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Zhang Y, Yang Y. Surface acoustic wave digital microfluidics with surface wettability gradient. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3226-3232. [PMID: 38780220 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00203b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
This paper reports a digital microfluidic technology that combines surface wettability gradient and surface acoustic waves. The technology enables selection of the driven object, facilitating reactions among multiple droplets and improving the precision of droplet control. Octagonal patterns with a wetting gradient and orthogonally distributed interdigital transducers were created on the surface of a LiNbO3 wafer by photolithography. Leveraging the propagation characteristics of surface acoustic waves on different wetting models, the latter serve as a switch for microfluidic motion, successfully achieving selection of the driven object and demonstrating sequential reactions among multiple droplets. Also, under the excitation of standing surface acoustic waves, droplets on the wetting gradient surface move slightly in the direction of wetting gradient descent, significantly enhancing the positional accuracy of the droplets to the micrometer level. With the advantages of surface acoustic wave digital microfluidics, this technology addresses the challenges of multi-droplet digital manipulation and improved droplet positional accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaodong Zhang
- College of Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, P.R. China.
| | - Ying Yang
- College of Aerospace Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control for Aerospace Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, P.R. China.
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2
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Rahmani H, Larachi F, Taghavi SM. Modeling of Shear Flows over Superhydrophobic Surfaces: From Newtonian to Non-Newtonian Fluids. ACS ENGINEERING AU 2024; 4:166-192. [PMID: 38646519 PMCID: PMC11027103 DOI: 10.1021/acsengineeringau.3c00048] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The design and use of superhydrophobic surfaces have gained special attentions due to their superior performances and advantages in many flow systems, e.g., in achieving specific goals including drag reduction and flow/droplet handling and manipulation. In this work, we conduct a brief review of shear flows over superhydrophobic surfaces, covering the classic and recent studies/trends for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The aim is to mainly review the relevant mathematical and numerical modeling approaches developed during the past 20 years. Considering the wide ranges of applications of superhydrophobic surfaces in Newtonian fluid flows, we attempt to show how the developed studies for the Newtonian shear flows over superhydrophobic surfaces have been evolved, through highlighting the major breakthroughs. Despite the fact that, in many practical applications, flows over superhydrophobic surfaces may show complex non-Newtonian rheology, interactions between the non-Newtonian rheology and superhydrophobicity have not yet been well understood. Therefore, in this Review, we also highlight emerging recent studies addressing the shear flows of shear-thinning and yield stress fluids in superhydrophobic channels. We focus on reviewing the models developed to handle the intricate interaction between the formed liquid/air interface on superhydrophobic surfaces and the overlying flow. Such an intricate interaction will be more complex when the overlying flow shows nonlinear non-Newtonian rheology. We conclude that, although our understanding on the Newtonian shear flows over superhydrophobic surfaces has been well expanded via analyzing various aspects of such flows, the non-Newtonian counterpart is in its early stages. This could be associated with either the early applications mainly concerning Newtonian fluids or new complexities added to an already complex problem by the nonlinear non-Newtonian rheology. Finally, we discuss the possible directions for development of models that can address complex non-Newtonian shear flows over superhydrophobic surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Rahmani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
| | - Faïçal Larachi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada G1 V 0A6
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3
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Grawitter J, Stark H. Steering droplets on substrates with plane-wave wettability patterns and deformations. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:3161-3174. [PMID: 38517317 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00213j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Motivated by strategies for targeted microfluidic transport of droplets, we investigate how sessile droplets can be steered toward a preferred direction using travelling waves in substrate wettability or deformations of the substrate. To perform our numerical study, we implement the boundary-element method to solve the governing Stokes equations for the fluid flow field inside the moving droplet. In both cases we find two distinct modes of droplet motion. For small wave speed the droplet surfs with a constant velocity on the wave, while beyond a critical wave speed a periodic wobbling motion occurs, the period of which diverges at the transition. These observation can be rationalized by the nonuniform oscillator model and the transition described by a SNIPER bifurcation. For the travelling waves in wettability the mean droplet velocity in the wobbling state decays with the inverse wave speed. In contrast, for travelling-wave deformations of the substrate it is proportional to the wave speed at large speed values since the droplet always has to move up and down. To rationalize this behavior, the nonuniform oscillator model has to be extended. Since the critical wave speed of the bifurcation depends on the droplet radius, this dependence can be used to sort droplets by size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josua Grawitter
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Holger Stark
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
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Li M, Hu H, Zhang M, Ding H, Wen J, Xie L, Du P. Droplet Transportation on Liquid-Infused Asymmetrically Structured Surfaces by Mechanical Oscillation and Viscosity Control. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:16315-16327. [PMID: 37881899 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The transportation of droplets on solid surfaces has received significant attention owing to its importance in biochemical analysis and microfluidics. In this study, we propose a novel strategy for controlling droplet motion by combining an asymmetric structure and infused lubricating oil on a vibrating substrate. The transportation of droplets with volumes ranging from 10 to 90 μL was realized, and the movement speed could be adjusted from 1.45 to 10.87 mm/s. Typical droplet manipulations, including droplet transportation along a long trajectory and selective movement of multiple droplets, were successfully demonstrated. Through experimental exploration and theoretical analysis, we showed that the adjustment of droplet transport velocity involves an intricate interaction among the Ohnesorge number, droplet volume, and input amplitude. It can potentially be used for the more complex manipulation of liquid droplets in microfluidic and biochemical analysis systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingsheng Li
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Haibao Hu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
- Research & Development Institute of Northwestern Polytechnical University in Shenzhen; Sanhang Science & Technology Buliding, No. 45th, Gaoxin South ninth Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, 518063, China
| | - Mengzhuo Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Haiyan Ding
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Jun Wen
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Luo Xie
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Peng Du
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
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5
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Trinh TND, Do HDK, Nam NN, Dan TT, Trinh KTL, Lee NY. Droplet-Based Microfluidics: Applications in Pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:937. [PMID: 37513850 PMCID: PMC10385691 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidics offer great opportunities for applications in various fields, such as diagnostics, food sciences, and drug discovery. A droplet provides an isolated environment for performing a single reaction within a microscale-volume sample, allowing for a fast reaction with a high sensitivity, high throughput, and low risk of cross-contamination. Owing to several remarkable features, droplet-based microfluidic techniques have been intensively studied. In this review, we discuss the impact of droplet microfluidics, particularly focusing on drug screening and development. In addition, we surveyed various methods of device fabrication and droplet generation/manipulation. We further highlight some promising studies covering drug synthesis and delivery that were updated within the last 5 years. This review provides researchers with a quick guide that includes the most up-to-date and relevant information on the latest scientific findings on the development of droplet-based microfluidics in the pharmaceutical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Ngoc Diep Trinh
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Dang Khoa Do
- NTT Hi-Tech Institute, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ward 13, District 04, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Nhat Nam
- Biotechnology Center, School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Thach Thi Dan
- Department of Materials Science, School of Applied Chemistry, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
| | - Kieu The Loan Trinh
- BioNano Applications Research Center, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Nae Yoon Lee
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, 1342 Seongnam-daero, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
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Masouminia M, Dalnoki-Veress K, de Lannoy CF, Zhao B. Wettability Alteration of a Thiolene-Based Polymer (NOA81): Surface Characterization and Fabrication Techniques. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2529-2536. [PMID: 36763353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Wettability plays a significant role in controlling multiphase flow in porous media for many industrial applications, including geologic carbon dioxide sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, and fuel cells. Microfluidics is a powerful tool to study the complexities of interfacial phenomena involved in multiphase flow in well-controlled geometries. Recently, the thiolene-based polymer called NOA81 emerged as an ideal material in the fabrication of microfluidic devices, since it combines the versatility of conventional soft photolithography with a wide range of achievable wettability conditions. Specifically, the wettability of NOA81 can be continuously tuned through exposure to UV-ozone. Despite its growing popularity, the exact physical and chemical mechanisms behind the wettability alteration have not been fully characterized. Here, we apply different characterization techniques, including contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the impact of UV-ozone on the chemical and physical properties of NOA81 surfaces. We find that UV-ozone exposure increases the oxygen-containing polar functional groups, which enhances the surface energy and hydrophilicity of NOA81. Additionally, our AFM measurements show that spin-coated NOA81 surfaces have a roughness less than a nanometer, which is further reduced after UV-ozone exposure. Lastly, we extend NOA81 use cases by creating (i) 2D surface with controlled wettability gradient and (ii) a 3D column packed with monodisperse NOA81 beads of controlled size and wettability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahtab Masouminia
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Kari Dalnoki-Veress
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | | | - Benzhong Zhao
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
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Kiani MJ, Dehghan A, Saadatbakhsh M, Jamali Asl S, Nouri NM, Pishbin E. Robotic digital microfluidics: a droplet-based total analysis system. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:748-760. [PMID: 36606624 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00849a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Developing automated platforms for point-of-need testing is a crucial global demand. Digital microfluidics is a promising solution for expanding integrated testing devices featuring ultimate control over the chemical and biological reactions in micro/nanoliter droplets. In this study, robotic digital microfluidics (RDMF) is introduced for the mechanical manipulation of the droplets precisely and inexpensively. A controllable and multifunctional arm equipped with several actuators is responsible for dispensing and manipulating droplets on a disposable superhydrophobic cartridge. The platform has been demonstrated with diverse functions, including droplet dispensing, transport, mixing, aliquoting, and splitting. Moreover, incorporating magnetic and heating modules into the system can realize particle manipulation and droplet heating. The liquid handling operations are investigated from both experimental and modeling perspectives. Handling a wide range of droplet sizes without needing high-voltage electric sources, integrability with different detection techniques, and ease of manufacturing are the main advantages of the RDMF platform compared to conventional digital microfluidic systems. The availability of a complete fluidic toolbox and multiple detection choices make RDMF promising for droplet-based total analysis technology. The system was applied for a urinalysis test to show its versatility in handling complex biochemical assays. The results entirely matched those obtained based on laboratory gold standard techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Javad Kiani
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Dehghan
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shahin Jamali Asl
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Norouz Mohammad Nouri
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Esmail Pishbin
- Bio-microfluidics Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Tehran, Iran.
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8
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Li Z, Wang X, Bai H, Cao M. Advances in Bioinspired Superhydrophobic Surfaces Made from Silicones: Fabrication and Application. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15030543. [PMID: 36771848 PMCID: PMC9919805 DOI: 10.3390/polym15030543] [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: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As research on superhydrophobic materials inspired by the self-cleaning and water-repellent properties of plants and animals in nature continues, the superhydrophobic preparation methods and the applications of superhydrophobic surfaces are widely reported. Silicones are preferred for the preparation of superhydrophobic materials because of their inherent hydrophobicity and strong processing ability. In the preparation of superhydrophobic materials, silicones can both form micro-/nano-structures with dehydration condensation and reduce the surface energy of the material surface because of their intrinsic hydrophobicity. The superhydrophobic layers of silicone substrates are characterized by simple and fast reactions, high-temperature resistance, UV resistance, and anti-aging. Although silicone superhydrophobic materials have the disadvantages of relatively low mechanical stability, this can be improved by the rational design of the material structure. Herein, we summarize the superhydrophobic surfaces made from silicone substrates, including the cross-linking processes of silicones through dehydration condensation and hydrosilation, and the surface hydrophobic modification by grafting hydrophobic silicones. The applications of silicone-based superhydrophobic surfaces have been introduced such as self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, oil-water separation, etc. This review article should provide an overview to the bioinspired superhydrophobic surfaces of silicone-based materials, and serve as inspiration for the development of polymer interfaces and colloid science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xinsheng Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Haoyu Bai
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Moyuan Cao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Smart Sensing Interdisciplinary Science Center, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Correspondence:
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Bian X, Huang H, Chen L, Shen X. Droplet Tweezers Based on the Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Interface Structure and Their Biological Application. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:13522-13531. [PMID: 36288502 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Droplet controllable operation has wide applications in microfluidics, biomedicine, microreactors, and other fields. Droplets can spontaneously transfer from a high-energy state to a low-energy state, but how to reverse transfer the droplets is a difficult task. In this article, we use a special hydrophilic-hydrophobic interphase structure (HHIS) to achieve this reverse transfer. We specifically study the critical conditions under which droplet transfer can be achieved. The length of the hydrophilic surface in this structure and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of the surface must be in the appropriate range. Based on this, an optimized structure used to transfer droplets was designed. Finally, we carried out research on biological applications and successfully achieved the transfer of droplets from zebrafish eggs and zebrafish larvae. This unique method is low-cost, biofriendly, and highly applicable to various surfaces, illustrating the great potential in chemical and biological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongheng Bian
- ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Haibo Huang
- Robotics & Microsystem Center & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123,China
| | - Liguo Chen
- Robotics & Microsystem Center & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123,China
| | - Xiaoyan Shen
- ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
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10
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Bian X, Chen L, Ma L, Shen X. Chopstick-Like Structure for the Free Transfer of Microdroplets in Robot Chemistry Laboratory. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:13150-13157. [PMID: 36269326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01921] [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
As we all know, chopsticks can hold food, so can we use this method to carry Newtonian fluids such as droplets? This paper studies the process of this transfer and uses this method to realize the manipulation of open microfluidics by robots. To realize this transfer operation, we first analyzed the force of droplets in this chopstick-like structure and found that the bidirectional movement of droplets in this structure can be achieved by changing the structural parameters. Afterward, the whole process of the transfer of droplets using the chopstick-like structure was analyzed, and the parameter requirements for realizing this transfer were determined. The research in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the controllable manipulation of droplets which can be widely used in unmanned laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongheng Bian
- School of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong226019, China
| | - Liguo Chen
- Robotics & Microsystem Center & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou215123, China
| | - Lei Ma
- School of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong226019, China
| | - Xiaoyan Shen
- School of Information Science and Technology, Nantong University, Nantong226019, China
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11
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Chen H, Li X, Li D. Superhydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surfaces: From simplified fabrication to emerging applications. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND PRECISION ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1063/10.0013222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Superhydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surfaces constitute a branch of surface chemistry involving the two extreme states of superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity combined on the same surface in precise patterns. Such surfaces have many advantages, including controllable wettability, enrichment ability, accessibility, and the ability to manipulate and pattern water droplets, and they offer new functionalities and possibilities for a wide variety of emerging applications, such as microarrays, biomedical assays, microfluidics, and environmental protection. This review presents the basic theory, simplified fabrication, and emerging applications of superhydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surfaces. First, the fundamental theories of wettability that explain the spreading of a droplet on a solid surface are described. Then, the fabrication methods for preparing superhydrophilic–superhydrophobic patterned surfaces are introduced, and the emerging applications of such surfaces that are currently being explored are highlighted. Finally, the remaining challenges of constructing such surfaces and future applications that would benefit from their use are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Dachao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Zhou S, Chen C, Yang J, Liao L, Wang Z, Wu D, Chu J, Wen L, Ding W. On-Demand Maneuvering of Diverse Prodrug Liquids on a Light-Responsive Candle-Soot-Hybridized Lubricant-Infused Slippery Surface for Highly Effective Toxicity Screening. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:31667-31676. [PMID: 35791814 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c06973] [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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
At present, microscale high-throughput screening (HTS) for drug toxicity has drawn increased attention. Reported methods are often constrained by the inability to execute rapid fusion over diverse droplets or the inflexibility of relying on rigid customized templates. Herein, a light-responsive candle-soot-hybridized lubricant-infused slippery surface (CS-LISS) was reported by one-step femtosecond laser cross-scanning to realize highly effective and flexible drug HTS. Due to its low-hysteresis merits, the CS-LISS can readily steer diverse droplets toward arbitrary directions at a velocity over 1.0 mm/s with the help of tracing lateral near-infrared irradiation; additionally, it has the capability of self-cleaning and self-deicing. Significantly, by integrating the CS-LISS with a GFP HeLa cell chip, high-efficiency drug toxicity screening can be successfully achieved with the aid of fluorescence imaging. This work provides insights into the design of microscale high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuneng Zhou
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Department of Materials Physics and New Energy Device, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - Junfeng Yang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Lirui Liao
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Zekun Wang
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Dong Wu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jiaru Chu
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Li Wen
- Department of Precision Machinery and Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Weiping Ding
- Department of Electronic Engineering and Information Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
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13
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Gulfam R, Chen Y. Recent Growth of Wettability Gradient Surfaces: A Review. Research (Wash D C) 2022; 2022:9873075. [PMID: 35935132 PMCID: PMC9327586 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9873075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This review reports the recent progress and future prospects of wettability gradient surfaces (WGSs), particularly focusing on the governing principles, fabrication methods, classification, characterization, and applications. While transforming the inherent wettability into artificial wettability via bioinspiration, topographic micro/nanostructures are produced with changed surface energy, resulting in new droplet wetting regimes and droplet dynamic regimes. WGSs have been mainly classified in dry and wet surfaces, depending on the apparent surface states. Wettability gradient has long been documented as a surface phenomenon inducing the droplet mobility in the direction of decreasing wettability. However, it is herein critically emphasized that the wettability gradient does not always result in droplet mobility. Indeed, the sticky and slippery dynamic regimes exist in WGSs, prohibiting or allowing the droplet mobility, respectively. Lastly, the stringent bottlenecks encountered by WGSs are highlighted along with solution-oriented recommendations, and furthermore, phase change materials are strongly anticipated as a new class in WGSs. In all, WGSs intend to open up new technological insights for applications, encompassing water harvesting, droplet and bubble manipulation, controllable microfluidic systems, and condensation heat transfer, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raza Gulfam
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Yongping Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
- Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
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14
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Chen A, Lv Y, Wu Y, Zhu Y. Gradient Annealing as a New Strategy to Fabricate Gradient Nanoparticle Array on Microwires. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2022; 17:59. [PMID: 35726040 PMCID: PMC9209622 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-022-03698-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Creating gradients of nanostructure on the surface has found broad applications such as enhanced optical spectroscopy, optical storage of information, and broadband solar energy harvesting. Here, a facile strategy is presented for fabricating gradient nanoparticle arrays with tunable size. It takes a ZnO:Ga microwire as the starting material, and the Ga3+ doping gradient along the microwire is induced by the high voltage applied. Such a doping gradient facilitates the formation of a temperature gradient in a Joule heating process. And this temperature gradient produced by this technique can be as high as 800 °C/mm, which could be later used for gradient annealing of thin metal films. After annealing, the thin metal films turn to gradient nanoparticle arrays. The obtained gradient nanoparticle arrays are confirmed effective in multi-wavelength surface enhanced Raman scattering enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Chen
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - You Lv
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yanyan Wu
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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15
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Wang J, Wei J, Zhou Y, Chen G, Ren L. Leonurine hydrochloride-a new drug for the treatment of menopausal syndrome: Synthesis, estrogen-like effects and pharmacokinetics. Fitoterapia 2022; 157:105108. [PMID: 34954263 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2021.105108] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the estrogen-like effects of Leonurine hydrochloride (Leo). First, we developed a total synthesis of Leo from 3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoic acid and the structure was confirmed through 1H NMR and mass spectrometry (MS). Then the estrogenic activity of Leo in vitro and in vivo was studied. The proliferation and proliferation inhibitory effects of Leo on MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells indicate that Leo exerts estrogen-like effects through estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β((ERβ) in vitro. Uterotrophic assay in juvenile mice showed that Leo has an estrogen-like effect in vivo, as it can promote the development of the uterus of juvenile mice, increase its uterine coefficient and the size of the uterine cavity, as well as the increased number of uterine glands and the thickened uterine wall. For further research, cyclophosphamide (CTX) was used to establish a mouse model of ovarian function decline. Through this model, we found that Leo can restore the estrous cycle of mice, increase the number of primordial and primary follicles in the ovaries of mice, and regulate the disordered hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPOA) axis of mice. Finally, the pharmacokinetics of Leo was studied and oral bioavailability of Leo was calculated to be 2.21%. Leo was synthesized and the estrogen-like effect in vitro and in vivo was confirmed as well as its pharmacokinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Tech University, 5th Mofan Road, Nanjing 21009, China
| | - Jie Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Tech University, 5th Mofan Road, Nanjing 21009, China
| | - Yaxin Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Tech University, 5th Mofan Road, Nanjing 21009, China
| | - Guoguang Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Tech University, 5th Mofan Road, Nanjing 21009, China.
| | - Lili Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Tech University, 5th Mofan Road, Nanjing 21009, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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16
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Rapid construct superhydrophobic microcracks on the open-surface platform for droplet manipulations. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14915. [PMID: 34290353 PMCID: PMC8295315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94484-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Droplet-based transport driven by surface tension has been explored as an automated pumping source for several biomedical applications. This paper presented a simple and fast superhydrophobic modify and patterning approach to fabricate various open-surface platforms to manipulate droplets to achieve transport, mixing, concentration, and rebounding control. Several commercial reagents were tested in our approach, and the Glaco reagent was selected to create a superhydrophobic layer; laser cutters are utilized to scan on these superhydrophobic surface to create gradient hydrophilic micro-patterns. Implementing back-and-forth vibrations on the predetermined parallel patterns, droplets can be transported and mixed successfully. Colorimetry of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) mixing with substrates also reduced the reaction time by more than 5-times with the help of superhydrophobic patterned chips. Besides, patterned superhydrophobic chips can significantly improve the sensitivity of colorimetric glucose-sensing by more than 10 times. Moreover, all bioassays were distributed homogeneously within the region of hydrophilic micropatterns without the coffee-ring effect. In addition, to discuss further applications of the surface wettability, the way of controlling the droplet impacting and rebounding phenomenon was also demonstrated. This work reports a rapid approach to modify and patterning superhydrophobic films to perform droplet-based manipulations with a lower technical barrier, higher efficiency, and easier operation. It holds the potential to broaden the applications of open microfluidics in the future.
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17
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Zhao X, Ou G, Lei M, Zhang Y, Li L, Ge A, Wang Y, Li Y, Liu BF. Rapid generation of hybrid biochemical/mechanical cues in heterogeneous droplets for high-throughput screening of cellular responses. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2691-2701. [PMID: 34165109 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00209k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cells in their native microenvironment are subjected to varying combinations of biochemical cues and mechanical cues in a wide range. Although many signaling pathways have been found to be responsive for extracellular cues, little is known about how biochemical cues crosstalk with mechanical cues in a complex microenvironment. Here, we introduced heterogeneous droplets on a microchip, which were rapidly assembled by combining wettability-patterned microchip and programmed droplet manipulations, for a high-throughput cell screening of the varying combinations of biochemical cues and mechanical cues. This platform constructed a heterogeneous droplet/microgel array with orthogonal gradual chemicals and materials, which was further applied to analyze the cellular Wnt/β-catenin signaling in response to varying combinations of Wnt ligands and substrate stiffness. Thus, this device provides a powerful multiplexed bioassay platform for drug development, tissue engineering, and stem cell screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhao
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Gaozhi Ou
- School of Sports, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Mengcheng Lei
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Yang Zhang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518100, China
| | - Lina Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Anle Ge
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Yachao Wang
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics - Hubei Bioinformatics & Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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18
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Liu W, Chen X, Jiao Y. Liquid-Infused Microgrooved Slippery Surface Ablated by One-Step Laser Irradiation for Underwater Bubble Directional Manipulation and Anisotropic Spreading. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12050555. [PMID: 34068111 PMCID: PMC8152748 DOI: 10.3390/mi12050555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A pitcher plant is a kind of liquid-infused porous surface that imparts an excellent directional manipulation ability to in-air droplets or underwater bubbles, so it has attracted researchers' attention in both academic and industrial issues. In this work, a kind of liquid-infused anisotropic microgrooved slippery surface (LIAMSS) was fabricated through one-step femtosecond laser irradiation and lubricant coating technology. On the inclined LIAMSS, the underwater bubbles show great directional motion and anisotropic spreading ability under the effect of buoyancy. It should be noted that the interaction between the air and the lubricant layer plays a dominant role in determining the attachment and the movement of the underwater bubble, which could be ascribed to the competition between the adhesion resistance induced by contact angle hysteresis and the drive force induced by buoyancy. Additionally, the bubble shows obvious anisotropy on the LIAMSS with the increase in volume because of the restriction of the slippery area, and the bubble contact angle perpendicular to the grooved region is about 88○ when the bubble volume is 5 μL. We believe that the present findings would accelerate the application of this kind of bubble slippery surface in underwater gas collection and tail gas treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China;
| | - Xuehui Chen
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei 230601, China;
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (Y.J.)
| | - Yunlong Jiao
- Institute of Tribology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
- Correspondence: (X.C.); (Y.J.)
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19
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Khater A, Abdelrehim O, Mohammadi M, Mohamad A, Sanati-Nezhad A. Thermal droplet microfluidics: From biology to cooling technology. Trends Analyt Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2021.116234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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20
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Naji M, Yelekli Kirici E, Javili A, Erdem EY. Describing Droplet Motion on Surface-Textured Ratchet Tracks with an Inverted Double Pendulum Model. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:4810-4816. [PMID: 33852311 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We describe the motion of a droplet on a textured ratchet track using a nonlinear resonator model. A textured ratchet track is composed of a semicircular pillar array that induces a net surface tension local gradient on a droplet placed on it. When a vertical vibration is applied, hysteresis is overcome, and the droplet moves toward the local lower energy barrier; however, due to the repetitive structure of texture, it keeps moving until the end of the track. The droplet motion depends on the amplitude and frequency of the vertical oscillation, and this dependence is nonlinear. Therefore, finding a fully analytic solution to represent this motion is not trivial. Consequently, the droplet motion remains poorly understood. In this study, we elaborate on the utility of a double pendulum as a basis for modeling the droplet motion on surfaces inducing asymmetric force. Similar to the droplet motion, resonators, such as a double pendulum, are simple, yet nonlinear systems. Moreover, an inverted double pendulum motion has key characteristics such as the two-phase motion and the double peak motion, which are also observed in the droplet motion. We use various data-processing methods to highlight the similarity between these two systems both qualitatively and quantitatively. After establishing this comparison, we propose a model that utilizes an inverted double pendulum mounted on a moving cart to successfully simulate the motion of a droplet on a ratchet track. This methodology will lead to the development of an accurate droplet-motion modeling approach, and we believe that it will be useful to understand droplet dynamics more deeply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayssam Naji
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | | | - Ali Javili
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - E Yegan Erdem
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
- National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Ankara 06800, Turkey
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21
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Ye WQ, Wei YY, Wang DN, Yang CG, Xu ZR. A digital microfluidic platform based on a near-infrared light-responsive shape-memory micropillar array. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:1131-1138. [PMID: 33533387 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc01324b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we developed a digital microfluidic platform based on a shape memory micropillar array responsive to near-infrared light, and the droplets were programmatically manipulated through light-induced micropillar deformation. The micropillar array was constructed on the surface of a poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) copolymer, a shape memory polymer sensitive to near-infrared light. Before droplet manipulation, the micropillar array was kept temporarily tilted by heating and pressing. Under the irradiation of a near-infrared laser, the micropillar array achieved the transition from the temporary shape to the original shape. Temperature gradient and micropillar deformation caused by near-infrared light irradiation produce the driving force for droplet movement. The movement of the laser mounted on an electronically controlled displacement platform was controlled by a computer to achieve the programmed control of the droplets. Moreover, we demonstrated light-manipulated droplet movement and fusion, and achieved ascorbic acid detection using this digital microfluidic platform. In particular, the micropillar array chip is able to manipulate droplets in a wide range of 0.1 μL to 10 μL. The proposed digital microfluidic platform will broaden the application of digital microfluidic technology in analytical chemistry and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Qi Ye
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China.
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22
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Yin Q, Guo Q, Wang Z, Chen Y, Duan H, Cheng P. 3D-Printed Bioinspired Cassie-Baxter Wettability for Controllable Microdroplet Manipulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:1979-1987. [PMID: 33351582 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c18952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
It is a great challenge to fabricate a surface with Cassie-Baxter wettability that can be continuously adjusted from hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity by changing of geometric parameters. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a bioinspired surface fabricated by using a projection micro-stereolithography (PμSL) based 3D printing technique to address the challenge. Independent of materials, the bioinspired textured surface has a maximum contact angle (CA) of 171°, which is even higher than that of the omniphobic springtail skin we try to imitate. Most significantly, we are able to control the CA of the bioinspired surface in the range of 55-171° and the adhesion force from 71 to 99 μN continuously by only changing the geometric parameters of the bioinspired microstructures. The underlying mechanisms of the CA control of our bioinspired surface are also revealed by using a multi-phase lattice Boltzmann model. Furthermore, we demonstrate potential applications in droplet-based microreactors, nonloss water transportation, and coalescence of water droplets by employing our 3D-printed bioinspired structures with their remarkable precise Cassie-Baxter wettability control and petal effects. The present results potentially pave a new way for designing next generation functional surfaces for microdroplet manipulation, droplet-based biodetection, antifouling surfaces, and cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu Yin
- National Research Center for High-Efficiency Grinding, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Qing Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Zhaolong Wang
- National Research Center for High-Efficiency Grinding, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Yiqin Chen
- National Research Center for High-Efficiency Grinding, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Huigao Duan
- National Research Center for High-Efficiency Grinding, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Ping Cheng
- MOE Key Laboratory for Power Machinery and Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
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23
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Min X, Kim WS. Artificial Xylem Chip: A Three-Dimensionally Printed Vertical Digital Microfluidic Platform. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2020; 36:14841-14848. [PMID: 33249834 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Digital microfluidics (DMF) is a promising lab-on-a-chip technology which has been applied in a wide variety of fields, including chemical sensing, biological detection, and even mechanical transportation. However, the appearance and functions of current DMF have been limited within two-dimensional planar space because of the conventional fabrication methods, such as photolithography or screen printing. In this paper, we report a DMF system which utilizes the advantage of three-dimensional (3D) printing to develop the novel form factor of electrodes and conversion of channels from planar to 3D forms. Vertical channels have been fabricated through combined 3D printing methods to facilitate stable and controlled movement of water droplets. The interfaces among liquid, gas, and solid were analyzed through Young-Lippmann law. We calculated the actuation force in a series of different configurations to enable us to optimize the system. Inspired by xylem structures in plants, the vertical movement and pumping of droplets are demonstrated by a programmable control system with a built-in boost converter for a real-time operating and portable DMF system. This work validates the promise of 3D printing to make 3D vertical DMF devices and the potential of the artificial xylem chip for micropumping applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Min
- Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia V3T 0A3, Canada
| | - Woo Soo Kim
- Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia V3T 0A3, Canada
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24
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Wu D, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Jiao Y, Jiang S, Wu H, Li C, Zhang C, Li J, Hu Y, Li G, Chu J, Jiang L. High-Performance Unidirectional Manipulation of Microdroplets by Horizontal Vibration on Femtosecond Laser-Induced Slant Microwall Arrays. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2005039. [PMID: 33124744 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The high-performance unidirectional manipulation of microdroplets is crucial for many vital applications including water collection and bioanalysis. Among several actuation methods (e.g., electric, magnetic, light, and thermal actuation), mechanical vibration is pollution-free and biocompatible. However, it suffers from limited droplet movement mode, small volume range (VMax /VMin < 3), and low transport velocity (≤11.5 mm s-1 ) because the droplet motion is a sliding state caused by the vertical vibration on the asymmetric hydrophobic microstructures. Here, an alternative strategy is proposed-horizontal vibration for multimode (rolling, bouncing/reverse bouncing, converging/diffusing, climbing, 90o turning, and sequential transport), large-volume-range (VMax /VMin ≈ 100), and high-speed (≈22.86 mm s-1 ) unidirectional microdroplet manipulation, which is ascribed to the rolling state on superhydrophobic slant microwall arrays (SMWAs) fabricated by the one-step femtosecond laser oblique ablation. The unidirectional transport mechanism relies on the variance of viscous resistance induced by the difference of contact area between the microdroplet and the slant microwalls. Furthermore, a circular, curved, and "L"-shaped SMWA is designed and fabricated for droplet motion with particular paths. Finally, sequential transport of large-volume-range droplets and chemical mixing microreaction of water-based droplets are demonstrated on the SMWA, which demonstrates the great potential in the field of microdroplet manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, USTC, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yiyuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yunlong Jiao
- Institute of Tribology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Shaojun Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Hao Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Chuanzong Li
- School of Instrument Science and Opto-electronics Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Chenchu Zhang
- Institute of industry and equipment Technology, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, P. R. China
| | - Jiawen Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yanlei Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Testing Technology for Manufacturing Process of Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Jiaru Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Key Laboratory of Precision Scientific Instrumentation of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- Future Technology College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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25
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Ai Y, Xie R, Xiong J, Liang Q. Microfluidics for Biosynthesizing: from Droplets and Vesicles to Artificial Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903940. [PMID: 31603270 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication of artificial biomimetic materials has attracted abundant attention. As one of the subcategories of biomimetic materials, artificial cells are highly significant for multiple disciplines and their synthesis has been intensively pursued. In order to manufacture robust "alive" artificial cells with high throughput, easy operation, and precise control, flexible microfluidic techniques are widely utilized. Herein, recent advances in microfluidic-based methods for the synthesis of droplets, vesicles, and artificial cells are summarized. First, the advances of droplet fabrication and manipulation on the T-junction, flow-focusing, and coflowing microfluidic devices are discussed. Then, the formation of unicompartmental and multicompartmental vesicles based on microfluidics are summarized. Furthermore, the engineering of droplet-based and vesicle-based artificial cells by microfluidics is also reviewed. Moreover, the artificial cells applied for imitating cell behavior and acting as bioreactors for synthetic biology are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends in microfluidic-based artificial cells are discussed. This review should be helpful for researchers in the fields of microfluidics, biomaterial fabrication, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Ai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Ruoxiao Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jialiang Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Qionglin Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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26
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Abstract
The manipulation of liquid droplets demonstrates great importance in various areas from laboratory research to our daily life. Here, inspired by the unique microstructure of plant stomata, we present a surface with programmable wettability arrays for droplets manipulation. The substrate film of this surface is constructed by using a coaxial capillary microfluidics to emulsify and pack graphene oxide (GO) hybrid N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) hydrogel solution into silica nanoparticles-dispersed ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) phase. Because of the distribution of the silica nanoparticles on the ETPTA interface, the outer surface of the film could achieve favorable hydrophobic property under selective fluorosilane decoration. Owing to the outstanding photothermal energy transformation property of the GO, the encapsulated hydrophilic hydrogel arrays could shrink back into the holes to expose their hydrophobic surface with near-infrared (NIR) irradiation; this imparts the composite film with remotely switchable surface droplet adhesion status. Based on this phenomenon, we have demonstrated controllable droplet sliding on programmable wettability pathways, together with effective droplet transfer for printing with mask integration, which remains difficult to realize by existing techniques.
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27
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Sun D, Böhringer KF. An active self-cleaning surface system for photovoltaic modules using anisotropic ratchet conveyors and mechanical vibration. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:87. [PMID: 34567697 PMCID: PMC8433153 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-00197-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this work is to develop an active self-cleaning system that removes contaminants from a solar module surface by means of an automatic, water-saving, and labor-free process. The output efficiency of a solar module can be degraded over time by dust accumulation on top of the cover glass, which is often referred to as "soiling". This paper focuses on creating an active self-cleaning surface system using a combination of microsized features and mechanical vibration. The features, which are termed anisotropic ratchet conveyors (ARCs), consist of hydrophilic curved rungs on a hydrophobic background. Two different ARC systems have been designed and fabricated with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) silane and fluoropolymer thin film (Cytop). Fabrication processes were established to fabricate these two systems, including patterning Cytop without degrading the original Cytop hydrophobicity. Water droplet transport characteristics, including anisotropic driving force, droplet resonance mode, cleaning mechanisms, and system power consumption, were studied with the help of a high-speed camera and custom-made test benches. The droplet can be transported on the ARC surface at a speed of 27 mm/s and can clean a variety of dust particles, either water-soluble or insoluble. Optical transmission was measured to show that Cytop can improve transmittance by 2.5~3.5% across the entire visible wavelength range. Real-time demonstrations of droplet transport and surface cleaning were performed, in which the solar modules achieved a 23 percentage-point gain after cleaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Sun
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Karl F. Böhringer
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
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Geng H, Cho SK. Antifouling digital microfluidics using lubricant infused porous film. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:2275-2283. [PMID: 31184676 DOI: 10.1039/c9lc00289h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Electrowetting-driven digital (droplet-based) microfluidics has a tremendous impact on lab-on-a-chip applications. However, the biofouling problem impedes the real applications of such digital microfluidics. Here we report antifouling digital microfluidics by introducing lubricant infused porous film to electrowetting (more exactly, electrowetting on dielectric or EWOD). Such film minimizes direct contact between droplets and the solid surface but provides liquid-liquid contact between droplets and the lubricant liquid, which thus prevents unspecific adsorption of biomolecules to the solid surface. We demonstrate the compatibility of the lubricant infused film with EWOD to transport bio droplets. This configuration shows robust and high performance even for long cyclic operations without fouling in a wide range of concentrations of protein solutions. In addition, a variety of conductive droplets, including deionized (DI) water, saline, protein solution, DNA solution, sheep blood, milk, ionic liquid and honey, are examined, similarly showing high performance in cyclic transportations. In addition, using the same electrode patterns used in EWOD, transportations of dielectric (non-conductive) droplets including light crude oil, propylene carbonate and alcohol are also achieved. Such capability of droplet handling without fouling will certainly benefit the practical applications of digital microfluidics in droplet handling, sampling, reaction, diagnosis in clinic medicine, biotechnology and chemistry fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyao Geng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
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