1
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Dortaj H, Amani AM, Tayebi L, Azarpira N, Ghasemi Toudeshkchouei M, Hassanpour-Dehnavi A, Karami N, Abbasi M, Najafian-Najafabadi A, Zarei Behjani Z, Vaez A. Droplet-based microfluidics: an efficient high-throughput portable system for cell encapsulation. J Microencapsul 2024; 41:479-501. [PMID: 39077800 DOI: 10.1080/02652048.2024.2382744] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
One of the goals of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is restoring primary living tissue function by manufacturing a 3D microenvironment. One of the main challenges is protecting implanted non-autologous cells or tissues from the host immune system. Cell encapsulation has emerged as a promising technique for this purpose. It involves entrapping cells in biocompatible and semi-permeable microcarriers made from natural or synthetic polymers that regulate the release of cellular secretions. In recent years, droplet-based microfluidic systems have emerged as powerful tools for cell encapsulation in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. These systems offer precise control over droplet size, composition, and functionality, allowing for creating of microenvironments that closely mimic native tissue. Droplet-based microfluidic systems have extensive applications in biotechnology, medical diagnosis, and drug discovery. This review summarises the recent developments in droplet-based microfluidic systems and cell encapsulation techniques, as well as their applications, advantages, and challenges in biology and medicine. The integration of these technologies has the potential to revolutionise tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by providing a precise and controlled microenvironment for cell growth and differentiation. By overcoming the immune system's challenges and enabling the release of cellular secretions, these technologies hold great promise for the future of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengameh Dortaj
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Amani
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Lobat Tayebi
- Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Ashraf Hassanpour-Dehnavi
- Tissue Engineering Lab, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Neda Karami
- Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Milad Abbasi
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Atefeh Najafian-Najafabadi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zeinab Zarei Behjani
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Biotechnology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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2
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Fan R, Wu J, Duan S, Jin L, Zhang H, Zhang C, Zheng A. Droplet-based microfluidics for drug delivery applications. Int J Pharm 2024; 663:124551. [PMID: 39106935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
The microfluidic method primainly utilizes two incompatible liquids as continuous phase and dispersed phase respectively. It controls the formation of droplets by managing the microchannel structure and the flow rate ratio of the two phases. Droplet-based microfluidics is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary research field encompassing physics, biochemistry, and Microsystems engineering. Droplet microfluidics offer a diverse and practical toolset that enables chemical and biological experiments to be conducted at high speeds and with greater efficiency compared to traditional instruments. The applications of droplet-based microfluidics are vast, including areas such as drug delivery, owing to its compatibility with numerous chemical and biological reagents and its ability to carry out various operations. This technology has been extensively researched due to its promising features. In this review, we delve into the materials used in droplet generation-based microfluidic devices, manufacturing techniques, methods for droplet generation in channels, and, finally, we summarize the applications of droplet generation-based microfluidics in drug delivery vectors, encompassing nanoparticles, microspheres, microcapsules, and hydrogel particles. We also discuss the challenges and future prospects of this technology across a wide array of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Fan
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Shuwei Duan
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Lili Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University College of Pharmacy, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Changhao Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University College of Pharmacy, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China.
| | - Aiping Zheng
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
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3
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Wu X, Chen A, Yu X, Tian Z, Li H, Jiang Y, Xu J. Microfluidic Synthesis of Multifunctional Micro-/Nanomaterials from Process Intensification: Structural Engineering to High Electrochemical Energy Storage. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 39086355 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c07599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials featuring functional superiority and high value-added physicochemical nature have received immense attention in electrochemical energy storage. Microfluidic synthesis has become an emergent technology for massively producing multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials with tunable microstructure and morphology due to its rapid mass/heat transfer and precise fluid controllability. In this review, the latest progresses and achievements in microfluidic-synthesized multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials are summarized via reaction process intensification, multifunctional micro-/nanostructural engineering and electrochemical energy storage applications. The reaction process intensification mechanisms of various micro-/nanomaterials, including quantum dots (QDs), metal materials, conducting polymers, metallic oxides, polyanionic compounds, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and two-dimensional (2D) materials, are discussed. Especially, the multifunctional structural engineering principles of as-fabricated micro-/nanomaterials, such as vertically aligned structure, heterostructure, core-shell structure, and tunable microsphere, are introduced. Subsequently, the electrochemical energy storage application of as-prepared multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials is clarified in supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, all-vanadium redox flow batteries, and dielectric capacitors. Finally, the current problems and future forecasts are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjiang Wu
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Energy Conservation in Chemical Process Integration and Resources Utilization, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - An Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Xude Yu
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Zhicheng Tian
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Hao Li
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Energy Conservation in Chemical Process Integration and Resources Utilization, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Yanjun Jiang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Energy Conservation in Chemical Process Integration and Resources Utilization, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China
| | - Jianhong Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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4
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Ma L, Zhao X, Hou J, Huang L, Yao Y, Ding Z, Wei J, Hao N. Droplet Microfluidic Devices: Working Principles, Fabrication Methods, and Scale-Up Applications. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301406. [PMID: 38594964 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Compared with the conventional emulsification method, droplets generated within microfluidic devices exhibit distinct advantages such as precise control of fluids, exceptional monodispersity, uniform morphology, flexible manipulation, and narrow size distribution. These inherent benefits, including intrinsic safety, excellent heat and mass transfer capabilities, and large surface-to-volume ratio, have led to the widespread applications of droplet-based microfluidics across diverse fields, encompassing chemical engineering, particle synthesis, biological detection, diagnostics, emulsion preparation, and pharmaceuticals. However, despite its promising potential for versatile applications, the practical utilization of this technology in commercial and industrial is extremely limited to the inherently low production rates achievable within a single microchannel. Over the past two decades, droplet-based microfluidics has evolved significantly, considerably transitioning from a proof-of-concept stage to industrialization. And now there is a growing trend towards translating academic research into commercial and industrial applications, primarily driven by the burgeoning demands of various fields. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advancements in droplet-based microfluidics, covering the fundamental working principles and the critical aspect of scale-up integration from working principles to scale-up integration. Based on the existing scale-up strategies, the paper also outlines the future research directions, identifies the potential opportunities, and addresses the typical unsolved challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Xiong Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Junsheng Hou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Lei Huang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Yilong Yao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Zihan Ding
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Jinjia Wei
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Nanjing Hao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710049, P. R. China
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Wulandari DA, Tsuru K, Minamihata K, Wakabayashi R, Egami G, Kawabe Y, Kamihira M, Goto M, Kamiya N. Design and validation of functionalized redox-responsive hydrogel beads for high-throughput screening of antibody-secreting mammalian cells. J Biosci Bioeng 2024; 138:89-95. [PMID: 38644063 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2024.04.001] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Antibody drugs play a vital role in diagnostics and therapy. However, producing antibodies from mammalian cells is challenging owing to cellular heterogeneity, which can be addressed by applying droplet-based microfluidic platforms for high-throughput screening (HTS). Here, we designed an integrated system based on disulfide-bonded redox-responsive hydrogel beads (redox-HBs), which were prepared through enzymatic hydrogelation, to compartmentalize, screen, select, retrieve, and recover selected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells secreting high levels of antibodies. Moreover, redox-HBs were functionalized with protein G as an antibody-binding module to capture antibodies secreted from encapsulated cells. As proof-of-concept, cells co-producing immunoglobulin G (IgG) as the antibody and green fluorescent protein (GFP) as the reporter molecule, denoted as CHO(IgG/GFP), were encapsulated into functionalized redox-HBs. Additionally, antibody-secreting cells were labeled with protein L-conjugated horseradish peroxidase using a tyramide amplification system, enabling fluorescence staining of the antibody captured inside the beads. Redox-HBs were then applied to fluorescence-activated droplet sorting, and selected redox-HBs were degraded by reducing the disulfide bonds to recover the target cells. The results indicated the potential of the developed HTS platform for selecting a single cell viable for biopharmaceutical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diah Anggraini Wulandari
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kyosuke Tsuru
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kosuke Minamihata
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Rie Wakabayashi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Go Egami
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Kawabe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Masamichi Kamihira
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Masahiro Goto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Division of Biotechnology, Center for Future Chemistry, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Noriho Kamiya
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Division of Biotechnology, Center for Future Chemistry, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
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6
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Lu Z, Yuan Y, Han Q, Wang Y, Liang Q. Lab-on-a-chip: an advanced technology for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Chin Med 2024; 19:80. [PMID: 38853247 PMCID: PMC11163804 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-024-00956-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Benefiting from the complex system composed of various constituents, medicament portions, species, and places of origin, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possesses numerous customizable and adaptable efficacies in clinical practice guided by its theories. However, these unique features are also present challenges in areas such as quality control, screening active ingredients, studying cell and organ pharmacology, and characterizing the compatibility between different Chinese medicines. Drawing inspiration from the holistic concept, an integrated strategy and pattern more aligned with TCM research emerges, necessitating the integration of novel technology into TCM modernization. The microfluidic chip serves as a powerful platform for integrating technologies in chemistry, biology, and biophysics. Microfluidics has given rise to innovative patterns like lab-on-a-chip and organoids-on-a-chip, effectively challenging the conventional research paradigms of TCM. This review provides a systematic summary of the nature and advanced utilization of microfluidic chips in TCM, focusing on quality control, active ingredient screening/separation, pharmaceutical analysis, and pharmacological/toxicological assays. Drawing on these remarkable references, the challenges, opportunities, and future trends of microfluidic chips in TCM are also comprehensively discussed, providing valuable insights into the development of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenghui Lu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine-X, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Third-Level Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry, Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yue Yuan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of TCM Pharmacology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Qiang Han
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine-X, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Third-Level Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry, Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine-X, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Third-Level Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry, Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Qionglin Liang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine-X, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Third-Level Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chemistry, Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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7
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Zhou Y, Wang Y, Song M, Jiang L, Sun C, Wang S, Yao H, Wang Z, Wang X, Liu C, Luo H, Song F. A high-throughput droplet digital PCR system aiming eight DNA methylation targets for age prediction. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 240:115943. [PMID: 38181558 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115943] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
The droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) has garnered recognition for its distinctive attribute of absolute quantification. And it has found practical utility in age prediction through DNA methylation profiles. However, a prevalent limitation in current ddPCR methodologies is the restricted capacity to detect only two targets concurrently in most instruments, leading to high costs, sample wastage, and labor-intensive procedures. To address the limitations, a novel high-throughput ddPCR system allowing for the simultaneous detection of eight targets was developed. Through the implementation of a new 8-plex ddPCR assay, coupled with comprehensive linear regression analyses involving primers and probes ratios, diverse inputs of single CpG sites with distinct primers and probes, and varying plex assay configurations, stable DNA methylation values for four CpGs and stable measurement precisions for distinct multiplex systems were consistently observed. These findings pave the way for advancing the field of chemistry science by enabling more efficient and cost-effective methods. Furthermore, the comparative validation of ddPCR and SNaPshot demonstrated a remarkable concordance in results, and the system also displayed well in the field of various aspects, including species specificity, DNA input, and aged samples. In this study, the recommended input of bisulfite-converted DNA was determined to be 10-50 ng due to the double-positive droplets. Notably, the Pearson correlation coefficient squared values of four CpGs were 0.4878 (ASPA), 0.4832 (IGSF1), 0.6881 (COL1A1), and 0.6475 (MEIS1-AS3). And the testing set exhibited a mean absolute error of 4.5923 years, indicating the robustness and accuracy of the age-predictive model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhou
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yanyun Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, China
| | - Mengyuan Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China; Med+ Molecular Diagnostics Institute of West China Hospital/West China School of Medicine, China
| | - Lanrui Jiang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chaoran Sun
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shuangshuang Wang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hewen Yao
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zefei Wang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xindi Wang
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chunhui Liu
- Scientific Support Center, Sniper Medical Technologies Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Haibo Luo
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Feng Song
- Department of Forensic Genetics, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Wang W, Vahabi H, Taassob A, Pillai S, Kota AK. On-Demand, Contact-Less and Loss-Less Droplet Manipulation via Contact Electrification. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308101. [PMID: 38233209 PMCID: PMC10933654 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
While there are many droplet manipulation techniques, all of them suffer from at least one of the following drawbacks - complex fabrication or complex equipment or liquid loss. In this work, a simple and portable technique is demonstrated that enables on-demand, contact-less and loss-less manipulation of liquid droplets through a combination of contact electrification and slipperiness. In conjunction with numerical simulations, a quantitative analysis is presented to explain the onset of droplet motion. Utilizing the contact electrification technique, contact-less and loss-less manipulation of polar and non-polar liquid droplets on different surface chemistries and geometries is demonstrated. It is envisioned that the technique can pave the way to simple, inexpensive, and portable lab on a chip and point of care devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695USA
- Department of MechanicalAerospace and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Tennessee KnoxvilleKnoxvilleTN37996USA
| | - Hamed Vahabi
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80525USA
| | - Arsalan Taassob
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695USA
| | - Sreekiran Pillai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695USA
| | - Arun Kumar Kota
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695USA
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80525USA
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9
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Nalin F, Tirelli MC, Garstecki P, Postek W, Costantini M. Tuna-step: tunable parallelized step emulsification for the generation of droplets with dynamic volume control to 3D print functionally graded porous materials. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 24:113-126. [PMID: 38047296 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00658a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
We present tuna-step, a novel microfluidic module based on step emulsification that allows for reliable generation of droplets of different sizes. Until now, sizes of droplets generated with step emulsification were hard-wired into the geometry of the step emulsification nozzle. To overcome this, we incorporate a thin membrane underneath the step nozzle that can be actuated by pressure, enabling the tuning of the nozzle size on-demand. By controllably reducing the height of the nozzle, we successfully achieved a three-order-of-magnitude variation in droplet volume without adjusting the flow rates of the two phases. We developed and applied a new hydrophilic surface modification, that ensured long-term stability and prevented swelling of the device when generating oil-in-water droplets. Our system produced functionally graded soft materials with adjustable porosity and material content. By combining our microfluidic device with a custom 3D printer, we generated and extruded oil-in-water emulsions in an agarose gel bath, creating unique self-standing 3D hydrogel structures with porosity decoupled from flow rate and with composition gradients of external phases. We upscaled tuna-step by setting 14 actuatable nozzles in parallel, offering a step-emulsification-based single chip solution that can accommodate various requirements in terms of throughput, droplet volumes, flow rates, and surface chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Nalin
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 44/52 ul. Kasprzaka, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Maria Celeste Tirelli
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 44/52 ul. Kasprzaka, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Garstecki
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 44/52 ul. Kasprzaka, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Witold Postek
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 44/52 ul. Kasprzaka, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Merkin Building, 415 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Marco Costantini
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 44/52 ul. Kasprzaka, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland.
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Kim S, Krishnamurthy A, Kasiviswanathan P, Ganapathysubramanian B, Anand RK. In-Droplet Electromechanical Cell Lysis and Enhanced Enzymatic Assay Driven by Ion Concentration Polarization. Anal Chem 2023; 95:14624-14633. [PMID: 37738658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Droplets enable the encapsulation of cells for their analysis in isolated domains. The study of molecular signatures (including genes, proteins, and metabolites) from a few or single cells is critical for identifying key subpopulations. However, dealing with biological analytes at low concentrations requires long incubation times and amplification to achieve the requisite signal strength. Further, cell lysis requires additional chemical lysing agents or heat, which can interfere with assays. Here, we leverage ion concentration polarization (ICP) in droplets to rapidly lyse breast cancer cells within 2 s under a DC voltage bias of 30 V. Numerical simulations attribute cell lysis to an ICP-based electric field and shear stress. We further achieve up to 19-fold concentration enrichment of an enzymatic assay product resulting from cell lysis and a 3.8-fold increase in the reaction rate during enrichment. Our technique for sensitive in-droplet cell analysis provides scope for rapid, high-throughput detection of low-abundance intracellular analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungu Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | | | - Pooja Kasiviswanathan
- Microbiology Undergraduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | | | - Robbyn K Anand
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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11
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Vasina M, Kovar D, Damborsky J, Ding Y, Yang T, deMello A, Mazurenko S, Stavrakis S, Prokop Z. In-depth analysis of biocatalysts by microfluidics: An emerging source of data for machine learning. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108171. [PMID: 37150331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, the vastly increasing demand for novel biotechnological products is supported by the continuous development of biocatalytic applications which provide sustainable green alternatives to chemical processes. The success of a biocatalytic application is critically dependent on how quickly we can identify and characterize enzyme variants fitting the conditions of industrial processes. While miniaturization and parallelization have dramatically increased the throughput of next-generation sequencing systems, the subsequent characterization of the obtained candidates is still a limiting process in identifying the desired biocatalysts. Only a few commercial microfluidic systems for enzyme analysis are currently available, and the transformation of numerous published prototypes into commercial platforms is still to be streamlined. This review presents the state-of-the-art, recent trends, and perspectives in applying microfluidic tools in the functional and structural analysis of biocatalysts. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of available technologies, their reproducibility and robustness, and readiness for routine laboratory use. We also highlight the unexplored potential of microfluidics to leverage the power of machine learning for biocatalyst development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Vasina
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Kovar
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Damborsky
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yun Ding
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tianjin Yang
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland; Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Stanislav Mazurenko
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Zbynek Prokop
- Loschmidt Laboratories, Department of Experimental Biology and RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; International Clinical Research Centre, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
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12
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Gantz M, Neun S, Medcalf EJ, van Vliet LD, Hollfelder F. Ultrahigh-Throughput Enzyme Engineering and Discovery in In Vitro Compartments. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5571-5611. [PMID: 37126602 PMCID: PMC10176489 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Novel and improved biocatalysts are increasingly sourced from libraries via experimental screening. The success of such campaigns is crucially dependent on the number of candidates tested. Water-in-oil emulsion droplets can replace the classical test tube, to provide in vitro compartments as an alternative screening format, containing genotype and phenotype and enabling a readout of function. The scale-down to micrometer droplet diameters and picoliter volumes brings about a >107-fold volume reduction compared to 96-well-plate screening. Droplets made in automated microfluidic devices can be integrated into modular workflows to set up multistep screening protocols involving various detection modes to sort >107 variants a day with kHz frequencies. The repertoire of assays available for droplet screening covers all seven enzyme commission (EC) number classes, setting the stage for widespread use of droplet microfluidics in everyday biochemical experiments. We review the practicalities of adapting droplet screening for enzyme discovery and for detailed kinetic characterization. These new ways of working will not just accelerate discovery experiments currently limited by screening capacity but profoundly change the paradigms we can probe. By interfacing the results of ultrahigh-throughput droplet screening with next-generation sequencing and deep learning, strategies for directed evolution can be implemented, examined, and evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Gantz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Stefanie Neun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Elliot J Medcalf
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Liisa D van Vliet
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, Cambridge CB2 1GA, U.K
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13
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Li B, Ma X, Cheng J, Tian T, Guo J, Wang Y, Pang L. Droplets microfluidics platform-A tool for single cell research. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1121870. [PMID: 37152651 PMCID: PMC10154550 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1121870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells are the most basic structural and functional units of living organisms. Studies of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell-cell interactions can help scientists understand the mysteries of living systems. However, there is considerable heterogeneity among cells. Great differences between individuals can be found even within the same cell cluster. Cell heterogeneity can only be clearly expressed and distinguished at the level of single cells. The development of droplet microfluidics technology opens up a new chapter for single-cell analysis. Microfluidic chips can produce many nanoscale monodisperse droplets, which can be used as small isolated micro-laboratories for various high-throughput, precise single-cell analyses. Moreover, gel droplets with good biocompatibility can be used in single-cell cultures and coupled with biomolecules for various downstream analyses of cellular metabolites. The droplets are also maneuverable; through physical and chemical forces, droplets can be divided, fused, and sorted to realize single-cell screening and other related studies. This review describes the channel design, droplet generation, and control technology of droplet microfluidics and gives a detailed overview of the application of droplet microfluidics in single-cell culture, single-cell screening, single-cell detection, and other aspects. Moreover, we provide a recent review of the application of droplet microfluidics in tumor single-cell immunoassays, describe in detail the advantages of microfluidics in tumor research, and predict the development of droplet microfluidics at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixuan Li
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xi Ma
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jianghong Cheng
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jiao Guo
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Wang,
| | - Long Pang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microorganism and Tumor Immunity, Xi’an, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China
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14
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Mao Q, Yang QJ, Liu Y, Cao W. Experimental and Numerical study of Droplet Formation with Marangoni Instability. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.118369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Liu Y, Chen L, Yu J, Ye L, Hu H, Wang J, Wu B. Advances in Single-Cell Toxicogenomics in Environmental Toxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:11132-11145. [PMID: 35881918 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity evaluation system of environmental pollutants has undergone numerous changes due to the application of new technologies. Single-cell toxicogenomics is rapidly changing our view on environmental toxicology by increasing the resolution of our analysis to the level of a single cell. Applications of this technology in environmental toxicology have begun to emerge and are rapidly expanding the portfolio of existing technologies and applications. Here, we first summarized different methods involved in single-cell isolation and amplification in single-cell sequencing process, compared the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, and analyzed their development trends. Then, we reviewed the main advances of single-cell toxicogenomics in environmental toxicology, emphatically analyzed the application prospects of this technology in identifying the target cells of pollutants in early embryos, clarifying the heterogeneous response of cell subtypes to pollutants, and finding pathogenic bacteria in unknown microbes, and highlighted the unique characteristics of this approach with high resolution, high throughput, and high specificity by examples. We also offered a prediction of the further application of this technology and the revolution it brings in environmental toxicology. Overall, these advances will provide practical solutions for controlling or mitigating exogenous toxicological effects that threaten human and ecosystem health, contribute to improving our understanding of the physiological processes affected by pollutants, and lead to the emergence of new methods of pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Ling Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Lin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Haidong Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
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16
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Babnigg G, Sherrell D, Kim Y, Johnson JL, Nocek B, Tan K, Axford D, Li H, Bigelow L, Welk L, Endres M, Owen RL, Joachimiak A. Data collection from crystals grown in microfluidic droplets. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2022; 78:997-1009. [PMID: 35916224 PMCID: PMC9344473 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798322004661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein crystals grown in microfluidic droplets have been shown to be an effective and robust platform for storage, transport and serial crystallography data collection with a minimal impact on diffraction quality. Single macromolecular microcrystals grown in nanolitre-sized droplets allow the very efficient use of protein samples and can produce large quantities of high-quality samples for data collection. However, there are challenges not only in growing crystals in microfluidic droplets, but also in delivering the droplets into X-ray beams, including the physical arrangement, beamline and timing constraints and ease of use. Here, the crystallization of two human gut microbial hydrolases in microfluidic droplets is described: a sample-transport and data-collection approach that is inexpensive, is convenient, requires small amounts of protein and is forgiving. It is shown that crystals can be grown in 50–500 pl droplets when the crystallization conditions are compatible with the droplet environment. Local and remote data-collection methods are described and it is shown that crystals grown in microfluidics droplets and housed as an emulsion in an Eppendorf tube can be shipped from the US to the UK using a FedEx envelope, and data can be collected successfully. Details of how crystals were delivered to the X-ray beam by depositing an emulsion of droplets onto a silicon fixed-target serial device are provided. After three months of storage at 4°C, the crystals endured and diffracted well, showing only a slight decrease in diffracting power, demonstrating a suitable way to grow crystals, and to store and collect the droplets with crystals for data collection. This sample-delivery and data-collection strategy allows crystal droplets to be shipped and set aside until beamtime is available.
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17
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Guo JK, Gao Y, Ling J, Yuan Y, Wang X, Song JK. Laser processing of microdroplet structure of liquid crystal in 3D. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:26018-26026. [PMID: 36236800 DOI: 10.1364/oe.459332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Processing of mesoscale structures of soft matter and liquid is of great importance in both science and engineering. In this work, we introduce the concept of laser-assisted micromachining to this field and inject a certain number of microdroplets into a preselected location on the surface of a liquid crystal drop through laser irradiation. The impact of laser energy on the triggered injection is discussed. The sequentially injected microdroplets are spontaneously captured by the defect ring in the host drop and transported along this defect track as micro-cargos. By precisely manipulating the laser beam, the tailored injection of droplets is achieved, and the injected droplets self-assemble into one necklace ring within the host drop. The result provides a bottom-up approach for the in-situ and three-dimensional microfabrication of droplet structure of soft matter using a laser beam, which may be applicable in the development of optical and photonic devices.
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18
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19
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Cong H, Zhang N. Perspectives in translating microfluidic devices from laboratory prototyping into scale-up production. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2022; 16:021301. [PMID: 35350441 PMCID: PMC8933055 DOI: 10.1063/5.0079045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Transforming lab research into a sustainable business is becoming a trend in the microfluidic field. However, there are various challenges during the translation process due to the gaps between academia and industry, especially from laboratory prototyping to industrial scale-up production, which is critical for potential commercialization. In this Perspective, based on our experience in collaboration with stakeholders, e.g., biologists, microfluidic engineers, diagnostic specialists, and manufacturers, we aim to share our understanding of the manufacturing process chain of microfluidic cartridge from concept development and laboratory prototyping to scale-up production, where the scale-up production of commercial microfluidic cartridges is highlighted. Four suggestions from the aspect of cartridge design for manufacturing, professional involvement, material selection, and standardization are provided in order to help scientists from the laboratory to bring their innovations into pre-clinical, clinical, and mass production and improve the manufacturability of laboratory prototypes toward commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengji Cong
- Centre of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology (MNMT-Dublin), School of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Nan Zhang
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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20
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Maurya R, Gohil N, Bhattacharjee G, Alzahrani KJ, Ramakrishna S, Singh V. Microfluidics device for drug discovery, screening and delivery. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 187:335-346. [PMID: 35094780 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidics and lab-on-chip are two progressive technologies widely used for drug discovery, screening and delivery. It has been designed in a way to act as a platform for sample preparations, culturing, incubation and screening through multi-channels. These devices require a small amount of reagent in about micro- to nanolitre volume. Microfluidics has the capacity to perform operations in a programmable manner and is easy to fine tune the size, shape and composition of drugs by changing flow rate and precise manipulations. Microfluidics platform comes with the advantage of mixing fluid in droplet reactors. Microfluidics is used in the field of chemistry, biomedical, biology and nanotechnology due to its high-throughput performance in various assays. It is potent enough to be used in microreactors for synthesis of particles and encapsulation of many biological entities for biological and drug delivery applications. Microfluidics therefore has the scope to be uplifted from basic to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupesh Maurya
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Indrashil University, Rajpur, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
| | - Nisarg Gohil
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Indrashil University, Rajpur, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
| | - Gargi Bhattacharjee
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Indrashil University, Rajpur, Mehsana, Gujarat, India
| | - Khalid J Alzahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratories Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suresh Ramakrishna
- Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea; College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Vijai Singh
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Indrashil University, Rajpur, Mehsana, Gujarat, India.
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21
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Tian F, Cai L, Liu C, Sun J. Microfluidic technologies for nanoparticle formation. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:512-529. [PMID: 35048096 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00812a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional nanoparticles (NPs) hold immense promise in diverse fields due to their unique biological, chemical, and physical properties associated with size or morphology. Microfluidic technologies featuring precise fluid manipulation have become versatile toolkits for manufacturing NPs in a highly controlled manner with low batch-to-batch variability. In this review, we present the fundamentals of microfluidic fabrication strategies, including mixing-, droplet-, and multiple field-based microfluidic methods. We highlight the formation of functional NPs using these microfluidic reactors, with an emphasis on lipid NPs, polymer NPs, lipid-polymer hybrid NPs, supramolecular NPs, metal and metal-oxide NPs, metal-organic framework NPs, covalent organic framework NPs, quantum dots, perovskite nanocrystals, biomimetic NPs, etc. we discuss future directions in microfluidic fabrication for accelerated development of functional NPs, such as device parallelization for large-scale NP production, highly efficient optimization of NP formulations, and AI-guided design of multi-step microfluidic reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tian
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lili Cai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiashu Sun
- Beijing Engineering Research Center for BioNanotechnology, CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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22
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Rastgar S, Pleis S, Zhang Y, Wittstock G. Dispensing Single Drops as Electrochemical Reactors. ChemElectroChem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202200004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shokoufeh Rastgar
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg: Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg Institute of Chemistry GERMANY
| | - Sebastian Pleis
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg: Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg Institute of Chemistry GERMANY
| | - Yanzhen Zhang
- China University of Petroleum Huadong - Qingdao Campus College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering CHINA
| | - Gunther Wittstock
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg: Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg Institute of Chemistry Carl von Ossietzky Str. 9-11 W3 1-105 26111 Oldenburg GERMANY
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23
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24
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Kota PK, LeJeune D, Drezek RA, Baraniuk RG. Extreme Compressed Sensing of Poisson Rates from Multiple Measurements. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON SIGNAL PROCESSING : A PUBLICATION OF THE IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING SOCIETY 2022; 70:2388-2401. [PMID: 36082267 PMCID: PMC9447484 DOI: 10.1109/tsp.2022.3172028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Compressed sensing (CS) is a signal processing technique that enables the efficient recovery of a sparse high-dimensional signal from low-dimensional measurements. In the multiple measurement vector (MMV) framework, a set of signals with the same support must be recovered from their corresponding measurements. Here, we present the first exploration of the MMV problem where signals are independently drawn from a sparse, multivariate Poisson distribution. We are primarily motivated by a suite of biosensing applications of microfluidics where analytes (such as whole cells or biomarkers) are captured in small volume partitions according to a Poisson distribution. We recover the sparse parameter vector of Poisson rates through maximum likelihood estimation with our novel Sparse Poisson Recovery (SPoRe) algorithm. SPoRe uses batch stochastic gradient ascent enabled by Monte Carlo approximations of otherwise intractable gradients. By uniquely leveraging the Poisson structure, SPoRe substantially outperforms a comprehensive set of existing and custom baseline CS algorithms. Notably, SPoRe can exhibit high performance even with one-dimensional measurements and high noise levels. This resource efficiency is not only unprecedented in the field of CS but is also particularly potent for applications in microfluidics in which the number of resolvable measurements per partition is often severely limited. We prove the identifiability property of the Poisson model under such lax conditions, analytically develop insights into system performance, and confirm these insights in simulated experiments. Our findings encourage a new approach to biosensing and are generalizable to other applications featuring spatial and temporal Poisson signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavan K Kota
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
| | - Daniel LeJeune
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
| | - Rebekah A Drezek
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
| | - Richard G Baraniuk
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA
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25
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Siedlik MJ, Issadore D. Pico-washing: simultaneous liquid addition and removal for continuous-flow washing of microdroplets. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:46. [PMID: 35498338 PMCID: PMC9050730 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is based on a toolbox of several established unit operations, including droplet generation, incubation, mixing, pico-injection, and sorting. In the last two decades, the development of droplet microfluidic systems, which incorporate these multiple unit operations into a workflow, has demonstrated unique capabilities in fields ranging from single-cell transcriptomic analyses to materials optimization. One unit operation that is sorely underdeveloped in droplet microfluidics is washing, exchange of the fluid in a droplet with a different fluid. Here, we demonstrate what we name the "pico-washer," a unit operation capable of simultaneously adding fluid to and removing fluid from droplets in flow while requiring only a small footprint on a microfluidic chip. We describe the fabrication strategy, device architecture, and process parameters required for stable operation of this technology, which is capable of operating with kHz droplet throughput. Furthermore, we provide an image processing workflow to characterize the washing process with microsecond and micrometer resolution. Finally, we demonstrate the potential for integrated droplet workflows by arranging two of these unit operations in series with a droplet generator, describe a design rule for stable operation of the pico-washer when integrated into a system, and validate this design rule experimentally. We anticipate that this technology will contribute to continued development of the droplet microfluidics toolbox and the realization of novel droplet-based, multistep biological and chemical assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Siedlik
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
| | - David Issadore
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States
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26
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Andreiuk B, Nicolson F, Clark LM, Panikkanvalappil SR, Kenry, Rashidian M, Harmsen S, Kircher MF. Design and synthesis of gold nanostars-based SERS nanotags for bioimaging applications. Nanotheranostics 2022; 6:10-30. [PMID: 34976578 PMCID: PMC8671966 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.61244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanotags hold a unique place among bioimaging contrast agents due to their fingerprint-like spectra, which provide one of the highest degrees of detection specificity. However, in order to achieve a sufficiently high signal intensity, targeting capabilities, and biocompatibility, all components of nanotags must be rationally designed and tailored to a specific application. Design parameters include fine-tuning the properties of the plasmonic core as well as optimizing the choice of Raman reporter molecule, surface coating, and targeting moieties for the intended application. This review introduces readers to the principles of SERS nanotag design and discusses both established and emerging protocols of their synthesis, with a specific focus on the construction of SERS nanotags in the context of bioimaging and theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohdan Andreiuk
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Fay Nicolson
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Louise M. Clark
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Kenry
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mohammad Rashidian
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Stefan Harmsen
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Moritz F. Kircher
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 022115, USA
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27
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Link A, McGrath JS, Zaimagaoglu M, Franke T. Active single cell encapsulation using SAW overcoming the limitations of Poisson distribution. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:193-200. [PMID: 34889927 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00880c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate the use of an acoustic device to actively encapsulate single red blood cells into individual droplets in a T-junction. We compare the active encapsulation with the passive encapsulation depending on the number of loaded cells as well as the created droplet volumes. This method overcomes the Poisson limitation statistical loading of cells for the passive encapsulation. In our experiments we reach a single cell encapsulation efficiency of 97.9 ± 2.1% at droplet formation rates exceeding 15 Hz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Link
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield Avenue, G12 8LT Glasgow, UK.
| | - John S McGrath
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield Avenue, G12 8LT Glasgow, UK.
| | - Mustafa Zaimagaoglu
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield Avenue, G12 8LT Glasgow, UK.
| | - Thomas Franke
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield Avenue, G12 8LT Glasgow, UK.
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28
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Amirifar L, Besanjideh M, Nasiri R, Shamloo A, Nasrollahi F, de Barros NR, Davoodi E, Erdem A, Mahmoodi M, Hosseini V, Montazerian H, Jahangiry J, Darabi MA, Haghniaz R, Dokmeci MR, Annabi N, Ahadian S, Khademhosseini A. Droplet-based microfluidics in biomedical applications. Biofabrication 2021; 14. [PMID: 34781274 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ac39a9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic systems have been employed to manipulate discrete fluid volumes with immiscible phases. Creating the fluid droplets at microscale has led to a paradigm shift in mixing, sorting, encapsulation, sensing, and designing high throughput devices for biomedical applications. Droplet microfluidics has opened many opportunities in microparticle synthesis, molecular detection, diagnostics, drug delivery, and cell biology. In the present review, we first introduce standard methods for droplet generation (i.e., passive and active methods) and discuss the latest examples of emulsification and particle synthesis approaches enabled by microfluidic platforms. Then, the applications of droplet-based microfluidics in different biomedical applications are detailed. Finally, a general overview of the latest trends along with the perspectives and future potentials in the field are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Amirifar
- Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Mohsen Besanjideh
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Rohollah Nasiri
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | - Amir Shamloo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Tehran, 11365-11155, Iran (the Islamic Republic of)
| | | | - Natan Roberto de Barros
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Elham Davoodi
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Ahmet Erdem
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Vahid Hosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Hossein Montazerian
- Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Jamileh Jahangiry
- University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | | | - Reihaneh Haghniaz
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Mehmet R Dokmeci
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Nasim Annabi
- Chemical Engineering, UCLA, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, UNITED STATES
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, Los Angeles, 90024, UNITED STATES
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29
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Molloy A, Harrison J, McGrath JS, Owen Z, Smith C, Liu X, Li X, Cox JAG. Microfluidics as a Novel Technique for Tuberculosis: From Diagnostics to Drug Discovery. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112330. [PMID: 34835455 PMCID: PMC8618277 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global healthcare crisis, with an estimated 5.8 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2020. TB is caused by infection with the major human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is difficult to rapidly diagnose and treat. There is an urgent need for new methods of diagnosis, sufficient in vitro models that capably mimic all physiological conditions of the infection, and high-throughput drug screening platforms. Microfluidic-based techniques provide single-cell analysis which reduces experimental time and the cost of reagents, and have been extremely useful for gaining insight into monitoring microorganisms. This review outlines the field of microfluidics and discusses the use of this novel technique so far in M. tuberculosis diagnostics, research methods, and drug discovery platforms. The practices of microfluidics have promising future applications for diagnosing and treating TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Molloy
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; (A.M.); (J.H.)
| | - James Harrison
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; (A.M.); (J.H.)
| | - John S. McGrath
- Sphere Fluidics Limited, The McClintock Building, Suite 7, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; (J.S.M.); (Z.O.); (C.S.); (X.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Zachary Owen
- Sphere Fluidics Limited, The McClintock Building, Suite 7, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; (J.S.M.); (Z.O.); (C.S.); (X.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Clive Smith
- Sphere Fluidics Limited, The McClintock Building, Suite 7, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; (J.S.M.); (Z.O.); (C.S.); (X.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Xin Liu
- Sphere Fluidics Limited, The McClintock Building, Suite 7, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; (J.S.M.); (Z.O.); (C.S.); (X.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Xin Li
- Sphere Fluidics Limited, The McClintock Building, Suite 7, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6GP, UK; (J.S.M.); (Z.O.); (C.S.); (X.L.); (X.L.)
| | - Jonathan A. G. Cox
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; (A.M.); (J.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-121-204-5011
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30
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Le TNQ, Tran NN, Escribà-Gelonch M, Serra CA, Fisk I, McClements DJ, Hessel V. Microfluidic encapsulation for controlled release and its potential for nanofertilisers. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:11979-12012. [PMID: 34515721 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00465d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is increasingly being utilized to create advanced materials with improved or new functional attributes. Converting fertilizers into a nanoparticle-form has been shown to improve their efficacy but the current procedures used to fabricate nanofertilisers often have poor reproducibility and flexibility. Microfluidic systems, on the other hand, have advantages over traditional nanoparticle fabrication methods in terms of energy and materials consumption, versatility, and controllability. The increased controllability can result in the formation of nanoparticles with precise and complex morphologies (e.g., tuneable sizes, low polydispersity, and multi-core structures). As a result, their functional performance can be tailored to specific applications. This paper reviews the principles, formation, and applications of nano-enabled delivery systems fabricated using microfluidic approaches for the encapsulation, protection, and release of fertilizers. Controlled release can be achieved using two main routes: (i) nutrients adsorbed on nanosupports and (ii) nutrients encapsulated inside nanostructures. We aim to highlight the opportunities for preparing a new generation of highly versatile nanofertilisers using microfluidic systems. We will explore several main characteristics of microfluidically prepared nanofertilisers, including droplet formation, shell fine-tuning, adsorbate fine-tuning, and sustained/triggered release behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tu Nguyen Quang Le
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nam Nghiep Tran
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,School of Chemical Engineering, Can Tho University, Can Tho City, Vietnam
| | - Marc Escribà-Gelonch
- Higher Polytechnic Engineering School, University of Lleida, Igualada (Barcelona), 08700, Spain
| | - Christophe A Serra
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Charles Sadron UPR 22, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Ian Fisk
- Division of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK.,The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. .,School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Rd, Coventry, UK
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31
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Vyawahare S, Brundage M, Kijac A, Gutierrez M, de Geus M, Sinha S, Homyk A. Sorting droplets into many outlets. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4262-4273. [PMID: 34617550 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00493j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics is a commercially successful technology, widely used in single cell sequencing and droplet PCR. Combining droplet making with droplet sorting has also been demonstrated, but so far found limited use, partly due to difficulties in scaling manufacture with injection molded plastics. We introduce a droplet sorting system with several new elements, including: 1) an electrode design combining metallic and ionic liquid parts, 2) a modular, multi-sorting fluidic design with features for keeping inter-droplet distances constant, 3) using timing parameters calculated from fluorescence or scatter signal triggers to precisely actuate dozens of sorting electrodes, 4) droplet collection techniques, including ability to collect a single droplet, and 5) a new emulsion breaking method to collect aqueous samples for downstream analysis. We use these technologies to build a fluorescence based cell sorter that can sort with high (>90%) purity. We also show that these microfluidic designs can be translated into injection molded thermoplastic, suitable for industrial production. Finally, we tally the advantages and limitations of these devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Vyawahare
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Michael Brundage
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Aleksandra Kijac
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Michael Gutierrez
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Martina de Geus
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Supriyo Sinha
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Andrew Homyk
- Verily Life Sciences LLC, 249 E. Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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32
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Dubay R, Urban JN, Darling EM. Single-Cell Microgels for Diagnostics and Therapeutics. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2021; 31:2009946. [PMID: 36329867 PMCID: PMC9629779 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202009946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell encapsulation within hydrogel droplets is transforming what is feasible in multiple fields of biomedical science such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, in vitro modeling, and cell-based therapies. Recent advances have allowed researchers to miniaturize material encapsulation complexes down to single-cell scales, where each complex, termed a single-cell microgel, contains only one cell surrounded by a hydrogel matrix while remaining <100 μm in size. With this achievement, studies requiring single-cell resolution are now possible, similar to those done using liquid droplet encapsulation. Of particular note, applications involving long-term in vitro cultures, modular bioinks, high-throughput screenings, and formation of 3D cellular microenvironments can be tuned independently to suit the needs of individual cells and experimental goals. In this progress report, an overview of established materials and techniques used to fabricate single-cell microgels, as well as insight into potential alternatives is provided. This focused review is concluded by discussing applications that have already benefited from single-cell microgel technologies, as well as prospective applications on the cusp of achieving important new capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Dubay
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, 175 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Draper, 555 Technology Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Joseph N Urban
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, 175 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Eric M Darling
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Department of Orthopaedics, Brown University, 175 Meeting St., Providence, RI 02912, USA
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33
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Puthongkham P, Wirojsaengthong S, Suea-Ngam A. Machine learning and chemometrics for electrochemical sensors: moving forward to the future of analytical chemistry. Analyst 2021; 146:6351-6364. [PMID: 34585185 DOI: 10.1039/d1an01148k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Electrochemical sensors and biosensors have been successfully used in a wide range of applications, but systematic optimization and nonlinear relationships have been compromised for electrode fabrication and data analysis. Machine learning and experimental designs are chemometric tools that have been proved to be useful in method development and data analysis. This minireview summarizes recent applications of machine learning and experimental designs in electroanalytical chemistry. First, experimental designs, e.g., full factorial, central composite, and Box-Behnken are discussed as systematic approaches to optimize electrode fabrication to consider the effects from individual variables and their interactions. Then, the principles of machine learning algorithms, including linear and logistic regressions, neural network, and support vector machine, are introduced. These machine learning models have been implemented to extract complex relationships between chemical structures and their electrochemical properties and to analyze complicated electrochemical data to improve calibration and analyte classification, such as in electronic tongues. Lastly, the future of machine learning and experimental designs in electrochemical sensors is outlined. These chemometric strategies will accelerate the development and enhance the performance of electrochemical devices for point-of-care diagnostics and commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pumidech Puthongkham
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. .,Electrochemistry and Optical Spectroscopy Center of Excellence (EOSCE), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.,Center of Excellence in Responsive Wearable Materials, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Supacha Wirojsaengthong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Akkapol Suea-Ngam
- Department of Materials, Department of Bioengineering, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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34
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Applications of Microfluidics in Liquid Crystal-Based Biosensors. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11100385. [PMID: 34677341 PMCID: PMC8534167 DOI: 10.3390/bios11100385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) with stimuli-responsive configuration transition and optical anisotropic properties have attracted enormous interest in the development of simple and label-free biosensors. The combination of microfluidics and the LCs offers great advantages over traditional LC-based biosensors including small sample consumption, fast analysis and low cost. Moreover, microfluidic techniques provide a promising tool to fabricate uniform and reproducible LC-based sensing platforms. In this review, we emphasize the recent development of microfluidics in the fabrication and integration of LC-based biosensors, including LC planar sensing platforms and LC droplets. Fabrication and integration of LC-based planar platforms with microfluidics for biosensing applications are first introduced. The generation and entrapment of monodisperse LC droplets with different microfluidic structures, as well as their applications in the detection of chemical and biological species, are then summarized. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensors are proposed. This review will promote the understanding of microfluidic techniques in LC-based biosensors and facilitate the development of LC-based microfluidic biosensing devices with high performance.
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35
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Loo MH, Nakagawa Y, Kim SH, Isozaki A, Goda K. High-throughput sorting of nanoliter droplets enabled by a sequentially addressable dielectrophoretic array. Electrophoresis 2021; 43:477-486. [PMID: 34599837 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool for a diverse range of biomedical and industrial applications such as single-cell analysis, directed evolution, and metabolic engineering. In these applications, droplet sorting has been effective for isolating small droplets encapsulating molecules, cells, or crystals of interest. Recently, there is an increased interest in extending the applicability of droplet sorting to larger droplets to utilize their size advantage. However, sorting throughputs of large droplets have been limited, hampering their wide adoption. Here, we report our demonstration of high-throughput fluorescence-activated droplet sorting of 1 nL droplets using an upgraded version of the sequentially addressable dielectrophoretic array (SADA), which we reported previously. The SADA is an array of electrodes that are individually and sequentially activated/deactivated according to the speed and position of a droplet passing nearby the array. We upgraded the SADA by increasing the number of driving electrodes constituting the SADA and incorporating a slanted microchannel. By using a ten-electrode SADA with the slanted microchannel, we achieved fluorescence-activated droplet sorting of 1 nL droplets at a record high throughput of 1752 droplets/s, twice as high as the previously reported maximum sorting throughput of 1 nL droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mun Hong Loo
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuta Nakagawa
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soo Hyeon Kim
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihiro Isozaki
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Keisuke Goda
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei, P. R. China
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36
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Quantitative electrolysis of droplet contents in microfluidic channels. Concept and experimental validation. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.139017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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37
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Toprakcioglu Z, Knowles TPJ. Sequential storage and release of microdroplets. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:76. [PMID: 34631144 PMCID: PMC8481565 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00303-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic methods have opened up the possibility of studying a plethora of phenomena ranging from biological to physical or chemical processes at ultra low volumes and high throughput. A key component of such approaches is the ability to trap droplets for observation, and many device architectures for achieving this objective have been developed. A challenge with such approaches is, however, recovering the droplets following their confinement for applications involving further analysis. Here, we present a device capable of generating, confining and releasing microdroplets in a sequential manner. Through a combination of experimental and computational simulations, we shed light on the key features required for successful droplet storage and retrieval. Moreover, we explore the effect of the flow rate of the continuous phase on droplet release, determining that a critical rate is needed to ensure complete droplet deformation through constrictions holding the droplets in place prior to release. Finally, we find that once released, droplets can be retrieved and collected off chip. The ability to generate, store and sequentially release droplets renders such a device particularly promising for future applications where reactions may not only be monitored on-chip, but droplets can also be retrieved for further analysis, facilitating new exploratory avenues in the fields of analytical chemistry and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zenon Toprakcioglu
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW UK
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE UK
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38
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Argentiere S, Siciliano PA, Blasi L. How Microgels Can Improve the Impact of Organ-on-Chip and Microfluidic Devices for 3D Culture: Compartmentalization, Single Cell Encapsulation and Control on Cell Fate. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:3216. [PMID: 34641032 PMCID: PMC8512905 DOI: 10.3390/polym13193216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Organ-on-chip (OOC) devices represent the new frontier in biomedical research to produce micro-organoids and tissues for drug testing and regenerative medicine. The development of such miniaturized models requires the 3D culture of multiple cell types in a highly controlled microenvironment, opening new challenges in reproducing the extracellular matrix (ECM) experienced by cells in vivo. In this regard, cell-laden microgels (CLMs) represent a promising tool for 3D cell culturing and on-chip generation of micro-organs. The engineering of hydrogel matrix with properly balanced biochemical and biophysical cues enables the formation of tunable 3D cellular microenvironments and long-term in vitro cultures. This focused review provides an overview of the most recent applications of CLMs in microfluidic devices for organoids formation, highlighting microgels' roles in OOC development as well as insights into future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Blasi
- Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems IMM-CNR, Via Monteroni, University Campus, 73100 Lecce, Italy; (S.A.); (P.A.S.)
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39
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Batista PR, Penna TC, Ducati LC, Correra TC. p-Aminobenzoic acid protonation dynamics in an evaporating droplet by ab initio molecular dynamics. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:19659-19672. [PMID: 34524295 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp01495a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Protonation equilibria are known to vary from the bulk to microdroplet conditions, which could induce many chemical and physical phenomena. Protonated p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA + H+) can be considered a model for probing the protonation dynamics in an evaporating droplet, as its protonation equilibrium is highly dependent on the formation conditions from solution via atmospheric pressure ionization sources. Experiments using diverse experimental techniques have shown that protic solvents allow formation of the O-protomer (PABA protonated in the carboxylic acid group) stable in the gas phase, while aprotic solvents yield the N-protomer (protonated in the amino group) that is the most stable protomer in solution. In this work, we explore the protonation equilibrium of PABA solvated by different numbers of water molecules (n = 0 to 32) using ab initio molecular dynamics. For n = 8-32, the protonation is either at the NH2 group or in the solvent network. The solvent network interacts with the carboxylic acid group, but there is no complete proton transfer to form the O-protomer. For smaller clusters, however, solvent-mediated proton transfers to the carboxylic acid were observed, both via the Grotthuss mechanism and the vehicle or shuttle mechanism (for n = 1 and 2). Thermodynamic considerations allowed a description of the origins of the kinetic trapping effect, which explains the observation of the solution structure in the gas phase. This effect likely occurs in the final evaporation steps, which are outside the droplet size range covered by previous classical molecular dynamics simulations of charged droplets. These results may be considered relevant in determining the nature of the species observed in the ubiquitous ESI based mass spectrometry analysis, and in general for droplet chemistry, explaining how protonation equilibria are drastically changed from bulk to microdroplet conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R Batista
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry - University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Tatiana C Penna
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry - University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Lucas C Ducati
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry - University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Thiago C Correra
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry - University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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40
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Grubb ML, Caliari SR. Fabrication approaches for high-throughput and biomimetic disease modeling. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:52-82. [PMID: 33716174 PMCID: PMC8433272 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is often a tradeoff between in vitro disease modeling platforms that capture pathophysiologic complexity and those that are amenable to high-throughput fabrication and analysis. However, this divide is closing through the application of a handful of fabrication approaches-parallel fabrication, automation, and flow-driven assembly-to design sophisticated cellular and biomaterial systems. The purpose of this review is to highlight methods for the fabrication of high-throughput biomaterial-based platforms and showcase examples that demonstrate their utility over a range of throughput and complexity. We conclude with a discussion of future considerations for the continued development of higher-throughput in vitro platforms that capture the appropriate level of biological complexity for the desired application. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There is a pressing need for new biomedical tools to study and understand disease. These platforms should mimic the complex properties of the body while also permitting investigation of many combinations of cells, extracellular cues, and/or therapeutics in high-throughput. This review summarizes emerging strategies to fabricate biomimetic disease models that bridge the gap between complex tissue-mimicking microenvironments and high-throughput screens for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L Grubb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States
| | - Steven R Caliari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States.
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41
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Probst J, Borca CN, Newton MA, van Bokhoven J, Huthwelker T, Stavrakis S, deMello A. In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Droplet-Based Microfluidics: An Analysis of Calcium Carbonate Precipitation. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2021; 1:27-34. [PMID: 36785734 PMCID: PMC9836070 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.1c00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Droplet-based microfluidic systems are ideally suited for the investigation of nucleation and crystallization processes. To best leverage the features of such platforms (including exquisite time resolution and high-throughput operation), sensitive and in situ detection schemes are needed to extract real-time chemical information about all species of interest. In this regard, the extension of conventional (UV, visible, and infrared) optical detection schemes to the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum is of high current interest, as techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provide for the element-specific investigation of the local chemical environment. Accordingly, herein, we report for the first time the integration of millisecond droplet-based microfluidics with XAS. Such a platform allows for the sensitive acquisition of X-ray absorption data from picoliter-volume droplets moving at high linear velocities. Significantly, the high-temporal resolution of the droplet-based microfluidic platform enables unprecedented access to the early stages of the reaction. Using such an approach, we demonstrate in situ monitoring of calcium carbonate precipitation by extracting XAS spectra at the early time points of the reaction with a dead time as low as 10 ms. We obtain insights into the kinetics of the formation of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) as a first species during the crystallization process by monitoring the proportion of calcium ions converted into ACC. Within the confined and homogeneous environment of picoliter-volume droplets, the ACC content reaches 60% over the first 130 ms. More generally, the presented method offers new opportunities for the real-time monitoring of fast chemical and biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Probst
- Institute
for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied
Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark A. Newton
- Institute
for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied
Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jeroen van Bokhoven
- Institute
for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied
Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- Paul
Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - Stavros Stavrakis
- Institute
for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied
Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew deMello
- Institute
for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied
Biosciences, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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42
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Thakur S, Dasmahapatra AK, Bandyopadhyay D. Functional liquid droplets for analyte sensing and energy harvesting. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 294:102453. [PMID: 34120038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2021.102453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the past century, rapid miniaturization of technologies has helped in the development of efficient, flexible, portable, robust, and compact applications with minimal wastage of materials. In this direction, of late, the usage of mesoscale liquid droplets has emerged as an alternative platform because of the following advantages: (i) a droplet is incompressible and at the same time deformable, (ii) interfacial area of a spherical droplet is minimum for a given amount of mass; and (iii) a droplet interface allows facile mass, momentum, and energy transfer. Subsequently, such attributes have aided towards the design of diverse droplet-based microfluidic technologies. For example, the microdroplets have been utilized as micro-reactors, colorimetric or electrochemical (EC) sensors, drug-delivery vehicles, and energy harvesters. Further, a number of recently reported lab-on-a-chip technologies exploit the motility, storage, and mixing capacities of the microdroplets. In view of this background, the review initiates discussion by highlighting the different attributes of the microdroplets such as size, shape, surface to volume ratio, wettability, and contact line. Thereafter, the effects of the surface or body forces on the properties of the droplets have been elaborated. Finally, the different aspects of such liquid droplet systems towards technological adaptations in health care, sensing, and energy harvesting have been presented. The review concludes with a tight summary on the potential avenues for further developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Thakur
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Dasmahapatra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Dipankar Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India; Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam 781039, India.
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43
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Beshay PE, Ibrahim AM, Jeffrey SS, Howe RT, Anis YH. Encapsulated Cell Dynamics in Droplet Microfluidic Devices with Sheath Flow. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12070839. [PMID: 34357249 PMCID: PMC8304737 DOI: 10.3390/mi12070839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we study the dynamics of single cells encapsulated in water-in-oil emulsions in a microchannel. The flow field of a microfluidic channel is coupled to the internal flow field of a droplet through viscous traction at the interface, resulting in a rotational flow field inside the droplet. An encapsulated single cell being subjected to this flow field responds by undergoing multiple orbits, spins, and deformations that depend on its physical properties. Monitoring the cell dynamics, using a high-speed camera, can lead to the development of new label-free methods for the detection of rare cells, based on their biomechanical properties. A sheath flow microchannel was proposed to strengthen the rotational flow field inside droplets flowing in Poiseuille flow conditions. A numerical model was developed to investigate the effect of various parameters on the rotational flow field inside a droplet. The multi-phase flow model required the tracking of the fluid–fluid interface, which deforms over time due to the applied shear stresses. Experiments confirmed the significant effect of the sheath flow rate on the cell dynamics, where the speed of cell orbiting was doubled. Doubling the cell speed can double the amount of extracted biomechanical information from the encapsulated cell, while it remains within the field of view of the camera used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E. Beshay
- Mechanical Design and Production Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt; (P.E.B.); (A.M.I.)
| | - Ali M. Ibrahim
- Mechanical Design and Production Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt; (P.E.B.); (A.M.I.)
| | - Stefanie S. Jeffrey
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Roger T. Howe
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA;
| | - Yasser H. Anis
- Mechanical Design and Production Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt; (P.E.B.); (A.M.I.)
- Correspondence:
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44
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He Z, Wang J, Fike BJ, Li X, Li C, Mendis BL, Li P. A portable droplet generation system for ultra-wide dynamic range digital PCR based on a vibrating sharp-tip capillary. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 191:113458. [PMID: 34216876 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Monodisperse droplet has been widely used as a versatile tool in different disciplines including biosensing. Existing methods still struggle to balance the droplet generation performance with system simplicity. Here we introduce a novel droplet generation scheme based on the acoustic streaming generated from a vibrating sharp-tip capillary. The unique fluid pattern enables efficient droplet generation without any external pressure sources. This method achieved real-time modulation of droplet size over an ultra-wide range (6.77-661 μm), high throughput (up to 5000 droplets/s), and good monodispersity (<4%) with a power consumption below 60 mW. This method has enabled a multi-volume digital PCR with a dynamic range of ~6 orders of magnitude and multiplexing capability. It has also enabled a simple protocol to produce cell-laden alginate microcapsules in variable sizes with excellent biocompatibility. Overall, the present method combines high performance with small footprint and portability, which will be especially valuable for droplet applications requiring variable droplet size and performed in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi He
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Bethany J Fike
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Xiaojun Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Chong Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | | | - Peng Li
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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45
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Torbensen K, Baroud CN, Ristori S, Abou-Hassan A. Tip Streaming of a Lipid-Stabilized Double Emulsion Generated in a Microfluidic Channel. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:7442-7448. [PMID: 34110835 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Water/oil/water (w/o/w) double emulsions (DEs) are multicompartment structures which can be used in many technological applications and in fundamental studies as models of cell like microreactors or templates for other materials. Herein, we study the flow dynamics of water/oil/water double emulsions generated in a microfluidic device and stabilized with the phospholipid 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC). We show that by varying the concentration of lipids in the oil phase (chloroform) or by modulating the viscosity of the aqueous continuous phase, the double emulsions under flow exhibit a rich dynamic behavior. An initial deformation of the double emulsions is followed by tube extraction at the rear end, relative to the flow direction, resulting in pinch off at the tube extremity by which small aqueous compartments are released. These compartments are phospholipid vesicles as deduced from fluorescence experiments. The overall process can thus be of help to shed light on the mechanical aspects of phenomena such as the budding and fusion in cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian Torbensen
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8234, Laboratoire PHysico-chimie des Électrolytes et Nanosystèmes InterfaciauX, PHENIX, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Charles N Baroud
- Physical Microfluidics & Bioengineering, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Dr. Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sandra Ristori
- Chemistry Department & CSGI, University of Florence, via Della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fioretino, Italy
| | - Ali Abou-Hassan
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR 8234, Laboratoire PHysico-chimie des Électrolytes et Nanosystèmes InterfaciauX, PHENIX, F-75005 Paris, France
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46
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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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47
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Delahaye T, Lombardo T, Sella C, Thouin L. Electrochemical assessments of droplet contents in microfluidic channels. Application to the titration of heterogeneous droplets. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1155:338344. [PMID: 33766324 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Series of aqueous droplets containing redox species were generated on-demand in a microfluidic channel and detected downstream by an electrochemical cell. Depending on the cell geometry, amperometric detections were performed to simultaneously determine the velocity, volume and content of circulating droplets in oil. Volumes and velocities were estimated from specific transition times on the chronoamperometric responses, while charge were evaluated from current integration. The results showed that the total charge within droplets was controlled by the geometry of the electrochemical cell and droplet velocity, leading to accurate determinations of droplet content under specific operating conditions. An active merging of droplets with titrating solutions was tested for analytical purposes. The results demonstrated that even if the mixing was not complete during detection, the assessment of droplet content was still valid. The performance of electrochemical detection was thus evidenced to determine the content of heterogeneous droplets. This property is pertinent since the design of sophisticated circuits is no longer required to fully homogenize the droplet content before characterization, opening broader perspectives in droplet-based microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Delahaye
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Teo Lombardo
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Sella
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Thouin
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005, Paris, France.
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48
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Utility of low-cost, miniaturized peristaltic and Venturi pumps in droplet microfluidics. Anal Chim Acta 2021; 1151:338230. [PMID: 33608076 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Many laboratory applications utilizing droplet microfluidics rely on precision syringe pumps for flow generation. In this study, the use of an open-source peristaltic pump primarily composed of 3D printed parts and a low-cost commercial Venturi pump are explored for their use as an alternative to syringe pumps for droplet microfluidics. Both devices provided stable flow (<2% RSD) over a range of 1-7 μL/min and high reproducibility in signal intensity at a droplet generation rate around 0.25 Hz (<3% RSD), which are comparable in performance to similar measurements on standard syringe pumps. As a novel flow generation source for microfluidic applications, the use of the miniaturized Venturi pump was also applied to droplet signal monitoring studies used to measure changes in concentration over time, with average signal reproducibility <4% RSD for both single-stream fluorometric and reagent addition colorimetric applications. These low-cost flow methods provide stable flow sufficient for common droplet microfluidic approaches and can be implemented in a wide variety of simple, and potentially portable, analytical measurement devices.
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49
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Qin N, Zhao P, Ho EA, Xin G, Ren CL. Microfluidic Technology for Antibacterial Resistance Study and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing: Review and Perspective. ACS Sens 2021; 6:3-21. [PMID: 33337870 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
A review on microfluidic technology for antibacterial resistance study and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) is presented here. Antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis in recent decades, severely threatening public health, patient care, economic growth, and even national security. It is extremely urgent that antibiotic resistance be well looked into and aggressively combated in order for us to survive this crisis. AST has been routinely utilized in determining bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and identifying potential resistance. Yet conventional methods for AST are increasingly incompetent due to unsatisfactory test speed, high cost, and deficient reliability. Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful and very promising platform technology that has proven capable of addressing the limitation of conventional methods and advancing AST to a new level. Besides, potential technical challenges that are likely to hinder the development of microfluidic technology aimed at AST are observed and discussed. To conclude, it is noted that (1) the translation of microfluidic innovations from laboratories to be ready AST platforms remains a lengthy journey and (2) ensuring all relevant parties engaged in a collaborative and unified mode is foundational to the successful incubation of commercial microfluidic platforms for AST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Qin
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Pei Zhao
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Emmanuel A. Ho
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1C5, Canada
| | - Gongming Xin
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250061, China
| | - Carolyn L. Ren
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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50
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Hlaváček A, Křivánková J, Pizúrová N, Václavek T, Foret F. Photon-upconversion barcode for monitoring an enzymatic reaction with a fluorescence reporter in droplet microfluidics. Analyst 2020; 145:7718-7723. [PMID: 32996917 DOI: 10.1039/d0an01667e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We report luminescent photon-upconversion barcodes for indexing the chemical content of droplets. The barcode is compatible with the simultaneous detection of fluorescence. The encoding and decoding of the initial concentration of enzyme β-galactosidase and substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl β-d-galactopyranoside are described. The fluorescent product 4-methylumbelliferone is detected simultaneously with the barcode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonín Hlaváček
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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