation of Reactive Intermediates by Open Microfluidic Probe for Subcellular Free Radical Attack and Membrane Labeling. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:8483-8487. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202016171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Shuo Feng
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Weiwei Li
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Tianze Xie
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Wanling Zhang
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Jin‐Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
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11
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Shallan AI, Tavares Y, Navvab Kashani M, Breadmore MC, Priest C. An Open Microfluidic Chip for Continuous Sampling of Solute from a Turbulent Particle Suspension. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:2654-2657. [PMID: 33037834 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202012410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
High solids content complicates in situ analysis of chemical processing, biological suspensions, and environmental streams. In most cases, analytical methods require at least one pre-treatment step of a small volume of sample before a particle-free fluid can be analyzed. We have developed a continuous in situ sampler that can "sip" particle-free solution from a turbulent high solids content stream (a slurry). An open microfluidic chip with an extended slit opening shields the internal laminar flow from the turbulence outside. Unlike other open chips, our chip does not require close proximity to a solid surface and operates in turbulent environments for hours without maintenance. Two applications are demonstrated: monitoring FeIII in a stirred slurry of mixed ore particles at high solids loading (4 %wt) and paracetamol tablet dissolution profiles for two different formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliaa I Shallan
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, 11795, Egypt
| | - Yakini Tavares
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Moein Navvab Kashani
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Australian National Fabrication Facility-, South Australia Node, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
| | - Michael C Breadmore
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science, School of Natural Sciences-Chemistry, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Craig Priest
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia.,Australian National Fabrication Facility-, South Australia Node, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia
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12
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Shallan AI, Tavares Y, Navvab Kashani M, Breadmore MC, Priest C. An Open Microfluidic Chip for Continuous Sampling of Solute from a Turbulent Particle Suspension. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202012410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aliaa I. Shallan
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Faculty of Pharmacy Helwan University Helwan, Cairo 11795 Egypt
| | - Yakini Tavares
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
| | - Moein Navvab Kashani
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Australian National Fabrication Facility— South Australia Node Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
| | - Michael C. Breadmore
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science School of Natural Sciences-Chemistry University of Tasmania Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
| | - Craig Priest
- Future Industries Institute University of South Australia Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
- Australian National Fabrication Facility— South Australia Node Mawson Lakes SA 5095 Australia
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13
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Goyette PA, Boulais É, Tremblay M, Gervais T. Pixel-based open-space microfluidics for versatile surface processing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2019248118. [PMID: 33376203 PMCID: PMC7812784 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2019248118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of applications in biology, chemistry, and material sciences require fluid manipulation beyond what is possible with current automated pipette handlers, such as gradient generation, interface reactions, reagent streaming, and reconfigurability. In this article, we introduce the pixelated chemical display (PCD), a scalable strategy for highly parallel, reconfigurable liquid handling on open surfaces. Microfluidic "pixels" are created when a fluid stream injected above a surface is confined by neighboring identical fluid streams, forming a repeatable flow unit that can be used to tesselate a surface. PCDs generating up to 144 pixels are fabricated and used to project "chemical moving pictures" made of several reagents over both immersed and dry surfaces, without any physical barrier or wall. This work distinguishes itself from previous work in open-space microfluidics by presenting a device architecture where the number of confinement areas can be scaled to any size. Furthermore, it challenges the open-space tenet that the aspiration rate must be higher than the injection rate for reagents to be confined. Overall, this article sets the foundation for massively parallel surface processing using continuous flow streams and showcases possibilities in both wet and dry surface patterning and roll-to-roll processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Étienne Boulais
- Department of Engineering Physics, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Maude Tremblay
- Department of Engineering Physics, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Thomas Gervais
- Institut de Génie Biomédical, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
- Department of Engineering Physics, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institut du Cancer de Montréal, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
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14
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Shinha K, Nihei W, Kimura H. A Microfluidic Probe Integrated Device for Spatiotemporal 3D Chemical Stimulation in Cells. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11070691. [PMID: 32708814 PMCID: PMC7408473 DOI: 10.3390/mi11070691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Numerous in vitro studies have been conducted in conventional static cell culture systems. However, most of the results represent an average response from a population of cells regardless of their local microenvironment. A microfluidic probe is a non-contact technology that has been widely used to perform local chemical stimulation within a restricted space, providing elaborated modulation and analysis of cellular responses within the microenvironment. Although microfluidic probes developed earlier have various potential applications, the two-dimensional structure can compromise their functionality and flexibility for practical use. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional microfluidic probe integrated device equipped with vertically oriented microchannels to overcome crucial challenges and tested the potential utility of the device in biological research. We demonstrated that the device tightly regulated spatial diffusion of a fluorescent molecule, and the flow profile predicted by simulation replicated the experimental results. Additionally, the device modulated the physiological Ca2+ response of cells within the restricted area by altering the local and temporal concentrations of biomolecules such as ATP. The novel device developed in this study may provide various applications for biological studies and contribute to further understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying cellular physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Shinha
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan; (K.S.); (W.N.)
| | - Wataru Nihei
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan; (K.S.); (W.N.)
- Micro/Nano Technology Center (MNTC), Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan; (K.S.); (W.N.)
- Micro/Nano Technology Center (MNTC), Tokai University, 4-1-1 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-463-58-1211
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15
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Chen P, Li S, Guo Y, Zeng X, Liu BF. A review on microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment and its emerging application to cell analysis. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1125:94-113. [PMID: 32674786 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal manipulation of extracellular chemical environments with simultaneous monitoring of cellular responses plays an essential role in exploring fundamental biological processes and expands our understanding of underlying mechanisms. Despite the rapid progress and promising successes in manipulation strategies, many challenges remain due to the small size of cells and the rapid diffusion of chemical molecules. Fortunately, emerging microfluidic technology has become a powerful approach for precisely controlling the extracellular chemical microenvironment, which benefits from its integration capacity, automation, and high-throughput capability, as well as its high resolution down to submicron. Here, we summarize recent advances in microfluidics manipulation of the extracellular chemical microenvironment, including the following aspects: i) Spatial manipulation of chemical microenvironments realized by convection flow-, diffusion-, and droplet-based microfluidics, and surface chemical modification; ii) Temporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments enabled by flow switching/shifting, moving/flowing cells across laminar flows, integrated microvalves/pumps, and droplet manipulation; iii) Spatiotemporal manipulation of chemical microenvironments implemented by a coupling strategy and open-space microfluidics; and iv) High-throughput manipulation of chemical microenvironments. Finally, we briefly present typical applications of the above-mentioned technical advances in cell-based analyses including cell migration, cell signaling, cell differentiation, multicellular analysis, and drug screening. We further discuss the future improvement of microfluidics manipulation of extracellular chemical microenvironments to fulfill the needs of biological and biomedical research and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shunji Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yiran Guo
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xuemei Zeng
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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16
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Taylor DP, Kaigala GV. Reconfigurable microfluidics: real-time shaping of virtual channels through hydrodynamic forces. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:1720-1728. [PMID: 32253402 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00197j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To break the current paradigm in microfluidics that directly links device design to functionality, we introduce microfluidic "virtual channels" that can be dynamically shaped in real-time. A virtual channel refers to a flow path within a microfluidic flow cell, guiding an injected reagent along a user-defined trajectory solely by hydrodynamic forces. Virtual channels dynamically reproduce key microfluidic functionality: directed transport of minute volumes of liquid, splitting, merging and mixing of flows. Virtual channels can be formed directly on standard biological substrates, which we demonstrate by sequential immunodetection at arrays of individual reaction sites on a glass slide and by alternating between local and global processing of surface-adherent cell-block sections. This approach is simple, versatile and generic enough to form the basis of a new class of microfluidic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Taylor
- Laboratory of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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17
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Brimmo AT, Menachery A, Qasaimeh MA. Microelectrofluidic probe for sequential cell separation and patterning. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:4052-4063. [PMID: 31680130 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00748b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cell separation and patterning are of interest to several biological and medical applications including rare cell isolation and co-culture models. Numerous microfluidic devices have been used for cell separation and patterning, however, the typical closed channel configuration comes with challenges and limitations. Here, we report a dielectrophoresis (DEP) enabled microelectrofluidic probe (MeFP) for sequentially separating and patterning of mammalian cells in an open microfluidic system. The MeFP is a microfluidic probe with injection and aspiration apertures, integrated with an array of micro-hump electrodes on its tip. Aligning the MeFP parallel, and in close proximity, to a conductive substrate forms a vertical pin-plate electrode configuration that allows for an integration of DEP forces within the hydrodynamic flow confinement. Upon confining a heterogeneous cell suspension in the gap between the MeFP and the substrate, target cells are selectively captured on the micro-hump electrodes using positive DEP forces, and then deposited on the substrate in defined patterns. Characterization of the MeFP showed an increase in cell-capture efficiency when the MeFP is of a higher microfluidic multipole configuration. Separation of cancer cells from T lymphocytes was demonstrated with capture purity as high as 89.6%. Deposited patterns of isolated cells match the numerically calculated particle trajectories of the evaluated microfluidic multipoles configurations. By adjusting the flow configuration of the MeFP, we show that the patterned co-culture of two different cell types can be dynamically controlled for homotypic and heterotypic cell interaction studies. This work presents a multifunctional microfluidic tool that bio-fabricates selective multicellular patterns directly on an open substrate without the need for confined conduits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoola T Brimmo
- Engineering Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, NY, USA
| | - Anoop Menachery
- Engineering Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Mohammad A Qasaimeh
- Engineering Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, NY, USA
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18
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Self-coalescing flows in microfluidics for pulse-shaped delivery of reagents. Nature 2019; 574:228-232. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1635-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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19
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Chen P, Chen D, Li S, Ou X, Liu BF. Microfluidics towards single cell resolution protein analysis. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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20
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Abstract
Open microfluidic capillary systems are a rapidly evolving branch of microfluidics where fluids are manipulated by capillary forces in channels lacking physical walls on all sides. Typical channel geometries include grooves, rails, or beams and complex systems with multiple air-liquid interfaces. Removing channel walls allows access for retrieval (fluid sampling) and addition (pipetting reagents or adding objects like tissue scaffolds) at any point in the channel; the entire channel becomes a "device-to-world" interface, whereas such interfaces are limited to device inlets and outlets in traditional closed-channel microfluidics. Open microfluidic capillary systems are simple to fabricate and reliable to operate. Prototyping methods (e.g., 3D printing) and manufacturing methods (e.g., injection molding) can be used seamlessly, accelerating development. This Perspective highlights fundamentals of open microfluidic capillary systems including unique advantages, design considerations, fabrication methods, and analytical considerations for flow; device features that can be combined to create a "toolbox" for fluid manipulation; and applications in biology, diagnostics, chemistry, sensing, and biphasic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin Berthier
- University of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Ashley M. Dostie
- University of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Ulri N. Lee
- University of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Jean Berthier
- University of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Ashleigh B. Theberge
- University of Washington, Department of Chemistry, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Urology, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA
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