1
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Okada S, Shoji K. Microrail-assisted liposome trapping and aligning in microfluidic channels. RSC Adv 2024; 14:18003-18010. [PMID: 38841399 PMCID: PMC11152143 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra02094d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Liposome assemblies with a specific shape are potential cell tissue models for studying intercellular communication. Microfluidic channels that can trap liposomes have been constructed to achieve efficient and high-throughput manipulation and observation of liposomes. However, the trapping and alignment of multiple liposomes in a specific space are still challenging because the liposomes are soft and easily ruptured. In this study, we focused on a microrail-assisted technique for manipulating water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions. In this technique, w/o emulsions are trapped under the microrails through a surface energy gradient. First, we investigated whether the microrail channel can be applied for liposome trapping and alignment and found that the numerical simulations showed that drag forces in the direction of the microrail acted on the liposomes, thereby moving the liposomes from the main channel to the microrail. Next, we designed a microrail device based on the simulation results and trapped liposomes using the device. Resultantly, 24.7 ± 8.5 liposomes were aligned under the microrail within an hour, and the microrail was filled with liposomes for 3 hours. Finally, we prepared the microrail devices with y-shaped and ring-shaped microrails and demonstrated the construction of liposome assemblies with specific shapes, not only the straight shape. Our results indicate that the microrail-assisted technique is a valuable method for manipulating liposomes because it has the potential to provide various-shaped liposome assemblies. We believe the microrail channel will be a powerful tool for constructing liposome-based cell-cell interaction models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Okada
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology 1603-1 Kamitomioka Nagaoka Niigata 940-2188 Japan
| | - Kan Shoji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology 1603-1 Kamitomioka Nagaoka Niigata 940-2188 Japan
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2
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Tanaka D, Zheng S, Furuya M, Kobayashi M, Fujita H, Akitsu T, Sekiguchi T, Shoji S. Efficient Separation of Methanol Single-Micron Droplets by Tailing Phenomenon Using a PDMS Microfluidic Device. Molecules 2024; 29:1949. [PMID: 38731440 PMCID: PMC11085517 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29091949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Microdroplet-based fluidic systems have the advantages of small size, short diffusion time, and no cross-contamination; consequently, droplets often provide a fast and precise reaction environment as well as an analytical environment for individual molecules. In order to handle diverse reactions, we developed a method to create organic single-micron droplets (S-MDs) smaller than 5 μm in diameter dispersed in silicone oil without surfactant. The S-MD generation microflow device consists of a mother droplet (MoD) generator and a tapered separation channel featuring multiple side channels. The tapered channel enhanced the shear forces to form tails from the MoDs, causing them to break up. Surface treatment with the fluoropolymer CYTOP protected PDMS fluid devices from organic fluids. The tailing separation of methanol droplets was accomplished without the use of surfactants. The generation of tiny organic droplets may offer new insights into chemical separation and help study the scaling effects of various chemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Tanaka
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Shengqi Zheng
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
| | - Masahiro Furuya
- Cooperative Major in Nuclear Energy, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; (M.F.); (M.K.)
| | - Masashi Kobayashi
- Cooperative Major in Nuclear Energy, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan; (M.F.); (M.K.)
| | | | - Takashiro Akitsu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo 162-0825, Japan;
| | - Tetsushi Sekiguchi
- Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo 162-0041, Japan;
| | - Shuichi Shoji
- Department of Electronic and Physical Systems, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 145-0065, Japan; (S.Z.); (S.S.)
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3
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Nan L, Zhang H, Weitz DA, Shum HC. Development and future of droplet microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1135-1153. [PMID: 38165829 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00729d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, advances in droplet-based microfluidics have facilitated new approaches to process and analyze samples with unprecedented levels of precision and throughput. A wide variety of applications has been inspired across multiple disciplines ranging from materials science to biology. Understanding the dynamics of droplets enables optimization of microfluidic operations and design of new techniques tailored to emerging demands. In this review, we discuss the underlying physics behind high-throughput generation and manipulation of droplets. We also summarize the applications in droplet-derived materials and droplet-based lab-on-a-chip biotechnology. In addition, we offer perspectives on future directions to realize wider use of droplet microfluidics in industrial production and biomedical analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Nan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Huidan Zhang
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Cardona S, Mostafazadeh N, Luan Q, Zhou J, Peng Z, Papautsky I. Numerical Modeling of Physical Cell Trapping in Microfluidic Chips. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1665. [PMID: 37763828 PMCID: PMC10538085 DOI: 10.3390/mi14091665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic methods have proven to be effective in separation and isolation of cells for a wide range of biomedical applications. Among these methods, physical trapping is a label-free isolation approach that relies on cell size as the selective phenotype to retain target cells on-chip for follow-up analysis and imaging. In silico models have been used to optimize the design of such hydrodynamic traps and to investigate cancer cell transmigration through narrow constrictions. While most studies focus on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of flow over cells and/or pillar traps, a quantitative analysis of mechanical interaction between cells and trapping units is missing. The existing literature centers on longitudinally extended geometries (e.g., micro-vessels) to understand the biological phenomenon rather than designing an effective cell trap. In this work, we aim to make an experimentally informed prediction of the critical pressure for a cell to pass through a trapping unit as a function of cell morphology and trapping unit geometry. Our findings show that a hyperelastic material model accurately captures the stress-related softening behavior observed in cancer cells passing through micro-constrictions. These findings are used to develop a model capable of predicting and extrapolating critical pressure values. The validity of the model is assessed with experimental data. Regression analysis is used to derive a mathematical framework for critical pressure. Coupled with CFD analysis, one can use this formulation to design efficient microfluidic devices for cell trapping and potentially perform downstream analysis of trapped cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ian Papautsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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5
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Voisin H, Bonnin E, Marquis M, Alvarado C, Lafon S, Lopez-Leon T, Jamme F, Capron I. Interactions between proteins and cellulose in a liquid crystalline media: Design of a droplet based experimental platform. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 245:125488. [PMID: 37353113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Model systems are needed to provide controlled environment for the understanding of complex phenomena. Interaction between polysaccharides and proteins in dense medium are involved in numerous complex systems such as biomass conversion or plant use for food processing or biobased materials. In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were used to study proteins in a dense and organized cellulosic environment. This environment was designed within microdroplets using a microfluidic setup, and applied to two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a GH7 endoglucanase, relevant to food and plant science, respectively. The CNC at 56.5 g/L organized in liquid crystalline structure and the distribution of the proteins was probed using synchrotron deep-UV radiation. The proteins were homogeneously distributed throughout the volume, but BSA significantly disturbed the droplet global organization, preferring partition in hydrophilic external micelles. In contrast, GH7 partitioned with the CNCs showing stronger non-polar interaction but without disruption of the system organization. Such results pave the road for the development of more complex polysaccharides - proteins in-vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Suzanne Lafon
- Laboratoire Gulliver, UMR CNRS 7083, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Teresa Lopez-Leon
- Laboratoire Gulliver, UMR CNRS 7083, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frederic Jamme
- DISCO Beamline, SOLEIL Synchrotron, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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6
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Gantz M, Neun S, Medcalf EJ, van Vliet LD, Hollfelder F. Ultrahigh-Throughput Enzyme Engineering and Discovery in In Vitro Compartments. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5571-5611. [PMID: 37126602 PMCID: PMC10176489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel and improved biocatalysts are increasingly sourced from libraries via experimental screening. The success of such campaigns is crucially dependent on the number of candidates tested. Water-in-oil emulsion droplets can replace the classical test tube, to provide in vitro compartments as an alternative screening format, containing genotype and phenotype and enabling a readout of function. The scale-down to micrometer droplet diameters and picoliter volumes brings about a >107-fold volume reduction compared to 96-well-plate screening. Droplets made in automated microfluidic devices can be integrated into modular workflows to set up multistep screening protocols involving various detection modes to sort >107 variants a day with kHz frequencies. The repertoire of assays available for droplet screening covers all seven enzyme commission (EC) number classes, setting the stage for widespread use of droplet microfluidics in everyday biochemical experiments. We review the practicalities of adapting droplet screening for enzyme discovery and for detailed kinetic characterization. These new ways of working will not just accelerate discovery experiments currently limited by screening capacity but profoundly change the paradigms we can probe. By interfacing the results of ultrahigh-throughput droplet screening with next-generation sequencing and deep learning, strategies for directed evolution can be implemented, examined, and evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Gantz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Stefanie Neun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Elliot J Medcalf
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Liisa D van Vliet
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
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7
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Cao X, Buryska T, Yang T, Wang J, Fischer P, Streets A, Stavrakis S, deMello A. Towards an active droplet-based microfluidic platform for programmable fluid handling. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2029-2038. [PMID: 37000567 PMCID: PMC10091362 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00015j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic systems have emerged as powerful alternatives to conventional high throughput screening platforms, due to their operational flexibility, high-throughput nature and ability to efficiently process small fluid volumes. However, the challenges associated with performing bespoke operations on user-defined droplets often limit their utility in screening applications that involve complex workflows. To this end, the marriage of droplet- and valve-based microfluidic technologies offers the prospect of balancing the controllability of droplet manipulations and analytical throughput. In this spirit, we present a microfluidic platform that combines the capabilities of integrated microvalve technology with droplet-based sample compartmentalization to realize a highly adaptable programmable fluid handling functionality. The microfluidic device consists of a programmable formulator linked to an automated droplet generation device and storage array. The formulator leverages multiple inputs coupled to a mixing ring to produce combinatorial solution mixtures, with a peristaltic pump enabling titration of reagents into the ring with picoliter resolution. The platform allows for the execution of user-defined reaction protocols within an array of storage chambers by consecutively merging programmable sequences of pL-volume droplets containing specified reagents. The precision in formulating solutions with small differences in concentration is perfectly suited for the accurate estimation of kinetic parameters. The utility of our platform is showcased through the performance of enzymatic kinetic measurements of beta-galactosidase and horseradish peroxidase with fluorogenic substrates. The presented platform provides for a range of automated manipulations and paves the way for a more diverse range of droplet-based biological experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobao Cao
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Tomas Buryska
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Tianjin Yang
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Fischer
- IFNH Food Process Engineering Group, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aaron Streets
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
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8
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Yin C, Jiang X, Mann S, Tian L, Drinkwater BW. Acoustic Trapping: An Emerging Tool for Microfabrication Technology. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2207917. [PMID: 36942987 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The high throughput deposition of microscale objects with precise spatial arrangement represents a key step in microfabrication technology. This can be done by creating physical boundaries to guide the deposition process or using printing technologies; in both approaches, these microscale objects cannot be further modified after they are formed. The utilization of dynamic acoustic fields offers a novel approach to facilitate real-time reconfigurable miniaturized systems in a contactless manner, which can potentially be used in physics, chemistry, biology, as well as materials science. Here, the physical interactions of microscale objects in an acoustic pressure field are discussed and how to fabricate different acoustic trapping devices and how to tune the spatial arrangement of the microscale objects are explained. Moreover, different approaches that can dynamically modulate microscale objects in acoustic fields are presented, and the potential applications of the microarrays in biomedical engineering, chemical/biochemical sensing, and materials science are highlighted alongside a discussion of future research challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengying Yin
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Stephen Mann
- Centre for Protolife Research and Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- Max Planck-Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, 66 Dongxin Road, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Bruce W Drinkwater
- Faculty of Engineering, Queen's Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK
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9
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Jiang L, Yang H, Cheng W, Ni Z, Xiang N. Droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy: a review. Analyst 2023; 148:203-221. [PMID: 36508171 DOI: 10.1039/d2an01747d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important biomarkers of liquid biopsy. The number and heterogeneity of CTCs play an important role in cancer diagnosis and personalized medicine. However, owing to the low-abundance biomarkers of CTCs, conventional assays are only able to detect CTCs at the population level. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a highly sensitive method to analyze CTCs at the single-cell level. As an important branch of microfluidics, droplet microfluidics is a high-throughput and sensitive single-cell analysis platform for the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs. In this review, we focus on the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs using droplet microfluidics. Technologies that enable droplet microfluidics, particularly high-throughput droplet generation and high-efficiency droplet manipulation, are first discussed. Then, recent advances in detecting and analyzing CTCs using droplet microfluidics from the different aspects of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites are introduced. The purpose of this review is to provide guidance for the continued study of droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Hang Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Weiqi Cheng
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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10
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Jiang Z, Shi H, Tang X, Qin J. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis. Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.116932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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11
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O'Keefe CM, Wang THJ. Fabrication of Multilayer Microfluidic Arrays for Passive, Efficient DNA Trapping and Profiling. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2679:315-322. [PMID: 37300626 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3271-0_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Trace amounts of cell-free DNA containing cancer-specific biomarkers can be found in blood plasma. Detection of these biomarkers holds tremendous potential for applications such as noninvasive cancer diagnostics and therapeutic monitoring. However, such DNA molecules are extremely rare, and a typical patient blood sample may only contain a few copies. Here we describe the fabrication and operation of a microfluidic device to efficiently trap single DNA molecules into chambers for detection of tumor-specific biomarkers through a passive, geometric manipulation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M O'Keefe
- Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tza-Huei Jeff Wang
- Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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12
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Damiati LA, El-Yaagoubi M, Damiati SA, Kodzius R, Sefat F, Damiati S. Role of Polymers in Microfluidic Devices. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:5132. [PMID: 36501526 PMCID: PMC9738615 DOI: 10.3390/polym14235132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymers are sustainable and renewable materials that are in high demand due to their excellent properties. Natural and synthetic polymers with high flexibility, good biocompatibility, good degradation rate, and stiffness are widely used for various applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, and microfluidic chip fabrication. Indeed, recent advances in microfluidic technology allow the fabrication of polymeric matrix to construct microfluidic scaffolds for tissue engineering and to set up a well-controlled microenvironment for manipulating fluids and particles. In this review, polymers as materials for the fabrication of microfluidic chips have been highlighted. Successful models exploiting polymers in microfluidic devices to generate uniform particles as drug vehicles or artificial cells have been also discussed. Additionally, using polymers as bioink for 3D printing or as a matrix to functionalize the sensing surface in microfluidic devices has also been mentioned. The rapid progress made in the combination of polymers and microfluidics presents a low-cost, reproducible, and scalable approach for a promising future in the manufacturing of biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila A. Damiati
- Department of Biology, Collage of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23890, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa El-Yaagoubi
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK
| | - Safa A. Damiati
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rimantas Kodzius
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Farshid Sefat
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Polymer Science & Technology (Polymer IRC), University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
- Department of Biomedical and Electronics Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Samar Damiati
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
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13
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Villois A, Capasso Palmiero U, Mathur P, Perone G, Schneider T, Li L, Salvalaglio M, deMello A, Stavrakis S, Arosio P. Droplet Microfluidics for the Label-Free Extraction of Complete Phase Diagrams and Kinetics of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Finite Volumes. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2202606. [PMID: 36180409 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202202606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of polymer and protein solutions is central in many areas of biology and material sciences. Here, an experimental and theoretical framework is provided to investigate the thermodynamics and kinetics of liquid-liquid phase separation in volumes comparable to cells. The strategy leverages droplet microfluidics to accurately measure the volume of the dense phase generated by liquid-liquid phase separation of solutions confined in micro-sized compartments. It is shown that the measurement of the volume fraction of the dense phase at different temperatures allows the evaluation of the binodal lines that determine the coexistence region of the two phases in the temperature-concentration phase diagram. By applying a thermodynamic model of phase separation in finite volumes, it is further shown that the platform can predict and validate kinetic barriers associated with the formation of a dense droplet in a parent dilute phase, therefore connecting thermodynamics and kinetics of liquid-liquid phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Villois
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Umberto Capasso Palmiero
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Prerit Mathur
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Gaia Perone
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Timo Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Lunna Li
- Thomas Young Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Matteo Salvalaglio
- Thomas Young Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Andrew deMello
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
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14
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Khoeini D, He V, Boyd BJ, Neild A, Scott TF. Nonequilibrium interfacial diffusion across microdroplet interface. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3770-3779. [PMID: 36070434 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00326k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increases in complexity attainable in molecular self-assembly necessitates both advanced molecular design as well as microenvironmental control. Such control is offered by microfluidics, where precise chemical compositions and gradients can be readily established. A droplet microfluidic platform combining upstream step emulsification with downstream hydrodynamic microtraps has been designed to facilitate molecular self-assembly. The step emulsification rapidly generates uniform droplets which act as reaction chambers. The hydrodynamic microtraps hold droplets against the flow ensuring they are exposed to a continuous supply of fresh fluid for constant reagent extraction and/or delivery. Additionally, the droplet immobilization permits real-time droplet characterization and reaction monitoring. Subsequently, droplets can be released from the traps through flow reversal, allowing post-process characterization. The microfluidic system was demonstrated by the phase separation of lyotropic droplets. Ethanol/water droplets were created in a continuous ambient squalene/monoolein microflow, causing the continuous extraction of ethanol from the droplets and delivery of monoolein from the ambient microflow. Unlike conventional bulk techniques and continuous microfluidics, where finite microchannel lengths necessarily impose limits to the extent to which slow processes can proceed, this approach allows extended duration reactions whilst enabling real time process monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davood Khoeini
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Vincent He
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Ben J Boyd
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Timothy F Scott
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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15
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Agnihotri SN, Ugolini GS, Sullivan MR, Yang Y, De Ganzó A, Lim JW, Konry T. Droplet microfluidics for functional temporal analysis and cell recovery on demand using microvalves: application in immunotherapies for cancer. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3258-3267. [PMID: 35904070 PMCID: PMC9535857 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00435f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Most common methods of cellular analysis employ the top-down approach (investigating proteomics or genomics directly), thereby destroying the cell, which does not allow the possibility of using the same cell to correlate genomics with functional assays. Herein we describe an approach for single-cell tools that serve as a bottom-up approach. Our technology allows functional phenotyping to be conducted by observing the cytotoxicity of cells and then probe the underlying biology. We have developed a droplet microfluidic device capable of trapping droplets in the array and releasing the droplet of interest selectively using microvalves. Each droplet in the array encapsulates natural killer cells (NK cells) and tumour cells for real-time monitoring of burst kinetics and spatial coordination during killing by single NK cells. Finally, we use the microvalve actuation to selectively release droplets with the desired functional phenotype such as for fast and serial killing of target tumour cells by NK cells. From this perspective, our device allows for investigating first interactions and real-time monitoring of kinetics and later cell recovery on demand for single-cell omic analysis such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA), which to date, is primarily based on in-depth analyses of the entire transcriptome of a relatively low number of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar N Agnihotri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Giovanni Stefano Ugolini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Matthew Ryan Sullivan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Yichao Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Agustin De Ganzó
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Ji Won Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Tania Konry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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16
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Zhou C, Shim J, Fang Z, Meyer C, Gong T, Wong M, Tan C, Pan T. Microfluidic Printing-Based Method for the Multifactorial Study of Cell-Free Protein Networks. Anal Chem 2022; 94:11038-11046. [PMID: 35901235 PMCID: PMC9558566 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c01851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein networks can be assembled in vitro for basic biochemistry research, drug screening, and the creation of artificial cells. Two standard methodologies are used: manual pipetting and pipetting robots. Manual pipetting has limited throughput in the number of input reagents and the combination of reagents in a single sample. While pipetting robots are evident in improving pipetting efficiency and saving hands-on time, their liquid handling volume usually ranges from a few to hundreds of microliters. Microfluidic methods have been developed to minimize the reagent consumption and speed up screening but are challenging in multifactorial protein studies due to their reliance on complex structures and labeling dyes. Here, we engineered a new impact-printing-based methodology to generate printed microdroplet arrays containing water-in-oil droplets. The printed droplet volume was linearly proportional (R2 = 0.9999) to the single droplet number, and each single droplet volume was around 59.2 nL (coefficient of variation = 93.8%). Our new methodology enables the study of protein networks in both membrane-unbound and -bound states, without and with anchor lipids DGS-NTA(Ni), respectively. The methodology is demonstrated using a subnetwork of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). It takes less than 10 min to prepare 100 different droplet-based reactions, using <1 μL reaction volume at each reaction site. We validate the kinase (ATPase) activity of MEK1 (R4F)* and ERK2 WT individually and together under different concentrations, without and with the selective membrane attachment. Our new methodology provides a reagent-saving, efficient, and flexible way for protein network research and related applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuqing Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Jiyoung Shim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Zecong Fang
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Single-Molecule Detection and Instrument Development, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Conary Meyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Ting Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Matthew Wong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Tingrui Pan
- Institute of Biomedical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Single-Molecule Detection and Instrument Development, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, 215123, China
- Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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17
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Allert RD, Briegel KD, Bucher DB. Advances in nano- and microscale NMR spectroscopy using diamond quantum sensors. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:8165-8181. [PMID: 35796253 PMCID: PMC9301930 DOI: 10.1039/d2cc01546c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Quantum technologies have seen a rapid developmental surge over the last couple of years. Though often overshadowed by quantum computation, quantum sensors show tremendous potential for widespread applications in chemistry and biology. One system stands out in particular: the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond, an atomic-sized sensor allowing the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals at unprecedented length scales down to a single proton. In this article, we review the fundamentals of NV center-based quantum sensing and its distinct impact on nano- and microscale NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, we highlight possible future applications of this novel technology ranging from energy research, materials science, to single-cell biology, and discuss the associated challenges of these rapidly developing NMR sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin D Allert
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Karl D Briegel
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
| | - Dominik B Bucher
- Technical University of Munich, Department of Chemistry, Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany.
- Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST), Schellingstr. 4, 80799 München, Germany
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18
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Muralidharan A, Pesch GR, Hubbe H, Rems L, Nouri-Goushki M, Boukany PE. Microtrap array on a chip for localized electroporation and electro-gene transfection. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 147:108197. [PMID: 35810498 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We developed a localized single-cell electroporation chip to deliver exogenous biomolecules with high efficiency while maintaining high cell viability. In our microfluidic device, the cells are trapped in a microtrap array by flow, after which target molecules are supplied to the device and electrotransferred to the cells under electric pulses. The system provides the ability to monitor the electrotransfer of exogenous biomolecules in real time. We reveal through numerical simulations that localized electroporation is the mechanism of permeabilization in the microtrap array electroporation device. We demonstrate the simplicity and accuracy of this microtrap technology for electroporation by delivery of both small molecules using propidium iodide and large molecules using plasmid DNA for gene expression, illustrating the potential of this minimally invasive method to be widely used for precise intracellular delivery purposes (from bioprocess engineering to therapeutic applications).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswin Muralidharan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Georg R Pesch
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Hendrik Hubbe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Lea Rems
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska 25, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mahdiyeh Nouri-Goushki
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Pouyan E Boukany
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands.
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19
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Sun M, Zhou X, Quan Y, Zhang L, Xie Y. Highly flexible elastomer microfluidic chip for single cell manipulation. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:024104. [PMID: 35310421 PMCID: PMC8923708 DOI: 10.1063/5.0086717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
New materials and fabrication technologies have significantly boosted the development of lab-on-a-chip technologies and functionalities. In this work, we developed a highly flexible elastomer microfluidic chip with a microchannel with a minimum width of ∼5 μm manufactured by imprinting onto an SU-8 template. We found that the deformation induced in the microstructures by manual stretching of the chip is higher than that for the chip itself, which we attribute to the stress concentration of microstructures. Here, we demonstrate that the elastomer enables the manipulation of single cells, such as dynamic trapping-releasing operations, by simply stretching and releasing the elastomer chip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Sun
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
| | - Yi Quan
- Institute of Nuclear Physics and Chemistry, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, China
| | - Lianbing Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Space Bioscience & Biotechnology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yanbo Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Material Physics and Chemistry under Extraordinary Conditions, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China
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20
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Suo Y, Yin W, Wu W, Cao W, Zhu Q, Mu Y. A large-scale pico-droplet array for viable bacteria digital counting and dynamic tracking based on a thermosetting oil. Analyst 2022; 147:3305-3314. [DOI: 10.1039/d2an00680d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A simple and rapid method was developed for real-time monitoring and digital counting of bacterial growth, and it can provide dynamic information at high resolution in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjie Suo
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, PR China
| | - Weihong Yin
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310058, PR China
| | - Wenshuai Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310058, PR China
| | - Wenjian Cao
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, PR China
| | - Qiangyuan Zhu
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, PR China
| | - Ying Mu
- Research Centre for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, PR China
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21
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Ng SSY, Walker DM, Hawkins JM, Khan SA. 3D-printed capillary force trap reactors (CFTRs) for multiphase catalytic flow chemistry. REACT CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1re00462j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Figure of 3D illustration of a capillary trap force reactor (CFTR) with transiently trapped liquid nanoparticle catalysts in dimple-shaped capillary traps in the presence of a gas–liquid segmented flow, for the hydrogenation of 1-hexene to n-hexane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella S. Y. Ng
- Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Manufacturing Technology Development Centre (MTDC), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore 627833, Singapore
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117576, Singapore
| | - David M. Walker
- Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte Ltd, Manufacturing Technology Development Centre (MTDC), 1 Pesek Road, Singapore 627833, Singapore
| | - Joel M. Hawkins
- Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340, USA
| | - Saif A. Khan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117576, Singapore
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22
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Vyawahare S, Brundage M, Kijac A, Gutierrez M, de Geus M, Sinha S, Homyk A. Sorting droplets into many outlets. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4262-4273. [PMID: 34617550 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00493j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is a commercially successful technology, widely used in single cell sequencing and droplet PCR. Combining droplet making with droplet sorting has also been demonstrated, but so far found limited use, partly due to difficulties in scaling manufacture with injection molded plastics. We introduce a droplet sorting system with several new elements, including: 1) an electrode design combining metallic and ionic liquid parts, 2) a modular, multi-sorting fluidic design with features for keeping inter-droplet distances constant, 3) using timing parameters calculated from fluorescence or scatter signal triggers to precisely actuate dozens of sorting electrodes, 4) droplet collection techniques, including ability to collect a single droplet, and 5) a new emulsion breaking method to collect aqueous samples for downstream analysis. We use these technologies to build a fluorescence based cell sorter that can sort with high (>90%) purity. We also show that these microfluidic designs can be translated into injection molded thermoplastic, suitable for industrial production. Finally, we tally the advantages and limitations of these devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Vyawahare
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Michael Brundage
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Aleksandra Kijac
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Michael Gutierrez
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Martina de Geus
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Supriyo Sinha
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Andrew Homyk
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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23
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He Y, Lu Z, Fan H, Zhang T. A photofabricated honeycomb micropillar array for loss-free trapping of microfluidic droplets and application to digital PCR. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:3933-3941. [PMID: 34636815 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00629k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is a promising platform for various biological and biomedical applications. Among which, droplet-based digital PCR (ddPCR) is one of the most challenging examples, with practical issues involving possible fusion/fission of droplets during PCR thermocycling and difficulties of indexing them for real-time monitoring. While spatially trapped droplet arrays may be helpful, they currently are either of low trapping density or suffer from high droplet loss. In this paper, we, for the first time, report a photofabricated honeycomb micropillar array (PHMA) for high-density and loss-free droplet trapping. By rationally designing high-aspect-ratio micropillars into a honeycomb configuration, droplets can be captured at a density of 160-250 droplets per mm2 and, more interestingly, without any loss. The PHMA device can be fabricated from several photocurable materials, with one gasproof photopolymer being optimally selected herein to enable the simple design to avoid sample evaporation and tedious surface modification, thereby making the fabrication very convenient. Moreover, by using a photocurable oil as a continuous phase, the trapped droplets can be further immobilized, and thus, become more stable even in PCR thermocycling. With these features, the proposed PHMA has shown promising potential in ddPCR, and is expected to find a wide range of applications in various biological and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu He
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
| | - Zefan Lu
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
| | - Hongliang Fan
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Hygiene, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou 310013, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310023, China.
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24
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Applications of Microfluidics in Liquid Crystal-Based Biosensors. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11100385. [PMID: 34677341 PMCID: PMC8534167 DOI: 10.3390/bios11100385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) with stimuli-responsive configuration transition and optical anisotropic properties have attracted enormous interest in the development of simple and label-free biosensors. The combination of microfluidics and the LCs offers great advantages over traditional LC-based biosensors including small sample consumption, fast analysis and low cost. Moreover, microfluidic techniques provide a promising tool to fabricate uniform and reproducible LC-based sensing platforms. In this review, we emphasize the recent development of microfluidics in the fabrication and integration of LC-based biosensors, including LC planar sensing platforms and LC droplets. Fabrication and integration of LC-based planar platforms with microfluidics for biosensing applications are first introduced. The generation and entrapment of monodisperse LC droplets with different microfluidic structures, as well as their applications in the detection of chemical and biological species, are then summarized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensors are proposed. This review will promote the understanding of microfluidic techniques in LC-based biosensors and facilitate the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensing devices with high performance.
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25
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Toprakcioglu Z, Knowles TPJ. Sequential storage and release of microdroplets. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:76. [PMID: 34631144 PMCID: PMC8481565 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00303-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic methods have opened up the possibility of studying a plethora of phenomena ranging from biological to physical or chemical processes at ultra low volumes and high throughput. A key component of such approaches is the ability to trap droplets for observation, and many device architectures for achieving this objective have been developed. A challenge with such approaches is, however, recovering the droplets following their confinement for applications involving further analysis. Here, we present a device capable of generating, confining and releasing microdroplets in a sequential manner. Through a combination of experimental and computational simulations, we shed light on the key features required for successful droplet storage and retrieval. Moreover, we explore the effect of the flow rate of the continuous phase on droplet release, determining that a critical rate is needed to ensure complete droplet deformation through constrictions holding the droplets in place prior to release. Finally, we find that once released, droplets can be retrieved and collected off chip. The ability to generate, store and sequentially release droplets renders such a device particularly promising for future applications where reactions may not only be monitored on-chip, but droplets can also be retrieved for further analysis, facilitating new exploratory avenues in the fields of analytical chemistry and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE UK
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26
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Li C, Gong Y, Wang X, Xu J, Ma B. Integrated Addressable Dynamic Droplet Array (aDDA) as Sub-Nanoliter Reactors for High-Coverage Genome Sequencing of Single Yeast Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2100325. [PMID: 34296526 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202100325] [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: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An addressable dynamic droplet array (aDDA) is presented that combines the advantages of static droplet arrays and continuous-flow droplet platforms. Modular fabrication is employed to create a self-contained integrated aDDA. All the sample preparation steps, including single-cell isolation, cell lysis, amplification, and product retrieval, are performed in sequence within a sub-nanoliter (≈300 pL) droplet. Sequencing-based validation suggests that aDDA reduces the amplification bias of multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and elevates the percentage of one-yeast-cell genome recovery to 91%, as compared to the average of 26% using conventional, 20 µL volume MDA reactions. Thus, aDDA is a valuable addition to the toolbox for high-genome-coverage sequencing of single microbial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Li
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Yanhai Gong
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Xixian Wang
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Bo Ma
- Single-Cell Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Biofuels and Shandong Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
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27
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Schroen K, Berton-Carabin C, Renard D, Marquis M, Boire A, Cochereau R, Amine C, Marze S. Droplet Microfluidics for Food and Nutrition Applications. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:863. [PMID: 34442486 PMCID: PMC8400250 DOI: 10.3390/mi12080863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics revolutionizes the way experiments and analyses are conducted in many fields of science, based on decades of basic research. Applied sciences are also impacted, opening new perspectives on how we look at complex matter. In particular, food and nutritional sciences still have many research questions unsolved, and conventional laboratory methods are not always suitable to answer them. In this review, we present how microfluidics have been used in these fields to produce and investigate various droplet-based systems, namely simple and double emulsions, microgels, microparticles, and microcapsules with food-grade compositions. We show that droplet microfluidic devices enable unprecedented control over their production and properties, and can be integrated in lab-on-chip platforms for in situ and time-resolved analyses. This approach is illustrated for on-chip measurements of droplet interfacial properties, droplet-droplet coalescence, phase behavior of biopolymer mixtures, and reaction kinetics related to food digestion and nutrient absorption. As a perspective, we present promising developments in the adjacent fields of biochemistry and microbiology, as well as advanced microfluidics-analytical instrument coupling, all of which could be applied to solve research questions at the interface of food and nutritional sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schroen
- Food Process and Engineering Group, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; (K.S.); (C.B.-C.)
| | - Claire Berton-Carabin
- Food Process and Engineering Group, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands; (K.S.); (C.B.-C.)
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Denis Renard
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | | | - Adeline Boire
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Rémy Cochereau
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Chloé Amine
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
| | - Sébastien Marze
- INRAE, BIA Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages, F-44316 Nantes, France; (D.R.); (A.B.); (R.C.); (C.A.)
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28
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Babahosseini H, Wangsa D, Pabba M, Ried T, Misteli T, DeVoe DL. Deterministic assembly of chromosome ensembles in a programmable membrane trap array. Biofabrication 2021; 13:10.1088/1758-5090/ac1258. [PMID: 34233304 PMCID: PMC9974010 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac1258] [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: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Selective spatial isolation and manipulation of single chromosomes and the controlled formation of defined chromosome ensembles in a droplet-based microfluidic system is presented. The multifunctional microfluidic technology employs elastomer valves and membrane displacement traps to support deterministic manipulation of individual droplets. Picoliter droplets are formed in the 2D array of microscale traps by self-discretization of a nanoliter sample plug, with membranes positioned over each trap allowing controllable metering or full release of selected droplets. By combining discretization, optical interrogation, and selective droplet release for sequential delivery to a downstream merging zone, the system enables efficient manipulation of multiple chromosomes into a defined ensemble with single macromolecule resolution. Key design and operational parameters are explored, and co-compartmentalization of three chromosome pairs is demonstrated as a first step toward formation of precisely defined chromosome ensembles for applications in genetic engineering and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesam Babahosseini
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Darawalee Wangsa
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Mani Pabba
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Thomas Ried
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Tom Misteli
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Don L DeVoe
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
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29
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Gissinger JR, Zinchenko AZ, Davis RH. Internal circulation and mixing within tight-squeezing deformable droplets. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:043106. [PMID: 34005982 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.043106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The internal flow and mixing properties inside deformable droplets, after reaching the steady state within two types of passive droplet traps, are visualized and analyzed as dynamical systems. The first droplet trap (constriction) is formed by three spheres arranged in an equilateral triangle, while the second consists of two parallel spherocylinders (capsules). The systems are assumed to be embedded in a uniform far-field flow at low Reynolds number, and the steady shapes and interfacial velocities on the drops are generated using the boundary-integral method. The internal velocity field is recovered by solving the internal Dirichlet problem, also via a desingularized boundary-integral method. Calculation of 2D streamlines within planes of symmetry reveals the internal equilibria of the flow. The type of each equilibrium is classified in 3D and their interactions probed using passive tracers and their Poincaré maps. For the two-capsule droplet, saddle points located on orthogonal symmetry planes influence the regular flow within the drop. For the three-sphere droplet, large regions of chaos are observed, embedded with simple periodic orbits. Flow is visualized via passive dyes, using material lines and surfaces. In 2D, solely the interface between two passive interior fluids is advected using an adaptive number of linked tracer particles. The reduction in dimension decreases the number of required tracer points, and also resolves arbitrarily thin filaments, in contrast to backward cell-mapping methods. In 3D, the advection of a material surface, bounded by the droplet interface, is enabled using an adaptive mesh scheme. Off-lattice 3D contour advection allows for highly resolved visualizations of the internal flow and quantification of the associated degree of mixing. Analysis of the time-dependent growth of material surfaces and 3D mixing numbers suggests the three-sphere droplet exhibits superior mixing properties compared to the two-capsule droplet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R Gissinger
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, USA
| | - Alexander Z Zinchenko
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, USA
| | - Robert H Davis
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0596, USA
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30
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Fornell A, Pohlit H, Shi Q, Tenje M. Acoustic focusing of beads and cells in hydrogel droplets. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7479. [PMID: 33820916 PMCID: PMC8021569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86985-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of hydrogel droplets using droplet microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool with many applications in biology and medicine. Here, a microfluidic system to control the position of particles (beads or astrocyte cells) in hydrogel droplets using bulk acoustic standing waves is presented. The chip consisted of a droplet generator and a 380 µm wide acoustic focusing channel. Droplets comprising hydrogel precursor solution (polyethylene glycol tetraacrylate or a combination of polyethylene glycol tetraacrylate and gelatine methacrylate), photoinitiator and particles were generated. The droplets passed along the acoustic focusing channel where a half wavelength acoustic standing wave field was generated, and the particles were focused to the centre line of the droplets (i.e. the pressure nodal line) by the acoustic force. The droplets were cross-linked by exposure to UV-light, freezing the particles in their positions. With the acoustics applied, 89 ± 19% of the particles (polystyrene beads, 10 µm diameter) were positioned in an area ± 10% from the centre line. As proof-of-principle for biological particles, astrocytes were focused in hydrogel droplets using the same principle. The viability of the astrocytes after 7 days in culture was 72 ± 22% when exposed to the acoustic focusing compared with 70 ± 19% for samples not exposed to the acoustic focusing. This technology provides a platform to control the spatial position of bioparticles in hydrogel droplets, and opens up for the generation of more complex biological hydrogel structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Fornell
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden.,MAXIV Laboratory, Lund University, 22484, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannah Pohlit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Qian Shi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Tenje
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden.
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31
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Wu W, Zhang S, Zhang T, Mu Y. Immobilized Droplet Arrays in Thermosetting Oil for Dynamic Proteolytic Assays of Single Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:6081-6090. [PMID: 33504155 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c21696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in tumor progression. The study of dynamic MMPs activity at the single-cell level can dissect tumor heterogeneity in the time domain and facilitate finding out more efficient clinical solutions for tumor treatment. Due to the fluidity of the carrier oil, the existing droplet-based methods for single-cell MMP analysis rarely have the capability to track proteolytic assays in droplets continuously. Therefore, we describe a thermosetting oil for real-time monitoring of MMP assays in droplets, which can immobilize droplets by transforming into solid after droplet generation. The solidification of this oil can be accomplished in 33 min at 37 °C, basing on the hydrosilation of vinyl silicone oil and hydrosilicone oil without other inducers (e.g. UV, Ca2+). Through monitoring the MMP assays of single cells, the reaction rates can be calculated according to real-time fluorescent curves, showing significant cell heterogeneity in MMP activity. Moreover, the dynamic MMP activity reveals that some of the A549 cells transiently secrete MMP. In conclusion, the thermosetting oil enables immobilize droplets to achieve real-time monitoring of single-cell proteolytic activity without impairing the flexibility of droplet microfluidics and has a potential in other cell-based assays for providing dynamic information at high resolutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuai Wu
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Shan Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China
| | - Ying Mu
- Research Center for Analytical Instrumentation, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, P. R. China
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32
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Shi Y, Cai Y, Cao Y, Hong Z, Chai Y. Recent advances in microfluidic technology and applications for anti-cancer drug screening. Trends Analyt Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2020.116118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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33
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Development of Microdroplet Generation Method for Organic Solvents Used in Chemical Synthesis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25225360. [PMID: 33212771 PMCID: PMC7697074 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, chemical operations with microfluidic devices, especially droplet-based operations, have attracted considerable attention because they can provide an isolated small-volume reaction field. However, analysis of these operations has been limited mostly to aqueous-phase reactions in water droplets due to device material restrictions. In this study, we have successfully demonstrated droplet formation of five common organic solvents frequently used in chemical synthesis by using a simple silicon/glass-based microfluidic device. When an immiscible liquid with surfactant was used as the continuous phase, the organic solvent formed droplets similar to water-in-oil droplets in the device. In contrast to conventional microfluidic devices composed of resins, which are susceptible to swelling in organic solvents, the developed microfluidic device did not undergo swelling owing to the high chemical resistance of the constituent materials. Therefore, the device has potential applications for various chemical reactions involving organic solvents. Furthermore, this droplet generation device enabled control of droplet size by adjusting the liquid flow rate. The droplet generation method proposed in this work will contribute to the study of organic reactions in microdroplets and will be useful for evaluating scaling effects in various chemical reactions.
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34
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Recent Development of Microfluidic Technology for Cell Trapping in Single Cell Analysis: A Review. Processes (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/pr8101253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic technology has emerged from the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System)-technology as an important research field. During the last decade, various microfluidic technologies have been developed to open up a new era for biological studies. To understand the function of single cells, it is very important to monitor the dynamic behavior of a single cell in a living environment. Cell trapping in single cell analysis is urgently demanded There have been some review papers focusing on drug screen and cell analysis. However, cell trapping in single cell analysis has rarely been covered in the previous reviews. The present paper focuses on recent developments of cell trapping and highlights the mechanisms, governing equations and key parameters affecting the cell trapping efficiency by contact-based and contactless approach. The applications of the cell trapping method are discussed according to their basic research areas, such as biology and tissue engineering. Finally, the paper highlights the most promising cell trapping method for this research area.
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35
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Hengoju S, Tovar M, Man DKW, Buchheim S, Rosenbaum MA. Droplet Microfluidics for Microbial Biotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 179:129-157. [PMID: 32888037 DOI: 10.1007/10_2020_140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has recently evolved as a prominent platform for high-throughput experimentation for various research fields including microbiology. Key features of droplet microfluidics, like compartmentalization, miniaturization, and parallelization, have enabled many possibilities for microbiology including cultivation of microorganisms at a single-cell level, study of microbial interactions in a community, detection and analysis of microbial products, and screening of extensive microbial libraries with ultrahigh-throughput and minimal reagent consumptions. In this book chapter, we present several aspects and applications of droplet microfluidics for its implementation in various fields of microbial biotechnology. Recent advances in the cultivation of microorganisms in droplets including methods for isolation and domestication of rare microbes are reviewed. Similarly, a comparison of different detection and analysis techniques for microbial activities is summarized. Finally, several microbial applications are discussed with a focus on exploring new antimicrobials and high-throughput enzyme activity screening. We aim to highlight the advantages, limitations, and current developments in droplet microfluidics for microbial biotechnology while envisioning its enormous potential applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundar Hengoju
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany
| | - Miguel Tovar
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - DeDe Kwun Wai Man
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Stefanie Buchheim
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany
| | - Miriam A Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany. .,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU), Jena, Germany.
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36
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Han SH, Kim J, Lee D. Static array of droplets and on-demand recovery for biological assays. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:051302. [PMID: 32952764 PMCID: PMC7494362 DOI: 10.1063/5.0022383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics has revolutionized several research areas by providing compact yet powerful microanalytical devices that in many cases outperform conventional systems. Among different microfluidics technologies, droplet microfluidics has emerged as a powerful platform to enable analyses of biological samples and phenomena because of its simplicity and versatility. Droplet microfluidics enables high-throughput encapsulation, manipulation, and analysis of single cells while drastically reducing the cost and time required by conventional technologies. For many of these microanalysis systems, manipulation of individual droplets is extremely important as it enables multiplexed high dimensional phenotyping of the targets, going beyond surface phenotyping. One of the key manipulation steps that needs to be implemented with high precision is enabling long-term observation of droplets and recovery of a subset of these droplets for further analysis. This Perspective highlights the recent advances and provides an outlook on future developments that will enable highly complex analyses of biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syung Hun Han
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Junhyong Kim
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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37
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Han X, Han D, Zeng J, Deng J, Hu N, Yang J. Fabrication and performance of monodisperse liquid crystal droplet-based microchips for the on-chip detection of bile acids. Microchem J 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.105057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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38
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Schütt J, Illing R, Volkov O, Kosub T, Granell PN, Nhalil H, Fassbender J, Klein L, Grosz A, Makarov D. Two Orders of Magnitude Boost in the Detection Limit of Droplet-Based Micro-Magnetofluidics with Planar Hall Effect Sensors. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:20609-20617. [PMID: 32832814 PMCID: PMC7439703 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c02892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Magnetofluidics is a dynamic research field, which requires novel sensor solutions to boost the detection limit of tiny quantities of magnetized objects. Here, we present a sensing strategy relying on planar Hall effect sensors in droplet-based micro-magnetofluidics for the detection of a multiphase liquid flow, i.e., superparamagnetic aqueous droplets in an oil carrier phase. The high resolution of the sensor allows the detection of nanoliter-sized superparamagnetic droplets with a concentration of 0.58 mg/cm3, even when they are biased in a geomagnetic field only. The limit of detection can be boosted another order of magnitude, reaching 0.04 mg/cm3 (1.4 million particles in a single 100 nL droplet) when a magnetic field of 5 mT is applied to bias the droplets. With this performance, our sensing platform outperforms the state-of-the-art solutions in droplet-based micro-magnetofluidics by a factor of 100. This allows us to detect ferrofluid droplets in clinically and biologically relevant concentrations and even below without the need of externally applied magnetic fields. These results open the route for new strategies of the utilization of ferrofluids in microfluidic geometries in, e.g., bio(-chemical) or medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Schütt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Rico Illing
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Oleksii Volkov
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Tobias Kosub
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Pablo Nicolás Granell
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Escuela
de Ciencia y Tecnología, UNSAM, Campus Miguelete, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto
Nacional de Tecnología Industrial, Av. Gral Paz 5445, B1650KNA San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hariharan Nhalil
- Department
of Physics & Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Jürgen Fassbender
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Lior Klein
- Department
of Physics & Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Asaf Grosz
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba 84105, Israel
| | - Denys Makarov
- Helmholtz-Zentrum
Dresden-Rossendorf e.V., Institute of Ion
Beam Physics and Materials Research, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
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39
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Samlali K, Ahmadi F, Quach ABV, Soffer G, Shih SCC. One Cell, One Drop, One Click: Hybrid Microfluidics for Mammalian Single Cell Isolation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2002400. [PMID: 32705796 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202002400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Generating a stable knockout cell line is a complex process that can take several months to complete. In this work, a microfluidic method that is capable of isolating single cells in droplets, selecting successful edited clones, and expansion of these isoclones is introduced. Using a hybrid microfluidics method, droplets in channels can be individually addressed using a co-planar electrode system. In the hybrid microfluidics device, it is shown that single cells can be trapped and subsequently encapsulate them on demand into pL-sized droplets. Furthermore, droplets containing single cells are either released, kept in the traps, or merged with other droplets by the application of an electric potential to the electrodes that is actuated through an in-house user interface. This high precision control is used to successfully sort and recover single isoclones to establish monoclonal cell lines, which is demonstrated with a heterozygous NCI-H1299 lung squamous cell population resulting from loss-of-function eGFP and RAF1 gene knockout transfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenza Samlali
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Ahmadi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Angela B V Quach
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Guy Soffer
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Steve C C Shih
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H3G 1M8, Canada
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, H4B 1R6, Canada
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40
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Chen YC, Gonzalez ME, Burman B, Zhao X, Anwar T, Tran M, Medhora N, Hiziroglu AB, Lee W, Cheng YH, Choi Y, Yoon E, Kleer CG. Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Engulfment Reveals Metastatic Advantage in Breast Cancer. Cell Rep 2020; 27:3916-3926.e5. [PMID: 31242423 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty percent of breast cancer (BC) patients develop distant metastasis for which there is no cure. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in the tumor microenvironment were shown to stimulate metastasis, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified and quantified cancer cells engulfing stromal cells in clinical samples of BC metastasis by dual immunostaining for EZH2 and ALDH1 expression. Using flow cytometry and a microfluidic single-cell paring and retrieval platform, we show that MSC engulfment capacity is associated with BC cell metastatic potential and generates cells with mesenchymal-like, invasion, and stem cell traits. Whole-transcriptome analyses of selectively retrieved engulfing BC cells identify a gene signature of MSC engulfment consisting of WNT5A, MSR1, ELMO1, IL1RL2, ZPLD1, and SIRPB1. These results delineate a mechanism by which MSCs in the tumor microenvironment promote metastasis and provide a microfluidic platform with the potential to predict BC metastasis in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chih Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Forbes Institute for Cancer Discovery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria E Gonzalez
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Boris Burman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xintao Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Talha Anwar
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Molecular Cellular and Pathology Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mai Tran
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Natasha Medhora
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ayse B Hiziroglu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Woncheol Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yu-Heng Cheng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yehyun Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Euisik Yoon
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Celina G Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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41
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Bhalla N, Pan Y, Yang Z, Payam AF. Opportunities and Challenges for Biosensors and Nanoscale Analytical Tools for Pandemics: COVID-19. ACS NANO 2020; 14:7783-7807. [PMID: 32551559 PMCID: PMC7319134 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c04421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors and nanoscale analytical tools have shown huge growth in literature in the past 20 years, with a large number of reports on the topic of 'ultrasensitive', 'cost-effective', and 'early detection' tools with a potential of 'mass-production' cited on the web of science. Yet none of these tools are commercially available in the market or practically viable for mass production and use in pandemic diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this context, we review the technological challenges and opportunities of current bio/chemical sensors and analytical tools by critically analyzing the bottlenecks which have hindered the implementation of advanced sensing technologies in pandemic diseases. We also describe in brief COVID-19 by comparing it with other pandemic strains such as that of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) for the identification of features that enable biosensing. Moreover, we discuss visualization and characterization tools that can potentially be used not only for sensing applications but also to assist in speeding up the drug discovery and vaccine development process. Furthermore, we discuss the emerging monitoring mechanism, namely wastewater-based epidemiology, for early warning of the outbreak, focusing on sensors for rapid and on-site analysis of SARS-CoV2 in sewage. To conclude, we provide holistic insights into challenges associated with the quick translation of sensing technologies, policies, ethical issues, technology adoption, and an overall outlook of the role of the sensing technologies in pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Bhalla
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), School of Engineering, Ulster University, Shore Road, BT37
0QB Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Healthcare
Technology Hub, Ulster University, Shore Road, BT37 0QB Jordanstown, Northern
Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Yuwei Pan
- Cranfield
Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Zhugen Yang
- Cranfield
Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, United Kingdom
| | - Amir Farokh Payam
- Nanotechnology
and Integrated Bioengineering Centre (NIBEC), School of Engineering, Ulster University, Shore Road, BT37
0QB Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
- Healthcare
Technology Hub, Ulster University, Shore Road, BT37 0QB Jordanstown, Northern
Ireland, United Kingdom
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42
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Ho CMB, Sun Q, Teo AJT, Wibowo D, Gao Y, Zhou J, Huang Y, Tan SH, Zhao CX. Development of a Microfluidic Droplet-Based Microbioreactor for Microbial Cultivation. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:3630-3637. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chee Meng Benjamin Ho
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Qi Sun
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Adrian J. T. Teo
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - David Wibowo
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Yongsheng Gao
- School of Engineering, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Jun Zhou
- School of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Yanyi Huang
- Department of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, College of Engineering, Peking University, 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Say Hwa Tan
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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43
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Luan Q, Macaraniag C, Zhou J, Papautsky I. Microfluidic systems for hydrodynamic trapping of cells and clusters. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:031502. [PMID: 34992704 PMCID: PMC8719525 DOI: 10.1063/5.0002866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices have been widely applied to trapping and isolation of cells and clusters for controllable intercellular environments and high-throughput analysis, triggering numerous advances in disease diagnosis and single-cell analysis. Passive hydrodynamic cell trapping is one of the simple and effective methods that has been gaining attention in recent years. Our aim here is to review the existing passive microfluidic trapping approaches, including microposts, microfiltration, microwells, and trapping chambers, with emphasis on design principles and performance. We summarize the remarkable advances that hydrodynamic trapping methods offer, as well as the existing challenges and prospects for development. Finally, we hope that an improved understanding of hydrodynamic trapping approaches can lead to sophisticated and useful platforms to advance medical and biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyue Luan
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Celine Macaraniag
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | | | - Ian Papautsky
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +1 312 413 3800
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44
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Zielke C, Pan CW, Gutierrez Ramirez AJ, Feit C, Dobson C, Davidson C, Sandel B, Abbyad P. Microfluidic Platform for the Isolation of Cancer-Cell Subpopulations Based on Single-Cell Glycolysis. Anal Chem 2020; 92:6949-6957. [PMID: 32297730 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
High rates of glycolysis in tumors have been associated with cancer metastasis, tumor recurrence, and poor outcomes. In this light, single cells that exhibit high glycolysis are specific targets for therapy. However, the study of these cells requires efficient tools for their isolation. We use a droplet microfluidic technique developed in our lab, Sorting by Interfacial Tension (SIFT), to isolate cancer cell subpopulations based on glycolysis without the use of labels or active sorting components. By controlling the flow conditions on chip, the threshold of selection can be modified, enabling the isolation of cells with different levels of glycolysis. Hypoxia in tumors, that can be simulated with treatment with CoCl2, leads to an increase in glycolysis, and more dangerous tumors. The device was used to enrich CoCl2 treated MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells from an untreated population. It is also used to sort K562 human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells that have either been treated or untreated with 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG), a pharmaceutical that targets cell metabolism. The technique provides a facile and robust way of separating cells based on elevated glycolytic activity; a biomarker associated with cancer cell malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Zielke
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Ching W Pan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Adriana J Gutierrez Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Cameron Feit
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Chandler Dobson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Catherine Davidson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Brody Sandel
- Department of Biology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
| | - Paul Abbyad
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California 95053, United States
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45
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Wang Y, Chen Z, Bian F, Shang L, Zhu K, Zhao Y. Advances of droplet-based microfluidics in drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2020; 15:969-979. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2020.1758663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuetong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhuoyue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feika Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaixuan Zhu
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Suzhou Institute of Technology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhangjiagang, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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46
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Göpfrich K, Urban MJ, Frey C, Platzman I, Spatz JP, Liu N. Dynamic Actuation of DNA-Assembled Plasmonic Nanostructures in Microfluidic Cell-Sized Compartments. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:1571-1577. [PMID: 32083879 PMCID: PMC7307956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b04217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motor proteins form the basis of cellular dynamics. Recently, notable efforts have led to the creation of their DNA-based mimics, which can carry out complex nanoscale motion. However, such functional analogues have not yet been integrated or operated inside synthetic cells toward the goal of realizing artificial biological systems entirely from the bottom-up. In this Letter, we encapsulate and actuate DNA-assembled dynamic nanostructures inside cell-sized microfluidic compartments. These encapsulated DNA nanostructures not only exhibit structural reconfigurability owing to their pH-sensitive molecular switches upon external stimuli but also possess optical feedback enabled by the integrated plasmonic probes. In particular, we demonstrate the power of microfluidic compartmentalization for achieving on-chip plasmonic enantiomer separation and substrate filtration. Our work exemplifies that the two unique tools, droplet-based microfluidics and DNA technology, offering high precision on the microscale and nanoscale, respectively, can be brought together to greatly enrich the complexity and diversity of functional synthetic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Göpfrich
- Biophysical
Engineering Group, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maximilian J. Urban
- Max
Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Kirchhoff
Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Frey
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department
of Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilia Platzman
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department
of Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim P. Spatz
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department
of Biophysical Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Na Liu
- Max
Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Heisenbergstraße 3, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
- Kirchhoff
Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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47
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Rehman AU, Coskun UC, Rashid Z, Morova B, Jonáš A, Erten A, Kiraz A. Size-Based Sorting of Emulsion Droplets in Microfluidic Channels Patterned with Laser-Ablated Guiding Tracks. Anal Chem 2020; 92:2597-2604. [PMID: 31905281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b04308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrate an autonomous, high-throughput mechanism for sorting of emulsion droplets with different sizes concurrently flowing in a microfluidic Hele-Shaw channel. The aqueous droplets of varying radii suspended in olive oil are separated into different streamlines across the channel upon interaction with a shallow (depth ∼ 700 nm) inclined guiding track ablated into the polydimethylsiloxane-coated surface of the channel with focused femtosecond laser pulses. Specifically, the observed differences in the droplet trajectories along the guiding track arise due to the different scaling of the confinement force attracting the droplets into the track, fluid drag, and wall friction, with the droplet radius. In addition, the distance traveled by the droplets along the track also depends on the track width, with wider tracks providing more stable droplet guiding for any given droplet size. We systematically study the influence of the droplet size and velocity on the trajectory of the droplets in the channel and analyze the sensitivity of size-based droplet sorting for varying flow conditions. The droplet guiding and sorting experiments are complemented by modeling of the droplet motion in the channel flow using computational fluid dynamics simulations and a previously developed model of droplet guiding. Finally, we demonstrate a complete separation of droplets produced by fusion of two independent droplet streams at the inlet of the Hele-Shaw channel from unfused daughter droplets. The presented droplet sorting technique can find applications in the development of analytical and preparative microfluidic protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Umut C Coskun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering , Istanbul Technical University , 34437 Gumussuyu , Istanbul , Turkey
| | - Zeeshan Rashid
- Department of Electrical Engineering , The Islamia University of Bahawalpur , 63100 , Bahawalpur , Pakistan
| | | | - Alexandr Jonáš
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Scientific Instruments , Královopolská 147 , 61264 Brno , Czech Republic
| | - Ahmet Erten
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering , Istanbul Technical University , 34469 Maslak , Istanbul , Turkey
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48
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Han SH, Choi Y, Kim J, Lee D. Photoactivated Selective Release of Droplets from Microwell Arrays. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:3936-3944. [PMID: 31912738 PMCID: PMC7207024 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has enabled a significant reduction in reaction volume and analysis time, which in turn has led to transformative advances in high-capacity screening and assays. By arranging droplets into a static array, it is possible to monitor dynamic events that occur within these microchambers over an extended period of time, facilitating the identification of rare events and cell types. In many instances, it is highly desirable to recover a small number of droplets that contain unique analytes or cells for further analyses; however, few techniques allow for selective recovery of droplets from such an array without using a complex network of physical valves, which also require a large number of control units external to the microfluidic device. In this report, we present photoactivated selective release of droplets from a static microwell array enabled by a photoresponsive polymer layer integrated into the microfluidic device. This photoresponsive layer is placed in between a microwell array that traps a large number of droplets and a PDMS slab with or without a top flow channel that can be used for recovery. By using focused light, the photoresponsive layer can either be punctured for release-up recovery or induced to create a bubble by local heating to selectively push-down release droplets. We show that the photoresponsive layer is optically transparent within the visible spectrum and thus does not interfere with optical observation of droplets. The type of photoacoustic dye and the physical properties of the photoresponsive layer can be engineered to induce either puncture of the photoresponsive layer or pushing of droplets out of the microwell arrays with low thermal impact on the droplets. We believe that the photoresponsive layer will have a broad impact in the field of soft lithography-based microfluidic devices for various applications including photoresponsive valves as well as high-throughput single-cell sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syung Hun Han
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yongwon Choi
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Junhyong Kim
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Corresponding Authors (J.K.)., (D.L.)
| | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Corresponding Authors (J.K.)., (D.L.)
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49
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Piletska EV, Guerreiro A, Mersiyanova M, Cowen T, Canfarotta F, Piletsky S, Karim K, Piletsky S. Probing Peptide Sequences on Their Ability to Generate Affinity Sites in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:279-283. [PMID: 31829602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b03410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
An array of 4000 defined and addressable tripeptides on a polymer-coated glass slide is used to synthesize molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) nanoparticles. This work is undertaken to systematically probe the impact of the peptide sequence on the ability to generate affinity MIPs. The polymer affinity is assessed by measuring the fluorescence of bound MIP nanoparticles at each peptide spot on the surface after washing the array to remove any low-affinity polymer. The generic composition commonly used in the preparation of MIPs against proteins seems to be equally suitable for imprinting hydrophobic and hydrophilic tripeptides. The amino acids frequently contributing to the formation of high-affinity MIPs include T, F, D, N, Y, W, and P. The amino acids that rarely contribute to the formation of high-affinity interactions with MIPs are G, V, A, L, I, and M. These observations are confirmed by computational modeling. The basic technique proposed here may be applicable in optimizing polymer compositions for the production of high-affinity MIPs or, more specifically, for the selection of appropriate amino acid sequences when peptide epitopes are used instead of whole protein imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Piletska
- Chemistry Department , University of Leicester , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Guerreiro
- MIP Diagnostics Ltd , University of Leicester , Fielding Johnson Building , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
| | | | - Todd Cowen
- Chemistry Department , University of Leicester , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Canfarotta
- MIP Diagnostics Ltd , University of Leicester , Fielding Johnson Building , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
| | - Stanislav Piletsky
- Department of Chemistry , Imperial College , London SW7 2AZ , United Kingdom
| | - Kal Karim
- Chemistry Department , University of Leicester , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
| | - Sergey Piletsky
- Chemistry Department , University of Leicester , Leicester LE1 7RH , United Kingdom
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50
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Babahosseini H, Padmanabhan S, Misteli T, DeVoe DL. A programmable microfluidic platform for multisample injection, discretization, and droplet manipulation. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:014112. [PMID: 32038741 PMCID: PMC7002170 DOI: 10.1063/1.5143434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
A programmable microfluidic platform enabling on-demand sampling, compartmentalization, and manipulation of multiple aqueous volumes is presented. The system provides random-access actuation of a microtrap array supporting selective discretization of picoliter volumes from multiple sample inputs. The platform comprises two interconnected chips, with parallel T-junctions and multiplexed microvalves within one chip enabling programmable injection of aqueous sample plugs, and nanoliter volumes transferred to a second microtrap array chip in which the plugs are actively discretized into picoliter droplets within a static array of membrane displacement actuators. The system employs two different multiplexer designs that reduce the number of input signals required for both sample injection and discretization. This versatile droplet-based technology offers flexible sample workflows and functionalities for the formation and manipulation of heterogeneous picoliter droplets, with particular utility for applications in biochemical synthesis and cell-based assays requiring flexible and programmable operation of parallel and multistep droplet processes. The platform is used here for the selective encapsulation of differentially labeled cells within a discrete droplet array.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Supriya Padmanabhan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Tom Misteli
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Don L. DeVoe
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +1-301-405-8125
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