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Gao S, Xu T, Wu L, Zhu X, Wang X, Jian X, Li X. Overcoming bubble formation in polydimethylsiloxane-made PCR chips: mechanism and elimination with a high-pressure liquid seal. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2024; 10:136. [PMID: 39327421 PMCID: PMC11427668 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00725-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
The thermal expansion of gas and the air permeability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were previously thought to be the main causes of bubbles and water loss during polymerase chain reaction (PCR), resulting in a very complex chip design and operation. Here, by calculating and characterizing bubble formation, we discovered that water vapor is the main cause of bubbling. During PCR, heat increases the volume of the bubble by a factor of only ~0.2 in the absence of water vapor but by a factor of ~6.4 in the presence of water vapor. In addition, the phenomenon of "respiration" due to the repeated evaporation and condensation of water vapor accelerates the expansion of bubbles and the loss of water. A water seal above 109 kPa can effectively prevent bubbles in a bare PDMS chip with a simple structure, which is significant for the wide application of PDMS chips.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Tiegang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China.
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Lei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China.
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xiaoyue Zhu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Metabolomics Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, School of Future Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaohong Jian
- School of Biological Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Yibin, 644000, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China.
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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2
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Gao S, Xu T, Wu L, Zhu X, Wang X, Chen Y, Li G, Li X. Complete Prevention of Bubbles in a PDMS-Based Digital PCR Chip with a Multifunction Cavity. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:114. [PMID: 38534221 DOI: 10.3390/bios14030114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
In a chamber-based digital PCR (dPCR) chip fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), bubble generation in the chambers at high temperatures is a critical issue. Here, we found that the main reason for bubble formation in PDMS chips is the too-high saturated vapor pressure of water at an elevated temperature. The bubbles should be completely prevented by reducing the initial pressure of the system to under 13.6 kPa to eliminate the effects of increased-pressure water vapor. Then, a cavity was designed and fabricated above the PCR reaction layer, and Parylene C was used as a shell covering the chip. The cavity was used for the negative generator in sample loading, PDMS degassing, PCR solution degassing in the digitization process and water storage in the thermal reaction process. The analysis was confirmed and finally achieved a desirable bubble-free, fast-digitization, valve-free and no-tubing connection dPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tiegang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhu
- Metabolomics Center, Haixia Institute of Science and Technology, School of Future Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gang Li
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems, Ministry of Education, Defense Key Disciplines Lab of Novel Micro-Nano Devices and System Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
- College of Materials Science and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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3
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Seo S, Kim T. Gas transport mechanisms through gas-permeable membranes in microfluidics: A perspective. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:061301. [PMID: 38025658 PMCID: PMC10656118 DOI: 10.1063/5.0169555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Gas-permeable membranes (GPMs) and membrane-like micro-/nanostructures offer precise control over the transport of liquids, gases, and small molecules on microchips, which has led to the possibility of diverse applications, such as gas sensors, solution concentrators, and mixture separators. With the escalating demand for GPMs in microfluidics, this Perspective article aims to comprehensively categorize the transport mechanisms of gases through GPMs based on the penetrant type and the transport direction. We also provide a comprehensive review of recent advancements in GPM-integrated microfluidic devices, provide an overview of the fundamental mechanisms underlying gas transport through GPMs, and present future perspectives on the integration of GPMs in microfluidics. Furthermore, we address the current challenges associated with GPMs and GPM-integrated microfluidic devices, taking into consideration the intrinsic material properties and capabilities of GPMs. By tackling these challenges head-on, we believe that our perspectives can catalyze innovative advancements and help meet the evolving demands of microfluidic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangjin Seo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Taesung Kim
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.: +82-52-217-2313. Fax: +82-52-217-2409
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Shin Y, Kwak T, Whang K, Jo Y, Hwang JH, Hwang I, An HJ, Lim Y, Choi I, Kim D, Lee LP, Kang T. Bubble-free diatoms polymerase chain reaction. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 237:115489. [PMID: 37402347 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in small fluidic systems not only improves speed and sensitivity of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification but also achieves high-throughput quantitative analyses. However, air bubble trapping and growth during PCR has been considered as a critical problem since it causes the failure of DNA amplification. Here we report bubble-free diatom PCR by exploiting a hierarchically porous silica structure of single-celled algae. We show that femtoliters of PCR solution can be spontaneously loaded into the diatom interior without air bubble trapping due to the surface hydrophilicity and pore structure of the diatom. We discover that a large pressure gradient between air bubbles and nanopores rapidly removes residual air bubbles through the periodically arrayed nanopores during thermal cycling. We demonstrate the DNA amplification by diatom PCR without air bubble trapping and growth. Finally, we successfully detect DNA fragments of SARS-CoV-2 with as low as 10 copies/μl by devising a microfluidic device integrated with diatoms assembly. We believe that our work can be applied to many PCR applications for innovative molecular diagnostics and provides new opportunities for naturally abundant diatoms to create innovative biomaterials in real-world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghee Shin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea; Institute of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea; Renal Division and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Taejin Kwak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, South Korea
| | - Keumrai Whang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea
| | - Yuseung Jo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea
| | - Jeong Ha Hwang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea
| | - Inhyeok Hwang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea
| | - Hyun Ji An
- Department of Life Science, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, South Korea
| | - Youngwook Lim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, South Korea
| | - Inhee Choi
- Department of Life Science, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, South Korea
| | - Dongchoul Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, South Korea.
| | - Luke P Lee
- Renal Division and Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Department of Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, South Korea.
| | - Taewook Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea; Institute of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, Seoul, 121-742, South Korea.
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Musgrove HB, Saleheen A, Zatorski JM, Arneja A, Luckey CJ, Pompano RR. A Scalable, Modular Degasser for Passive In-Line Removal of Bubbles from Biomicrofluidic Devices. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:435. [PMID: 36838135 PMCID: PMC9964747 DOI: 10.3390/mi14020435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bubbles are a common cause of microfluidic malfunction, as they can perturb the fluid flow within the micro-sized features of a device. Since gas bubbles form easily within warm cell culture reagents, degassing is often necessary for biomicrofluidic systems. However, fabrication of a microscale degasser that can be used modularly with pre-existing chips may be cumbersome or challenging, especially for labs not equipped for traditional microfabrication, and current commercial options can be expensive. Here, we address the need for an affordable, accessible bubble trap that can be used in-line for continuous perfusion of organs-on-chip and other microfluidic cultures. We converted a previously described, manually fabricated PDMS degasser to allow scaled up, reproducible manufacturing by commercial machining or fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. After optimization, the machined and 3D printed degassers were found to be stable for >2 weeks under constant perfusion, without leaks. With a ~140 µL chamber volume, trapping capacity was extrapolated to allow for ~5-20 weeks of degassing depending on the rate of bubble formation. The degassers were biocompatible for use with cell culture, and they successfully prevented bubbles from reaching a downstream microfluidic device. Both degasser materials showed little to no leaching. The machined degasser did not absorb reagents, while the FDM printed degasser absorbed a small amount, and both maintained fluidic integrity from 1 µL/min to >1 mL/min of pressure-driven flow. Thus, these degassers can be fabricated in bulk and allow for long-term, efficient bubble removal in a simple microfluidic perfusion set-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah B. Musgrove
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Amirus Saleheen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | | | - Abhinav Arneja
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Chance John Luckey
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Rebecca R. Pompano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
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6
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Allan C, Tayagui A, Hornung R, Nock V, Meisrimler CN. A dual-flow RootChip enables quantification of bi-directional calcium signaling in primary roots. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1040117. [PMID: 36704158 PMCID: PMC9871814 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1040117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
One sentence summary: Bi-directional-dual-flow-RootChip to track calcium signatures in Arabidopsis primary roots responding to osmotic stress. Plant growth and survival is fundamentally linked with the ability to detect and respond to abiotic and biotic factors. Cytosolic free calcium (Ca2+) is a key messenger in signal transduction pathways associated with a variety of stresses, including mechanical, osmotic stress and the plants' innate immune system. These stresses trigger an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and thus initiate a signal transduction cascade, contributing to plant stress adaptation. Here we combine fluorescent G-CaMP3 Arabidopsis thaliana sensor lines to visualise Ca2+ signals in the primary root of 9-day old plants with an optimised dual-flow RootChip (dfRC). The enhanced polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bi-directional-dual-flow-RootChip (bi-dfRC) reported here adds two adjacent inlet channels at the base of the observation chamber, allowing independent or asymmetric chemical stimulation at either the root differentiation zone or tip. Observations confirm distinct early spatio-temporal patterns of salinity (sodium chloride, NaCl) and drought (polyethylene glycol, PEG)-induced Ca2+ signals throughout different cell types dependent on the first contact site. Furthermore, we show that the primary signal always dissociates away from initially stimulated cells. The observed early signaling events induced by NaCl and PEG are surprisingly complex and differ from long-term changes in cytosolic Ca2+ reported in roots. Bi-dfRC microfluidic devices will provide a novel approach to challenge plant roots with different conditions simultaneously, while observing bi-directionality of signals. Future applications include combining the bi-dfRC with H2O2 and redox sensor lines to test root systemic signaling responses to biotic and abiotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Allan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Ayelen Tayagui
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Volker Nock
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Wellington, New Zealand
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7
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Temperini ME, Di Giacinto F, Romanò S, Di Santo R, Augello A, Polito R, Baldassarre L, Giliberti V, Papi M, Basile U, Niccolini B, Krasnowska EK, Serafino A, De Spirito M, Di Gaspare A, Ortolani M, Ciasca G. Antenna-enhanced mid-infrared detection of extracellular vesicles derived from human cancer cell cultures. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:530. [PMID: 36514065 PMCID: PMC9746222 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01693-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) are sub-micrometer lipid-bound particles released by most cell types. They are considered a promising source of cancer biomarkers for liquid biopsy and personalized medicine due to their specific molecular cargo, which provides biochemical information on the state of parent cells. Despite this potential, EVs translation process in the diagnostic practice is still at its birth, and the development of novel medical devices for their detection and characterization is highly required. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrate mid-infrared plasmonic nanoantenna arrays designed to detect, in the liquid and dry phase, the specific vibrational absorption signal of EVs simultaneously with the unspecific refractive index sensing signal. For this purpose, EVs are immobilized on the gold nanoantenna surface by immunocapture, allowing us to select specific EV sub-populations and get rid of contaminants. A wet sample-handling technique relying on hydrophobicity contrast enables effortless reflectance measurements with a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectro-microscope in the wavelength range between 10 and 3 µm. In a proof-of-principle experiment carried out on EVs released from human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC) cells, the protein absorption bands (amide-I and amide-II between 5.9 and 6.4 µm) increase sharply within minutes when the EV solution is introduced in the fluidic chamber, indicating sensitivity to the EV proteins. A refractive index sensing curve is simultaneously provided by our sensor in the form of the redshift of a sharp spectral edge at wavelengths around 5 µm, where no vibrational absorption of organic molecules takes place: this permits to extract of the dynamics of EV capture by antibodies from the overall molecular layer deposition dynamics, which is typically measured by commercial surface plasmon resonance sensors. Additionally, the described metasurface is exploited to compare the spectral response of EVs derived from cancer cells with increasing invasiveness and metastatic potential, suggesting that the average secondary structure content in EVs can be correlated with cell malignancy. CONCLUSIONS Thanks to the high protein sensitivity and the possibility to work with small sample volumes-two key features for ultrasensitive detection of extracellular vesicles- our lab-on-chip can positively impact the development of novel laboratory medicine methods for the molecular characterization of EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eleonora Temperini
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy ,grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Center for Life Neuro and Nano Sciences IIT@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Di Giacinto
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrina Romanò
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Di Santo
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Augello
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Polito
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonetta Baldassarre
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Giliberti
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Center for Life Neuro and Nano Sciences IIT@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Basile
- grid.414603.4Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Benedetta Niccolini
- grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ewa K. Krasnowska
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalucia Serafino
- grid.5326.20000 0001 1940 4177Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Di Gaspare
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.509494.5NEST, CNR-Istituto Nanoscienze and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Ortolani
- grid.7841.aDepartment of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 2, 00185 Rome, Italy ,grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Center for Life Neuro and Nano Sciences IIT@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Ciasca
- grid.414603.4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy ,grid.8142.f0000 0001 0941 3192Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Hu J, Chen L, Zhang P, Hsieh K, Li H, Yang S, Wang TH. A vacuum-assisted, highly parallelized microfluidic array for performing multi-step digital assays. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4716-4724. [PMID: 34779472 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00636c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There remains an unmet need for a simple microfluidic platform that can perform multi-step and multi-reagent biochemical assays in parallel for high-throughput detection and analysis of single molecules and single cells. In response, we report herein a PDMS-based vacuum-driven microfluidic array that is capable of multi-step sample loading and digitalization. The array features multi-level bifurcation microchannels connecting to 4096 dead-end microchambers for partitioning liquid reagents/samples. To realize multi-step repetitive liquid sample loading, we attach an external vacuum onto the chip to create internal negative pressure for a continuous liquid driving force. We demonstrated a high uniformity of our device for three sequential liquid loadings. To further improve its utility, we developed a thermosetting-oil covering method to prevent evaporation for assays that require high temperatures. We successfully performed digital PCR assays on our device, demonstrating the efficient multi-step reagent handling and the effective anti-evaporation design for thermal cycling. Furthermore, we performed a digital PCR detection for single-cell methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using a three-step loading approach and achieved accurate single-cell quantification. Taken together, we have demonstrated that our vacuum-driven microfluidic array is capable of multi-step sample digitalization at high throughput for single-molecule and single-cell analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiumei Hu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
| | - Liben Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
| | - Kuangwen Hsieh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
| | - Samuel Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Tza-Huei Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Institute for NanoBiotechnology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
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9
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Park S, Cho H, Kim J, Han KH. Lateral Degassing Method for Disposable Film-Chip Microfluidic Devices. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11050316. [PMID: 33925874 PMCID: PMC8146472 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11050316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
It is critical to develop a fast and simple method to remove air bubbles inside microchannels for automated, reliable, and reproducible microfluidic devices. As an active degassing method, this study introduces a lateral degassing method that can be easily implemented in disposable film-chip microfluidic devices. This method uses a disposable film-chip microchannel superstrate and a reusable substrate, which can be assembled and disassembled simply by vacuum pressure. The disposable microchannel superstrate is readily fabricated by bonding a microstructured polydimethylsiloxane replica and a silicone-coated release polymeric thin film. The reusable substrate can be a plate that has no function or is equipped with the ability to actively manipulate and sense substances in the microchannel by an elaborately patterned energy field. The degassing rate of the lateral degassing method and the maximum available pressure in the microchannel equipped with lateral degassing were evaluated. The usefulness of this method was demonstrated using complex structured microfluidic devices, such as a meandering microchannel, a microvortex, a gradient micromixer, and a herringbone micromixer, which often suffer from bubble formation. In conclusion, as an easy-to-implement and easy-to-use technique, the lateral degassing method will be a key technique to address the bubble formation problem of microfluidic devices.
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Abstract
AbstractThis paper studies the efficiency of capillary pump analytically in circular, square and rectangular channels with results verified by experiment. The effect of liquid momentum is analyzed with respect to channel size and equations are developed to enable most efficient fluid pumping. It is found that the momentum term is negligible at channel cross-cut area < 0.1 mm2 while it has a significant contribution at > 0.3 mm2 region. The optimized equations show that the most efficient pumping and thereby the quickest liquid filling is accomplished in square shaped channel when compared with rectangular and circular channels. Generally, the longer the filling distance, or the longer the filling time, the larger the channel size is required after optimization, and vice versa. For the rectangular channel with channel height fixed, the channel width requirement to maximize the ability of capillary pump is obtained and discussed. Experimental verifications are conducted based on the measurement of filling distance versus time, and the simulation results are well correlated with the testing results. The equations developed in the paper provide a reference for the microfluidic channel design, such that the channel filling speed can be maximized.
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11
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Lee KK(P, Matsu-ura T, Rosselot AE, Broda TR, Wells JM, Hong CI. An integrated microfluidic bubble pocket for long-term perfused three-dimensional intestine-on-a-chip model. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:014110. [PMID: 33643512 PMCID: PMC7892199 DOI: 10.1063/5.0036527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfused three-dimensional (3D) cultures enable long-term in situ growth and monitoring of 3D organoids making them well-suited for investigating organoid development, growth, and function. One of the limitations of this long-term on-chip perfused 3D culture is unintended and disruptive air bubbles. To overcome this obstacle, we invented an imaging platform that integrates an innovative microfluidic bubble pocket for long-term perfused 3D culture of gastrointestinal (GI) organoids. We successfully applied 3D printing technology to create polymer molds that cast polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) culture chambers in addition to bubble pockets. Our developed platform traps unintended, or induced, air bubbles in an integrated PDMS pocket chamber, where the bubbles diffuse out across the gas permeable PDMS or an outlet tube. We demonstrated that our robust platform integrated with the novel bubble pocket effectively circumvents the development of bubbles into human and mouse GI organoid cultures during long-term perfused time-course imaging. Our platform with the innovative integrated bubble pocket is ideally suited for studies requiring long-term perfusion monitoring of organ growth and morphogenesis as well as function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Toru Matsu-ura
- Computational and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
| | - Andrew E. Rosselot
- Computational and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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12
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Zhu CY, Li HN, Yang J, Li JJ, Ye JR, Xu ZK. Vacuum-assisted diamine monomer distribution for synthesizing polyamide composite membranes by interfacial polymerization. J Memb Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2020.118557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Hou
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering & College of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials & State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University, China
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14
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Pereiro I, Fomitcheva Khartchenko A, Petrini L, Kaigala GV. Nip the bubble in the bud: a guide to avoid gas nucleation in microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2296-2314. [PMID: 31168556 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00211a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Gas bubbles are almost a routine occurrence encountered by researchers working in the field of microfluidics. The spontaneous and unexpected nature of gas bubbles represents a major challenge for experimentalists and a stumbling block for the translation of microfluidic concepts to commercial products. This is a startling example of successful scientific results in the field overshadowing the practical hurdles of day-to-day usage. We however believe such hurdles can be overcome with a sound understanding of the underlying conditions that lead to bubble formation. In this tutorial, we focus on the two main conditions that result in bubble nucleation: surface nuclei and gas supersaturation in liquids. Key theoretical concepts such as Henry's law, Laplace pressure, the role of surface properties, nanobubbles and surfactants are presented along with a view of practical implementations that serve as preventive and curative measures. These considerations include not only microfluidic chip design and bubble traps but also often-overlooked conditions that regulate bubble formation, such as gas saturation under pressure or temperature gradients. Scenarios involving electrolysis, laser and acoustic cavitation or T-junction/co-flow geometries are also explored to provide the reader with a broader understanding on the topic. Interestingly, despite their often-disruptive nature, gas bubbles have also been cleverly utilized for certain practical applications, which we briefly review. We hope this tutorial will provide a reference guide in helping to deal with a familiar foe, the "bubble".
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Affiliation(s)
- Iago Pereiro
- IBM Research - Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, Rüschlikon, CH-8803, Switzerland.
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15
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Lee SH, Song J, Cho B, Hong S, Hoxha O, Kang T, Kim D, Lee LP. Bubble-free rapid microfluidic PCR. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 126:725-733. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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16
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17
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Evaluation of the activity of β-glucosidase immobilized on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with a microfluidic flow injection analyzer with embedded optical fibers. Talanta 2018; 185:53-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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18
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Zhu Y, Zhan K, Hou X. Interface Design of Nanochannels for Energy Utilization. ACS NANO 2018; 12:908-911. [PMID: 29442491 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b07923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Nanochannels offer a variety of significant advantages for innovative applications, such as biosensing, filtering, and energy utilization. In this Perspective, we highlight the interface design and applications of nanochannels for energy utilization and discuss further challenges in the development of nanochannels for energy conversion, energy conservation, and energy recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinglin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, ‡Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, §Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and ∥Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kan Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, ‡Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, §Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and ∥Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, ‡Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, §Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and ∥Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University , Xiamen 361005, China
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19
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Sheng Z, Wang H, Tang Y, Wang M, Huang L, Min L, Meng H, Chen S, Jiang L, Hou X. Liquid gating elastomeric porous system with dynamically controllable gas/liquid transport. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaao6724. [PMID: 29487906 PMCID: PMC5817924 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aao6724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of membrane technology is central to fields ranging from resource harvesting to medicine, but the existing designs are unable to handle the complex sorting of multiphase substances required for many systems. Especially, the dynamic multiphase transport and separation under a steady-state applied pressure have great benefits for membrane science, but have not been realized at present. Moreover, the incorporation of precisely dynamic control with avoidance of contamination of membranes remains elusive. We show a versatile strategy for creating elastomeric microporous membrane-based systems that can finely control and dynamically modulate the sorting of a wide range of gases and liquids under a steady-state applied pressure, nearly eliminate fouling, and can be easily applied over many size scales, pressures, and environments. Experiments and theoretical calculation demonstrate the stability of our system and the tunability of the critical pressure. Dynamic transport of gas and liquid can be achieved through our gating interfacial design and the controllable pores' deformation without changing the applied pressure. Therefore, we believe that this system will bring new opportunities for many applications, such as gas-involved chemical reactions, fuel cells, multiphase separation, multiphase flow, multiphase microreactors, colloidal particle synthesis, and sizing nano/microparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhizhi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Honglong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yongliang Tang
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Miao Wang
- Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lizhi Huang
- Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lingli Min
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Haiqiang Meng
- Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Songyue Chen
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Research Institute for Soft Matter and Biomimetics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
- Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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20
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Christoforidis T, Ng C, Eddington DT. Bubble removal with the use of a vacuum pressure generated by a converging-diverging nozzle. Biomed Microdevices 2018. [PMID: 28646280 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-017-0193-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Bubbles are an intrinsic problem in microfluidic devices and they can appear during the initial filling of the device or during operation. This report presents a generalizable technique to extract bubbles from microfluidic networks using an adjacent microfluidic negative pressure network over the entire microfluidic channel network design. We implement this technique by superimposing a network of parallel microchannels with a vacuum microfluidic channel and characterize the bubble extraction rates as a function of negative pressure applied. In addition, we generate negative pressure via a converging-diverging (CD) nozzle, which only requires inlet gas pressure to operate. Air bubbles generated during the initial liquid filling of the microfluidic network are removed within seconds and their volume extraction rate is calculated. This miniaturized vacuum source can achieve a vacuum pressure of 7.23 psi which corresponds to a bubble extraction rate of 9.84 pL/s, in the microfluidic channels we characterized. Finally, as proof of concept it is shown that the bubble removal system enables bubble removal on difficult to fill microfluidic channels such as circular or triangular shaped channels. This method can be easily integrated into many microfluidic experimental protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Ng
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - David T Eddington
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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21
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Zhang Q, Fan LY, Li WL, Cong FS, Zhong R, Chen JJ, He YC, Xiao H, Cao CX. A stable and convenient protein electrophoresis titration device with bubble removing system. Electrophoresis 2017; 38:1706-1712. [PMID: 28306175 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201600472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Moving reaction boundary titration (MRBT) has a potential application to immunoassay and protein content analysis with high selectivity. However, air bubbles often impair the accuracy of MRBT, and the leakage of electrolyte greatly decreases the safety and convenience of electrophoretic titration. Addressing these two issues a reliable MRBT device with modified electrolyte chamber of protein titration was designed. Multiphysics computer simulation was conducted for optimization according to two-phase flow. The single chamber was made of two perpendicular cylinders with different diameters. After placing electrophoretic tube, the resident air in the junction next to the gel could be eliminated by a simple fast electrolyte flow. Removing the electrophoretic tube automatically prevented electrolyte leakage at the junction due to the gravity-induced negative pressure within the chamber. Moreover, the numerical simulation and experiments showed that the improved MRBT device has following advantages: (i) easy and rapid setup of electrophoretic tube within 20 s; (ii) simple and quick bubble dissipates from the chamber of titration within 2 s; (iii) no electrolyte leakage from the two chambers: and (iv) accurate protein titration and safe instrumental operation. The developed technique and apparatus greatly improves the performance of the previous MRBT device, and providing a new route toward practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Liu-Yin Fan
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Lin Li
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Feng-Song Cong
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Ran Zhong
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Jing-Jing Chen
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Chen He
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Hua Xiao
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Xi Cao
- Laboratory of Bioseparation and Analytical Biochemistry, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P.R. China
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22
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Cheng Y, Wang Y, Ma Z, Wang W, Ye X. A bubble- and clogging-free microfluidic particle separation platform with multi-filtration. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:4517-4526. [PMID: 27792227 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01113f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microfiltration is a compelling method to separate particles based on their distinct size and deformability. However, this approach is prone to clogging after processing a certain number of particles and forming bubbles in the separation procedure, which often leads to malfunctioning of devices. In this work, we report a bubble-free and clogging-free microfluidic particle separation platform with high throughput. The platform features an integrated bidirectional micropump, a hydrophilic microporous filtration membrane and a hydrophobic porous degassing membrane. The bidirectional micropump enables the fluid to flow back and forth repeatedly, which flushes the filtration membrane and clears the filtration micropores for further filtration, and to flow forward to implement multi-filtration. The hydrophobic porous membrane on top of the separation channel removes air bubbles forming in the separation channel, improving the separation efficiency and operational reliability. The microbead mixture and undiluted whole blood were separated using the microfluidic chip. After 5 cycles of reverse flushing and forward re-filtration, a 2857-fold enrichment ratio and an 89.8% recovery rate of 10 μm microbeads were achieved for microbead separation with 99.9% removal efficiency of 2 μm microbeads. After 8 cycles, white blood cells were effectively separated from whole blood with a 396-fold enrichment ratio and a 70.6% recovery rate at a throughput of 39.1 μl min-1, demonstrating that the platform can potentially be used in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinuo Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Zengshuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Wenhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiongying Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instruments, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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23
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Yu ZTF, Cheung MK, Liu SX, Fu J. Accelerated Biofluid Filling in Complex Microfluidic Networks by Vacuum-Pressure Accelerated Movement (V-PAM). SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:4521-30. [PMID: 27409528 PMCID: PMC6215695 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Revised: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Rapid fluid transport and exchange are critical operations involved in many microfluidic applications. However, conventional mechanisms used for driving fluid transport in microfluidics, such as micropumping and high pressure, can be inaccurate and difficult for implementation for integrated microfluidics containing control components and closed compartments. Here, a technology has been developed termed Vacuum-Pressure Accelerated Movement (V-PAM) capable of significantly enhancing biofluid transport in complex microfluidic environments containing dead-end channels and closed chambers. Operation of the V-PAM entails a pressurized fluid loading into microfluidic channels where gas confined inside can rapidly be dissipated through permeation through a thin, gas-permeable membrane sandwiched between microfluidic channels and a network of vacuum channels. Effects of different structural and operational parameters of the V-PAM for promoting fluid filling in microfluidic environments have been studied systematically. This work further demonstrates the applicability of V-PAM for rapid filling of temperature-sensitive hydrogels and unprocessed whole blood into complex irregular microfluidic networks such as microfluidic leaf venation patterns and blood circulatory systems. Together, the V-PAM technology provides a promising generic microfluidic tool for advanced fluid control and transport in integrated microfluidics for different microfluidic diagnosis, organs-on-chips, and biomimetic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeta Tak For Yu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Mei Ki Cheung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Shirley Xiaosu Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jianping Fu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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24
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Abstract
A new approach to trap air bubbles before they enter microfluidic systems is presented. The bubble trap is based on the combined interaction of surface tension and hydrodynamic forces. The design is simple, easy to fabricate and straightforward to use. The trap is made of tubes of different sizes and can easily be integrated into any microfluidic setup. We describe the general working principle and derive a simple theoretical model to explain the trapping. Furthermore, the natural oscillations of trapped air bubbles created in this system are explained and quantified in terms of bubble displacement over time and oscillation frequency. These oscillations may be exploited as a basis for fluidic oscillators in future microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janick D Stucki
- Lung Regeneration Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Switzerland. and Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Olivier T Guenat
- Lung Regeneration Technologies, ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Switzerland. and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland
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25
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Shemesh J, Jalilian I, Shi A, Heng Yeoh G, Knothe Tate ML, Ebrahimi Warkiani M. Flow-induced stress on adherent cells in microfluidic devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:4114-27. [PMID: 26334370 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00633c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Transduction of mechanical forces and chemical signals affect every cell in the human body. Fluid flow in systems such as the lymphatic or circulatory systems modulates not only cell morphology, but also gene expression patterns, extracellular matrix protein secretion and cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions. Similar to the role of mechanical forces in adaptation of tissues, shear fluid flow orchestrates collective behaviours of adherent cells found at the interface between tissues and their fluidic environments. These behaviours range from alignment of endothelial cells in the direction of flow to stem cell lineage commitment. Therefore, it is important to characterize quantitatively fluid interface-dependent cell activity. Common macro-scale techniques, such as the parallel plate flow chamber and vertical-step flow methods that apply fluid-induced stress on adherent cells, offer standardization, repeatability and ease of operation. However, in order to achieve improved control over a cell's microenvironment, additional microscale-based techniques are needed. The use of microfluidics for this has been recognized, but its true potential has emerged only recently with the advent of hybrid systems, offering increased throughput, multicellular interactions, substrate functionalization on 3D geometries, and simultaneous control over chemical and mechanical stimulation. In this review, we discuss recent advances in microfluidic flow systems for adherent cells and elaborate on their suitability to mimic physiologic micromechanical environments subjected to fluid flow. We describe device design considerations in light of ongoing discoveries in mechanobiology and point to future trends of this promising technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Shemesh
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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26
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Xu L, Lee H, Jetta D, Oh KW. Vacuum-driven power-free microfluidics utilizing the gas solubility or permeability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:3962-79. [PMID: 26329518 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00716j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Suitable pumping methods for flow control remain a major technical hurdle in the path of biomedical microfluidic systems for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. A vacuum-driven power-free micropumping method provides a promising solution to such a challenge. In this review, we focus on vacuum-driven power-free microfluidics based on the gas solubility or permeability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); degassed PDMS can restore air inside itself due to its high gas solubility or gas permeable nature. PDMS allows the transfer of air into a vacuum through it due to its high gas permeability. Therefore, it is possible to store or transfer air into or through the gas soluble or permeable PDMS in order to withdraw liquids into the embedded dead-end microfluidic channels. This article provides a comprehensive look at the physics of the gas solubility and permeability of PDMS, a systematic review of different types of vacuum-driven power-free microfluidics, and guidelines for designing solubility-based or permeability-based PDMS devices, alongside existing applications. Advanced topics and the outlook in using micropumping that utilizes the gas solubility or permeability of PDMS will be also discussed. We strongly recommend that microfluidics and lab-on-chip (LOC) communities harness vacuum energy to develop smart vacuum-driven microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfeng Xu
- SMALL (Sensors and MicroActuators Learning Laboratory), Department of Electrical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
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27
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Liu J, Fu H, Yang T, Li S. Automatic sequential fluid handling with multilayer microfluidic sample isolated pumping. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2015; 9:054118. [PMID: 26487904 PMCID: PMC4592428 DOI: 10.1063/1.4932303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
To sequentially handle fluids is of great significance in quantitative biology, analytical chemistry, and bioassays. However, the technological options are limited when building such microfluidic sequential processing systems, and one of the encountered challenges is the need for reliable, efficient, and mass-production available microfluidic pumping methods. Herein, we present a bubble-free and pumping-control unified liquid handling method that is compatible with large-scale manufacture, termed multilayer microfluidic sample isolated pumping (mμSIP). The core part of the mμSIP is the selective permeable membrane that isolates the fluidic layer from the pneumatic layer. The air diffusion from the fluidic channel network into the degassing pneumatic channel network leads to fluidic channel pressure variation, which further results in consistent bubble-free liquid pumping into the channels and the dead-end chambers. We characterize the mμSIP by comparing the fluidic actuation processes with different parameters and a flow rate range of 0.013 μl/s to 0.097 μl/s is observed in the experiments. As the proof of concept, we demonstrate an automatic sequential fluid handling system aiming at digital assays and immunoassays, which further proves the unified pumping-control and suggests that the mμSIP is suitable for functional microfluidic assays with minimal operations. We believe that the mμSIP technology and demonstrated automatic sequential fluid handling system would enrich the microfluidic toolbox and benefit further inventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jixiao Liu
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150001, China
| | - Hai Fu
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150001, China
| | - Tianhang Yang
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150001, China
| | - Songjing Li
- Department of Fluid Control and Automation, Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin 150001, China
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28
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Fabrication of Microfluidic Valves Using a Hydrogel Molding Method. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13375. [PMID: 26300303 PMCID: PMC4547104 DOI: 10.1038/srep13375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, a method for fabricating a microfluidic valve made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using a rapid prototyping method for microchannels through hydrogel cast molding is discussed. Currently, the valves in microchannels play an important role in various microfluidic devices. The technology to prototype microfluidic valves rapidly is actively being developed. For the rapid prototyping of PDMS microchannels, a method that uses a hydrogel as the casting mold has been recently developed. This technique can be used to prepare a three-dimensional structure through simple and uncomplicated methods. In this study, we were able to fabricate microfluidic valves easily using this rapid prototyping method that utilizes hydrogel cast molding. In addition, we confirmed that the valve displacement could be predicted within a range of constant pressures. Moreover, because microfluidic valves fabricated using this method can be directly observed from a cross-sectional direction, we anticipate that this technology will significantly contribute to clarifying fluid behavior and other phenomena in microchannels and microfluidic valves with complex structures.
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29
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Hou X, Hu Y, Grinthal A, Khan M, Aizenberg J. Liquid-based gating mechanism with tunable multiphase selectivity and antifouling behaviour. Nature 2015; 519:70-3. [DOI: 10.1038/nature14253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 330] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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30
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Choi JW, Hosseini Hashemi SM, Erickson D, Psaltis D. A micropillar array for sample concentration via in-plane evaporation. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2014; 8:044108. [PMID: 25379093 PMCID: PMC4189217 DOI: 10.1063/1.4890943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
We present a method to perform sample concentration within a lab-on-a-chip using a microfluidic structure which controls the liquid-gas interface through a micropillar array fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane between microfluidic channels. The microstructure confines the liquid flow and a thermal gradient is used to drive evaporation at the liquid-gas-interface. The evaporation occurs in-plane to the microfluidic device, allowing for precise control of the ambient environment. This method is demonstrated with a sample containing 1 μm, 100 nm fluorescent beads and SYTO-9 labelled Escherichia coli bacteria. Over 100 s, the fluorescent beads and bacteria are concentrated by a factor of 10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Woo Choi
- School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | | | - David Erickson
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Demetri Psaltis
- School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne , Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
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Kang YJ, Yeom E, Seo E, Lee SJ. Bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery into microfluidic devices. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2014; 8:014102. [PMID: 24753723 PMCID: PMC3982455 DOI: 10.1063/1.4863355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery is critical to reliable operation of microfluidic devices. In this study, we propose a new method for stable bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery in a microfluidic device. Gas bubbles are separated from liquid by using the density difference between liquid and gas in a closed cavity. The pulsatile flow caused by a peristaltic pump is stabilized via gas compressibility. To demonstrate the proposed method, a fluidic chamber which is composed of two needles for inlet and outlet, one needle for a pinch valve and a closed cavity is carefully designed. By manipulating the opening or closing of the pinch valve, fluids fill up the fluidic chamber or are delivered into a microfluidic device through the fluidic chamber in a bubble-free and pulse-free manner. The performance of the proposed method in bubble-free and pulse-free fluid delivery is quantitatively evaluated. The proposed method is then applied to monitor the temporal variations of fluidic flows of rat blood circulating within a complex fluidic network including a rat, a pinch valve, a reservoir, a peristaltic pump, and the microfluidic device. In addition, the deformability of red blood cells and platelet aggregation are quantitatively evaluated from the information on the temporal variations of blood flows in the microfluidic device. These experimental demonstrations confirm that the proposed method is a promising tool for stable, bubble-free, and pulse-free supply of fluids, including whole blood, into a microfluidic device. Furthermore, the proposed method will be used to quantify the biophysical properties of blood circulating within an extracorporeal bypass loop of animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea ; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Eunseop Yeom
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Eunseok Seo
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
| | - Sang-Joon Lee
- Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea ; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, South Korea
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