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Shen S, Zhao L, Bai H, Zhang Y, Niu Y, Tian C, Chan H. Spiral Large-Dimension Microfluidic Channel for Flow-Rate- and Particle-Size-Insensitive Focusing by the Stabilization and Acceleration of Secondary Flow. Anal Chem 2024; 96:1750-1758. [PMID: 38215439 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Inertial microfluidics has demonstrated its ability to focus particles in a passive and straightforward manner. However, achieving flow-rate- and particle-size-insensitive focusing in large-dimension channels with a simple design remains challenging. In this study, we developed a spiral microfluidic with a large-dimension channel to achieve inertial focusing. By designing a unique "big buffering area" and a "small buffering area" in the spiral microchannel, we observed the stabilization and acceleration of secondary flow. Our optimized design allowed for efficient (>99.9%) focusing of 15 μm particles within a wide range of flow rates (0.5-4.5 mL/min) during a long operation duration (0-60 min). Additionally, we achieved effective (>95%) focusing of different-sized particles (7, 10, 15, and 30 μm) and three types of tumor cells (K562, HeLa, and MCF-7) near the inner wall of the 1 mm wide outlet when applying different flow rates (1-3 mL/min). Finally, successful 3D cell focusing was achieved within an optimized device, with the cells positioned at a distance of 50 μm from the wall. Our strategy of stabilizing and accelerating Dean-like secondary flow through the unique configuration of a "big buffering area" and a "small buffering area" proved to be highly effective in achieving inertial focusing that is insensitive to the flow rate and particle size, particularly in large-dimension channels. Consequently, it shows great potential for use in hand-operated microfluidic tools for flow cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaofei Shen
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Lei Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an 710126, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Hanjie Bai
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Yanbing Niu
- Shanxi Key Lab for Modernization of TCVM, College of Life Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, P. R. China
| | - Chang Tian
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Henryk Chan
- Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, U.K
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2
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Peng T, Qiang J, Yuan S. Sheathless inertial particle focusing methods within microfluidic devices: a review. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1331968. [PMID: 38260735 PMCID: PMC10801244 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1331968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to manipulate and focus particles within microscale fluidic environments is crucial to advancing biological, chemical, and medical research. Precise and high-throughput particle focusing is an essential prerequisite for various applications, including cell counting, biomolecular detection, sample sorting, and enhancement of biosensor functionalities. Active and sheath-assisted focusing techniques offer accuracy but necessitate the introduction of external energy fields or additional sheath flows. In contrast, passive focusing methods exploit the inherent fluid dynamics in achieving high-throughput focusing without external actuation. This review analyzes the latest developments in strategies of sheathless inertial focusing, emphasizing inertial and elasto-inertial microfluidic focusing techniques from the channel structure classifications. These methodologies will serve as pivotal benchmarks for the broader application of microfluidic focusing technologies in biological sample manipulation. Then, prospects for future development are also predicted. This paper will assist in the understanding of the design of microfluidic particle focusing devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Peng
- Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jun Qiang
- The School of Mechanical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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3
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An L, Ji F, Zhao E, Liu Y, Liu Y. Measuring cell deformation by microfluidics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1214544. [PMID: 37434754 PMCID: PMC10331473 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1214544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics is an increasingly popular method for studying cell deformation, with various applications in fields such as cell biology, biophysics, and medical research. Characterizing cell deformation offers insights into fundamental cell processes, such as migration, division, and signaling. This review summarizes recent advances in microfluidic techniques for measuring cellular deformation, including the different types of microfluidic devices and methods used to induce cell deformation. Recent applications of microfluidics-based approaches for studying cell deformation are highlighted. Compared to traditional methods, microfluidic chips can control the direction and velocity of cell flow by establishing microfluidic channels and microcolumn arrays, enabling the measurement of cell shape changes. Overall, microfluidics-based approaches provide a powerful platform for studying cell deformation. It is expected that future developments will lead to more intelligent and diverse microfluidic chips, further promoting the application of microfluidics-based methods in biomedical research, providing more effective tools for disease diagnosis, drug screening, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling An
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Fenglong Ji
- School of Textile Materials and Engineering, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China
| | - Enming Zhao
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Engineering, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, United States
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4
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Natu R, Herbertson L, Sena G, Strachan K, Guha S. A Systematic Analysis of Recent Technology Trends of Microfluidic Medical Devices in the United States. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1293. [PMID: 37512604 PMCID: PMC10384103 DOI: 10.3390/mi14071293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seen an increase in microfluidic medical device submissions, likely stemming from recent advancements in microfluidic technologies. This recent trend has only been enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as microfluidic-based test kits have been used for diagnosis. To better understand the implications of this emerging technology, device submissions to the FDA from 2015 to 2021 containing microfluidic technologies have been systematically reviewed to identify trends in microfluidic medical applications, performance tests, standards used, fabrication techniques, materials, and flow systems. More than 80% of devices with microfluidic platforms were found to be diagnostic in nature, with lateral flow systems accounting for about 35% of all identified microfluidic devices. A targeted analysis of over 40,000 adverse event reports linked to microfluidic technologies revealed that flow, operation, and data output related failures are the most common failure modes for these device types. Lastly, this paper highlights key considerations for developing new protocols for various microfluidic applications that use certain analytes (e.g., blood, urine, nasal-pharyngeal swab), materials, flow, and detection mechanisms. We anticipate that these considerations would help facilitate innovation in microfluidic-based medical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rucha Natu
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Luke Herbertson
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Grazziela Sena
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Kate Strachan
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Suvajyoti Guha
- Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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5
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Kumar T, Harish AV, Etcheverry S, Margulis W, Laurell F, Russom A. Lab-in-a-fiber-based integrated particle separation and counting. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:2286-2293. [PMID: 37070926 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01175a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
An all-fiber integrated device capable of separating and counting particles is presented. A sequence of silica fiber capillaries with various diameters and longitudinal cavities are used to fabricate the component for size-based elasto-inertial passive separation of particles followed by detection in an uninterrupted continuous flow. Experimentally, fluorescent particles of 1 μm and 10 μm sizes are mixed in a visco-elastic fluid and fed into the all-fiber separation component. The particles are sheathed by an elasticity enhancer (PEO - polyethylene oxide) to the side walls. Larger 10 μm particles migrate to the center of the silica capillary due to the combined inertial lift force and elastic force, while the smaller 1 μm particles are unaffected, and exit from a side capillary. A separation efficiency of 100% for the 10 μm and 97% for the 1 μm particles is achieved at a total flow rate of 50 μL min-1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time effective inertial-based separation has been demonstrated in circular cross-section microchannels. In the following step, the separated 10 μm particles are routed through another all-fiber component for counting and a counting throughput of ∼1400 particles per min is demonstrated. We anticipate the ability to combine high throughput separation and precise 3D control of particle position for ease of counting will aid in the development of advanced microflow cytometers capable of particle separation and quantification for various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kumar
- Division of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Protein Science, Science for life laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden.
| | - A V Harish
- Laser Physics, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S Etcheverry
- Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - W Margulis
- Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - F Laurell
- Laser Physics, Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Russom
- Division of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Protein Science, Science for life laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden.
- AIMES - Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences at Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Ni C, Zhu Z, Zhou Z, Xiang N. High-Throughput Separation and Enrichment of Rare Malignant Tumor Cells from Large-Volume Effusions by Inertial Microfluidics. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2679:193-206. [PMID: 37300617 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3271-0_13] [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] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Detection of malignant tumor cells (MTCs) in pleural effusions is essential for determining the malignancy. However, the sensitivity of MTC detection is significantly decreased due to the existence of a massive number of background blood cells in large-volume samples. Herein, we provide a method for on-chip separation and enrichment of MTCs from malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) by integrating an inertial microfluidic sorter with an inertial microfluidic concentrator. The designed sorter and concentrator are capable of focusing cells toward the specified equilibrium positions by inducing intrinsic hydrodynamic forces, enabling the size-based sorting of cells and the removal of cell-free fluids for cell enrichment. A 99.9% removal of background cells and a nearly 1400-fold ultrahigh enrichment of MTCs from large-volume MPEs can be achieved by this method. The concentrated high-purity MTC solution can be used directly for cytological examination by immunofluorescence staining, enhancing the accurate identification of MPEs. The proposed method can also be employed for the detection and count of rare cells in various clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhixian Zhu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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7
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Maremonti MI, Dannhauser D, Panzetta V, Netti PA, Causa F. Cell deformability heterogeneity recognition by unsupervised machine learning from in-flow motion parameters. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4871-4881. [PMID: 36398860 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00902a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cell deformability is a well-established marker of cell states for diagnostic purposes. However, the measurement of a wide range of different deformability levels is still challenging, especially in cancer, where a large heterogeneity of rheological/mechanical properties is present. Therefore, a simple, versatile and cost-effective recognition method for variable rheological/mechanical properties of cells is needed. Here, we introduce a new set of in-flow motion parameters capable of identifying heterogeneity among cell deformability, properly modified by the administration of drugs for cytoskeleton destabilization. Firstly, we measured cell deformability by identification of in-flow motions, rolling (R), tumbling (T), swinging (S) and tank-treading (TT), distinctively associated with cell rheological/mechanical properties. Secondly, from a pool of motion and structural cell parameters, an unsupervised machine learning approach based on principal component analysis (PCA) revealed dominant features: the local cell velocity (VCell/VAvg), the equilibrium position (YEq) and the orientation angle variation (Δφ). These motion parameters clearly defined cell clusters in terms of motion regimes corresponding to specific deformability. Such correlation is verified in a wide range of rheological/mechanical properties from the elastic cells moving like R until the almost viscous cells moving as TT. Thus, our approach shows how simple motion parameters allow cell deformability heterogeneity recognition, directly measuring rheological/mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Isabella Maremonti
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - David Dannhauser
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Valeria Panzetta
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Paolo Antonio Netti
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
| | - Filippo Causa
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Biomaterials (CRIB) and Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
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8
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Xiang N, Ni Z. Inertial microfluidics: current status, challenges, and future opportunities. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4792-4804. [PMID: 36263793 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00722c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Inertial microfluidics uses the hydrodynamic effects induced at finite Reynolds numbers to achieve passive manipulation of particles, cells, or fluids and offers the advantages of high-throughput processing, simple channel geometry, and label-free and external field-free operation. Since its proposal in 2007, inertial microfluidics has attracted increasing interest and is currently widely employed as an important sample preparation protocol for single-cell detection and analysis. Although great success has been achieved in the inertial microfluidics field, its performance and outcome can be further improved. From this perspective, herein, we reviewed the current status, challenges, and opportunities of inertial microfluidics concerning the underlying physical mechanisms, available simulation tools, channel innovation, multistage, multiplexing, or multifunction integration, rapid prototyping, and commercial instrument development. With an improved understanding of the physical mechanisms and the development of novel channels, integration strategies, and commercial instruments, improved inertial microfluidic platforms may represent a new foundation for advancing biomedical research and disease diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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9
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Flexible on-chip droplet generation, switching and splitting via controllable hydrodynamics. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1229:340363. [PMID: 36156234 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2022.340363] [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: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Flexible droplet preparation and manipulation are significant for lots applications such as immunoreaction and monocellular culture. Herein, we present a novel method for effective on-chip droplet generation, splitting and switching via controllable hydrodynamics. The microchannel of the designed chip has 6 inlets and 3 three outlets. The water solution is injected from a specific inlet (inlet d), and the other 5 inlets are used to inject oil fluids. Under the shearing effect of immiscible oils, the water phase breaks into dispersed droplets first, and the generated droplets can be further split into daughter drops or switched into side outlets from the middle outlet. To investigate the hydrodynamic droplet manipulation behaviors, a two-dimensional simulation model based on phase-field method is established. Utilizing the computational model, we systematically analyze the influences of the flow rates of continuous and dispersed fluids and the manipulation modes on droplet generation, splitting and switching. The numerical results indicate that the droplets can be generated with controlled sizes. For instance, at Qd = 5 μL/min and Qc1,2 = 5 μL/min, the droplet diameter decreases from 89.2 μm to 49.2 μm as Qs1,2 gradually rises from 15 μL/min to 40 μL/min. Moreover, the prepared droplets can realize on-demand splitting and switching. When Qd, Qc1,2, and Qs1,2 are fixed at 5 μL/min, 5 μL/min and 25 μL/min, respectively, the generated droplet is split into different proportional daughter drops with the rising of Qs3 (or Qs4) at first, and finally it is switched into the side-outlets when Qs3 (or Qs4) is higher than 80 μL/min. Therefore, this proposed droplet manipulation approach will be promising for various applications, and the numerical simulations can provide useful guidelines on the design and operation of droplet-based microfluidic systems.
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Fang Y, Zhu S, Cheng W, Ni Z, Xiang N. Efficient bioparticle extraction using a miniaturized inertial microfluidic centrifuge. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3545-3554. [PMID: 35989675 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00496h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Conventional bioparticle extraction requires labor-intensive operation, and expensive and bulky centrifuges. Herein, we report a miniaturized centrifuge by cascading four paralleled inertial spiral channels with a two-stage serpentine channel, allowing for the efficient washing and acquisition of concentrated bioparticles from background fluids. First, the effects of channel size and flow rate on particle focusing dynamics and solution exchange performances are explored to enable the optimization and wide application of our device. Then, the integrated device is fabricated and tested experimentally. The results indicate that 10-20 μm particles can be washed from the original samples with increased concentrations and with recovery efficiencies of >93%. Finally, to verify its versatility, we use our miniaturized centrifuge to successfully change the culture medium for cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cells, extract A549 lung cancer cells from a calcein-AM staining solution, purify white blood cells (WBCs) from lysed whole blood, and extract target cells from an unbonded magnetic microbead background. Compared with conventional centrifuges, our device has the advantages of simple fabrication, easy operation, and small footprint. More importantly, it offers outstanding capability for extracting bioparticles from various background fluids, and avoids bioparticle damage that may be caused by high-speed centrifugation. Therefore, we envision that our miniaturized centrifuge could be a promising alternative to traditional centrifuges in many applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohui Fang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design, and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Shu Zhu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design, and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Weiqi Cheng
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design, and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design, and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design, and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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11
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Cha H, Fallahi H, Dai Y, Yadav S, Hettiarachchi S, McNamee A, An H, Xiang N, Nguyen NT, Zhang J. Tuning particle inertial separation in sinusoidal channels by embedding periodic obstacle microstructures. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:2789-2800. [PMID: 35587546 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00197g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Inertial microfluidics functions solely based on the fluid dynamics at relatively high flow speed. Thus, channel geometry is the critical design parameter that contributes to the performance of the device. Four basic channel geometries (i.e., straight, expansion-contraction, spiral and serpentine) have been proposed and extensively studied. To further enhance the performance, innovative channel design through combining two or more geometries is promising. This work explores embedding periodic concave and convex obstacle microstructures in sinusoidal channels and investigates their influence on particle inertial focusing and separation. The concave obstacles could significantly enhance the Dean flow and tune the flow range for particle inertial focusing and separation. Based on this finding, we propose a cascaded device by connecting two sinusoidal channels consecutively for rare cell separation. The concave obstacles are embedded in the second channel to adapt its operational flow rates and enable the functional operation of both channels. Polystyrene beads and breast cancer cells (T47D) spiking in the blood were respectively processed by the proposed device. The results indicate an outstanding separation performance, with 3 to 4 orders of magnitude enhancement in purity for samples with a primary cancer cells ratio of 0.01% and 0.001%, respectively. Embedding microstructures as obstacles brings more flexibility to the design of inertial microfluidic devices, offering a feasible new way to combine two or more serial processing units for high-performance separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Cha
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Hedieh Fallahi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Yuchen Dai
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Sharda Yadav
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Samith Hettiarachchi
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Antony McNamee
- Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Hongjie An
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211189, PR China
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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12
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Bordhan P, Razavi Bazaz S, Jin D, Ebrahimi Warkiani M. Advances and enabling technologies for phase-specific cell cycle synchronisation. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:445-462. [PMID: 35076046 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00724f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cell cycle synchronisation is the process of isolating cell populations at specific phases of the cell cycle from heterogeneous, asynchronous cell cultures. The process has important implications in targeted gene-editing and drug efficacy of cells and in studying cell cycle events and regulatory mechanisms involved in the cell cycle progression of multiple cell species. Ideally, cell cycle synchrony techniques should be applicable for all cell types, maintain synchrony across multiple cell cycle events, maintain cell viability and be robust against metabolic and physiological perturbations. In this review, we categorize cell cycle synchronisation approaches and discuss their operational principles and performance efficiencies. We highlight the advances and technological development trends from conventional methods to the more recent microfluidics-based systems. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities and challenges for implementing high throughput cell synchronisation and provide future perspectives on synchronisation platforms, specifically hybrid cell synchrony modalities, to allow the highest level of phase-specific synchrony possible with minimal alterations in diverse types of cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritam Bordhan
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Sajad Razavi Bazaz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Dayong Jin
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia
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13
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Liu P, Liu H, Semenec L, Yuan D, Yan S, Cain AK, Li M. Length-based separation of Bacillus subtilis bacterial populations by viscoelastic microfluidics. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:7. [PMID: 35127130 PMCID: PMC8766588 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00333-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrated the label-free continuous separation and enrichment of Bacillus subtilis populations based on length using viscoelastic microfluidics. B. subtilis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, has been widely used as a model organism and an industrial workhorse. B. subtilis can be arranged in different morphological forms, such as single rods, chains, and clumps, which reflect differences in cell types, phases of growth, genetic variation, and changing environmental factors. The ability to prepare B. subtilis populations with a uniform length is important for basic biological studies and efficient industrial applications. Here, we systematically investigated how flow rate ratio, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) concentration, and channel length affected the length-based separation of B. subtilis cells. The lateral positions of B. subtilis cells with varying morphologies in a straight rectangular microchannel were found to be dependent on cell length under the co-flow of viscoelastic and Newtonian fluids. Finally, we evaluated the ability of the viscoelastic microfluidic device to separate the two groups of B. subtilis cells by length (i.e., 1-5 μm and >5 μm) in terms of extraction purity (EP), extraction yield (EY), and enrichment factor (EF) and confirmed that the device could separate heterogeneous populations of bacteria using elasto-inertial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Liu
- Suqian University, Suqian, 223800 China
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Hangrui Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Lucie Semenec
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Department of Molecular Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Dan Yuan
- Centre for Regional and Rural Futures, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216 Australia
| | - Sheng Yan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
| | - Amy K. Cain
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Department of Molecular Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Ming Li
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
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14
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Xu X, Huang X, Sun J, Wang R, Yao J, Han W, Wei M, Chen J, Guo J, Sun L, Yin M. Recent progress of inertial microfluidic-based cell separation. Analyst 2021; 146:7070-7086. [PMID: 34761757 DOI: 10.1039/d1an01160j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cell separation has consistently been a pivotal technology of sample preparation in biomedical research. Compared with conventional bulky cell separation technologies applied in the clinic, cell separation based on microfluidics can accurately manipulate the displacement of liquid or cells at the microscale, which has great potential in point-of-care testing (POCT) applications due to small device size, low cost, low sample consumption, and high operating accuracy. Among various microfluidic cell separation technologies, inertial microfluidics has attracted great attention due to its simple structure and high throughput. In recent years, many researchers have explored the principles and applications of inertial microfluidics and developed different channel structures, including straight channels, curved channels, and multistage channels. However, the recently developed multistage channels have not been discussed and classified in detail compared with more widely discussed straight and curved channels. Therefore, in this review, a comprehensive and detailed review of recent progress in the multistage channel is presented. According to the channel structure, the inertial microfluidic separation technology is divided into (i) straight channel, (ii) curved channel, (iii) composite channel, and (iv) integrated device. The structural development of straight and curved channels is discussed in detail. And based on straight and curved channels, the multistage cell separation structures are reviewed, with a special focus on a variety of latest structures and related innovations of composite and integrated channels. Finally, the future prospects for the existing challenges in the development of inertial microfluidic cell separation technology are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Xiwei Huang
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jingjing Sun
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Renjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jiangfan Yao
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Wentao Han
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Maoyu Wei
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jin Chen
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Jinhong Guo
- School of Communication and Information Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Lingling Sun
- Key Laboratory of RF Circuits and Systems, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China.
| | - Ming Yin
- The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
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15
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Choe SW, Kim B, Kim M. Progress of Microfluidic Continuous Separation Techniques for Micro-/Nanoscale Bioparticles. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:464. [PMID: 34821680 PMCID: PMC8615634 DOI: 10.3390/bios11110464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Separation of micro- and nano-sized biological particles, such as cells, proteins, and nucleotides, is at the heart of most biochemical sensing/analysis, including in vitro biosensing, diagnostics, drug development, proteomics, and genomics. However, most of the conventional particle separation techniques are based on membrane filtration techniques, whose efficiency is limited by membrane characteristics, such as pore size, porosity, surface charge density, or biocompatibility, which results in a reduction in the separation efficiency of bioparticles of various sizes and types. In addition, since other conventional separation methods, such as centrifugation, chromatography, and precipitation, are difficult to perform in a continuous manner, requiring multiple preparation steps with a relatively large minimum sample volume is necessary for stable bioprocessing. Recently, microfluidic engineering enables more efficient separation in a continuous flow with rapid processing of small volumes of rare biological samples, such as DNA, proteins, viruses, exosomes, and even cells. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the recent advances in microfluidic separation of micro-/nano-sized bioparticles by summarizing the physical principles behind the separation system and practical examples of biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Se-woon Choe
- Department of Medical IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39253, Korea;
- Department of IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39253, Korea
| | - Bumjoo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Automotive Engineering, Kongju National University, Cheonan 1223-24, Korea;
- Department of Future Convergence Engineering, Kongju National University, Cheonan 1223-24, Korea
| | - Minseok Kim
- Department of Mechanical System Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Korea
- Department of Aeronautics, Mechanical and Electronic Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi 39177, Korea
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