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Naveenkumar PM, Roemling LJ, Sultan U, Vogel N. Fabrication of Spherical Colloidal Supraparticles via Membrane Emulsification. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024. [PMID: 39383325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c02803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Colloidal supraparticles are micrometer-scale assemblies of primary particles. These supraparticles have potential application in photonic materials, catalysis, gas adsorption, and drug delivery. Thus, the synthesis of colloidal supraparticles with a narrow size distribution and high yield has become essential. Here, we demonstrate membrane emulsification as a high-throughput approach for fabricating spherical supraparticles with a narrow size distribution and control over particle size and crystallinity. Spherical supraparticles with well-ordered surface structures are synthesized by generating emulsion droplets of an aqueous colloidal dispersion in fluorocarbon oil using a Shirasu porous glass membrane followed by the consolidation of particles through water removal within the emulsion. We systematically investigate process parameters, including the flow rate of the particle dispersion, the particle concentration, and the average pore diameter of the membrane, on the mean size and size distribution of the supraparticles, revealing key factors governing supraparticle properties and production throughput. A comparative evaluation with commonly employed methods highlights the advantage of membrane emulsification, which combines well-defined internal structure and controlled supraparticle sizes with comparably high yields on the order of tens of grams per day. Importantly, in contrast to widely used droplet-based microfluidics, membrane emulsification allows fabrication of supraparticles in nonfluorinated oil. Overall, membrane emulsification offers a simple yet versatile method for fabricating colloidal supraparticles with high quality and yield and may serve as a bridge between existing high-precision techniques, such as droplet-based microfluidics, and high-throughput processes with less control, such as spray-drying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinamipura M Naveenkumar
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lukas J Roemling
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Umair Sultan
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Vogel
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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2
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Kim JS, Kim J, Kim JS, Kim W, Lee CS. Label-free single-cell antimicrobial susceptibility testing in droplets with concentration gradient generation. LAB ON A CHIP 2024. [PMID: 39324417 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00629a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial communities exhibit significant heterogeneity, resulting in the emergence of specialized phenotypes that can withstand antibiotic exposure. Unfortunately, the existence of subpopulations resistant to antibiotics often goes unnoticed during treatment initiation. Thus, it is crucial to consider the concept of single-cell antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) to tackle bacterial infections. Nevertheless, its practical application in clinical settings is hindered by its inability to conduct AST efficiently across a wide range of antibiotics and concentrations. This study introduces a droplet-based microfluidic platform designed for rapid single-cell AST by creating an antibiotic concentration gradient. The advantage of a microfluidic platform is achieved by executing bacteria and antibiotic mixing, cell encapsulation, incubation, and enumeration of bacteria in a seamless workflow, facilitating susceptibility testing of each antibiotic. Firstly, we demonstrate the rapid determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of several antibiotics with Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus, which enables us to bypass the time-consuming bacteria cultivation, speeding up the AST in 3 h from 1 to 2 days of conventional methods. Additionally, we assess 10 clinical isolates including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) against clinically important antibiotics for analyzing the MIC, compared to the gold standard AST method from the United States Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), which becomes available only after 48 h. Furthermore, by monitoring single cells within individual droplets, we have found a spectrum of resistance levels among genetically identical cells, revealing phenotypic heterogeneity within isogenic populations. This discovery not only advances clinical diagnostics and treatment strategies but also significantly contributes to the field of antibiotic stewardship, underlining the importance of our approach in addressing bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Seong Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 3414, South Korea.
| | - Jingyeong Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 3414, South Korea.
| | - Jae-Seok Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul 05355, South Korea
| | - Wooseong Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, South Korea
| | - Chang-Soo Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 3414, South Korea.
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Oh Y, Kim SH. Concentric Capillary Microfluidic Devices Designed for Robust Production of Multiple-Emulsion Droplets. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:19166-19175. [PMID: 39183643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c02316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Multiple emulsions are used as templates for producing functional microcapsules due to their unique core-shell geometry. Employing glass capillary devices with coaxial channels has proven effective in creating uniform multiple-emulsion droplets. However, the use of partially miscible fluids, crucial for microcapsule production, often results in clogging and disrupts the stability of these devices. Here, we introduce innovative capillary microfluidic devices with concentric capillary channels, specifically designed to optimize the production of multiple-emulsion droplets while mitigating issues of precipitation and clogging. The key aspect of these devices is their configuration of two or three concentrically aligned capillaries, which form separate, coaxial microchannels for fluid injection. This unique alignment, achieved through rotational adjustments that leverage the natural off-center positioning of tapered capillaries, facilitates the simultaneous coaxial injection of various fluids into a droplet-forming junction, significantly reducing fluid contact before emulsification. The devices, featuring double and triple concentric capillary channels, consistently produce highly uniform double-, triple-, and quadruple-emulsion droplets with precisely controlled diameters and layer thicknesses. The minimal contact between fluids prior to emulsification in these devices broadens the usable range of fluid combinations, heralding new possibilities in microcapsule development for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjin Oh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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Hamonangan WM, Lee S, Choi YH, Li W, Tai M, Kim SH. Microballoons: Osmotically-inflated elastomer shells for ultrafast release of encapsulants and mechanical energy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 668:272-281. [PMID: 38678883 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Microcapsules with osmotically-inflated elastic shells exhibit an ultrafast release of encapsulants while mechanically stimulating the microenvironments, akin to popping balloons. EXPERIMENTS To prepare elastic shells with uniform thickness and size, monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion drops are produced in a capillary microfluidic device. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-containing oil phase is thermally cured to create the elastic shell. The elastic shells are inflated by pumping water into the lumen in hypotonic conditions. The inflated microcapsules produced undergo mechanical compression, and their release properties are studied. FINDINGS By controlling the osmotic pressure difference, Microballoons are inflated into a diameter of 200 μm - 316 μm and shell thickness of 7.8 μm - 0.7 µm, respectively. The inflated shell pops due to mechanical failure when subjected to mechanical stress above a certain threshold, resembling a balloon. During popping, the stretched shell rapidly retracts to the original uninflated state, resulting in an ultrafast release of encapsulants from the lumen within a millisecond. This process converts elastic potential energy stored in the shell into mechanical energy with substantial power. The microballoons mechanically stimulate the local environment, leading to the direct and rapid release of encapsulants. This has the potential to improve absorption efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahyu Martumpal Hamonangan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Hun Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanzhao Li
- Infinitus (China) Company Ltd, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Meiling Tai
- Infinitus (China) Company Ltd, Guangzhou 510405, China.
| | - Shin-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Sharma A, Rohne F, Vasquez-Muñoz D, Jung SH, Lomadze N, Pich A, Santer S, Bekir M. Selective Segregation of Thermo-Responsive Microgels via Microfluidic Technology. SMALL METHODS 2024:e2400226. [PMID: 39091063 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202400226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Separation of equally sized particles distinguished solely by material properties remains still a very challenging task. Here a simple separation of differently charged, thermo-responsive polymeric particles (for example microgels) but equal in size, via the combination of pressure-driven microfluidic flow and precise temperature control is proposed. The separation principle relies on forcing thermo-responsive microgels to undergo the volume phase transition during heating and therefore changing its size and correspondingly the change in drift along a pressure driven shear flow. Different thermo-responsive particle types such as different grades of ionizable groups inside the polymer matrix have different temperature regions of volume phase transition temperature (VPTT). This enables selective control of collapsed versus swollen microgels, and accordingly, this physical principle provides a simple method for fractioning a binary mixture with at least one thermo-responsive particle, which is achieved by elution times in the sense of particle chromatography. The concepts are visualized in experimental studies, with an intend to improve the purification strategy of the broad distribution of charged microgels into fractioning to more narrow distribution microgels distinguished solely by slight differences in net charge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Sharma
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Fabian Rohne
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Se-Hyeong Jung
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nino Lomadze
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Andrij Pich
- DWI-Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials e.V., 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Functional and Interactive Polymers, Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, or, Laboratory for Soft Materials and Interfaces, Department of Materials, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) Maastricht University, Geleen, 6167 RD, The Netherlands
| | - Svetlana Santer
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marek Bekir
- Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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Ma L, Zhao X, Hou J, Huang L, Yao Y, Ding Z, Wei J, Hao N. Droplet Microfluidic Devices: Working Principles, Fabrication Methods, and Scale-Up Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301406. [PMID: 38594964 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Compared with the conventional emulsification method, droplets generated within microfluidic devices exhibit distinct advantages such as precise control of fluids, exceptional monodispersity, uniform morphology, flexible manipulation, and narrow size distribution. These inherent benefits, including intrinsic safety, excellent heat and mass transfer capabilities, and large surface-to-volume ratio, have led to the widespread applications of droplet-based microfluidics across diverse fields, encompassing chemical engineering, particle synthesis, biological detection, diagnostics, emulsion preparation, and pharmaceuticals. However, despite its promising potential for versatile applications, the practical utilization of this technology in commercial and industrial is extremely limited to the inherently low production rates achievable within a single microchannel. Over the past two decades, droplet-based microfluidics has evolved significantly, considerably transitioning from a proof-of-concept stage to industrialization. And now there is a growing trend towards translating academic research into commercial and industrial applications, primarily driven by the burgeoning demands of various fields. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advancements in droplet-based microfluidics, covering the fundamental working principles and the critical aspect of scale-up integration from working principles to scale-up integration. Based on the existing scale-up strategies, the paper also outlines the future research directions, identifies the potential opportunities, and addresses the typical unsolved challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiong Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Junsheng Hou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yilong Yao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Zihan Ding
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Jinjia Wei
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Nanjing Hao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
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Yandrapalli N. Complex Emulsions as an Innovative Pharmaceutical Dosage form in Addressing the Issues of Multi-Drug Therapy and Polypharmacy Challenges. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:707. [PMID: 38931830 PMCID: PMC11206808 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This review explores the intersection of microfluidic technology and complex emulsion development as a promising solution to the challenges of formulations in multi-drug therapy (MDT) and polypharmacy. The convergence of microfluidic technology and complex emulsion fabrication could herald a transformative era in multi-drug delivery systems, directly confronting the prevalent challenges of polypharmacy. Microfluidics, with its unparalleled precision in droplet formation, empowers the encapsulation of multiple drugs within singular emulsion particles. The ability to engineer emulsions with tailored properties-such as size, composition, and release kinetics-enables the creation of highly efficient drug delivery vehicles. Thus, this innovative approach not only simplifies medication regimens by significantly reducing the number of necessary doses but also minimizes the pill burden and associated treatment termination-issues associated with polypharmacy. It is important to bring forth the opportunities and challenges of this synergy between microfluidic-driven complex emulsions and multi-drug therapy poses. Together, they not only offer a sophisticated method for addressing the intricacies of delivering multiple drugs but also align with broader healthcare objectives of enhancing treatment outcomes, patient safety, and quality of life, underscoring the importance of dosage form innovations in tackling the multifaceted challenges of modern pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Yandrapalli
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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8
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Kim ES, Cho M, Choi I, Choi SW. Fabrication of Perfluoropolyether Microfluidic Devices Using Laser Engraving for Uniform Droplet Production. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:599. [PMID: 38793172 PMCID: PMC11122727 DOI: 10.3390/mi15050599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
A perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based microfluidic device with cross-junction microchannels was fabricated with the purpose of producing uniform droplets. The microchannels were developed using CO2 laser engraving. PFPE was chosen as the main material because of its excellent solvent resistance. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was mixed with PFPE to improve the hydrophilic properties of the inner surface of the microchannels. The microchannels of the polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic device had a blackened and rough surface after laser engraving. By contrast, the inner surface of the microchannels of the PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic device exhibited a smooth surface. The lower power and faster speed of the laser engraving resulted in the development of microchannels with smaller dimensions, less than 30 μm in depth. The PFPE and PFPE-PEGDA microfluidic devices were used to produce uniform water and oil droplets, respectively. We believe that such a PFPE-based microfluidic device with CO2-laser-engraved microchannels can be used as a microfluidic platform for applications in various fields, such as biological and chemical analysis, extraction, and synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sung-Wook Choi
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si 14662, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (E.S.K.); (M.C.); (I.C.)
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Park J, Kadam PS, Atiyas Y, Chhay B, Tsourkas A, Eberwine JH, Issadore DA. High-Throughput Single-Cell, Single-Mitochondrial DNA Assay Using Hydrogel Droplet Microfluidics. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401544. [PMID: 38470412 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
There is growing interest in understanding the biological implications of single cell heterogeneity and heteroplasmy of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), but current methodologies for single-cell mtDNA analysis limit the scale of analysis to small cell populations. Although droplet microfluidics have increased the throughput of single-cell genomic, RNA, and protein analysis, their application to sub-cellular organelle analysis has remained a largely unsolved challenge. Here, we introduce an agarose-based droplet microfluidic approach for single-cell, single-mtDNA analysis, which allows simultaneous processing of hundreds of individual mtDNA molecules within >10,000 individual cells. Our microfluidic chip encapsulates individual cells in agarose beads, designed to have a sufficiently dense hydrogel network to retain mtDNA after lysis and provide a robust scaffold for subsequent multi-step processing and analysis. To mitigate the impact of the high viscosity of agarose required for mtDNA retention on the throughput of microfluidics, we developed a parallelized device, successfully achieving ~95 % mtDNA retention from single cells within our microbeads at >700,000 drops/minute. To demonstrate utility, we analyzed specific regions of the single-mtDNA using a multiplexed rolling circle amplification (RCA) assay. We demonstrated compatibility with both microscopy, for digital counting of individual RCA products, and flow cytometry for higher throughput analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhwan Park
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Parnika S Kadam
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Yasemin Atiyas
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Bonirath Chhay
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - Andrew Tsourkas
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - James H Eberwine
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
| | - David A Issadore
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, USA
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10
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Park J, Kadam PS, Atiyas Y, Chhay B, Tsourkas A, Eberwine JH, Issadore DA. High-throughput single-cell, single-mitochondrial DNA assay using hydrogel droplet microfluidics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.29.577854. [PMID: 38352577 PMCID: PMC10862758 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.29.577854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
There is growing interest in understanding the biological implications of single cell heterogeneity and intracellular heteroplasmy of mtDNA, but current methodologies for single-cell mtDNA analysis limit the scale of analysis to small cell populations. Although droplet microfluidics have increased the throughput of single-cell genomic, RNA, and protein analysis, their application to sub-cellular organelle analysis has remained a largely unsolved challenge. Here, we introduce an agarose-based droplet microfluidic approach for single-cell, single-mtDNA analysis, which allows simultaneous processing of hundreds of individual mtDNA molecules within >10,000 individual cells. Our microfluidic chip encapsulates individual cells in agarose beads, designed to have a sufficiently dense hydrogel network to retain mtDNA after lysis and provide a robust scaffold for subsequent multi-step processing and analysis. To mitigate the impact of the high viscosity of agarose required for mtDNA retention on the throughput of microfluidics, we developed a parallelized device, successfully achieving ~95% mtDNA retention from single cells within our microbeads at >700,000 drops/minute. To demonstrate utility, we analyzed specific regions of the single mtDNA using a multiplexed rolling circle amplification (RCA) assay. We demonstrated compatibility with both microscopy, for digital counting of individual RCA products, and flow cytometry for higher throughput analysis.
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11
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Mashiyama S, Hemmi R, Sato T, Kato A, Taniguchi T, Yamada M. Pushing the limits of microfluidic droplet production efficiency: engineering microchannels with seamlessly implemented 3D inverse colloidal crystals. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:171-181. [PMID: 38050757 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00913k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Although droplet microfluidics has been studied for the past two decades, its applications are still limited due to the low productivity of microdroplets resulting from the low integration of planar microchannel structures. In this study, a microfluidic system implementing inverse colloidal crystals (ICCs), a spongious matrix with regularly and densely formed three-dimensional (3D) interconnected micropores, was developed to significantly increase the throughput of microdroplet generation. A new bottom-up microfabrication technique was developed to seamlessly integrate the ICCs into planar microchannels by accumulating non-crosslinked spherical PMMA microparticles as sacrificial porogens in a selective area of a mold and later dissolving them. We have demonstrated that the densely arranged micropores on the spongious ICC of the microchannel function as massively parallel micronozzles, enabling droplet formation on the order of >10 kHz. Droplet size could be adjusted by flow conditions, fluid properties, and micropore size, and biopolymer particles composed of polysaccharides and proteins were produced. By further parallelization of the unit structures, droplet formation on the order of >100 kHz was achieved. The presented approach is an upgrade of the existing droplet microfluidics concept, not only in terms of its high throughput, but also in terms of ease of fabrication and operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Mashiyama
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Runa Hemmi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Takeru Sato
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Atsuya Kato
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Tatsuo Taniguchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Masumi Yamada
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
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12
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Piunti C, Cimetta E. Microfluidic approaches for producing lipid-based nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:031304. [PMID: 38505779 PMCID: PMC10903496 DOI: 10.1063/5.0150345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The importance of drug delivery for disease treatment is supported by a vast literature and increasing ongoing clinical studies. Several categories of nano-based drug delivery systems have been considered in recent years, among which lipid-based nanomedicines, both artificial and cell-derived, remain the most approved. The best artificial systems in terms of biocompatibility and low toxicity are liposomes, as they are composed of phospholipids and cholesterol, the main components of cell membranes. Extracellular vesicles-biological nanoparticles released from cells-while resembling liposomes in size, shape, and structure, have a more complex composition with up to hundreds of different types of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates in their membranes, as well as an internal cargo. Although nanoparticle technologies have revolutionized drug delivery by enabling passive and active targeting, increased stability, improved solubilization capacity, and reduced dose and adverse effects, the clinical translation remains challenging due to manufacturing limitations such as laborious and time-consuming procedures and high batch-to-batch variability. A sea change occurred when microfluidic strategies were employed, offering advantages in terms of precise particle handling, simplified workflows, higher sensitivity and specificity, and good reproducibility and stability over bulk methods. This review examines scientific advances in the microfluidics-mediated production of lipid-based nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. We will discuss the preparation of liposomes using both hydrodynamic focusing of microfluidic flow and mixing by herringbone and staggered baffle micromixers. Then, an overview on microfluidic approaches for producing extracellular vesicles and extracellular vesicles-mimetics for therapeutic applications will describe microfluidic extrusion, surface engineering, sonication, electroporation, nanoporation, and mixing. Finally, we will outline the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of microfluidic investigation of lipid-based nanoparticles in the clinic.
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13
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Shen Y, Liu Y, Nunes JK, Wang C, Xu M, To MKT, Stone HA, Shum HC. Fibro-Gel: An All-Aqueous Hydrogel Consisting of Microfibers with Tunable Release Profile and its Application in Wound Healing. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2211637. [PMID: 36789886 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Injectable hydrogels are valuable tools in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their unique advantages of injectability with minimal invasiveness and usability for irregularly shaped sites. However, it remains challenging to achieve scalable manufacturing together with matching physicochemical properties and on-demand drug release for a high level of control over biophysical and biomedical cues to direct endogenous cells. Here, the use of an injectable fibro-gel is demonstrated, a water-filled network of entangled hydrogel microfibers, whose physicochemical properties and drug release profiles can be tailored to overcome these shortcomings. This fibro-gel exhibits favorable in vitro biocompatibility and the capability to aid vascularization. The potential use of the fibro-gel for advancing tissue regeneration is explored with a mice excision skin model. Preliminary in vivo tests indicate that the fibro-gel promotes wound healing and new healthy tissue regeneration at a faster rate than a commercial gel. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the release of distinct drugs at different rates can further accelerate wound healing with higher efficiency, by using a two-layer fibro-gel model. The combination of injectability and tailorable properties of this fibro-gel offers a promising approach in biomedical fields such as therapeutic delivery, medical dressings, and 3D tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Shen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Janine K Nunes
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Chenmin Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Miao Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michael K T To
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Howard A Stone
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
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14
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Siddiqui SA, Ullah Farooqi MQ, Bhowmik S, Zahra Z, Mahmud MC, Assadpour E, Gan RY, Kharazmi MS, Jafari SM. Application of micro/nano-fluidics for encapsulation of food bioactive compounds - principles, applications, and challenges. Trends Food Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2023.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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15
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Jiang L, Yang H, Cheng W, Ni Z, Xiang N. Droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy: a review. Analyst 2023; 148:203-221. [PMID: 36508171 DOI: 10.1039/d2an01747d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important biomarkers of liquid biopsy. The number and heterogeneity of CTCs play an important role in cancer diagnosis and personalized medicine. However, owing to the low-abundance biomarkers of CTCs, conventional assays are only able to detect CTCs at the population level. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a highly sensitive method to analyze CTCs at the single-cell level. As an important branch of microfluidics, droplet microfluidics is a high-throughput and sensitive single-cell analysis platform for the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs. In this review, we focus on the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs using droplet microfluidics. Technologies that enable droplet microfluidics, particularly high-throughput droplet generation and high-efficiency droplet manipulation, are first discussed. Then, recent advances in detecting and analyzing CTCs using droplet microfluidics from the different aspects of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites are introduced. The purpose of this review is to provide guidance for the continued study of droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Hang Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Weiqi Cheng
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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16
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Deng CF, Su YY, Yang SH, Jiang QR, Xie R, Ju XJ, Liu Z, Pan DW, Wang W, Chu LY. Designable microfluidic ladder networks from backstepping microflow analysis for mass production of monodisperse microdroplets. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4962-4973. [PMID: 36420612 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00771a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Controllable mass production of monodisperse droplets plays a key role in numerous fields ranging from scientific research to industrial application. Microfluidic ladder networks show great potential in mass production of monodisperse droplets, but their design with uniform microflow distribution remains challenging due to the lack of a rational design strategy. Here an effective design strategy based on backstepping microflow analysis (BMA) is proposed for the rational development of microfluidic ladder networks for mass production of controllable monodisperse microdroplets. The performance of our BMA rule for rational microfluidic ladder network design is demonstrated by using an existing analogism-derived rule that is widely used for the design of microfluidic ladder networks as the control group. The microfluidic ladder network designed by the BMA rule shows a more uniform flow distribution in each branch microchannel than that designed by the existing rule, as confirmed by single-phase flow simulation. Meanwhile, the microfluidic ladder network designed by the BMA rule allows mass production of droplets with higher size monodispersity in a wider window of flow rates and mass production of polymeric microspheres from such highly monodisperse droplet templates. The proposed BMA rule provides new insights into the microflow distribution behaviors in microfluidic ladder networks based on backstepping microflow analysis and provides a rational guideline for the efficient development of microfluidic ladder networks with uniform flow distribution for mass production of highly monodisperse droplets. Moreover, the BMA method provides a general analysis strategy for microfluidic networks with parallel multiple microchannels for rational scale-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Fu Deng
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Yao-Yao Su
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Shi-Hao Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Qing-Rong Jiang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
| | - Rui Xie
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Ju
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Da-Wei Pan
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
| | - Liang-Yin Chu
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China
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17
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Kim HH, Cho Y, Baek D, Rho KH, Park SH, Lee S. Parallelization of Microfluidic Droplet Junctions for Ultraviscous Fluids. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2205001. [PMID: 36310131 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The parallelization of multiple microfluidic droplet junctions has been successfully achieved so that the production throughput of the uniform microemulsions/particles has witnessed considerable progress. However, these advancements have been observed only in the case of a low viscous fluid (viscosity of 10-2 -10-3 Pa s). This study designs and fabricates a microfluidic device, enabling a uniform micro-emulsification of an ultraviscous fluid (viscosity of 3.5 Pa s) with a throughput of ≈330 000 droplets per hour. Multiple T-junctions of a dispersed oil phase, split from a single inlet, are connected into the single post-crossflow channel of a continuous water phase. In the proposed device, the continuous water phase undergoes a series circuit, wherein the resistances are continuously accumulated. The independent corrugations of the dispersed oil phase channel, under the theoretical guidance, compromise such increased resistances; the ratio of water to oil flow rates at each junction becomes consistent across T-junctions. Owing to the design being based on a fully 2D interconnection, single-step soft lithography is sufficient for developing the full device. This easy-to-craft architecture contrasts with the previous approach, wherein complicated 3D interconnections of the multiple junctions are involved, thereby facilitating the rapid uptake of high throughput droplet microfluidics for experts and newcomers alike.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ho Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - YongDeok Cho
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjae Baek
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hun Rho
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Hun Park
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungwoo Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Integrative Energy Engineering, Department of Biomicrosystem Technology and KU Photonics Center, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
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18
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Van Tran V, Wi E, Shin SY, Lee D, Kim YA, Ma BC, Chang M. Microgels based on 0D-3D carbon materials: Synthetic techniques, properties, applications, and challenges. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135981. [PMID: 35964721 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microgels are three-dimensional (3D) colloidal hydrogel particles with outstanding features such as biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, tunable sizes from submicrometer to tens of nanometers, and large surface areas. Because of these unique qualities, microgels have been widely used in various applications. Carbon-based materials (CMs) with various dimensions (0-3D) have recently been investigated as promising candidates for the design and fabrication of microgels because of their large surface area, excellent conductivity, unique chemical stability, and low cost. Here, we provide a critical review of the specific characteristics of CMs that are being incorporated into microgels, as well as the state-of-the art applications of CM-microgels in pollutant adsorption and photodegradation, H2 evoluation, CO2 capture, soil conditioners, water retention, drug delivery, cell encapsulation, and tissue engineering. Advanced preparation techniques for CM-microgel systems are also summarized and discussed. Finally, challenges related to the low colloidal stability of CM-microgels and development strategies are examined. This review shows that CM-microgels have the potential to be widely used in various practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinh Van Tran
- Laser and Thermal Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
| | - Eunsol Wi
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Seo Young Shin
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Daeho Lee
- Laser and Thermal Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam, 13120, South Korea
| | - Yoong Ahm Kim
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea; School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea; Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea
| | - Byung Chol Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea.
| | - Mincheol Chang
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea; School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea; Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, South Korea.
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19
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Lai YK, Opalski AS, Garstecki P, Derzsi L, Guzowski J. A double-step emulsification device for direct generation of double emulsions. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:6157-6166. [PMID: 35770691 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00327a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In microfluidic step emulsification, the size of droplets generated in the dripping regime is predominantly determined by the nozzle's height and only weakly depends on the applied flow rates or liquid properties. While the generation of monodisperse emulsions at high throughput using step emulsifiers has been well established, the generation of double emulsions, i.e., liquid core-shell structures, is still challenging. Here, we demonstrate a novel double-step emulsification method for the direct generation of multi-core double-emulsions and provide a predictive model for the number of cores. While the mechanism of the formation of the core droplets or empty shell droplets follows the well-established scenario of simple step emulsification, the formation of double-emulsion droplets is strongly affected by the presence of the cores. Passing of the cores through the narrowing neck of the shell postpones shell pinch-off. In particular, we demonstrate that our system can be used for the generation of arbitrary large, tightly packed droplet clusters consisting of a controllable number of droplets. Finally, we discuss the options of upscaling the system for high-throughput generation of tailored double emulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Kai Lai
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK - Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Georges-Koehler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Adam S Opalski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Garstecki
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ladislav Derzsi
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jan Guzowski
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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20
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Microfluidic preparation of antimicrobial microparticles composed of l-lactide/1,3-dioxolane (co)polymers loaded with quercetin. Food Chem 2022; 396:133639. [PMID: 35839726 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The resistance of microorganisms against commonly used antibiotics is becoming an increasingly important problem in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the development of novel bactericidal agents, as well as the design of drug delivery systems based on materials composed of biocompatible and biodegradable building blocks, has attracted increasing attention. To address this challenge, microparticles composed of l-lactide homopolymer and l-lactide/1,3-dioxolane (co)polymers loaded with quercetin (Q) were fabricated by using a microfluidic technique. This method enables the preparation of homogeneous particles with sizes ranging from 60 to 80 µm, composed of degradable semicrystalline or amorphous (co)polyesters. The microencapsulation of Q in a (co)polymeric matrix enables prolonged release of the antimicrobial agent. The antibacterial properties of the obtained biocompatible microparticles are confirmed by the agar diffusion plate method for various bacterial strains. Therefore, Q-loaded microparticles can have important applications in food preservation as a novel antimicrobial system.
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21
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Ferrer J, Jiang Q, Menner A, Bismarck A. An approach for the scalable production of macroporous polymer beads. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 616:834-845. [PMID: 35248970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
A tubular co-flow reactor to produce macroporous polymer beads by polymerization of medium and high internal phase emulsion (M/HIPE) templates was developed. This reactor allows for improved production rates compared to tubing based microfluidic devices. Water-in-oil (W/O) M/HIPEs, containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) monomers in the continuous phase, were injected into a re-circulating carrier phase. The continuous phase of the emulsion droplets was UV polymerized in situ, resulting in polyM/HIPE beads. The emulsion composition was adjusted to produce poly(MMA-co-EGDMA) porous polymer beads with a protective crust and an interconnected internal pore structure. HCl loaded beads were produced by adding the active ingredient into the dispersed emulsion phase, leading to HCl encapsulation in the porous structure of the beads after polymerization. Even after exposure to ambient conditions for 24 h, 60% of the HCl remained in the beads, indicating good encapsulation efficiencies. Thus, it is possible to use such macroporous beads as delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ferrer
- Polymer & Composite Engineering (PaCE) Group, Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Microinstrumentation Lab, Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby V5A1S6, Canada.
| | - Qixiang Jiang
- Polymer & Composite Engineering (PaCE) Group, Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Menner
- Polymer & Composite Engineering (PaCE) Group, Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Bismarck
- Polymer & Composite Engineering (PaCE) Group, Institute of Materials Chemistry & Research, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 42, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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22
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Long L, Zhong W, Guo L, Ji J, Nie H. Effect of Bufalin-PLGA Microspheres in the Alleviation of Neuropathic Pain via the CCI Model. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:910885. [PMID: 35770074 PMCID: PMC9234216 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.910885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of neuropathic pain (NPP) is considered challenging, while the search for alternative medication is striving. NPP pathology is related with the expression of both the purinergic 2X7 (P2X7) receptor and the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 receptor (TRPV1). Bufalin is a traditional Chinese medication derived from toad venom with pronounced antitumor, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and the knowledge gap on its pain alleviation mechanism have limited the clinical application of bufalin. Hence, the purpose of this study is to illustrate the NPP alleviation mechanism of bufalin via chronic constriction injury (CCI). To address the concern on fast metabolism, bufalin-PLGA microspheres (MS) were prepared via membrane emulsification to achieve prolonged pain-relieving effects. Western blot, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence, and molecular docking were employed to demonstrate the therapeutic action of bufalin on NPP. The results showed enhanced thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) and mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) after the administration of both bufalin and bufalin-PLGA MS in the CCI rats. Prolonged pain-relieving effects for up to 3 days with reduced dose frequency was achieved via bufalin-PLGA MS. In the CCI rats treated with bufalin-PLGA MS, the expression levels of protein and mRNA in TRPV1 and P2X7, both localized in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), were reduced. Moreover, bufalin-PLGA MS effectively reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and TNF-α in the CCI group. The results from molecular docking suggested a possible mechanism of NPP alleviation of bufalin through binding to P2X7 receptors directly. The administration of bufalin-PLGA MS prepared by membrane emulsification demonstrated promising applications for sustained effect on the alleviation of NPP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Long
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenwei Zhong
- School of Chinese Medicinal Resource, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Yunfu, China
- Guangzhou Nansha Information Technology Park Post-Doctoral Scientific Research Station, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wenwei Zhong, ; Hong Nie,
| | - Liwei Guo
- Guangzhou Bio-Green Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Processing Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Drug Innovation, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Dayuan Studio of Membrane Science and Technology for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Ji
- Guangzhou Nansha Information Technology Park Post-Doctoral Scientific Research Station, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Nie
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wenwei Zhong, ; Hong Nie,
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23
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Shan X, Luo L, Yu Z, You J. Recent advances in versatile inverse lyotropic liquid crystals. J Control Release 2022; 348:1-21. [PMID: 35636617 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the rapid and significant progress in advanced materials and life sciences, nanotechnology is increasingly gaining in popularity. Among numerous bio-mimicking carriers, inverse lyotropic liquid crystals are known for their unique properties. These carriers make accommodation of molecules with varied characteristics achievable due to their complicated topologies. Besides, versatile symmetries of inverse LCNPs (lyotropic crystalline nanoparticles) and their aggregating bulk phases allow them to be applied in a wide range of fields including drug delivery, food, cosmetics, material sciences etc. In this review, in-depth summary, discussion and outlook for inverse lyotropic liquid crystals are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Shan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Lihua Luo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Zhixin Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jian You
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
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24
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Zhang H, Zhang L, An C, Zhang Y, Shao F, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Li H, Zhang Y, Ren C, Sun K, He W, Cheng F, Wang H, Weitz DA. Large-scale single-cell encapsulation in microgels through metastable droplet-templating combined with microfluidic-integration. Biofabrication 2022; 14. [PMID: 35593920 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac7168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Current techniques for the generation of cell-laden microgels are limited by numerous challenges, including poorly uncontrolled batch-to-batch variations, processes that are both labor- and time-consuming, the high expense of devices and reagents, and low production rates; this hampers the translation of laboratory findings to clinical applications. To address these challenges, we develop a droplet-based microfluidic strategy based on metastable droplet-templating and microchannel integration for the substantial large-scale production of single cell-laden alginate microgels. Specifically, we present a continuous processing method for microgel generation by introducing amphiphilic perfluoronated alcohols to obtain metastable emulsion droplets as sacrificial templates. In addition, to adapt to the metastable emulsion system, integrated microfluidic chips containing 80 drop-maker units are designed and optimized based on the computational fluid dynamics simulation. This strategy allows single cell encapsulation in microgels at a maximum production rate of 10 ml hr-1 of cell suspension while retaining cell viability and functionality. These results represent a significant advance toward using cell-laden microgels for clinical-relevant applications, including cell therapy, tissue regeneration and 3D bioprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Zhang
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Liyuan Zhang
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Pierce Hall, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02138, UNITED STATES
| | - Chuanfeng An
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Shenzhen University, Laboratory of Regenerative Biomaterials, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518037, P.R. China, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518037, CHINA
| | - Fei Shao
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Yijie Gao
- Dalian Municipal Central Hospital Affiliated of Dalian Medical University, 42 Xuegong Street, Shahekou district, Dalian, Liaoning province, Dalian, Liaoning, 116033, CHINA
| | - Yonghao Zhang
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Hanting Li
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Yujie Zhang
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Changle Ren
- Dalian Municipal Central Hospital Affiliated of Dalian Medical University, 42 Xuegong Street, Shahekou district, Dalian, Liaoning province, Dalian, Liaoning, 116033, CHINA
| | - Kai Sun
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Wei He
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Fang Cheng
- Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, Liaoning, 116024, CHINA
| | - Huanan Wang
- dalian university of technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, High-tech District, Dalian, 116024, P.R.China, Dalian, 116024, CHINA
| | - David A Weitz
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Pierce Hall, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MA 02138, UNITED STATES
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Cowell TW, Dobria A, Han HS. Simplified, Shear Induced Generation of Double Emulsions for Robust Compartmentalization during Single Genome Analysis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20528-20537. [PMID: 35502700 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c22692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drop microfluidics has driven innovations for high throughput, low input analysis techniques such as single-cell RNA-seq. However, the instability of single emulsion (SE) drops occasionally causes significant merging during drop processing, limiting most applications to single-step reactions in drops. Here, we show that double emulsion (DE) drops address this critical limitation and completely prevent drop contents from mixing. DEs show excellent stability during thermal cycling. More importantly, DEs undergo rupture into the continuous phase instead of merging, preventing content mixing and eliminating unstable drops from the downstream analysis. Due to the lack of drop merging, the monodispersity of drops is maintained throughout a workflow, enabling the deterministic manipulation of drops downstream. We also developed a simple, one-layer DE drop maker compatible with simple surface treatment using a plasma cleaner. The device allows for the robust production of single-core DEs at a wide range of flow rates and better control over the shell thickness, both of which have been significant limitations of conventional two-layer devices. This approach makes the fabrication of DE devices much more accessible, facilitating its broader adoption. Finally, we show that DE droplets eliminate content mixing and maintain compartmentalization of single virus genomes during PCR-based amplification and barcoding, while SEs mixed contents due to merging. With their resistance to content mixing, DE drops have key advantages for multistep reactions in drops, which is limited in SEs due to merging and content mixing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Cowell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Andrew Dobria
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Hee-Sun Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 505 South Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S Mathews Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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26
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Hamonangan WM, Lee S, Choi YH, Li W, Tai M, Kim SH. Osmosis-Mediated Microfluidic Production of Submillimeter-Sized Capsules with an Ultrathin Shell for Cosmetic Applications. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:18159-18169. [PMID: 35426298 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is a demand for submillimeter-sized capsules with an ultrathin shell with high visibility and no tactile sensation after release for cosmetic applications. However, neither bulk emulsification nor droplet microfluidics can directly produce such capsules in a controlled manner. Herein, we report the microfluidic production of submillimeter-sized capsules with a spacious lumen and ultrathin biodegradable shell through osmotic inflation of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion drops. Monodisperse double-emulsion drops are produced with a capillary microfluidic device to have an organic solution of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in the middle oil layer. Hypotonic conditions inflate the drops, leading to core volume expansion and oil-layer thickness reduction. Afterward, the oil layer is consolidated to the PLGA shell through solvent evaporation. The degree of inflation is controllable with the osmotic pressure. With a strong hypotonic condition, the capsule radius increases up to 330 μm and the shell thickness decreases to 1 μm so that the ratio of the thickness to radius is as small as 0.006. The large capsules with an ultrathin shell readily release their encapsulant under an external force by shell rupture. In the mechanical test of single capsules, the threshold strain for shell rupture is reduced from 75 to 12%, and the threshold stress is decreased by two orders for highly inflated capsules in comparison with noninflated ones. During the shell rupture, the tactile sensation of capsules gradually disappears as the capsules lose volume and the residual shells are ultrathin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahyu Martumpal Hamonangan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Hun Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Wanzhao Li
- Infinitus R&D Center, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Meiling Tai
- Infinitus R&D Center, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Shin-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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Elkeles T, Park S, Werner JG, Weitz DA, Yossifon G. Dielectrophoretic Characterization of Dynamic Microcapsules and Their Magnetophoretic Manipulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:15765-15773. [PMID: 35322665 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c23482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we present dielectrophoresis (DEP) and in situ electrorotation (ROT) characterization of reversibly stimuli-responsive "dynamic" microcapsules that change the physicochemical properties of their shells under varying pH conditions and can encapsulate and release (macro)molecular cargo on demand. Specifically, these capsules are engineered to open (close) their shell under high (low) pH conditions and thus to release (retain) their encapsulated load or to capture and trap (macro)molecular samples from their environment. We show that the steady-state DEP and ROT spectra of these capsules can be modeled using a single-shell model and that the conductivity of their shells is influenced most by the pH. Furthermore, we measured the transient response of the angular velocity of the capsules under rotating electric field conditions, which allows us to directly determine the characteristic time scales of the underlying physical processes. In addition, we demonstrate the magnetic manipulation of microcapsules with embedded magnetic nanoparticles for lab-on-chip tasks such as encapsulation and release at designated locations and the in situ determination of their physicochemical state using on-chip ROT. The insight gained will enable the advanced design and operation of these dynamic drug delivery and smart lab-on-chip transport systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Elkeles
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Sinwook Park
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Jörg G Werner
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Gilad Yossifon
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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28
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Li W, Meng J, Ma X, Lin J, Lu X. Advanced materials for the delivery of vaccines for infectious diseases. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Elvira KS, Gielen F, Tsai SSH, Nightingale AM. Materials and methods for droplet microfluidic device fabrication. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:859-875. [PMID: 35170611 PMCID: PMC9074766 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00836f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Since the first reports two decades ago, droplet-based systems have emerged as a compelling tool for microbiological and (bio)chemical science, with droplet flow providing multiple advantages over standard single-phase microfluidics such as removal of Taylor dispersion, enhanced mixing, isolation of droplet contents from surfaces, and the ability to contain and address individual cells or biomolecules. Typically, a droplet microfluidic device is designed to produce droplets with well-defined sizes and compositions that flow through the device without interacting with channel walls. Successful droplet flow is fundamentally dependent on the microfluidic device - not only its geometry but moreover how the channel surfaces interact with the fluids. Here we summarise the materials and fabrication techniques required to make microfluidic devices that deliver controlled uniform droplet flow, looking not just at physical fabrication methods, but moreover how to select and modify surfaces to yield the required surface/fluid interactions. We describe the various materials, surface modification techniques, and channel geometry approaches that can be used, and give examples of the decision process when determining which material or method to use by describing the design process for five different devices with applications ranging from field-deployable chemical analysers to water-in-water droplet creation. Finally we consider how droplet microfluidic device fabrication is changing and will change in the future, and what challenges remain to be addressed in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Elvira
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fabrice Gielen
- Living Systems Institute, College of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Scott S H Tsai
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, ON, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Technology (iBEST)-a partnership between Ryerson University and St. Michael's Hospital, ON, Canada
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian M Nightingale
- Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Continuous Digital Chemical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
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30
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Wang J, Hahn S, Amstad E, Vogel N. Tailored Double Emulsions Made Simple. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2107338. [PMID: 34706112 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Double emulsions, such as water-in-oil-in-water droplets, are important material platforms for conducting fundamental research and for technological applications. To date, well-defined double-emulsion droplets consisting of a single water core and a thin oil shell can be exclusively formed with sophisticated microfluidic devices. The fabrication, preparation, and operation of such devices is challenging, which reduces the availability of tailored double emulsions to a limited community of experts. Here, a simple method is introduced to produce single-core double emulsions with high yield in large quantities, using a vortex mixer. Utilizing the density difference between the dispersed droplet and the continuous phase, this two-step emulsification method can achieve very small core droplet diameters below 10 μm and ultrathin shells with thicknesses below 1 μm. A detailed picture of the formation mechanism is provided and it is demonstrated that the process can be extended to produce multishell and multicore emulsions. Finally, its application is demonstrated to produce structurally colored colloidal supraparticles with unprecedented uniformity and yield. The method allows the creation of tailored double emulsions with minimal time, cost, effort, and expertise, and may widen its application to nonspecialized scientific communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Wang
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simon Hahn
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Esther Amstad
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Vogel
- Institute of Particle Technology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
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31
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Chen Z, Song S, Ma J, Ling SD, Wang YD, Kong TT, Xu JH. Fabrication of magnetic core/shell hydrogels via microfluidics for controlled drug delivery. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2021.117216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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32
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Ahn GY, Choi I, Song M, Han SK, Choi K, Ryu YH, Oh DH, Kang HW, Choi SW. Fabrication of Microfiber-Templated Microfluidic Chips with Microfibrous Channels for High Throughput and Continuous Production of Nanoscale Droplets. ACS Macro Lett 2022; 11:127-134. [PMID: 35574793 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chip with well-interconnected microfibrous channels was fabricated by using an electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibrous matrix and 3D-printed pattern as templates. The microfiber-templated microfluidic chip (MTMC) was used to produce nanoscale emulsions and spheres through multiple emulsification at many small micro-orifice junctions among microfibrous channels. The emulsion formation mechanisms in the MTMC were the cross-junction dripping or Y-junction splitting at the micro-orifice junctions. We demonstrated the high throughput and continuous production of water-in-oil emulsions and polyethylene glycol-diacrylate (PEG-DA) spheres with controlled size ranges from 2.84 μm to 83.6 nm and 1.03 μm to 45.7 nm, respectively. The average size of the water droplets was tuned by changing the micro-orifice diameter of the MTMC and the flow rate of the continuous phase. The MTMC theoretically produced 58 trillion PEG-DA nanospheres per hour without high shear force. In addition, we demonstrated the higher encapsulation efficiency of the PEG-DA microspheres in the MTMC than that of the microspheres fabricated by ultrasonication. The MTMC can be used as a powerful platform for the large-scale and continuous productions of emulsions and spheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guk-Young Ahn
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Inseong Choi
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Minju Song
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Kyung Han
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Kangho Choi
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hyun Ryu
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hyun Oh
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Won Kang
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Wook Choi
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43 Jibong-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do 14662, Republic of Korea
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33
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Oliveira AF, Bastos RG, de la Torre LG. Double T-junction microfluidic and conventional dripping systems for Bacillus subtilis immobilization in calcium alginate microparticles for lipase production. Enzyme Microb Technol 2022; 154:109976. [PMID: 34974340 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2021.109976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacillus subtilis immobilization in calcium alginate microparticles was investigated using two techniques: droplet microfluidics-based in T-junction geometry composed with a double droplet generation system and conventional dripping system. Alginate microparticles produced by microfluidic technology presented an average size of 68.35 µm with low polydispersity and immobilization efficiency around 86%. The cell response was evaluated in batch cultivation for 24 h, viewing lipase production compared to free cells. In this study, the batch cultivation with immobilized cells in alginate microparticles presented lipase production about 2.4 and 1.7 times higher than cultivation with cells immobilized cells by conventional technique and free cells cultivations. According to the results, this main novelty of the double T junction technique is an innovative contribution as a tool for cell immobilization on a laboratory scale, since the cultivation of immobilized cells in microparticles of small size and low polydispersity favors cell growth and increases the productivity of important metabolites of industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline F Oliveira
- University of Campinas, School of Chemical Engineering, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Institute for Technological Research of State of São Paulo - IPT, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo G Bastos
- Federal University of São Carlos, Center of Agricultural Sciences, Araras, SP, Brazil.
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34
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Siedlik MJ, Issadore D. Pico-washing: simultaneous liquid addition and removal for continuous-flow washing of microdroplets. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:46. [PMID: 35498338 PMCID: PMC9050730 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is based on a toolbox of several established unit operations, including droplet generation, incubation, mixing, pico-injection, and sorting. In the last two decades, the development of droplet microfluidic systems, which incorporate these multiple unit operations into a workflow, has demonstrated unique capabilities in fields ranging from single-cell transcriptomic analyses to materials optimization. One unit operation that is sorely underdeveloped in droplet microfluidics is washing, exchange of the fluid in a droplet with a different fluid. Here, we demonstrate what we name the "pico-washer," a unit operation capable of simultaneously adding fluid to and removing fluid from droplets in flow while requiring only a small footprint on a microfluidic chip. We describe the fabrication strategy, device architecture, and process parameters required for stable operation of this technology, which is capable of operating with kHz droplet throughput. Furthermore, we provide an image processing workflow to characterize the washing process with microsecond and micrometer resolution. Finally, we demonstrate the potential for integrated droplet workflows by arranging two of these unit operations in series with a droplet generator, describe a design rule for stable operation of the pico-washer when integrated into a system, and validate this design rule experimentally. We anticipate that this technology will contribute to continued development of the droplet microfluidics toolbox and the realization of novel droplet-based, multistep biological and chemical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Siedlik
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
| | - David Issadore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
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35
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Souri M, Soltani M, Moradi Kashkooli F, Kiani Shahvandi M, Chiani M, Shariati FS, Mehrabi MR, Munn LL. Towards principled design of cancer nanomedicine to accelerate clinical translation. Mater Today Bio 2022; 13:100208. [PMID: 35198957 PMCID: PMC8841842 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanotechnology in medical applications, especially in oncology as drug delivery systems, has recently shown promising results. However, although these advances have been promising in the pre-clinical stages, the clinical translation of this technology is challenging. To create drug delivery systems with increased treatment efficacy for clinical translation, the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles such as size, shape, elasticity (flexibility/rigidity), surface chemistry, and surface charge can be specified to optimize efficiency for a given application. Consequently, interdisciplinary researchers have focused on producing biocompatible materials, production technologies, or new formulations for efficient loading, and high stability. The effects of design parameters can be studied in vitro, in vivo, or using computational models, with the goal of understanding how they affect nanoparticle biophysics and their interactions with cells. The present review summarizes the advances and technologies in the production and design of cancer nanomedicines to achieve clinical translation and commercialization. We also highlight existing challenges and opportunities in the field.
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Key Words
- CFL, Cell-free layer
- CGMD, Coarse-grained molecular dynamic
- Clinical translation
- DPD, Dissipative particle dynamic
- Drug delivery
- Drug loading
- ECM, Extracellular matrix
- EPR, Permeability and retention
- IFP, Interstitial fluid pressure
- MD, Molecular dynamic
- MDR, Multidrug resistance
- MEC, Minimum effective concentration
- MMPs, Matrix metalloproteinases
- MPS, Mononuclear phagocyte system
- MTA, Multi-tadpole assemblies
- MTC, Minimum toxic concentration
- Nanomedicine
- Nanoparticle design
- RBC, Red blood cell
- TAF, Tumor-associated fibroblast
- TAM, Tumor-associated macrophage
- TIMPs, Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases
- TME, Tumor microenvironment
- Tumor microenvironment
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Souri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - M. Soltani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CBB), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Advanced Bioengineering Initiative Center, Computational Medicine Center, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mohsen Chiani
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Lance L. Munn
- Steele Laboratories, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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36
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van der Kooij RS, Steendam R, Frijlink HW, Hinrichs WLJ. An overview of the production methods for core-shell microspheres for parenteral controlled drug delivery. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 170:24-42. [PMID: 34861359 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Core-shell microspheres hold great promise as a drug delivery system because they offer several benefits over monolithic microspheres in terms of release kinetics, for instance a reduced initial burst release, the possibility of delayed (pulsatile) release, and the possibility of dual-drug release. Also, the encapsulation efficiency can significantly be improved. Various methods have proven to be successful in producing these core-shell microspheres, both the conventional bulk emulsion solvent evaporation method and methods in which the microspheres are produced drop by drop. The latter have become increasingly popular because they provide improved control over the particle characteristics. This review assesses various production methods for core-shell microspheres and summarizes the characteristics of formulations prepared by the different methods, with a focus on their release kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée S van der Kooij
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Steendam
- InnoCore Pharmaceuticals, L.J. Zielstraweg 1, 9713 GX Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henderik W Frijlink
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Wouter L J Hinrichs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
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Ribeiro de Souza L, Al-Tabbaa A. High throughput production of microcapsules using microfluidics for self-healing of cementitious materials. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4652-4659. [PMID: 34734612 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00569c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Capsule-based self-healing of cementitious materials is an effective way of healing cracks, significantly extending the life of structures, without imposing changes due to the incorporation of capsules into products during mixing. The methodologies currently being used for the development of capsules with a liquid core as a healing agent yield a wide range of sizes and shell thicknesses for the microcapsules, preventing a detailed assessment and optimisation of the microcapsule size and its effects. Uniquely, microfluidic technology offers precise control over the size and shell thickness through the formation of double emulsions. The drawback is that only small quantities of material can be typically produced. Here, by using paralleled junctions in a microfluidic device, high throughput production of materials was achieved, focusing for the first time on self-healing of cementitious materials. A microfluidic chip was assembled with 4 channels in parallel and selected hydrophobicity for the formation of the double emulsions. A coefficient of variation below 2.5% was observed for the 4 junctions, demonstrating the formation of monodisperse capsules. The control over the size and shell thickness by adjusting the flow rates was demonstrated, yielding capsules with an outer diameter of 615-630 μm and a shell thickness varying between 50 and 127 μm. By using triethanolamine as a surfactant, capsules with an aqueous core were produced. Furthermore, by selecting PEA, an acrylate with low tensile strength, the capsules embedded in the cement paste were successfully triggered to release the healing agent by crack formation. Capsules were successfully produced continuously for 7 h, with inner and outer diameters of 500 ± 31 μm and 656 ± 9 μm at a production rate of ∼13 g h-1 and a yield of around 80%. With these results and considering up to 6 chips in parallel, the production rate could be up to 1.5 kg per day. This demonstrates the huge potential of the microfluidic device with unique features to produce sufficiently large quantities of microcapsules for laboratory-scale assessment of self-healing performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abir Al-Tabbaa
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, UK.
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38
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Le TNQ, Tran NN, Escribà-Gelonch M, Serra CA, Fisk I, McClements DJ, Hessel V. Microfluidic encapsulation for controlled release and its potential for nanofertilisers. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:11979-12012. [PMID: 34515721 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00465d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is increasingly being utilized to create advanced materials with improved or new functional attributes. Converting fertilizers into a nanoparticle-form has been shown to improve their efficacy but the current procedures used to fabricate nanofertilisers often have poor reproducibility and flexibility. Microfluidic systems, on the other hand, have advantages over traditional nanoparticle fabrication methods in terms of energy and materials consumption, versatility, and controllability. The increased controllability can result in the formation of nanoparticles with precise and complex morphologies (e.g., tuneable sizes, low polydispersity, and multi-core structures). As a result, their functional performance can be tailored to specific applications. This paper reviews the principles, formation, and applications of nano-enabled delivery systems fabricated using microfluidic approaches for the encapsulation, protection, and release of fertilizers. Controlled release can be achieved using two main routes: (i) nutrients adsorbed on nanosupports and (ii) nutrients encapsulated inside nanostructures. We aim to highlight the opportunities for preparing a new generation of highly versatile nanofertilisers using microfluidic systems. We will explore several main characteristics of microfluidically prepared nanofertilisers, including droplet formation, shell fine-tuning, adsorbate fine-tuning, and sustained/triggered release behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen Quang Le
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nam Nghiep Tran
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,School of Chemical Engineering, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Marc Escribà-Gelonch
- Higher Polytechnic Engineering School, University of Lleida, Igualada (Barcelona), 08700, Spain
| | - Christophe A Serra
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR 22, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ian Fisk
- Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.,The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Rd, Coventry, UK
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39
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Kim JH, Ryu CH, Chon CH, Kim S, Lee S, Maharjan R, Kim NA, Jeong SH. Three months extended-release microspheres prepared by multi-microchannel microfluidics in beagle dog models. Int J Pharm 2021; 608:121039. [PMID: 34450228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate in vivo drug release profiles in beagle dogs, finasteride-loaded PLGA microspheres were prepared using a novel method of IVL-PPF Microsphere® microfluidic device. Briefly, the dispersed phase (PLGA and finasteride in dichloromethane) was mixed with the continuous phase (0.25% w/v PVA aqueous solution) in the parallelized microchannels. After lyophilization, the diameter of the microspheres was around 40 μm (PLGA 7502A or 5002A) and around 30 µm (PLGA/PLA02A mixture). Their CV and span values suggested a narrow size distribution in repeated batch preparations. The in vivo drug release from the PLGA microspheres exhibited three substantial phases: an initial burst, a moderate release, and then a plateau. The microspheres based on PLGA 7502A (75:25 co-polymer) demonstrated extended drug release for around 1 month with a minimized initial burst release compared to PLGA 5002A (50:50 co-polymer). Moreover, the in vivo drug release profile in beagle dogs was proportionally related to the amount of drug loading. Furthermore, the addition of PLA02A into the fabrication of the microsphere synergistically extended the drug release up to 3 months. These results demonstrated the value of this method to achieve uniform microspheres and extend the drug release properties with interpretative in vivo PK profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Hee Kim
- Inventage Lab Inc, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13438, Republic of Korea.
| | - Choong Ho Ryu
- Inventage Lab Inc, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13438, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chan Hee Chon
- Inventage Lab Inc, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13438, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seyeon Kim
- Inventage Lab Inc, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13438, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sangno Lee
- Inventage Lab Inc, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13438, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ravi Maharjan
- BK21 FOUR Team and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Gyeonggi 10326, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nam Ah Kim
- BK21 FOUR Team and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Gyeonggi 10326, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seong Hoon Jeong
- BK21 FOUR Team and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Gyeonggi 10326, Republic of Korea.
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40
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Park D, Kim H, Kim JW. Microfluidic production of monodisperse emulsions for cosmetics. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:051302. [PMID: 34733378 PMCID: PMC8550801 DOI: 10.1063/5.0057733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic technology has enabled the production of emulsions with high monodispersity in sizes ranging from a few to hundreds of micrometers. Taking advantage of this technology, attempts to generate monodisperse emulsion drops with high drug loading capacity, ordered interfacial structure, and multi-functionality have been made in the cosmetics industry. In this article, we introduce the practicality of the droplet-based microfluidic approach to the cosmetic industry in terms of innovation in productivity and marketability. Furthermore, we summarize some recent advances in the production of emulsion drops with enhanced mechanical interfacial stability. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of microfluidic technology in accordance with consumers' needs and industrial attributes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daehwan Park
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Hajeong Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woong Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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41
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Wu J, Yadavali S, Lee D, Issadore DA. Scaling up the throughput of microfluidic droplet-based materials synthesis: A review of recent progress and outlook. APPLIED PHYSICS REVIEWS 2021; 8:031304. [PMID: 34484549 PMCID: PMC8293697 DOI: 10.1063/5.0049897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The last two decades have witnessed tremendous progress in the development of microfluidic chips that generate micrometer- and nanometer-scale materials. These chips allow precise control over composition, structure, and particle uniformity not achievable using conventional methods. These microfluidic-generated materials have demonstrated enormous potential for applications in medicine, agriculture, food processing, acoustic, and optical meta-materials, and more. However, because the basis of these chips' performance is their precise control of fluid flows at the micrometer scale, their operation is limited to the inherently low throughputs dictated by the physics of multiphasic flows in micro-channels. This limitation on throughput results in material production rates that are too low for most practical applications. In recent years, however, significant progress has been made to tackle this challenge by designing microchip architectures that incorporate multiple microfluidic devices onto single chips. These devices can be operated in parallel to increase throughput while retaining the benefits of microfluidic particle generation. In this review, we will highlight recent work in this area and share our perspective on the key unsolved challenges and opportunities in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | - Daeyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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42
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Practical quality attributes of polymeric microparticles with current understanding and future perspectives. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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43
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Shepherd SJ, Warzecha CC, Yadavali S, El-Mayta R, Alameh MG, Wang L, Weissman D, Wilson JM, Issadore D, Mitchell MJ. Scalable mRNA and siRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Production Using a Parallelized Microfluidic Device. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:5671-5680. [PMID: 34189917 PMCID: PMC10726372 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A major challenge to advance lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for RNA therapeutics is the development of formulations that can be produced reliably across the various scales of drug development. Microfluidics can generate LNPs with precisely defined properties, but have been limited by challenges in scaling throughput. To address this challenge, we present a scalable, parallelized microfluidic device (PMD) that incorporates an array of 128 mixing channels that operate simultaneously. The PMD achieves a >100× production rate compared to single microfluidic channels, without sacrificing desirable LNP physical properties and potency typical of microfluidic-generated LNPs. In mice, we show superior delivery of LNPs encapsulating either Factor VII siRNA or luciferase-encoding mRNA generated using a PMD compared to conventional mixing, with a 4-fold increase in hepatic gene silencing and 5-fold increase in luciferase expression, respectively. These results suggest that this PMD can generate scalable and reproducible LNP formulations needed for emerging clinical applications, including RNA therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Shepherd
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Claude C. Warzecha
- Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Sagar Yadavali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rakan El-Mayta
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Lili Wang
- Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Drew Weissman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - James M. Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - David Issadore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States; Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Michael J. Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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44
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Liu Y, Sun L, Zhang H, Shang L, Zhao Y. Microfluidics for Drug Development: From Synthesis to Evaluation. Chem Rev 2021; 121:7468-7529. [PMID: 34024093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Drug development is a long process whose main content includes drug synthesis, drug delivery, and drug evaluation. Compared with conventional drug development procedures, microfluidics has emerged as a revolutionary technology in that it offers a miniaturized and highly controllable environment for bio(chemical) reactions to take place. It is also compatible with analytical strategies to implement integrated and high-throughput screening and evaluations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the entire microfluidics-based drug development system, from drug synthesis to drug evaluation. The challenges in the current status and the prospects for future development are also discussed. We believe that this review will promote communications throughout diversified scientific and engineering communities that will continue contributing to this burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiao Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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45
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Forigua A, Kirsch RL, Willerth SM, Elvira KS. Recent advances in the design of microfluidic technologies for the manufacture of drug releasing particles. J Control Release 2021; 333:258-268. [PMID: 33766691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Drug releasing particles are valued for their ability to deliver therapeutics to targeted locations and for their controllable release patterns. The development of microfluidic technologies, which are designed specifically to manipulate small amounts of fluids, to manufacture particles for drug delivery applications reflects a recent trend due to the advantages they confer in terms of control over particle size and material composition. This review takes a comprehensive look at the different types of microfluidic devices used to fabricate such particles from different types of biomaterials, and at how the on-chip features enable the production of particles with different types of properties. The review concludes by suggesting avenues for future work that will enable these technologies to fulfill their potential and be used in industrial settings for the manufacture of drug releasing particles with unique capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Forigua
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Rebecca L Kirsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Stephanie M Willerth
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada; Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Katherine S Elvira
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada.
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46
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Zhang J, Xu W, Xu F, Lu W, Hu L, Zhou J, Zhang C, Jiang Z. Microfluidic droplet formation in co-flow devices fabricated by micro 3D printing. J FOOD ENG 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2020.110212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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47
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Liu WY, Wang W, Ju XJ, Liu Z, Xie R, Chu LY. Functional microparticles from multiscale regulation of multiphase emulsions for mass-transfer intensification. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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48
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Zhang T, Zou X, Xu L, Pan D, Huang W. Numerical investigation of fluid property effects on formation dynamics of millimeter-scale compound droplets in a co-flowing device. Chem Eng Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.116156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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49
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Lee HM, Choi SB, Kim JH, Lee JS. Interfacial behavior of surfactant-covered double emulsion in extensional flow. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:053104. [PMID: 33327103 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.053104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We analyze the interface-interface interactions of a surfactant-covered double emulsion using the lattice Boltzmann method and study the interaction of the inner and outer interfaces and the local surfactant distribution under a uniaxial extensional flow. First, the capillary effects are analyzed. Upon surfactant application, the outer droplet deformation increases and the inner droplet deformation decreases. The concentrated surfactants on the outer interface increase deformation, and the inner droplet is affected by the inner flow. At a fixed Péclet number (Pe), the surfactant concentration at the outer interface increases with an increase in capillary number (Ca); however, such a tendency is difficult to identify at the inner interface. Next, the Pe effects are analyzed. With an increase in Pe, the deformation of the inner droplet decreases significantly. The local distribution of the surfactant considerably affects the double emulsion stabilization, which is analyzed in terms of internal flow. The interfacial tension gradient induced by the surfactant generates vortices internally, which is verified by applying the surfactant to each interface independently. The radius ratio affects droplet deformation and surfactant transport. The compression of the inner flow region increases the viscous force and decreases the interface velocity. Therefore, with an increase in radius ratio, the deformation increases, and the surfactant transport becomes slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Min Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Bin Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hyun Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Sang Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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50
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Feng Y, White AK, Hein JB, Appel EA, Fordyce PM. MRBLES 2.0: High-throughput generation of chemically functionalized spectrally and magnetically encoded hydrogel beads using a simple single-layer microfluidic device. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:109. [PMID: 33299601 PMCID: PMC7704393 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-00220-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The widespread adoption of bead-based multiplexed bioassays requires the ability to easily synthesize encoded microspheres and conjugate analytes of interest to their surface. Here, we present a simple method (MRBLEs 2.0) for the efficient high-throughput generation of microspheres with ratiometric barcode lanthanide encoding (MRBLEs) that bear functional groups for downstream surface bioconjugation. Bead production in MRBLEs 2.0 relies on the manual mixing of lanthanide/polymer mixtures (each of which comprises a unique spectral code) followed by droplet generation using single-layer, parallel flow-focusing devices and the off-chip batch polymerization of droplets into beads. To streamline downstream analyte coupling, MRBLEs 2.0 crosslinks copolymers bearing functional groups on the bead surface during bead generation. Using the MRBLEs 2.0 pipeline, we generate monodisperse MRBLEs containing 48 distinct well-resolved spectral codes with high throughput (>150,000/min and can be boosted to 450,000/min). We further demonstrate the efficient conjugation of oligonucleotides and entire proteins to carboxyl MRBLEs and of biotin to amino MRBLEs. Finally, we show that MRBLEs can also be magnetized via the simultaneous incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles with only a minor decrease in the potential code space. With the advantages of dramatically simplified device fabrication, elimination of the need for custom-made equipment, and the ability to produce spectrally and magnetically encoded beads with direct surface functionalization with high throughput, MRBLEs 2.0 can be directly applied by many labs towards a wide variety of downstream assays, from basic biology to diagnostics and other translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinnian Feng
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Adam K. White
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Jamin B. Hein
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3b, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eric A. Appel
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Polly M. Fordyce
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Stanford ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94110 USA
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