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Du XY, Yang JY. Biomimetic microfluidic chips for toxicity assessment of environmental pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170745. [PMID: 38340832 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Various types of pollutants widely present in environmental media, including synthetic and natural chemicals, physical pollutants such as radioactive substances, ultraviolet rays, and noise, as well as biological organisms, pose a huge threat to public health. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately and effectively explore the human physiological responses and toxicity mechanisms of pollutants to prevent diseases caused by pollutants. The emerging toxicological testing method biomimetic microfluidic chips (BMCs) exhibit great potential in environmental pollutant toxicity assessment due to their superior biomimetic properties. The BMCs are divided into cell-on-chips and organ-on-chips based on the distinctions in bionic simulation levels. Herein, we first summarize the characteristics, emergence and development history, composition and structure, and application fields of BMCs. Then, with a focus on the toxicity mechanisms of pollutants, we review the applications and advances of the BMCs in the toxicity assessment of physical, chemical, and biological pollutants, respectively, highlighting its potential and development prospects in environmental toxicology testing. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for further use of BMCs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yue Du
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Jin-Yan Yang
- College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China..
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2
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Mehta A, Desai A, Rudd D, Siddiqui G, Nowell CJ, Tong Z, Creek DJ, Tayalia P, Gandhi PS, Voelcker NH. Bio-Mimicking Brain Vasculature to Investigate the Role of Heterogeneous Shear Stress in Regulating Barrier Integrity. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2200152. [PMID: 35999436 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A continuous, sealed endothelial membrane is essential for the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to protect neurons from toxins present in systemic circulation. Endothelial cells are critical sensors of the capillary environment, where factors like fluid shear stress (FSS) and systemic signaling molecules activate intracellular pathways that either promote or disrupt the BBB. The brain vasculature exhibits complex heterogeneity across the bed, which is challenging to recapitulate in BBB microfluidic models with fixed dimensions and rectangular cross-section microchannels. Here, a Cayley-tree pattern, fabricated using lithography-less, fluid shaping technique in a modified Hele-Shaw cell is used to emulate the brain vasculature in a microfluidic chip. This geometry generates an inherent distribution of heterogeneous FSS, due to smooth variations in branch height and width. hCMEC/D3 endothelial cells cultured in the Cayley-tree designed chip generate a 3D monolayer of brain endothelium with branching hierarchy, enabling the study of the effect of heterogeneous FSS on the brain endothelium. The model is employed to study neuroinflammatory conditions by stimulating the brain endothelium with tumor necrosis factor-α under heterogeneous FSS conditions. The model has immense potential for studies involving drug transport across the BBB, which can be misrepresented in fixed dimension models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami Mehta
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.,IITB-Monash Research Academy, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Anal Desai
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - David Rudd
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Ghizal Siddiqui
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Cameron J Nowell
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Ziqiu Tong
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Darren J Creek
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Prakriti Tayalia
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Prasanna S Gandhi
- Suman Mashruwala Advanced Microengineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Nicolas H Voelcker
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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3
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Hong Y, Yu H, Wang L, Chen X, Huang Y, Yang J, Ren S. Transdermal Insulin Delivery and Microneedles-based Minimally Invasive Delivery Systems. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:3175-3193. [PMID: 35676840 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220608130056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes has become a serious threat to human health, causing death and pain to numerous patients. Transdermal insulin delivery is a substitute for traditional insulin injection to avoid pain from the injection. Transdermal methods include non-invasive and invasive methods. As the non-invasive methods could hardly get through the stratum corneum, minimally invasive devices, especially microneedles, could enhance the transappendageal route in transcutaneous insulin delivery, and could act as connectors between the tissue and outer environment or devices. Microneedle patches have been in quick development in recent years and with different types, materials and functions. In those patches, the smart microneedle patch could perform as a sensor and reactor responding to glucose to regulate the blood level. In the smart microneedles field, the phenylboronic acid system and the glucose oxidase system have been successfully applied on the microneedle platform. Insulin transdermal delivery strategy, microneedles technology and smart microneedles' development would be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichuan Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Haojie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Yudi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
| | - Shuning Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P.R. China
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Meng F, Hasan A, Mahdi Nejadi Babadaei M, Hashemi Kani P, Jouya Talaei A, Sharifi M, Cai T, Falahati M, Cai Y. Polymeric-based microneedle arrays as potential platforms in the development of drugs delivery systems. J Adv Res 2020; 26:137-147. [PMID: 33133689 PMCID: PMC7584683 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microscopic patches as quite promising platforms in transdermal drug delivery suffer from conventional injections. In other hand, a wide range of pharmacokinetics, ranging from fast oral administration to sustained drug delivery, can be implemented with the help of microneedle arrays (MNAs). AIM OF REVIEW Hence, in this paper, we overviewed different kinds of MNAs such as solid/coated, hollow, porous, hydrogel/swellable, and merged-tip geometry followed by introducing different types of material (silicon, glass, ceramics, dissolving and biodegradable polymers, and hydrogel) used for fabrication of MNAs. Afterwards, some conventional and brand-new simple and customizable MN mold fabrication techniques were surveyed. Polymeric MNAs have received a great deal of attention due to their potential biocompatibility and biodegradability in comparison to other materials. Therefore, we also covered different kinds of polymers such as hydrogel/swellable, dissolving and biodegradable analogues used for the development of MNAs as potential candidates in drug delivery systems (DDSs). Finally, we discussed different challenges and future perspectives in the aspect of MNAs-based drug delivery platforms. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This review may provide guidelines for the rational design of polymeric MNAs-based DDSs for promising programmable drug release and enhanced therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fansu Meng
- Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of TCM, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, China
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Nejadi Babadaei
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Science, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pegah Hashemi Kani
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Science, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Jouya Talaei
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Science, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Sharifi
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tiange Cai
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110036, China
| | - Mojtaba Falahati
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yu Cai
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- Cancer Institute of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
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Abstract
Microvasculature functions at the tissue and cell level, regulating local mass exchange of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood. While there has been considerable success in the biofabrication of large- and small-vessel replacements, functional microvasculature has been particularly challenging to engineer due to its size and complexity. Recently, three-dimensional bioprinting has expanded the possibilities of fabricating sophisticated microvascular systems by enabling precise spatiotemporal placement of cells and biomaterials based on computer-aided design. However, there are still significant challenges facing the development of printable biomaterials that promote robust formation and controlled 3D organization of microvascular networks. This review provides a thorough examination and critical evaluation of contemporary biomaterials and their specific roles in bioprinting microvasculature. We first provide an overview of bioprinting methods and techniques that enable the fabrication of microvessels. We then offer an in-depth critical analysis on the use of hydrogel bioinks for printing microvascularized constructs within the framework of current bioprinting modalities. We end with a review of recent applications of bioprinted microvasculature for disease modeling, drug testing, and tissue engineering, and conclude with an outlook on the challenges facing the evolution of biomaterials design for bioprinting microvasculature with physiological complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W. Barrs
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Jia Jia
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sophia E. Silver
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Michael Yost
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Ying Mei
- Bioengineering Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Olmos CM, Peñaherrera A, Rosero G, Vizuete K, Ruarte D, Follo M, Vaca A, Arroyo CR, Debut A, Cumbal L, Pérez MS, Lerner B, Mertelsmann R. Cost-effective fabrication of photopolymer molds with multi-level microstructures for PDMS microfluidic device manufacture. RSC Adv 2020; 10:4071-4079. [PMID: 35492655 PMCID: PMC9048755 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra07955f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper describes a methodology of photopolymer mold fabrication with multi-level microstructures for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device manufacture.
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7
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CO 2 Laser Fabrication of PMMA Microfluidic Double T-Junction Device with Modified Inlet-Angle for Cost-Effective PCR Application. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10100678. [PMID: 31600884 PMCID: PMC6843704 DOI: 10.3390/mi10100678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The formation of uniform droplets and the control of their size, shape and monodispersity are of utmost importance in droplet-based microfluidic systems. The size of the droplets is precisely tuned by the channel geometry, the surface interfacial tension, the shear force and fluid velocity. In addition, the fabrication technique and selection of materials are essential to reduce the fabrication cost and time. In this paper, for reducing the fabrication cost Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) sheet is used with direct write laser technique by VERSA CO2 laser VLS3.5. This laser writing technique gives minimum channel width of about 160 μm, which limit miniaturizing the droplet. To overcome this, modification on double T-junction (DTJ) channel geometry has been done by modifying the channel inlets angles. First, a two-dimensional (2D) simulation has been done to study the effect of the new channel geometry modification on droplet size, droplets distribution inside the channel, and its throughput. The fabricated modified DTJ gives the minimum droplet diameter of 39±2 μm, while DTJ channel produced droplet diameter of 48±4 μm at the same conditions. Moreover, the modified double T-junction (MDTJ) decreases the variation in droplets diameter at the same flow rates by 4.5–13% than DTJ. This low variation in the droplet diameter is suitable for repeatability of the DNA detection results. The MDTJ also enhanced the droplet generation frequency by 8–25% more than the DTJ channel. The uniformity of droplet distribution inside the channel was enhanced by 3–20% compared to the DTJ channel geometry. This fabrication technique eliminates the need for a photomask and cleanroom environment in addition shortening the cost and time. It takes only 20 min for fabrication. The minimum generated droplet diameter is within 40 μm with more than 1000 droplets per second (at 10 mL/h. oil flow rate). The device is a high-throughput and low-cost micro-droplet formation aimed to be as a front-end to a dynamic droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) platform for use in resource-limited environment.
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Fenech M, Girod V, Claveria V, Meance S, Abkarian M, Charlot B. Microfluidic blood vasculature replicas using backside lithography. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2096-2106. [PMID: 31086935 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00254e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Blood vessels in living tissues are an organized and hierarchical network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, veinules and veins. Their sizes, lengths, shapes and connectivity are set up for an optimum perfusion of the tissues in which they deploy. In order to study the hemodynamics and hemophysics of blood flows and also to investigate artificial vasculature for organs on a chip, it is essential to reproduce most of these geometric features. Common microfluidic techniques produce channels with a uniform height and a rectangular cross section that do not capture the size hierarchy observed in vivo. This paper presents a new single-mask photolithography process using an optical diffuser to produce a backside exposure leading to microchannels with both a rounded cross section and a direct proportionality between local height and local width, allowing a one-step design of intrinsically hierarchical networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Fenech
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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9
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Davami K, Mohsenizadeh M, Mitcham M, Damasus P, Williams Q, Munther M. Additively Manufactured Self-Healing Structures with Embedded Healing Agent Reservoirs. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7474. [PMID: 31097757 PMCID: PMC6522478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-healing materials with the ability to partially or completely restore their mechanical properties by healing the damage inflicted on them have great potential for applications where there is no or only limited access available to conduct a repair. Here, we demonstrate a bio-inspired new design for self-healing materials, where unit cells embedded in the structure are filled with a UV-curable resin and act as reservoirs for the self-healing agent. This design makes the repeated healing of mechanical damage possible. When a crack propagates and reaches one of these embedded reservoirs, the healing agent is released into the crack plane through the capillary action, and after polymerization through UV light exposure, bonds the crack faces. The structures here were fabricated using a stereolithography technique by a layer-by-layer deposition of the material. "Resin trapping" as a unique integration technique is developed for the first time to expand the capability of additive manufacturing technique for creating components with broader functionalities. The self-healing materials were manufactured in one step without any needs for any sequential stages, i.e. filling the reservoir with the healing agent, in contrast with the previously reported self-healing materials. Multiscale mechanical tests such as nanoindentation and three-point bending confirm the efficiency of our method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keivan Davami
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA.
| | - Mehrdad Mohsenizadeh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA
| | - Morgan Mitcham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA
| | - Praveen Damasus
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA
| | - Quintin Williams
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA
| | - Michael Munther
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 77706, USA
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Sarker M, Naghieh S, Sharma N, Chen X. 3D biofabrication of vascular networks for tissue regeneration: A report on recent advances. J Pharm Anal 2018; 8:277-296. [PMID: 30345141 PMCID: PMC6190507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid progress in tissue engineering research in past decades has opened up vast possibilities to tackle the challenges of generating tissues or organs that mimic native structures. The success of tissue engineered constructs largely depends on the incorporation of a stable vascular network that eventually anastomoses with the host vasculature to support the various biological functions of embedded cells. In recent years, significant progress has been achieved with respect to extrusion, laser, micro-molding, and electrospinning-based techniques that allow the fabrication of any geometry in a layer-by-layer fashion. Moreover, decellularized matrix, self-assembled structures, and cell sheets have been explored to replace the biopolymers needed for scaffold fabrication. While the techniques have evolved to create specific tissues or organs with outstanding geometric precision, formation of interconnected, functional, and perfused vascular networks remains a challenge. This article briefly reviews recent progress in 3D fabrication approaches used to fabricate vascular networks with incorporated cells, angiogenic factors, proteins, and/or peptides. The influence of the fabricated network on blood vessel formation, and the various features, merits, and shortcomings of the various fabrication techniques are discussed and summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.D. Sarker
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Saman Naghieh
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - N.K. Sharma
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Xiongbiao Chen
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Olanrewaju A, Beaugrand M, Yafia M, Juncker D. Capillary microfluidics in microchannels: from microfluidic networks to capillaric circuits. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:2323-2347. [PMID: 30010168 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00458g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics offer economy of reagents, rapid liquid delivery, and potential for automation of many reactions, but often require peripheral equipment for flow control. Capillary microfluidics can deliver liquids in a pre-programmed manner without peripheral equipment by exploiting surface tension effects encoded by the geometry and surface chemistry of a microchannel. Here, we review the history and progress of microchannel-based capillary microfluidics spanning over three decades. To both reflect recent experimental and conceptual progress, and distinguish from paper-based capillary microfluidics, we adopt the more recent terminology of capillaric circuits (CCs). We identify three distinct waves of development driven by microfabrication technologies starting with early implementations in industry using machining and lamination, followed by development in the context of micro total analysis systems (μTAS) and lab-on-a-chip devices using cleanroom microfabrication, and finally a third wave that arose with advances in rapid prototyping technologies. We discuss the basic physical laws governing capillary flow, deconstruct CCs into basic circuit elements including capillary pumps, stop valves, trigger valves, retention valves, and so on, and describe their operating principle and limitations. We discuss applications of CCs starting with the most common usage in automating liquid delivery steps for immunoassays, and highlight emerging applications such as DNA analysis. Finally, we highlight recent developments in rapid prototyping of CCs and the benefits offered including speed, low cost, and greater degrees of freedom in CC design. The combination of better analytical models and lower entry barriers (thanks to advances in rapid manufacturing) make CCs both a fertile research area and an increasingly capable technology for user-friendly and high-performance laboratory and diagnostic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayokunle Olanrewaju
- Biomedical Engineering Department, McGill University, Genome Quebec and McGill University Innovation Centre, Canada.
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12
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Islam TU, Gandhi PS. Viscous Fingering in Multiport Hele Shaw Cell for Controlled Shaping of Fluids. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16602. [PMID: 29192191 PMCID: PMC5709420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16830-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The pursuit of mimicking complex multiscale systems has been a tireless effort with many successes but a daunting task ahead. A new perspective to engineer complex cross-linked meshes and branched/tree-like structures at different scales is presented here. Control over Saffman-Taylor instability which otherwise randomly rearranges viscous fluid in a 'lifted Hele-Shaw cell' is proposed for the same. The proposed control employs multiple-ports or source-holes in this cell, to spontaneously shape a stretched fluid film into a network of well defined webs/meshes and ordered multiscale tree-like patterns. Use of multiple ports enables exercising strong control to fabricate such structures, in a robust and repeated fashion, which otherwise are completely non-characteristic to viscous fingering process. The proposed technique is capable of fabricating spontaneously families of wide variety of structures over micro and very large scale in a period of few seconds. Thus the proposed method forms a solid foundation to new pathways for engineering multiscale structures for several scientific applications including efficient gas exchange, heat transport, tissue engineering, organ-on-chip, and so on. Proposal of multi-port Hele-Shaw cell also opens new avenues for investigation of complex multiple finger interactions resulting in interesting fluid patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanveer Ul Islam
- Suman Mashruwala Advanced Microengineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, 400076, Powai, Mumbai, India
| | - Prasanna S Gandhi
- Suman Mashruwala Advanced Microengineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, 400076, Powai, Mumbai, India.
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Wang Y, Pham DT, Zhang Z, Li J, Ji C, Liu Y, Leng J. Sustainable self-healing at ultra-low temperatures in structural composites incorporating hollow vessels and heating elements. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160488. [PMID: 27703711 PMCID: PMC5043331 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Self-healing composites are able to restore their properties automatically. Impressive healing efficiencies can be achieved when conditions are favourable. On the other hand, healing might not be possible under adverse circumstances such as very low ambient temperature. Here, we report a structural composite able to maintain its temperature to provide a sustainable self-healing capability-similar to that in the natural world where some animals keep a constant body temperature to allow enzymes to stay active. The composite embeds three-dimensional hollow vessels with the purpose of delivering and releasing healing agents, and a porous conductive element to provide heat internally to defrost and promote healing reactions. A healing efficiency over 100% at around -60°C was obtained. The effects of the sheets on the interlaminar and tensile properties have been investigated experimentally. The proposed technique can be implemented in a majority of extrinsic self-healing composites to enable automatic recovery at ultra-low temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Duc Truong Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zhichun Zhang
- Center for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, Science Park, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Li
- Applied Science Faculty, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Chunqian Ji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Yanju Liu
- Department of Aerospace Science and Mechanics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Science Park, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsong Leng
- Center for Composite Materials and Structures, Harbin Institute of Technology, Science Park, Harbin, People's Republic of China
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14
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Chen C, Ahmed M, Häfner T, Klämpfl F, Stelzle F, Schmidt M. Fabrication of a turbid optofluidic phantom device with tunable μa and μ's to simulate cutaneous vascular perfusion. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30567. [PMID: 27457535 PMCID: PMC4960568 DOI: 10.1038/srep30567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic devices are oftenly used to calibrate the imaging reconstruction, because they simulate the morphology of microvasculature. However, for lack of optical properties in microfluidics, the functional recovery of oximetry information cannot be verified. In this work, we describe the fabrication of a novel turbid optofluidic tissue phantom. It is designed to mimic the vascular perfusion and the turbid nature of cutaneous tissue. This phantom contains an interior hollow microfluidic structure with a diameter of ϕave = 50 μm. The microfluidic structure includes the geometry of an inlet, a river-like assay and an outlet. This structure can be perfused by hemoglobin solution to mimic the cutaneous micro-circulation. The multiple-layered phantom matrices exhibit the representative optical parameters of human skin cutis, namely the absorption coefficient μa and the reduced scattering coefficient . The geometry of the generated microfluidic structure is investigated by using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. This optofluidic phantom bridges the gap between tissue equivalent phantoms and Lab-On-Chip devices. Perspectively, this device can be used to calibrate a variety of optical angiographic imaging approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Chair of Photonic Technologies, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3/5, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies, Paul-Gordan-Str. 6, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Midhat Ahmed
- Chair of Photonic Technologies, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3/5, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies, Paul-Gordan-Str. 6, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tom Häfner
- Chair of Photonic Technologies, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3/5, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies, Paul-Gordan-Str. 6, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Klämpfl
- Chair of Photonic Technologies, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3/5, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Stelzle
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies, Paul-Gordan-Str. 6, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstr. 11, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Schmidt
- Chair of Photonic Technologies, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Konrad-Zuse-Str. 3/5, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies, Paul-Gordan-Str. 6, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
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15
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He Y, Wu Y, Fu JZ, Gao Q, Qiu JJ. Developments of 3D Printing Microfluidics and Applications in Chemistry and Biology: a Review. ELECTROANAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201600043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Yan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Jian-zhong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Qing Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Jing-jiang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering; Zhejiang University; Hangzhou 310027 China
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16
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Houben A, Van Hoorick J, Van Erps J, Thienpont H, Van Vlierberghe S, Dubruel P. Indirect Rapid Prototyping: Opening Up Unprecedented Opportunities in Scaffold Design and Applications. Ann Biomed Eng 2016; 45:58-83. [PMID: 27080376 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-016-1610-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decades, solid freeform fabrication (SFF) has emerged as the main technology for the production of scaffolds for tissue engineering applications as a result of the architectural versatility. However, certain limitations have also arisen, primarily associated with the available, rather limited range of materials suitable for processing. To overcome these limitations, several research groups have been exploring novel methodologies through which a construct, generated via SFF, is applied as a sacrificial mould for production of the final construct. The technique combines the benefits of SFF techniques in terms of controlled, patient-specific design with a large freedom in material selection associated with conventional scaffold production techniques. Consequently, well-defined 3D scaffolds can be generated in a straightforward manner from previously difficult to print and even "unprintable" materials due to thermomechanical properties that do not match the often strict temperature and pressure requirements for direct rapid prototyping. These include several biomaterials, thermally degradable materials, ceramics and composites. Since it can be combined with conventional pore forming techniques, indirect rapid prototyping (iRP) enables the creation of a hierarchical porosity in the final scaffold with micropores inside the struts. Consequently, scaffolds and implants for applications in both soft and hard tissue regeneration have been reported. In this review, an overview of different iRP strategies and materials are presented from the first reports of the approach at the turn of the century until now.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemie Houben
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jasper Van Hoorick
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.,Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Jürgen Van Erps
- Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Hugo Thienpont
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.,Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Sandra Van Vlierberghe
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.,Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Peter Dubruel
- Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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17
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Liao W, Wang N, Wang T, Xu J, Han X, Liu Z, Zhang X, Yu W. Biomimetic microchannels of planar reactors for optimized photocatalytic efficiency of water purification. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:014123. [PMID: 26958102 PMCID: PMC4769259 DOI: 10.1063/1.4942947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports a biomimetic design of microchannels in the planar reactors with the aim to optimize the photocatalytic efficiency of water purification. Inspired from biology, a bifurcated microchannel has been designed based on the Murray's law to connect to the reaction chamber for photocatalytic reaction. The microchannels are designed to have a constant depth of 50 μm but variable aspect ratios ranging from 0.015 to 0.125. To prove its effectiveness for photocatalytic water purification, the biomimetic planar reactors have been tested and compared with the non-biomimetic ones, showing an improvement of the degradation efficiency by 68%. By employing the finite element method, the flow process of the designed microchannel reactors has been simulated and analyzed. It is found that the biomimetic design owns a larger flow velocity fluctuation than that of the non-biomimetic one, which in turn results in a faster photocatalytic reaction speed. Such a biomimetic design paves the way for the design of more efficient planar reactors and may also find applications in other microfluidic systems that involve the use of microchannels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Taisheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun Institute of Optics , Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 3888, Dongnanhu Road, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun Institute of Optics , Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 3888, Dongnanhu Road, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xudong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun Institute of Optics , Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 3888, Dongnanhu Road, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Optics, Changchun Institute of Optics , Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 3888, Dongnanhu Road, Changchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Weixing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Spectral Imaging Technology, Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , No. 17, Xinxi Road, Xian 710119, People's Republic of China
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18
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Li YC, Lin MW, Yen MH, Fan SMY, Wu JT, Young TH, Cheng JY, Lin SJ. Programmable Laser-Assisted Surface Microfabrication on a Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Coated Glass Chip with Self-Changing Cell Adhesivity for Heterotypic Cell Patterning. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:22322-22332. [PMID: 26393271 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b05978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Organs are composed of heterotypic cells with patterned architecture that enables intercellular interaction to perform specific functions. In tissue engineering, the ability to pattern heterotypic cells into desired arrangement will allow us to model complex tissues in vitro and to create tissue equivalents for regeneration. This study was aimed at developing a method for fast heterotypic cell patterning with controllable topological manipulation on a glass chip. We found that poly(vinyl alcohol)-coated glass showed a biphasic change in adhesivity to cells in vitro: low adhesivity in the first 24 h and higher adhesivity at later hours due to increased serum protein adsorption. Combining programmable CO2 laser ablation to remove poly(vinyl alcohol) and glass, we were able to create arrays of adhesive microwells of adjustable patterns. We tested whether controllable patterns of epithelial-mesenchymal interaction could be created. When skin dermal papilla cells and fibroblasts were seeded respectively 24 h apart, we were able to pattern these two cells into aggregates of dermal papilla cells in arrays of microwells in a background of fibroblasts sheet. Seeded later, keratinocytes attached to these mesenchymal cells. Keratinocytes contacting dermal papilla cells started to differentiate toward a hair follicle fate, demonstrating patternable epithelial-mesenchymal interaction. This method allows fast adjustable heterotypic cell patterning and surface topology control and can be applied to the investigation of heterotypic cellular interaction and creation of tissue equivalent in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Chen Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Wei Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Hua Yen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 115-29, Taiwan
| | - Sabrina Mai-Yi Fan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - June-Tai Wu
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Horng Young
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
| | - Ji-Yen Cheng
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica , Taipei 115-29, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Jan Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University , No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine , Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University , Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Taiwan University , Taipei 100, Taiwan
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19
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Sarker M, Chen X, Schreyer D. Experimental approaches to vascularisation within tissue engineering constructs. JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE-POLYMER EDITION 2015; 26:683-734. [DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2015.1059018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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20
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Jang M, Kwon YJ, Lee NY. Non-photolithographic plastic-mold-based fabrication of cylindrical and multi-tiered poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannels for biomimetic lab-on-a-chip applications. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra22048c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cylindrical and multi-tiered PDMS microchannels were fabricated from two thermoplastic molds having large difference in glass transition temperatures, and were used for constructing LOC platforms mimicking human microvasculature and liver sinusoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjeong Jang
- Department of BioNano Technology
- Gachon University
- Seongnam-si
- Korea
| | - Young Jik Kwon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- University of California Irvine
- Irvine
- USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science
| | - Nae Yoon Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology
- Gachon University
- Seongnam-si
- Korea
- Gachon Medical Research Institute
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21
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Effects of Laser Operating Parameters on Piezoelectric Substrates Micromachining with Picosecond Laser. MICROMACHINES 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/mi6010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Hu L, Zhou H, Zhu H, Fan T, Zhang D. Efficient network-matrix architecture for general flow transport inspired by natural pinnate leaves. SOFT MATTER 2014; 10:8442-7. [PMID: 25220587 DOI: 10.1039/c4sm01413h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Networks embedded in three dimensional matrices are beneficial to deliver physical flows to the matrices. Leaf architectures, pervasive natural network-matrix architectures, endow leaves with high transpiration rates and low water pressure drops, providing inspiration for efficient network-matrix architectures. In this study, the network-matrix model for general flow transport inspired by natural pinnate leaves is investigated analytically. The results indicate that the optimal network structure inspired by natural pinnate leaves can greatly reduce the maximum potential drop and the total potential drop caused by the flow through the network while maximizing the total flow rate through the matrix. These results can be used to design efficient networks in network-matrix architectures for a variety of practical applications, such as tissue engineering, cell culture, photovoltaic devices and heat transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liguo Hu
- State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China.
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23
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Hwang H, Park J, Shin C, Do Y, Cho YK. Three dimensional multicellular co-cultures and anti-cancer drug assays in rapid prototyped multilevel microfluidic devices. Biomed Microdevices 2014; 15:627-634. [PMID: 23232700 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-012-9733-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This report presents a multilevel microfluidic platform for robust construction of hydrogel scaffold in microchannels and its application to three dimensional (3D) multicellular co-cultures and assays. A new rapid prototyping method based on soft lithography using multi-layered adhesive tapes is also introduced. We have successfully cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cell line more than 11 days with > 98 % viability, and co-cultured MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in separate compartments. This multilevel microfluidic device with a cell-laden hydrogel microstructure has also been applied for anticancer drug assays in multicellular niches. Here we tested the effect of estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist drug, tamoxifen, on the growth of ER positive MCF-7 cells in microchannels. The inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on the growth of MCF-7 cells was diminished when they were co-cultured with ER negative MDA-MB-231 cells. The rapid prototyped multilevel microfluidic devices would provide simple, easy to use, low cost, robust, and reproducible cell-based assay platforms for potential end-users such as biologists and pharmacists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyundoo Hwang
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 100 Banyeon-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea
| | - Juhee Park
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 100 Banyeon-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea
| | - Changsik Shin
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 100 Banyeon-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea
| | - YoonKyung Do
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 100 Banyeon-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Kyoung Cho
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 100 Banyeon-ri, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, 689-798, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Gualandi C, Zucchelli A, Fernández Osorio M, Belcari J, Focarete ML. Nanovascularization of polymer matrix: generation of nanochannels and nanotubes by sacrificial electrospun fibers. NANO LETTERS 2013; 13:5385-5390. [PMID: 24144429 DOI: 10.1021/nl402930x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Several methods for creating vascular structures, made of either discrete or interconnected channels have been developed. The currently employed methods enable the formation of channels with diameters in the millimetric and micrometric scale. However, the formation of an interconnected three-dimensional (3D) vasculature by using a rapid and scalable process is a challenge and largely limits the fields of applicability of these innovative materials. Here, we propose the use of electrospun nonwoven mats as sacrificial fibers to easily generate 3D macroscale vascularized composites containing interconnected networks with channels and tubes having submicrometric and nanometric diameters. The novel approach has the potentialities to give rise to a novel generation of composites potentially displaying new and enhanced functionalities thanks to the nanoscale features of the cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Gualandi
- Advanced Mechanics and Materials - Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research, (AMM ICIR) and ‡Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), University of Bologna , viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy
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25
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Hansen CJ, Saksena R, Kolesky DB, Vericella JJ, Kranz SJ, Muldowney GP, Christensen KT, Lewis JA. High-throughput printing via microvascular multinozzle arrays. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2013; 25:96-102. [PMID: 23109104 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201203321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2012] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Microvascular multinozzle arrays are designed and fabricated for high-throughput printing of functional materials. Ink-flow uniformity within these multigeneration, bifurcating microchannel arrays is characterized by computer modeling and microscopic particle image velocimetry (micro-PIV) measurements. Both single and dual multinozzle printheads are produced to enable rapid printing of multilayered periodic structures over large areas (≈1 m(2)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Hansen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA
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26
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Lai D, Labuz JM, Kim J, Luker GD, Shikanov A, Takayama S. Simple Multi-level Microchannel Fabrication by Pseudo-Grayscale Backside Diffused Light Lithography. RSC Adv 2013; 3:19467-19473. [PMID: 24976950 DOI: 10.1039/c3ra43834a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Photolithography of multi-level channel features in microfluidics is laborious and/or costly. Grayscale photolithography is mostly used with positive photoresists and conventional front side exposure, but the grayscale masks needed are generally costly and positive photoresists are not commonly used in microfluidic rapid prototyping. Here we introduce a simple and inexpensive alternative that uses pseudo-grayscale (pGS) photomasks in combination with backside diffused light lithography (BDLL) and the commonly used negative photoresist, SU-8. BDLL can produce smooth multi-level channels of gradually changing heights without use of true grayscale masks because of the use of diffused light. Since the exposure is done through a glass slide, the photoresist is cross-linked from the substrate side up enabling well-defined and stable structures to be fabricated from even unspun photoresist layers. In addition to providing unique structures and capabilities, the method is compatible with the "garage microfluidics" concept of creating useful tools at low cost since pGS BDLL can be performed with the use of only hot plates and a UV transilluminator: equipment commonly found in biology labs. Expensive spin coaters or collimated UV aligners are not needed. To demonstrate the applicability of pGS BDLL, a variety of weir-type cell traps were constructed with a single UV exposure to separate cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, 10-15 μm in size) from red blood cells (RBCs, 2-8 μm in size) as well as follicle clusters (40-50 μm in size) from cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, 10-15 μm in size).
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joseph M Labuz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jiwon Kim
- Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D Luker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ariella Shikanov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shuichi Takayama
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA ; Division of Nano-Bio and Chemical Engineering WCU Project, UNIST, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
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27
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Vickerman V, Kim C, Kamm RD. Microfluidic Devices for Angiogenesis. MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL SIGNALING IN ANGIOGENESIS 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-30856-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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28
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Huang Z, Li X, Martins-Green M, Liu Y. Microfabrication of cylindrical microfluidic channel networks for microvascular research. Biomed Microdevices 2012; 14:873-83. [DOI: 10.1007/s10544-012-9667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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29
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Kniazeva T, Epshteyn AA, Hsiao JC, Kim ES, Kolachalama VB, Charest JL, Borenstein JT. Performance and scaling effects in a multilayer microfluidic extracorporeal lung oxygenation device. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:1686-95. [PMID: 22418858 PMCID: PMC3320667 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc21156d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic fabrication technologies are emerging as viable platforms for extracorporeal lung assist devices and oxygenators for cardiac surgical support and critical care medicine, based in part on their ability to more closely mimic the architecture of the human vasculature than existing technologies. In comparison with current hollow fiber oxygenator technologies, microfluidic systems have more physiologically-representative blood flow paths, smaller cross section blood conduits and thinner gas transfer membranes. These features can enable smaller device sizes and a reduced blood volume in the oxygenator, enhanced gas transfer efficiencies, and may also reduce the tendency for clotting in the system. Several critical issues need to be addressed in order to advance this technology from its current state and implement it in an organ-scale device for clinical use. Here we report on the design, fabrication and characterization of multilayer microfluidic oxygenators, investigating scaling effects associated with fluid mechanical resistance, oxygen transfer efficiencies, and other parameters in multilayer devices. Important parameters such as the fluidic resistance of interconnects are shown to become more predominant as devices are scaled towards many layers, while other effects such as membrane distensibility become less significant. The present study also probes the relationship between blood channel depth and membrane thickness on oxygen transfer, as well as the rate of oxygen transfer on the number of layers in the device. These results contribute to our understanding of the complexity involved in designing three-dimensional microfluidic oxygenators for clinical applications.
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Oh KW, Lee K, Ahn B, Furlani EP. Design of pressure-driven microfluidic networks using electric circuit analogy. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:515-45. [PMID: 22179505 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc20799k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the application of electric circuit methods for the analysis of pressure-driven microfluidic networks with an emphasis on concentration- and flow-dependent systems. The application of circuit methods to microfluidics is based on the analogous behaviour of hydraulic and electric circuits with correlations of pressure to voltage, volumetric flow rate to current, and hydraulic to electric resistance. Circuit analysis enables rapid predictions of pressure-driven laminar flow in microchannels and is very useful for designing complex microfluidic networks in advance of fabrication. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the physics of pressure-driven laminar flow, the formal analogy between electric and hydraulic circuits, applications of circuit theory to microfluidic network-based devices, recent development and applications of concentration- and flow-dependent microfluidic networks, and promising future applications. The lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and microfluidics community will gain insightful ideas and practical design strategies for developing unique microfluidic network-based devices to address a broad range of biological, chemical, pharmaceutical, and other scientific and technical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang W Oh
- SMALL (Sensors and MicroActuators Learning Lab), Department of Electrical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY-Buffalo), New York 14260, USA.
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Prabhakarpandian B, Wang Y, Rea-Ramsey A, Sundaram S, Kiani MF, Pant K. Bifurcations: focal points of particle adhesion in microvascular networks. Microcirculation 2011; 18:380-9. [PMID: 21418388 DOI: 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2011.00099.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Particle adhesion in vivo is dependent on the microcirculation environment, which features unique anatomical (bifurcations, tortuosity, cross-sectional changes) and physiological (complex hemodynamics) characteristics. The mechanisms behind these complex phenomena are not well understood. In this study, we used a recently developed in vitro model of microvascular networks, called SMN, for characterizing particle adhesion patterns in the microcirculation. METHODS SMNs were fabricated using soft-lithography processes followed by particle adhesion studies using avidin and biotin-conjugated microspheres. Particle adhesion patterns were subsequently analyzed using CFD-based modeling. RESULTS Experimental and modeling studies highlighted the complex and heterogeneous fluid flow patterns encountered by particles in microvascular networks resulting in significantly higher propensity of adhesion (>1.5×) near bifurcations compared with the branches of the microvascular networks. CONCLUSION Bifurcations are the focal points of particle adhesion in microvascular networks. Changing flow patterns and morphology near bifurcations are the primary factors controlling the preferential adhesion of functionalized particles in microvascular networks. SMNs provide an in vitro framework for understanding particle adhesion.
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Esser-Kahn AP, Thakre PR, Dong H, Patrick JF, Vlasko-Vlasov VK, Sottos NR, Moore JS, White SR. Three-dimensional microvascular fiber-reinforced composites. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2011; 23:3654-8. [PMID: 21766345 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201100933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2011] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron P Esser-Kahn
- Chemistry Department, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA
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Prabhakarpandian B, Shen MC, Pant K, Kiani MF. Microfluidic devices for modeling cell-cell and particle-cell interactions in the microvasculature. Microvasc Res 2011; 82:210-20. [PMID: 21763328 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2011.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Revised: 06/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell-fluid and cell-cell interactions are critical components of many physiological and pathological conditions in the microvasculature. Similarly, particle-cell interactions play an important role in targeted delivery of therapeutics to tissue. Development of in vitro fluidic devices to mimic these microcirculatory processes has been a critical step forward in our understanding of the inflammatory process, developing of nano-particulate drug carriers, and developing realistic in vitro models of the microvasculature and its surrounding tissue. However, widely used parallel plate flow based devices and assays have a number of important limitations for studying the physiological conditions in vivo. In addition, these devices are resource hungry and time consuming for performing various assays. Recently developed, more realistic, microfluidic based devices have been able to overcome many of these limitations. In this review, an overview of the fluidic devices and their use in studying the effects of shear forces on cell-cell and cell-particle interactions is presented. In addition, use of mathematical models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based models for interpreting the complex flow patterns in the microvasculature is highlighted. Finally, the potential of 3D microfluidic devices and imaging for better representing in vivo conditions under which cell-cell and cell-particle interactions take place is discussed.
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Wu W, DeConinck A, Lewis JA. Omnidirectional printing of 3D microvascular networks. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2011; 23:H178-83. [PMID: 21438034 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201004625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 441] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Revised: 02/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Willie Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Jian Chen J, Ren Lai Y, Tang Tsai R, Der Lin J, Yang Wu C. Crosswise ridge micromixers with split and recombination helical flows. Chem Eng Sci 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2011.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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36
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Wilson ME, Kota N, Kim Y, Wang Y, Stolz DB, LeDuc PR, Ozdoganlar OB. Fabrication of circular microfluidic channels by combining mechanical micromilling and soft lithography. LAB ON A CHIP 2011; 11:1550-5. [PMID: 21399830 DOI: 10.1039/c0lc00561d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The fabrication of microfluidic channels with complex three-dimensional (3D) geometries presents a major challenge to the field of microfluidics, because conventional lithography methods are mainly limited to rectangular cross-sections. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of mechanical micromachining to fabricate microfluidic channels with complex cross-sectional geometries. Micro-scale milling tools are first used to fabricate semi-circular patterns on planar metallic surfaces to create a master mold. The micromilled pattern is then transferred to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a two-step reverse molding process. Using these semi-circular PDMS channels, circular cross-sectioned microchannels are created by aligning and adhering two channels face-to-face. Straight and serpentine-shaped microchannels were fabricated, and the channel geometry and precision of the metallic master and PDMS molds were assessed through scanning electron microscopy and non-contact profilometry. Channel functionality was tested by perfusion of liquid through the channels. This work demonstrates that micromachining enabled soft lithography is capable of fabricating non-rectangular cross-section channels for microfluidic applications. We believe that this approach will be important for many fields from biomimetics and vascular engineering to microfabrication and microreactor technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Wilson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA 15213, USA
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37
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Barber RW, Emerson DR. Biomimetic design of artificial micro-vasculatures for tissue engineering. Altern Lab Anim 2011; 38 Suppl 1:67-79. [PMID: 21275485 DOI: 10.1177/026119291003801s02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, highly innovative micro-fabrication techniques have been developed that are set to revolutionise the biomedical industry. Fabrication processes, such as photolithography, wet and dry etching, moulding, embossing and lamination, have been developed for a range of biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric materials. One area where these fabrication techniques could play a significant role is in the development of artificial micro-vasculatures for the creation of tissue samples for drug screening and clinical applications. Despite the enormous technological advances in the field of tissue engineering, one of the major challenges is the creation of miniaturised fluid distribution networks to transport nutrients and waste products, in order to sustain the viability of the culture. In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the development of microfluidic manifolds that mimic the hierarchical vascular and parenchymal networks found in nature. This article provides an overview of microfluidic tissue constructs, and also reviews the hydrodynamic scaling laws that underpin the fluid mechanics of vascular systems. It shows how Murray's law, which governs the optimum ratio between the diameters of the parent and daughter branches in biological networks, can be used to design the microfluidic channels in artificial vasculatures. It is shown that it is possible to introduce precise control over the shear stress or residence time in a hierarchical network, in order to aid cell adhesion and enhance the diffusion of nutrients and waste products. Finally, the paper describes the hydrodynamic extensions that are necessary in order to apply Murray's law to the rectangular channels that are often employed in artificial micro-vasculatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Barber
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, UK.
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38
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A microfluidic respiratory assist device with high gas permeance for artificial lung applications. Biomed Microdevices 2010; 13:315-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s10544-010-9495-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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39
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Borenstein JT, Tupper MM, Mack PJ, Weinberg EJ, Khalil AS, Hsiao J, García-Cardeña G. Functional endothelialized microvascular networks with circular cross-sections in a tissue culture substrate. Biomed Microdevices 2010; 12:71-9. [PMID: 19787455 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-009-9361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Functional endothelialized networks constitute a critical building block for vascularized replacement tissues, organ assist devices, and laboratory tools for in vitro discovery and evaluation of new therapeutic compounds. Progress towards realization of these functional artificial vasculatures has been gated by limitations associated with the mechanical and surface chemical properties of commonly used microfluidic substrate materials and by the geometry of the microchannels produced using conventional fabrication techniques. Here we report on a method for constructing microvascular networks from polystyrene substrates commonly used for tissue culture, built with circular cross-sections and smooth transitions at bifurcations. Silicon master molds are constructed using an electroplating process that results in semi-circular channel cross-sections with smoothly varying radii. These master molds are used to emboss polystyrene sheets which are then joined to form closed bifurcated channel networks with circular cross-sections. The mechanical and surface chemical properties of these polystyrene microvascular network structures enable culture of endothelial cells along the inner lumen. Endothelial cell viability was assessed, documenting nearly confluent monolayers within 3D microfabricated channel networks with rounded cross-sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T Borenstein
- MEMS Technology Group, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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40
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Shao J, Wu L, Wu J, Zheng Y, Zhao H, Lou X, Jin Q, Zhao J. A microfluidic chip for permeability assays of endothelial monolayer. Biomed Microdevices 2010; 12:81-8. [PMID: 19802699 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-009-9362-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Endothelial cell monolayer (EM), acting as a barrier between blood and tissue, plays an important role in pathophysiological processes. Here we describe a novel microfluidic chip that is applied for convenient and high throughput in vitro permeability assays of EM. The chip included a gradient generator and an array of cell culture chambers. A microporous membrane as a scaffold component was built between a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer and a glass substrate to grow EM. Cell culture chambers were separated by microchannels and microvalves. The concentration gradient of compound solutions could be generated automatically and affected EM in different chambers. The permeability of EM at different time with histamine stimulation was in situ measured by the fluorescence detection of the leaked tracer. The existence of continuous flow in the channels allowed EM in a dynamic microenvironment and increased the amount of tracer through the EM, comparing to transwell assays. According to the prototype chip, the chip with a bigger array of cell culture chambers could be achieved easily and applied in the high throughput screening for drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Shao
- Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, 865 Changning Road, 200050 Shanghai, China
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41
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Kiani A, Venkatakrishnan K, Tan B. Direct patterning of silicon oxide on Si-substrate induced by femtosecond laser. OPTICS EXPRESS 2010; 18:1872-1878. [PMID: 20174014 DOI: 10.1364/oe.18.001872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In this study we report for the first time a method for direct patterning of silicon oxide on a silicon substrate by irradiation with a femtosecond laser of Mega Hertz pulse frequency under ambient condition. Embossed lines of silicon oxide with around 3 approximately 4 microm width and less than 100 nm height were formed by controlling the parameters such as laser pulse power and frequency rate. A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), an optical microscopy and a Micro-Raman and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were used to analyze the silicon oxide layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirkianoosh Kiani
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3 Canada
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42
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Domachuk P, Tsioris K, Omenetto FG, Kaplan DL. Bio-microfluidics: biomaterials and biomimetic designs. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2010; 22:249-60. [PMID: 20217686 DOI: 10.1002/adma.200900821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bio-microfluidics applies biomaterials and biologically inspired structural designs (biomimetics) to microfluidic devices. Microfluidics, the techniques for constraining fluids on the micrometer and sub-micrometer scale, offer applications ranging from lab-on-a-chip to optofluidics. Despite this wealth of applications, the design of typical microfluidic devices imparts relatively simple, laminar behavior on fluids and is realized using materials and techniques from silicon planar fabrication. On the other hand, highly complex microfluidic behavior is commonplace in nature, where fluids with nonlinear rheology flow through chaotic vasculature composed from a range of biopolymers. In this Review, the current state of bio-microfluidic materials, designs and applications are examined. Biopolymers enable bio-microfluidic devices with versatile functionalization chemistries, flexibility in fabrication, and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Polymeric materials such as alginate, collagen, chitosan, and silk are being explored as bulk and film materials for bio-microfluidics. Hydrogels offer options for mechanically functional devices for microfluidic systems such as self-regulating valves, microlens arrays and drug release systems, vital for integrated bio-microfluidic devices. These devices including growth factor gradients to study cell responses, blood analysis, biomimetic capillary designs, and blood vessel tissue culture systems, as some recent examples of inroads in the field that should lead the way in a new generation of microfluidic devices for bio-related needs and applications. Perhaps one of the most intriguing directions for the future will be fully implantable microfluidic devices that will also integrate with existing vasculature and slowly degrade to fully recapitulate native tissue structure and function, yet serve critical interim functions, such as tissue maintenance, drug release, mechanical support, and cell delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Domachuk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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43
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Jang KJ, Suh KY. A multi-layer microfluidic device for efficient culture and analysis of renal tubular cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2010; 10:36-42. [PMID: 20024048 DOI: 10.1039/b907515a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 311] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a simple multi-layer microfluidic device by integrating a polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channel and a porous membrane substrate to culture and analyze the renal tubular cells. As a model cell type, primary rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were cultured inside the channel. To generate in vivo-like tubular environments for the cells, a fluidic shear stress of 1 dyn/cm(2) was applied for 5 hours, allowing for optimal fluidic conditions for the cultured cells, as verified by enhanced cell polarization, cytoskeletal reorganization, and molecular transport by hormonal stimulations. These results suggest that the microfluidic device presented here is useful for resembling an in vivo renal tubule system and has potential applications in drug screening and advanced tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Jin Jang
- Interdisciplinary Program in Nano-Science and Technology, Seoul, 151-747, Korea
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44
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Lovett M, Lee K, Edwards A, Kaplan DL. Vascularization strategies for tissue engineering. TISSUE ENGINEERING PART B-REVIEWS 2009; 15:353-70. [PMID: 19496677 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2009.0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 618] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tissue engineering is currently limited by the inability to adequately vascularize tissues in vitro or in vivo. Issues of nutrient perfusion and mass transport limitations, especially oxygen diffusion, restrict construct development to smaller than clinically relevant dimensions and limit the ability for in vivo integration. There is much interest in the field as researchers have undertaken a variety of approaches to vascularization, including material functionalization, scaffold design, microfabrication, bioreactor development, endothelial cell seeding, modular assembly, and in vivo systems. Efforts to model and measure oxygen diffusion and consumption within these engineered tissues have sought to quantitatively assess and improve these design strategies. This review assesses the current state of the field by outlining the prevailing approaches taken toward producing vascularized tissues and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lovett
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, USA
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45
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Kiani A, Venkatakrishnan K, Tan B. Micro/nano scale amorphization of silicon by femtosecond laser irradiation. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:16518-26. [PMID: 19770866 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.016518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the feasibility of using direct amorphization of silicon induced by femtosecond laser irradiation for maskless lithography. A thin layer of amorphous silicon of predetermined pattern was first generated by irradiation by a femtosecond laser of Mega Hertz pulse frequency. The following KOH etching revealed that the amorphous silicon layer acted as an etch stop. Line width less than 1/67 the focused spot size was demonstrated and hence the proposed maskless lithography process has the potential of producing submicron and nanoscale features by employing a laser beam of shorter wavelength and a high NA focusing lens. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), a Micro-Raman and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analyses were used to evaluate the quality of amorphous layer and the etching process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirkianoosh Kiani
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
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46
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Day D, Gu M. A microfluidic microreactor for the synthesis of gold nanorods. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2009; 20:105601. [PMID: 19417521 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/10/105601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A microfluidic microreactor for the synthesis of gold nanorods is fabricated using femtosecond pulse laser microfabrication techniques. Femtosecond pulse lasers are able to etch a wide range of materials that are required for a microreactor, from the photomasks to the microheaters. The heating of the fluid in the microreactor is achieved through the design and fabrication of a microscale heating element incorporated onto the bottom surface of the microreactor which is capable of reaching temperatures greater than 130 degrees C. Computational fluid dynamic simulations of the heating profile of an optimized microreactor show increased heating performance with respect to a serpentine microreactor. The synthesis of gold nanorods is demonstrated in the optimized microreactor, based on a flow rate of 0.5 microg min(-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Day
- Centre for Micro-Photonics, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, 3122, Australia.
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47
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Cieslicki K, Piechna A. Investigations of mixing process in microfluidic manifold designed according to biomimetic rule. LAB ON A CHIP 2009; 9:726-732. [PMID: 19224024 DOI: 10.1039/b811005k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The paper is focused on the mechanism of mixing process in a manifold which mimics the geometrical properties of vascular systems. The relationship governing the optimum ratio between the diameters of the parent and daughter branches in vascular systems was first discovered by Murray using the principle of minimum work. However, in contrast to biological vascular networks, which are composed of circular pipes, microfluidic manifolds are fabricated using a range of processes (photolithography, wet or dry etching, surface micromachining), which result in channels of rectangular or trapezoidal sections and constant depth throughout the device. The paper focuses on constant-depth rectangular channels often employed in lab-on-a-chip systems and provides comprehensive numerical studies of mixing in such geometry. It also presents simplified analytical estimation on how the coefficient of mixing depends on the number of generations and Reynolds number. The main goal of the paper is to describe the concept of a mixer which provides almost perfect mixing at the outlet regardless of the value of Re and for a minimal number of manifold's generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Cieslicki
- Laboratory of Bioflows, Institute of Automatic Control and Robotics, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
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48
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Strychalski EA, Stavis SM, Craighead HG. Non-planar nanofluidic devices for single molecule analysis fabricated using nanoglassblowing. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2008; 19:315301. [PMID: 21828782 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/19/31/315301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A method termed 'nanoglassblowing' is presented for fabricating integrated microfluidic and nanofluidic devices with gradual depth changes and wide, shallow nanochannels. This method was used to construct fused silica channels with out-of-plane curvature of channel covers from over ten micrometers to a few nanometers, nanochannel aspect ratios smaller than 2 × 10(-5):1 (depth:width), and nanochannel depths as shallow as 7 nm. These low aspect ratios and shallow channel depths would be difficult to form otherwise without collapse of the channel cover, and the gradual changes in channel depth eliminate abrupt free energy barriers at the transition from microfluidic to nanofluidic regions. Devices were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM), white light interferometry, scanned height measurements, fluorescence intensity traces, and single molecule analysis of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) velocity and conformation. Nanochannel depths and aspect ratios formed by nanoglassblowing allowed measurements of the radius of gyration, R(g), of single λ DNA molecules confined to slit-like nanochannels with depths, d, ranging from 11 nm to 507 nm. Measurements of R(g) as a function of d agreed qualitatively with the scaling law R(g)∝d(-0.25) predicted by Brochard for nanochannel depths from 36 nm to 156 nm, while measurements of R(g) in 11 nm and 507 nm deep nanochannels deviated from this prediction.
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49
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Williams H, Trask R, Weaver P, Bond I. Minimum mass vascular networks in multifunctional materials. J R Soc Interface 2008; 5:55-65. [PMID: 17426011 PMCID: PMC2605499 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2007.1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A biomimetic analysis is presented in which an expression for the optimum vessel diameter for the design of minimum mass branching or vascular networks in engineering applications is derived. Agreement with constructal theory is shown. A simple design case is illustrated and application to more complex cases with branching networks of several generations discussed. The analysis is also extended into the turbulent flow regime, giving an optimization tool with considerable utility in the design of fluid distribution systems. The distribution of vessel lengths in different generations was also found to be a useful design variable. Integrating a network into a structure is also discussed. Where it is necessary to adopt a non-optimum vessel diameter for structural integration, it has been shown that small deviations from the minimum mass optimum can be tolerated, but large variations could be expected to produce a punitive and rapidly increasing mass penalty.
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50
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Borenstein JT, Weinberg EJ, Orrick BK, Sundback C, Kaazempur-Mofrad MR, Vacanti JP. Microfabrication of three-dimensional engineered scaffolds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 13:1837-44. [PMID: 17590149 DOI: 10.1089/ten.2006.0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
One of the principal challenges facing the field of tissue engineering over the past 2 decades has been the requirement for large-scale engineered constructs comprising precisely organized cellular microenvironments. For vital organ assist and replacement devices, microfluidic-based systems such as the microcirculation, biliary, or renal filtration and resorption systems and other functional elements containing multiple cell types must be generated to provide for viable engineered tissues and clinical benefit. Over the last several years, microfabrication technology has emerged as a versatile and powerful approach for generating precisely engineered scaffolds for engineered tissues. Fabrication process tools such as photolithography, etching, molding, and lamination have been established for applications involving a range of biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric scaffolding materials. Computational fluid dynamic designs have been used to generate scaffold designs suitable for microvasculature and a number of organ-specific constructs; these designs have been translated into 3-dimensional scaffolding using microfabrication processes. Here a brief overview of the fundamental microfabrication technologies used for tissue engineering will be presented, along with a summary of progress in a number of applications, including the liver and kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey T Borenstein
- Biomedical Engineering Center, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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