1
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Lu B, Lunn J, Nightingale AM, Niu X. Highly sensitive absorbance measurement using droplet microfluidics integrated with an oil extraction and long pathlength detection flow cell. Front Chem 2024; 12:1394388. [PMID: 38803381 PMCID: PMC11129082 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1394388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In droplet microfluidics, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy along with colorimetric assays have been widely used for chemical and biochemical analysis. However, the sensitivity of the measurement can be limited by the short optical pathlength. Here we report a novel design to enhance the sensitivity by removing oil and converting the droplets into a single-phase aqueous flow, which can be measured within a U-shape channel with long optical pathlength. The flow cells were fabricated via 3D printing. The calibration results have demonstrated complete oil removal and effective optical pathlengths similar to the designed channel lengths (from 5 to 20 mm). The flow cell was further employed in a droplet microfluidic-based phosphate sensing system. The measured phosphate levels displayed excellent consistency with data obtained from traditional UV spectroscopy analysis. This flow cell design overcomes the limitations of short optical pathlengths in droplet microfluidics and has the potential to be used for in situ and continuous monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Xize Niu
- Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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2
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Richter F, Bindschedler S, Calonne-Salmon M, Declerck S, Junier P, Stanley CE. Fungi-on-a-Chip: microfluidic platforms for single-cell studies on fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6674677. [PMID: 36001464 PMCID: PMC9779915 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review highlights new advances in the emerging field of 'Fungi-on-a-Chip' microfluidics for single-cell studies on fungi and discusses several future frontiers, where we envisage microfluidic technology development to be instrumental in aiding our understanding of fungal biology. Fungi, with their enormous diversity, bear essential roles both in nature and our everyday lives. They inhabit a range of ecosystems, such as soil, where they are involved in organic matter degradation and bioremediation processes. More recently, fungi have been recognized as key components of the microbiome in other eukaryotes, such as humans, where they play a fundamental role not only in human pathogenesis, but also likely as commensals. In the food sector, fungi are used either directly or as fermenting agents and are often key players in the biotechnological industry, where they are responsible for the production of both bulk chemicals and antibiotics. Although the macroscopic fruiting bodies are immediately recognizable by most observers, the structure, function, and interactions of fungi with other microbes at the microscopic scale still remain largely hidden. Herein, we shed light on new advances in the emerging field of Fungi-on-a-Chip microfluidic technologies for single-cell studies on fungi. We discuss the development and application of microfluidic tools in the fields of medicine and biotechnology, as well as in-depth biological studies having significance for ecology and general natural processes. Finally, a future perspective is provided, highlighting new frontiers in which microfluidic technology can benefit this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Richter
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Saskia Bindschedler
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Maryline Calonne-Salmon
- Laboratory of Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Stéphane Declerck
- Laboratory of Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Place Croix du Sud 2, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Pilar Junier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, CH-2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Corresponding author: Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom. E-mail:
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3
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Monia Kabandana GK, Zhang T, Chen C. Emerging 3D printing technologies and methodologies for microfluidic development. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2022; 14:2885-2906. [PMID: 35866586 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay00798c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This review paper examines recent (mostly 2018 or later) advancements in 3D printed microfluidics. Microfluidic devices are widely applied in various fields such as drug delivery, point-of-care diagnosis, and bioanalytical research. In addition to soft lithography, 3D printing has become an appealing technology to develop microfluidics recently. In this work, three main 3D printing technologies, stereolithography, fused filament deposition, and polyjet, which are commonly used to fabricate microfluidic devices, are thoroughly discussed. The advantages, limitations, and recent microfluidic applications are analyzed. New technical advancements within these technology frameworks are also summarized, which are especially suitable for microfluidic development. Next, new emerging 3D-printing technologies are introduced, including the direct printing of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), glass, and biopolymers. Although limited microfluidic applications based on these technologies can be found in the literature, they show high potential to revolutionize the next generation of 3D-printed microfluidic apparatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giraso Keza Monia Kabandana
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.
| | - Chengpeng Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.
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4
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Cao J, Chande C, Köhler JM. Microtoxicology by microfluidic instrumentation: a review. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:2600-2623. [PMID: 35678285 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00268j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microtoxicology is concerned with the toxic effects of small amounts of substances. This review paper discusses the application of small amounts of noxious substances for toxicological investigation in small volumes. The vigorous development of miniaturized methods in microfluidics over the last two decades involves chip-based devices, micro droplet-based procedures, and the use of micro-segmented flow for microtoxicological studies. The studies have shown that the microfluidic approach is particularly valuable for highly parallelized and combinatorial dose-response screenings. Accurate dosing and mixing of effector substances in large numbers of microcompartments supplies detailed data of dose-response functions by highly concentration-resolved assays and allows evaluation of stochastic responses in case of small separated cell ensembles and single cell experiments. The investigations demonstrate that very different biological targets can be studied using miniaturized approaches, among them bacteria, eukaryotic microorganisms, cell cultures from tissues of multicellular organisms, stem cells, and early embryonic states. Cultivation and effector exposure tests can be performed in small volumes over weeks and months, confirming that the microfluicial strategy is also applicable for slow-growing organisms. Here, the state of the art of miniaturized toxicology, particularly for studying antibiotic susceptibility, drug toxicity testing in the miniaturized system like organ-on-chip, environmental toxicology, and the characterization of combinatorial effects by two and multi-dimensional screenings, is discussed. Additionally, this review points out the practical limitations of the microtoxicology platform and discusses perspectives on future opportunities and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialan Cao
- Techn. Univ. Ilmenau, Dept. Phys. Chem. and Microreaction Technology, Institute for Micro- und Nanotechnologies/Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ilmenau, Germany.
| | - Charmi Chande
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey 07102, USA
| | - J Michael Köhler
- Techn. Univ. Ilmenau, Dept. Phys. Chem. and Microreaction Technology, Institute for Micro- und Nanotechnologies/Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ilmenau, Germany.
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5
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Qiu S, Shen C, Jian X, Lu Y, Tong Z, Wu Z, Mao H, Zhao J. Single-cell level point mutation analysis of circulating tumor cells through droplet microfluidics. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.08.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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6
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Gervais T, Temiz Y, Aubé L, Delamarche E. Large-Scale Dried Reagent Reconstitution and Diffusion Control Using Microfluidic Self-Coalescence Modules. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2105939. [PMID: 35307960 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202105939] [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: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The positioning and manipulation of large numbers of reagents in small aliquots are paramount to many fields in chemistry and the life sciences, such as combinatorial screening, enzyme activity assays, and point-of-care testing. Here, a capillary microfluidic architecture based on self-coalescence modules capable of storing thousands of dried reagent spots per square centimeter is reported, which can all be reconstituted independently without dispersion using a single pipetting step and ≤5 μL of a solution. A simple diffusion-based mathematical model is also provided to guide the spotting of reagents in this microfluidic architecture at the experimental design stage to enable either compartmentalization, mixing, or the generation of complex multi-reagent chemical patterns. Results demonstrate the formation of chemical patterns with high accuracy and versatility, and simple methods for integrating reagents and imaging the resulting chemical patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gervais
- IBM Research Europe - Zurich, Rueschlikon, 8803, Switzerland
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, H3C 3A7, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, H2X0A9, Canada
| | - Yuksel Temiz
- IBM Research Europe - Zurich, Rueschlikon, 8803, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Aubé
- Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, H3C 3A7, Canada
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7
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Hengoju S, Shvydkiv O, Tovar M, Roth M, Rosenbaum MA. Advantages of optical fibers for facile and enhanced detection in droplet microfluidics. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 200:113910. [PMID: 34974260 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics offers a unique opportunity for ultrahigh-throughput experimentation with minimal sample consumption and thus has obtained increasing attention, particularly for biological applications. Detection and measurements of analytes or biomarkers in tiny droplets are essential for proper analysis of biological and chemical assays like single-cell studies, cytometry, nucleic acid detection, protein quantification, environmental monitoring, drug discovery, and point-of-care diagnostics. Current detection setups widely use microscopes as a central device and other free-space optical components. However, microscopic setups are bulky, complicated, not flexible, and expensive. Furthermore, they require precise optical alignments, specialized optical and technical knowledge, and cumbersome maintenance. The establishment of efficient, simple, and cheap detection methods is one of the bottlenecks for adopting microfluidic strategies for diverse bioanalytical applications and widespread laboratory use. Together with great advances in optofluidic components, the integration of optical fibers as a light guiding medium into microfluidic chips has recently revolutionized analytical possibilities. Optical fibers embedded in a microfluidic platform provide a simpler, more flexible, lower-cost, and sensitive setup for the detection of several parameters from biological and chemical samples and enable widespread, hands-on application much beyond thriving point-of-care developments. In this review, we examine recent developments in droplet microfluidic systems using optical fiber as a light guiding medium, primarily focusing on different optical detection methods such as fluorescence, absorbance, light scattering, and Raman scattering and the potential applications in biochemistry and biotechnology that are and will be arising from this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundar Hengoju
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany; Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Oksana Shvydkiv
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Miguel Tovar
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Roth
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Miriam A Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, 07745, Jena, Germany; Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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8
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Ma Q, Xu J. Green microfluidics in microchemical engineering for carbon neutrality. Chin J Chem Eng 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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9
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Zhang C, Grossier R, Candoni N, Veesler S. Preparation of alginate hydrogel microparticles by gelation introducing cross-linkers using droplet-based microfluidics: a review of methods. Biomater Res 2021; 25:41. [PMID: 34819171 PMCID: PMC8611912 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-021-00243-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This review examines the preparation of alginate hydrogel microparticles by using droplet-based microfluidics, a technique widely employed for its ease of use and excellent control of physicochemical properties, with narrow size distribution. The gelation of alginate is realized "on-chip" and/or "off-chip", depending on where cross-linkers are introduced. Various strategies are described and compared. Microparticle properties such as size, shape, concentration, stability and mechanical properties are discussed. Finally, we consider future perspectives for the preparation of hydrogel microparticles and their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, CINaM (Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanosciences de Marseille), Campus de Luminy, Case 913, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Romain Grossier
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, CINaM (Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanosciences de Marseille), Campus de Luminy, Case 913, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Nadine Candoni
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, CINaM (Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanosciences de Marseille), Campus de Luminy, Case 913, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Stéphane Veesler
- CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, CINaM (Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanosciences de Marseille), Campus de Luminy, Case 913, F-13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France.
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10
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Kabandana GKM, Ratajczak AM, Chen C. Making quantitative biomicrofluidics from microbore tubing and 3D-printed adapters. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:034107. [PMID: 34084257 PMCID: PMC8140816 DOI: 10.1063/5.0052314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic technology has tremendously facilitated the development of in vitro cell cultures and studies. Conventionally, microfluidic devices are fabricated with extensive facilities by well-trained researchers, which hinder the widespread adoption of the technology for broader applications. Enlightened by the fact that low-cost microbore tubing is a natural microfluidic channel, we developed a series of adaptors in a toolkit that can twine, connect, organize, and configure the tubing to produce functional microfluidic units. Three subsets of the toolkit were thoroughly developed: the tubing and scoring tools, the flow adaptors, and the 3D cell culture suite. To demonstrate the usefulness and versatility of the toolkit, we assembled a microfluidic device and successfully applied it for 3D macrophage cultures, flow-based stimulation, and automated near real-time quantitation with new knowledge generated. Overall, we present a new technology that allows simple, fast, and robust assembly of customizable and scalable microfluidic devices with minimal facilities, which is broadly applicable to research that needs or could be enhanced by microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giraso Keza Monia Kabandana
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA
| | - Adam Michael Ratajczak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA
| | - Chengpeng Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA
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11
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Yang L, Pijuan-Galito S, Rho HS, Vasilevich AS, Eren AD, Ge L, Habibović P, Alexander MR, de Boer J, Carlier A, van Rijn P, Zhou Q. High-Throughput Methods in the Discovery and Study of Biomaterials and Materiobiology. Chem Rev 2021; 121:4561-4677. [PMID: 33705116 PMCID: PMC8154331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The complex interaction of cells with biomaterials (i.e., materiobiology) plays an increasingly pivotal role in the development of novel implants, biomedical devices, and tissue engineering scaffolds to treat diseases, aid in the restoration of bodily functions, construct healthy tissues, or regenerate diseased ones. However, the conventional approaches are incapable of screening the huge amount of potential material parameter combinations to identify the optimal cell responses and involve a combination of serendipity and many series of trial-and-error experiments. For advanced tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, highly efficient and complex bioanalysis platforms are expected to explore the complex interaction of cells with biomaterials using combinatorial approaches that offer desired complex microenvironments during healing, development, and homeostasis. In this review, we first introduce materiobiology and its high-throughput screening (HTS). Then we present an in-depth of the recent progress of 2D/3D HTS platforms (i.e., gradient and microarray) in the principle, preparation, screening for materiobiology, and combination with other advanced technologies. The Compendium for Biomaterial Transcriptomics and high content imaging, computational simulations, and their translation toward commercial and clinical uses are highlighted. In the final section, current challenges and future perspectives are discussed. High-throughput experimentation within the field of materiobiology enables the elucidation of the relationships between biomaterial properties and biological behavior and thereby serves as a potential tool for accelerating the development of high-performance biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangliang Yang
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Pijuan-Galito
- School
of Pharmacy, Biodiscovery Institute, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Hoon Suk Rho
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Aliaksei S. Vasilevich
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aysegul Dede Eren
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lu Ge
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Habibović
- Department
of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Morgan R. Alexander
- School
of Pharmacy, Boots Science Building, University
of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, U.K.
| | - Jan de Boer
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University
of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- Department
of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired
Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick van Rijn
- University
of Groningen, W. J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and
Materials Science, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Center Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Qihui Zhou
- Institute
for Translational Medicine, Department of Stomatology, The Affiliated
Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao
University, Qingdao 266003, China
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12
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Davis JJ, Foster SW, Grinias JP. Low-cost and open-source strategies for chemical separations. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1638:461820. [PMID: 33453654 PMCID: PMC7870555 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2020.461820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, a trend toward utilizing open access resources for laboratory research has begun. Open-source design strategies for scientific hardware rely upon the use of widely available parts, especially those that can be directly printed using additive manufacturing techniques and electronic components that can be connected to low-cost microcontrollers. Open-source software eliminates the need for expensive commercial licenses and provides the opportunity to design programs for specific needs. In this review, the impact of the "open-source movement" within the field of chemical separations is described, primarily through a comprehensive look at research in this area over the past five years. Topics that are covered include general laboratory equipment, sample preparation techniques, separations-based analysis, detection strategies, electronic system control, and software for data processing. Remaining hurdles and possible opportunities for further adoption of open-source approaches in the context of these separations-related topics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Davis
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, United States
| | - Samuel W Foster
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, United States
| | - James P Grinias
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, United States.
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13
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Peretzki AJ, Schmidt S, Flachowsky E, Das A, Gerhardt RF, Belder D. How electrospray potentials can disrupt droplet microfluidics and how to prevent this. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:4456-4465. [PMID: 33103684 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00936a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A pressure-resistant microfluidic glass chip that integrates a packed-bed HPLC column, a droplet generator and a monolithic electrospray emitter is presented. This approach enables a seamless coupling of chip-HPLC and droplet microfluidics with ESI-MS detection. For the electrical contacting of the emitter, an electrode was integrated into the channel, which reaches up to the emitter tip. The incidental finding that under certain circumstances, the electrospray potential can strongly disturb the droplet microfluidics by electrowetting, was investigated in detail. Strategies to avoid this are evaluated and include electrical shielding and/or chip layouts, where the droplet generator is positioned at a long distance from the emitter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J Peretzki
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 29, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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14
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Metzler L, Rehbein U, Schönberg JN, Brandstetter T, Thedieck K, Rühe J. Breaking the Interface: Efficient Extraction of Magnetic Beads from Nanoliter Droplets for Automated Sequential Immunoassays. Anal Chem 2020; 92:10283-10290. [PMID: 32501674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic systems offer a high potential for miniaturization and automation. Therefore, they are becoming an increasingly important tool in analytical chemistry, biosciences, and medicine. Heterogeneous assays commonly utilize magnetic beads as a solid phase. However, the sensitivity of state of the art microfluidic systems is limited by the high bead concentrations required for efficient extraction across the water-oil interface. Furthermore, current systems suffer from a lack of technical solutions for sequential measurements of multiple samples, limiting their throughput and capacity for automation. Taking advantage of the different wetting properties of hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas in the channels, we improve the extraction efficiency of magnetic beads from aqueous nanoliter-sized droplets by 2 orders of magnitude to the low μg/mL range. Furthermore, the introduction of a switchable magnetic trap enables repetitive capture and release of magnetic particles for sequential analysis of multiple samples, enhancing the throughput. In comparison to conventional ELISA-based sandwich immunoassays on microtiter plates, our microfluidic setup offers a 25-50-fold reduction of sample and reagent consumption with up to 50 technical replicates per sample. The enhanced sensitivity and throughput of this system open avenues for the development of automated detection of biomolecules at the nanoliter scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Metzler
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Rehbein
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Pediatrics, Section Systems Medicine of Metabolism and Signaling, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Niklas Schönberg
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Brandstetter
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Thedieck
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Pediatrics, Section Systems Medicine of Metabolism and Signaling, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Biochemistry and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jürgen Rühe
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Chemistry & Physics of Interfaces, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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15
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Pinto FG, Mahmud I, Harmon TA, Rubio VY, Garrett TJ. Rapid Prostate Cancer Noninvasive Biomarker Screening Using Segmented Flow Mass Spectrometry-Based Untargeted Metabolomics. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:2080-2091. [PMID: 32216312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Spectrometric methods with rapid biomarker detection capacity through untargeted metabolomics are becoming essential in the clinical cancer research. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a rapidly developing metabolomic-based biomarker technique due to its high sensitivity, reproducibility, and separation efficiency. However, its translation to clinical diagnostics is often limited due to long data acquisition times (∼20 min/sample) and laborious sample extraction procedures when employed for large-scale metabolomics studies. Here, we developed a segmented flow approach coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (SF-HRMS) for untargeted metabolomics, which has the capability to acquire data in less than 1.5 min/sample with robustness and reproducibility relative to LC-HRMS. The SF-HRMS results demonstrate the capability for screening metabolite-based urinary biomarkers associated with prostate cancer (PCa). The study shows that SF-HRMS-based global metabolomics has the potential to evolve into a rapid biomarker screening tool for clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico G Pinto
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Campus de Rio Paranaíba, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Iqbal Mahmud
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Taylor A Harmon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32603, United States
| | - Vanessa Y Rubio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32603, United States
| | - Timothy J Garrett
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States.,Southeast Center for Integrated Metabolomics, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
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16
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Different Regimes of Opto-fluidics for Biological Manipulation. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10120802. [PMID: 31766543 PMCID: PMC6953016 DOI: 10.3390/mi10120802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Metallic structures can be used for the localized heating of fluid and the controlled generation of microfluidic currents. Carefully designed currents can move and trap small particles and cells. Here we demonstrate a new bi-metallic substrate that allows much more powerful micro-scale manipulation. We show that there are multiple regimes of opto-fluidic manipulation that can be controlled by an external laser power. While the lowest power does not affect even small objects, medium power can be used for efficiently capturing and trapping particles and cells. Finally, the high-power regime can be used for 3D levitation that, for the first time, has been demonstrated in this paper. Additionally, we demonstrate opto-fluidic manipulation for an extraordinarily dynamic range of masses extending eight orders of magnitude: from 80 fg nano-wires to 5.4 µg live worms.
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17
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Richard C, McGee R, Goenka A, Mukherjee P, Bhargava R. On-demand Milifluidic Synthesis of Quantum Dots in Digital Droplet Reactors. Ind Eng Chem Res 2019; 59:3730-3735. [PMID: 33911342 DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b04230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) offer dramatic potential due to their size-dependent optical properties. Lack of facile synthesis methods for precise and reproducible size and composition, however, present an extant barrier to their widespread use. Here we report the use of droplet microfluidics for the simple and highly reproducible synthesis of cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium selenide (CdSe) QDs without the use of harsh solvents and in ambient conditions. Our approach uses a liquid-liquid barrier between two immiscible liquids to generate a digital droplet reactor. This reaction droplet is easily controlled and manipulated and offers enhanced mixing when coupled to a helical mixer, resulting in a significant reduction in size distribution compared to benchtop procedures. Furthermore, QD characteristics have modeled and predicted based on the parameters of the microfluidic device. We believe this method overcomes the current manufacturing challenges with synthesizing nanostructures, which is required for the next generation of nanosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Richard
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Rachel McGee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Aditya Goenka
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute Technology, Kharagpur, India
| | - Prabuddha Mukherjee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Rohit Bhargava
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Departments of Bioengineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Science and Engineering and Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Cancer Center at Illinois
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18
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Han W, Chen X. New insights into generation of highly controllable monodisperse high-throughput microdroplets in a T-junction microchannel with step structure. J DISPER SCI TECHNOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/01932691.2019.1679643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Han
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xueye Chen
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, China
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19
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Candoni N, Grossier R, Lagaize M, Veesler S. Advances in the Use of Microfluidics to Study Crystallization Fundamentals. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2019; 10:59-83. [PMID: 31018097 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-060718-030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This review compares droplet-based microfluidic systems used to study crystallization fundamentals in chemistry and biology. An original high-throughput droplet-based microfluidic platform is presented. It uses nanoliter droplets, generates a chemical library, and directly solubilizes powder, thus economizing both material and time. It is compatible with all solvents without the need for surfactant. Its flexibility permits phase diagram determination and crystallization studies (screening and optimizing experiments) and makes it easy to use for nonspecialists in microfluidics. Moreover, it allows concentration measurement via ultraviolet spectroscopy and solid characterization via X-ray diffraction analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Candoni
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288 Marseille, France; , , ,
| | - Romain Grossier
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288 Marseille, France; , , ,
| | - Mehdi Lagaize
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288 Marseille, France; , , ,
| | - Stéphane Veesler
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288 Marseille, France; , , ,
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20
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Castro D, Conchouso D, Kodzius R, Arevalo A, Foulds IG. High-Throughput Incubation and Quantification of Agglutination Assays in a Microfluidic System. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E281. [PMID: 29867050 PMCID: PMC6027479 DOI: 10.3390/genes9060281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present a two-phase microfluidic system capable of incubating and quantifying microbead-based agglutination assays. The microfluidic system is based on a simple fabrication solution, which requires only laboratory tubing filled with carrier oil, driven by negative pressure using a syringe pump. We provide a user-friendly interface, in which a pipette is used to insert single droplets of a 1.25-µL volume into a system that is continuously running and therefore works entirely on demand without the need for stopping, resetting or washing the system. These assays are incubated by highly efficient passive mixing with a sample-to-answer time of 2.5 min, a 5⁻10-fold improvement over traditional agglutination assays. We study system parameters such as channel length, incubation time and flow speed to select optimal assay conditions, using the streptavidin-biotin interaction as a model analyte quantified using optical image processing. We then investigate the effect of changing the concentration of both analyte and microbead concentrations, with a minimum detection limit of 100 ng/mL. The system can be both low- and high-throughput, depending on the rate at which assays are inserted. In our experiments, we were able to easily produce throughputs of 360 assays per hour by simple manual pipetting, which could be increased even further by automation and parallelization. Agglutination assays are a versatile tool, capable of detecting an ever-growing catalog of infectious diseases, proteins and metabolites. A system such as this one is a step towards being able to produce high-throughput microfluidic diagnostic solutions with widespread adoption. The development of analytical techniques in the microfluidic format, such as the one presented in this work, is an important step in being able to continuously monitor the performance and microfluidic outputs of organ-on-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Castro
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - David Conchouso
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rimantas Kodzius
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
- Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah 46001, Iraq.
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), 80539 Munich, Germany.
| | - Arpys Arevalo
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ian G Foulds
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences & Engineering Division (CEMSE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
- Okanagan Campus, School of Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.
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21
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Gu T, Zheng C, He F, Zhang Y, Khan SA, Hatton TA. Electrically controlled mass transport into microfluidic droplets from nanodroplet carriers with application in controlled nanoparticle flow synthesis. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:1330-1340. [PMID: 29619469 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00114f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic droplets have been applied extensively as reaction vessels in a wide variety of chemical and biological applications. Typically, once the droplets are formed in a flow channel, it is a challenge to add new chemicals to the droplets for subsequent reactions in applications involving multiple processing steps. Here, we present a novel and versatile method that employs a high strength alternating electrical field to tunably transfer chemicals into microfluidic droplets using nanodroplets as chemical carriers. We show that the use of both continuous and cyclic burst square wave signals enables extremely sensitive control over the total amount of chemical added and, equally importantly, the rate of addition of the chemical from the nanodroplet carriers to the microfluidic droplets. An a priori theoretical model was developed to model the mass transport process under the convection-controlled scenario and compared with experimental results. We demonstrate an application of this method in the controlled preparation of gold nanoparticles by reducing chloroauric acid pre-loaded in microfluidic droplets with l-ascorbic acid supplied from miniemulsion nanodroplets. Under different field strengths, l-ascorbic acid is supplied in controllable quantities and addition rates, rendering the particle size and size distribution tunable. Finally, this method also enables multistep synthesis by the stepwise supply of miniemulsions containing different chemical species. We highlight this with a first report of a three-step Au-Pd core-shell nanoparticle synthesis under continuous flow conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonghan Gu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Cao Zheng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Fan He
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Yunfei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Saif A Khan
- National University of Singapore, Department of Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering, 4 Engineering Drive 4 E5-02-28, 117576 Singapore.
| | - T Alan Hatton
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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22
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Gerhardt RF, Peretzki AJ, Piendl SK, Belder D. Seamless Combination of High-Pressure Chip-HPLC and Droplet Microfluidics on an Integrated Microfluidic Glass Chip. Anal Chem 2017; 89:13030-13037. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Renata F. Gerhardt
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andrea J. Peretzki
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sebastian K. Piendl
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Detlev Belder
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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23
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Integrating fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor particles with a modular microfluidic platform for nanomolar small-molecule detection directly in aqueous samples. Biosens Bioelectron 2017; 99:244-250. [PMID: 28772227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.07.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescent sensory MIP (molecularly imprinted polymer) particles were combined with a droplet-based 3D microfluidic system for the selective determination of a prototype small-molecule analyte of environmental concern, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D, at nanomolar concentration directly in water samples. A tailor-made fluorescent indicator cross-linker was thus designed that translates the binding event directly into an enhanced fluorescence signal. The phenoxazinone-type cross-linker was co-polymerized into a thin MIP layer grafted from the surface of silica microparticles following a RAFT (reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization protocol. While the indicator cross-linker outperformed its corresponding monomer twin, establishment of a phase-transfer protocol was essential to guarantee that the hydrogen bond-mediated signalling mechanism between the urea binding site on the indicator cross-linker and the carboxylate group of the analyte was still operative upon real sample analysis. The latter was achieved by integration of the fluorescent core-shell MIP sensor particles into a modular microfluidic platform that allows for an in-line phase-transfer assay, extracting the analyte from aqueous sample droplets into the organic phase that contains the sensor particles. Real-time fluorescence determination of 2,4-D down to 20nM was realized with the system and applied for the analysis of various surface water samples collected from different parts of the world.
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24
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Sesen M, Alan T, Neild A. Droplet control technologies for microfluidic high throughput screening (μHTS). LAB ON A CHIP 2017. [PMID: 28631799 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00005g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The transition from micro well plate and robotics based high throughput screening (HTS) to chip based screening has already started. This transition promises reduced droplet volumes thereby decreasing the amount of fluids used in these studies. Moreover, it significantly boosts throughput allowing screening to keep pace with the overwhelming number of molecular targets being discovered. In this review, we analyse state-of-the-art droplet control technologies that exhibit potential to be used in this new generation of screening devices. Since these systems are enclosed and usually planar, even some of the straightforward methods used in traditional HTS such as pipetting and reading can prove challenging to replicate in microfluidic high throughput screening (μHTS). We critically review the technologies developed for this purpose in depth, describing the underlying physics and discussing the future outlooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhsincan Sesen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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25
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Ma S, Mukherjee N, Mikhailova E, Bayley H. Gel Microrods for 3D Tissue Printing. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 1:e1700075. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Ma
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Nobina Mukherjee
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Ellina Mikhailova
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Hagan Bayley
- Chemistry Research Laboratory; University of Oxford; 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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26
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Zukas BG, Gupta NR. Interphase Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in a Droplet Flow Reactor. Ind Eng Chem Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.7b00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian G. Zukas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
| | - Nivedita R. Gupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, United States
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27
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Béné MC. Microfluidics in flow cytometry and related techniques. Int J Lab Hematol 2017; 39 Suppl 1:93-97. [PMID: 28447416 DOI: 10.1111/ijlh.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Technological advances in laboratory automation are now well understood and applied as they considerably improved the speed and robustness of haematological laboratory data, in the companion fields of blood analyzers and flow cytometry. Still rather confidential is the field of microfluidics, mostly confined so far to academic settings and research laboratories. The literature in the field of microfluidics is growing and applications in hematology range from cell counting to flow cytometry, cell sorting, or ex vivo testing. A literature search allows to identify many innovative solutions developed to master the specific physics of fluid movements in microchips. Miniaturization also dwells on findings that have emerged from different areas such as electronics and nanoengineering. This review proposes an overview of the major principles guiding developments in microfluidics and describes a necessarily limited and nonexhaustive series of specific applications. Readers are strongly encouraged to consult the documents referred to in the references section to learn more about this world knocking at our door and possibly liable to revolutionize our profession of hematology biologists in a not so far future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Béné
- Hematology Biology, University Hospital, Nantes, France
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28
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Bleier BJ, Yezer BA, Freireich BJ, Anna SL, Walker LM. Droplet-based characterization of surfactant efficacy in colloidal stabilization of carbon black in nonpolar solvents. J Colloid Interface Sci 2017; 493:265-274. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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Abstract
A digital assay is one in which the sample is partitioned into many small containers such that each partition contains a discrete number of biological entities (0, 1, 2, 3, …). A powerful technique in the biologist's toolkit, digital assays bring a new level of precision in quantifying nucleic acids, measuring proteins and their enzymatic activity, and probing single-cell genotypes and phenotypes. Part I of this review begins with the benefits and Poisson statistics of partitioning, including sources of error. The remainder focuses on digital PCR (dPCR) for quantification of nucleic acids. We discuss five commercial instruments that partition samples into physically isolated chambers (cdPCR) or droplet emulsions (ddPCR). We compare the strengths of dPCR (absolute quantitation, precision, and ability to detect rare or mutant targets) with those of its predecessor, quantitative real-time PCR (dynamic range, larger sample volumes, and throughput). Lastly, we describe several promising applications of dPCR, including copy number variation, quantitation of circulating tumor DNA and viral load, RNA/miRNA quantitation with reverse transcription dPCR, and library preparation for next-generation sequencing. This review is intended to give a broad perspective to scientists interested in adopting digital assays into their workflows. Part II focuses on digital protein and cell assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar S Basu
- 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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30
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Ochoa A, Álvarez-Bohórquez E, Castillero E, Olguin LF. Detection of Enzyme Inhibitors in Crude Natural Extracts Using Droplet-Based Microfluidics Coupled to HPLC. Anal Chem 2017; 89:4889-4896. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Ochoa
- Laboratorio de Biofisicoquímica,
Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Enrique Álvarez-Bohórquez
- Laboratorio de Biofisicoquímica,
Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Eduardo Castillero
- Laboratorio de Biofisicoquímica,
Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
| | - Luis F. Olguin
- Laboratorio de Biofisicoquímica,
Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, México
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31
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Kim CM, Kim GM. 1600 Parallel Microchamber Microfluidic Device for Fast Sample Array Preparation Using the Immiscibility of Two Liquids. MICROMACHINES 2017. [PMCID: PMC6190353 DOI: 10.3390/mi8030063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gyu Man Kim
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-950-7570; Fax: +82-53-950-6550
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32
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Ultrahigh-throughput-directed enzyme evolution by absorbance-activated droplet sorting (AADS). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E7383-E7389. [PMID: 27821774 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1606927113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrahigh-throughput screening, in which members of enzyme libraries compartmentalized in water-in-oil emulsion droplets are assayed, has emerged as a powerful format for directed evolution and functional metagenomics but is currently limited to fluorescence readouts. Here we describe a highly efficient microfluidic absorbance-activated droplet sorter (AADS) that extends the range of assays amenable to this approach. Using this module, microdroplets can be sorted based on absorbance readout at rates of up to 300 droplets per second (i.e., >1 million droplets per hour). To validate this device, we implemented a miniaturized coupled assay for NAD+-dependent amino acid dehydrogenases. The detection limit (10 μM in a coupled assay producing a formazan dye) enables accurate kinetic readouts sensitive enough to detect a minimum of 1,300 turnovers per enzyme molecule, expressed in a single cell, and released by lysis within a droplet. Sorting experiments showed that the AADS successfully enriched active variants up to 2,800-fold from an overwhelming majority of inactive ones at ∼100 Hz. To demonstrate the utility of this module for protein engineering, two rounds of directed evolution were performed to improve the activity of phenylalanine dehydrogenase toward its native substrate. Fourteen hits showed increased activity (improved >4.5-fold in lysate; kcat increased >2.7-fold), soluble protein expression levels (up 60%), and thermostability (Tm, 12 °C higher). The AADS module makes the most widely used optical detection format amenable to screens of unprecedented size, paving the way for the implementation of chromogenic assays in droplet microfluidics workflows.
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Abstract
Drug delivery as a strategy to improve the effect of therapeutic treatment is gaining tremendous interest in biomedical research. The recent advancement in microfluidic technique designed to precisely control the liquid at micro or nano liter level has shed some new lights on reshaping the ongoing drug delivery research. In this aspect, this present mini-review gives an overview on the potential applications of microfluidic technique in the area of drug delivery, which basically covers the fabrication of drug delivery carriers and the design of microfluidic-based smart systems for localized in vivo drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjian Guan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, US
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332-0100, US
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34
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Chen Z, Li W, Choi G, Yang X, Miao J, Cui L, Guan W. Arbitrarily Accessible 3D Microfluidic Device for Combinatorial High-Throughput Drug Screening. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2016; 16:E1616. [PMID: 27690055 PMCID: PMC5087404 DOI: 10.3390/s16101616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidics-based drug-screening systems have enabled efficient and high-throughput drug screening, but their routine uses in ordinary labs are limited due to the complexity involved in device fabrication and system setup. In this work, we report an easy-to-use and low-cost arbitrarily accessible 3D microfluidic device that can be easily adopted by various labs to perform combinatorial assays for high-throughput drug screening. The device is capable of precisely performing automatic and simultaneous reagent loading and aliquoting tasks and performing multistep assays with arbitrary sequences. The device is not intended to compete with other microfluidic technologies regarding ultra-low reaction volume. Instead, its freedom from tubing or pumping systems and easy operation makes it an ideal platform for routine high-throughput drug screening outside traditional microfluidic labs. The functionality and quantitative reliability of the 3D microfluidic device were demonstrated with a histone acetyltransferase-based drug-screening assay using the recombinant Plasmodium falciparum GCN5 enzyme, benchmarked with a traditional microtiter plate-based method. This arbitrarily accessible, multistep capable, low-cost, and easy-to-use device can be widely adopted in various combinatorial assays beyond high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofa Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Weizhi Li
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Gihoon Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Xiaonan Yang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Jun Miao
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Weihua Guan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Rezaei Kolahchi A, Khadem Mohtaram N, Pezeshgi Modarres H, Mohammadi MH, Geraili A, Jafari P, Akbari M, Sanati-Nezhad A. Microfluidic-Based Multi-Organ Platforms for Drug Discovery. MICROMACHINES 2016; 7:E162. [PMID: 30404334 PMCID: PMC6189912 DOI: 10.3390/mi7090162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Development of predictive multi-organ models before implementing costly clinical trials is central for screening the toxicity, efficacy, and side effects of new therapeutic agents. Despite significant efforts that have been recently made to develop biomimetic in vitro tissue models, the clinical application of such platforms is still far from reality. Recent advances in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK-PD) modeling, micro- and nanotechnology, and in silico modeling have enabled single- and multi-organ platforms for investigation of new chemical agents and tissue-tissue interactions. This review provides an overview of the principles of designing microfluidic-based organ-on-chip models for drug testing and highlights current state-of-the-art in developing predictive multi-organ models for studying the cross-talk of interconnected organs. We further discuss the challenges associated with establishing a predictive body-on-chip (BOC) model such as the scaling, cell types, the common medium, and principles of the study design for characterizing the interaction of drugs with multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Rezaei Kolahchi
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Nima Khadem Mohtaram
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Parya Jafari
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Ave., Tehran 11155-9516, Iran.
| | - Mohsen Akbari
- Laboratory for Innovations in MicroEngineering (LiME), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada.
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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36
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Niu G, Zhou M, Yang X, Park J, Lu N, Wang J, Kim MJ, Wang L, Xia Y. Synthesis of Pt-Ni Octahedra in Continuous-Flow Droplet Reactors for the Scalable Production of Highly Active Catalysts toward Oxygen Reduction. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:3850-3857. [PMID: 27135156 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A number of groups have reported the syntheses of nanosized Pt-Ni octahedra with remarkable activities toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a process key to the operation of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. However, the throughputs of those batch-based syntheses are typically limited to a scale of 5-25 mg Pt per batch, which is far below the amount needed for commercial evaluation. Here we report the use of droplet reactors for the continuous and scalable production of Pt-Ni octahedra with high activities toward ORR. In a typical synthesis, Pt(acac)2, Ni(acac)2, and W(CO)6 were dissolved in a mixture of oleylamine, oleic acid, and benzyl ether, and then pumped into a polytetrafluoroethylene tube. When the solution entered the reaction zone at a temperature held in the range of 170-230 °C, W(CO)6 quickly decomposed to generate CO gas, naturally separating the reaction solution into discrete, uniform droplets. Each droplet then served as a reactor for the nucleation and growth of Pt-Ni octahedra whose size and composition could be controlled by changing the composition of the solvent and/or adjusting the amount of Ni(acac)2 added into the reaction solution. For a catalyst based on Pt2.4Ni octahedra of 9 nm in edge length, it showed an ORR mass activity of 2.67 A mgPt(-1) at 0.9 V, representing an 11-fold improvement over a state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C catalyst (0.24 A mgPt(-1)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangda Niu
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ming Zhou
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Xuan Yang
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jinho Park
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ning Lu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas , Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Jinguo Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas , Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Moon J Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas , Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Liduo Wang
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Younan Xia
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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37
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Hümmer D, Kurth F, Naredi-Rainer N, Dittrich PS. Single cells in confined volumes: microchambers and microdroplets. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:447-58. [PMID: 26758781 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01314c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices capable of manipulating and guiding small fluid volumes open new methodical approaches in the fields of biology, pharmacy, and medicine. They have already proven their extraordinary value for cell analysis. The emergence of microfluidic platforms has paved the way to novel analytical strategies for the positioning, treatment and observation of living cells, for the creation of chemically defined liquid environments, and for tailoring biomechanical or physical conditions in small volumes. In this article, we particularly focus on two complementary approaches: (i) the isolation of cells in small chambers defined by microchannels and integrated valves and (ii) the encapsulation of cells in microdroplets. We review the advantages and limitations of both approaches and discuss their potential for single-cell analysis and related fields. Our intention is also to give a recommendation on which platform is most appropriate for a new question, i.e., a guideline to choose the most suitable platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hümmer
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - F Kurth
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - N Naredi-Rainer
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - P S Dittrich
- ETH Zurich - Department of Biosystems Science Engineering, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
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38
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Bell J, Climent E, Hecht M, Buurman M, Rurack K. Combining a Droplet-Based Microfluidic Tubing System with Gated Indicator Releasing Nanoparticles for Mercury Trace Detection. ACS Sens 2016. [DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5b00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jérémy Bell
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und−prüfung (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Estela Climent
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und−prüfung (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandy Hecht
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und−prüfung (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Merwe Buurman
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und−prüfung (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Knut Rurack
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und−prüfung (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany
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39
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Dai J, Kim HS, Guzman AR, Shim WB, Han A. A large-scale on-chip droplet incubation chamber enables equal microbial culture time. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra26505c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A compact on-chip first-in first-out droplet incubation chamber enables an equal droplet incubation time for a large number of droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Dai
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
| | - Hyun Soo Kim
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
| | - Adrian Ryan Guzman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Texas A&M University
- College Station
- USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
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40
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Microfluidics for cell-based high throughput screening platforms - A review. Anal Chim Acta 2015; 903:36-50. [PMID: 26709297 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the last decades, the basic techniques of microfluidics for the study of cells such as cell culture, cell separation, and cell lysis, have been well developed. Based on cell handling techniques, microfluidics has been widely applied in the field of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), immunoassays, organ-on-chip, stem cell research, and analysis and identification of circulating tumor cells. As a major step in drug discovery, high-throughput screening allows rapid analysis of thousands of chemical, biochemical, genetic or pharmacological tests in parallel. In this review, we summarize the application of microfluidics in cell-based high throughput screening. The screening methods mentioned in this paper include approaches using the perfusion flow mode, the droplet mode, and the microarray mode. We also discuss the future development of microfluidic based high throughput screening platform for drug discovery.
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41
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Shih SCC, Goyal G, Kim PW, Koutsoubelis N, Keasling JD, Adams PD, Hillson NJ, Singh AK. A Versatile Microfluidic Device for Automating Synthetic Biology. ACS Synth Biol 2015; 4:1151-64. [PMID: 26075958 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5b00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
New microbes are being engineered that contain the genetic circuitry, metabolic pathways, and other cellular functions required for a wide range of applications such as producing biofuels, biobased chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Although currently available tools are useful in improving the synthetic biology process, further improvements in physical automation would help to lower the barrier of entry into this field. We present an innovative microfluidic platform for assembling DNA fragments with 10× lower volumes (compared to that of current microfluidic platforms) and with integrated region-specific temperature control and on-chip transformation. Integration of these steps minimizes the loss of reagents and products compared to that with conventional methods, which require multiple pipetting steps. For assembling DNA fragments, we implemented three commonly used DNA assembly protocols on our microfluidic device: Golden Gate assembly, Gibson assembly, and yeast assembly (i.e., TAR cloning, DNA Assembler). We demonstrate the utility of these methods by assembling two combinatorial libraries of 16 plasmids each. Each DNA plasmid is transformed into Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae using on-chip electroporation and further sequenced to verify the assembly. We anticipate that this platform will enable new research that can integrate this automated microfluidic platform to generate large combinatorial libraries of plasmids and will help to expedite the overall synthetic biology process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve C. C. Shih
- Sandia National Laboratories, 7011 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Garima Goyal
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron
Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Peter W. Kim
- Sandia National Laboratories, 7011 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
| | - Nicolas Koutsoubelis
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron
Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Jay D. Keasling
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron
Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Paul D. Adams
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron
Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Nathan J. Hillson
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron
Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Anup K. Singh
- Sandia National Laboratories, 7011 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, United States
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42
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Allazetta S, Lutolf MP. Stem cell niche engineering through droplet microfluidics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 35:86-93. [PMID: 26051090 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 05/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells reside in complex niches in which their behaviour is tightly regulated by various biochemical and biophysical signals. In order to unveil some of the crucial stem cell-niche interactions and expedite the implementation of stem cells in clinical and pharmaceutical applications, in vitro methodologies are being developed to reconstruct key features of stem cell niches. Recently, droplet-based microfluidics has emerged as a promising strategy to build stem cell niche models in a miniaturized and highly precise fashion. This review highlights current advances in using droplet microfluidics in stem cell biology. We also discuss recent efforts in which microgel technology has been interfaced with high-throughput analyses to engender screening paradigms with an unparalleled potential for basic and applied biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Allazetta
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, EPFL, Switzerland.
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43
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DeLaMarre MF, Keyzer A, Shippy SA. Development of a simple droplet-based microfluidic capillary viscometer for low-viscosity Newtonian fluids. Anal Chem 2015; 87:4649-57. [PMID: 25825941 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Viscosity is an easily measured macroscopic property that provides molecular information and is widely used across the sciences and engineering. Here we report a microfluidic capillary viscometer that forms droplets from aqueous samples in an immiscible carrier phase and encodes information about sample viscosity in the droplet spacing. The device shows exceptional calibration stability, with only a 0.6% drift in calibration factor from run to run, the ability to handle aqueous and nonaqueous samples, and the ability to operate with sample volumes as low as 38 nL. Operating range for aqueous sample viscosity was characterized, and was found to be 0.96-52 cP. Operating range for aqueous shear rate was found to depend on aqueous viscosity and varied from 1.9 × 10(1)-4.4 × 10(2) s(-1) for high viscosity samples to 4.1 × 10(2)-6.0 × 10(3) s(-1) for low viscosity samples. Accuracy was tested by comparing measured viscosities of several samples including crème de menthe peppermint liquor, human urine, and baby oil to viscosities of the same samples obtained with a U-tube viscometer. The device was found to be very accurate, with differences between methods as low as 0.1%. The viscometer presented requires only a basic T junction and can utilize off-chip fluorescence to measure viscosity, which could allow for easy addition of viscometric measurement capabilities to existing droplet platforms. Furthermore, the device is capable of performing measurements on Newtonian fluids without precise control over pressures or flow rates, which significantly simplifies device operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F DeLaMarre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Alec Keyzer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Scott A Shippy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
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44
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialan Cao
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technology; Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies/Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology; Ilmenau University of Technology; Ilmenau Germany
| | - Johann Michael Köhler
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technology; Institute for Micro and Nanotechnologies/Institute for Chemistry and Biotechnology; Ilmenau University of Technology; Ilmenau Germany
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45
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Dressler OJ, Yang T, Chang SI, Choo J, Wootton RCR, deMello AJ. Continuous and low error-rate passive synchronization of pre-formed droplets. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra08044d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A microfluidic droplet-handling architecture for the synchronization of asynchronous, mis-matched, pre-formed droplet streams is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. J. Dressler
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- ETH Zürich
- 8093 Zürich
- Switzerland
| | - T. Yang
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- ETH Zürich
- 8093 Zürich
- Switzerland
| | - S.-I. Chang
- Department of Biochemistry
- Chungbuk National University
- Cheongju
- South Korea
| | - J. Choo
- Department of BionanoTechnology
- Hanyang University
- Ansan 426-791
- South Korea
| | - R. C. R. Wootton
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- ETH Zürich
- 8093 Zürich
- Switzerland
| | - A. J. deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- ETH Zürich
- 8093 Zürich
- Switzerland
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46
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Abstract
Droplet microfluidics may soon change the paradigm of performing chemical analyses and related instrumentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Yu Basova
- Masaryk University
- CEITEC, Central European Institute Technology
- Brno
- Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Foret
- Masaryk University
- CEITEC, Central European Institute Technology
- Brno
- Czech Republic
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
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47
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Feuerborn A, Prastowo A, Cook PR, Walsh E. Merging drops in a Teflon tube, and transferring fluid between them, illustrated by protein crystallization and drug screening. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:3766-3775. [PMID: 26246015 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00726g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The ability to manipulate drops with small volumes has many practical applications. Current microfluidic devices generally exploit channel geometry and/or active external equipment to control drops. Here we use a Teflon tube attached to a syringe pump and exploit the properties of interfaces between three immiscible liquids to create particular fluidic architectures. We then go on to merge any number of drops (with volumes of micro- to nano-liters) at predefined points in time and space in the tube; for example, 51 drops were merged in a defined order to yield one large drop. Using a different architecture, specified amounts of fluid were transferred between 2 nl drops at specified rates; for example, 2.5 pl aliquots were transferred (at rates of ~500 fl s(-1)) between two drops through inter-connecting nano-channels (width ~40 nm). One proof-of-principle experiment involved screening conditions required to crystallize a protein (using a concentration gradient created using such nano-channels). Another demonstrated biocompatibility; drugs were mixed with human cells grown in suspension or on surfaces, and the treated cells responded like those grown conventionally. Although most experiments were performed manually, moderate high-throughput potential was demonstrated by mixing ~1000 different pairs of 50 nl drops in ~15 min using a robot. We suggest this reusable, low-cost, and versatile methodology could facilitate the introduction of microfluidics into workflows of many experimental laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Feuerborn
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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48
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Wang WS, Vanapalli SA. Millifluidics as a simple tool to optimize droplet networks: Case study on drop traffic in a bifurcated loop. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2014; 8:064111. [PMID: 25553188 PMCID: PMC4257966 DOI: 10.1063/1.4902910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
We report that modular millifluidic networks are simpler, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional microfluidic networks, and they can be rapidly generated and altered to optimize designs. Droplet traffic can also be studied more conveniently and inexpensively at the millimeter scale, as droplets are readily visible to the naked eye. Bifurcated loops, ladder networks, and parking networks were made using only Tygon(®) tubing and plastic T-junction fittings and visualized using an iPod(®) camera. As a case study, droplet traffic experiments through a millifluidic bifurcated loop were conducted, and the periodicity of drop spacing at the outlet was mapped over a wide range of inlet drop spacing. We observed periodic, intermittent, and aperiodic behaviors depending on the inlet drop spacing. The experimentally observed periodic behaviors were in good agreement with numerical simulations based on the simple network model. Our experiments further identified three main sources of intermittency between different periodic and/or aperiodic behaviors: (1) simultaneous entering and exiting events, (2) channel defects, and (3) equal or nearly equal hydrodynamic resistances in both sides of the bifurcated loop. In cases of simultaneous events and/or channel defects, the range of input spacings where intermittent behaviors are observed depends on the degree of inherent variation in input spacing. Finally, using a time scale analysis of syringe pump fluctuations and experiment observation times, we find that in most cases, more consistent results can be generated in experiments conducted at the millimeter scale than those conducted at the micrometer scale. Thus, millifluidic networks offer a simple means to probe collective interactions due to drop traffic and optimize network geometry to engineer passive devices for biological and material analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- William S Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, USA
| | - Siva A Vanapalli
- Department of Chemical Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock, Texas 79409-3121, USA
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49
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Zhang L, Xia Y. Scaling up the production of colloidal nanocrystals: should we increase or decrease the reaction volume? ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2014; 26:2600-2606. [PMID: 24505032 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201304897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 11/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in facet-controlled syntheses has started to produce nanocrystals with great promise as the next-generation catalysts for a variety of applications. To move from academic studies to industrial applications, however, one has to address the issue of scaling up a synthesis that has been commonly conducted in a batch format. There are two opposite approaches to scaling up the production of colloidal nanocrystals: increasing and decreasing the reaction volume. Contrary to conventional wisdom, continuous flow synthesis based on droplets is expected to provide a more practical platform for scaling up the synthesis. Here we highlight recent progress in using droplet reactors for the synthesis of colloidal noble-metal nanocrystals with controlled sizes and shapes, with an aim towards high-volume production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA; State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, Department of Optical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, China
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Lai D, Frampton JP, Tsuei M, Kao A, Takayama S. Label-free direct visual analysis of hydrolytic enzyme activity using aqueous two-phase system droplet phase transitions. Anal Chem 2014; 86:4052-7. [PMID: 24654925 PMCID: PMC4004187 DOI: 10.1021/ac500657k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
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Dextran hydrolysis-mediated conversion
of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-dextran
(DEX) aqueous two-phase system droplets to a single phase was used
to directly visualize Dextranase activity. DEX droplets were formed
either by manual micropipetting or within a continuous PEG phase by
computer controlled actuation of an orifice connecting rounded channels
formed by backside diffused light lithography. The time required for
the two-phase to one-phase transition was dependent on the Dextranase
concentration, pH of the medium, and temperature. The apparent Michaelis
constants for Dextranase were estimated based on previously reported
catalytic constants, the binodal polymer concentration curves for
PEG-DEX phase transition for each temperature, and pH condition. The
combination of a microfluidic droplet system and phase transition
observation provides a new method for label-free direct measurement
of enzyme activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Biointerfaces Institute , 2800 Plymouth Road, NCRC Building 10 A183, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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