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Saffari H, Hajiaghalou S, Hajari MA, Gourabi H, Fathi D, Fathi R. Design and fabrication of aspiration microfluidic channel for oocyte characterization. Talanta 2023; 254:124098. [PMID: 36462279 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124098] [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: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The development potential for oocytes can be predicted by their mechanical properties. One important parameter that is measured to calculate oocyte hardness is Cortical Tension (CT). In this work, for the first time, we present the design, simulation, and fabrication of a new aspiration microfluidic chip to measure the CT of oocytes and then predict their maturation capability in the Germinal Vesicle (GV) stage. This high-performance technique facilitates oocyte characterization and is a promising alternative to traditional methods such as MicroPipette Aspiration (MPA). The proposed technique involves considerably simpler operation, less specialized equipment, and less technical skill than MPA. The proposed microfluidic channel also promises faster measurements. It is shown that in order to completely continue the growth process of oocytes in GV stage, the CT should be in a certain range: very low or very high CTs lead to unsuccessful growth. The obtained results show that 79% of oocytes with the CT between 1.5 and 3 nN/μm reach the Metaphase II (MII) stage, whereas the growth for 78% of oocytes with the CT less than 1.5 nN/μm or higher than 3 nN/μm stops at the GV or Germinal Vesicle Break Down (GVBD) stages. Another property, kvis, that points to the viscous behavior of oocytes is also measured. It is seen that 80% of GV oocytes with the kvis values between 15 and 30 k Pa s/m reach the MII stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Saffari
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran
| | - S Hajiaghalou
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - M A Hajari
- Department of Cell Engineering, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - H Gourabi
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - D Fathi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran.
| | - R Fathi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Hassanpour Tamrin S, Sanati Nezhad A, Sen A. Label-Free Isolation of Exosomes Using Microfluidic Technologies. ACS NANO 2021; 15:17047-17079. [PMID: 34723478 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c03469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes are cell-derived structures packaged with lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. They exist in diverse bodily fluids and are involved in physiological and pathological processes. Although their potential for clinical application as diagnostic and therapeutic tools has been revealed, a huge bottleneck impeding the development of applications in the rapidly burgeoning field of exosome research is an inability to efficiently isolate pure exosomes from other unwanted components present in bodily fluids. To date, several approaches have been proposed and investigated for exosome separation, with the leading candidate being microfluidic technology due to its relative simplicity, cost-effectiveness, precise and fast processing at the microscale, and amenability to automation. Notably, avoiding the need for exosome labeling represents a significant advance in terms of process simplicity, time, and cost as well as protecting the biological activities of exosomes. Despite the exciting progress in microfluidic strategies for exosome isolation and the countless benefits of label-free approaches for clinical applications, current microfluidic platforms for isolation of exosomes are still facing a series of problems and challenges that prevent their use for clinical sample processing. This review focuses on the recent microfluidic platforms developed for label-free isolation of exosomes including those based on sieving, deterministic lateral displacement, field flow, and pinched flow fractionation as well as viscoelastic, acoustic, inertial, electrical, and centrifugal forces. Further, we discuss advantages and disadvantages of these strategies with highlights of current challenges and outlook of label-free microfluidics toward the clinical utility of exosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hassanpour Tamrin
- Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, CCIT 125, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Amir Sanati Nezhad
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, CCIT 125, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Arindom Sen
- Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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3
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Martinez-Duarte R. A critical review on the fabrication techniques that can enable higher throughput in dielectrophoresis devices. Electrophoresis 2021; 43:232-248. [PMID: 34523166 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202100179] [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: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The sorting of targeted cells in a sample is a cornerstone of healthcare diagnostics and therapeutics. This work focuses on the use of dielectrophoresis for the selective sorting of targeted bioparticles in a sample and how the lack of throughput has been one important practical challenge to its widespread practical implementation. Increasing the cross-sectional area of a channel can lead to higher flow rates and thus the capability to process a larger sample volume per unit of time. However, the required electric field gradient that is generated by polarized electrodes drastically decreases as one moves away from the electrodes. Hence, the scaling up of the channel cross section must be done asymmetrically. One desires a channel aspect ratio AR = height/width that is much smaller or much larger than 1. Since reducing footprint of the DEP device is important to ensure affordability, the use of channels with AR>>1 is desired. This creates the challenge to fabricate electrodes on the sidewalls of multiple channels with AR>>1, or a channel embedding an array of electrodes with a gap in between them with AR >>1. This critical review first details the motivation for using three-dimensional (3D) DEP devices to improve throughput and then describes selected techniques that have been used to fabricate them. Techniques include electrodeposition, deep etching, thick-film photolithography, and co-fabrication. Electrode materials addressed include metals, silicon, carbon, PDMS-based composites as well as conductive polymers and fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte
- Multiscale Manufacturing Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
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Sun M, Durkin P, Li J, Toth TL, He X. Label-Free On-Chip Selective Extraction of Cell-Aggregate-Laden Microcapsules from Oil into Aqueous Solution with Optical Sensor and Dielectrophoresis. ACS Sens 2018; 3:410-417. [PMID: 29299919 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic encapsulation of cells or tissues in biocompatible solidlike hydrogels has wide biomedical applications. However, the microfluidically encapsulated cells/tissues are usually suspended in oil and need to be extracted into aqueous solution for further culture or use. Current extracting techniques are either nonselective for the cell/tissue-laden hydrogel microcapsules or rely on fluorescence labeling of the cells/tissues, which may be undesired for their further culture or use. Here we developed a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) to achieve label-free on-chip selective extraction of cell-aggregate-laden hydrogel microcapsules from oil into aqueous solution. The system includes a microfluidic device, an optical sensor, a dielectrophoretic (DEP) actuator, and microcontrollers. The microfluidic device is for encapsulating cell aggregates in hydrogel microcapsules using the flow-focusing function with microchannels for extracting microcapsules. The optical sensor is to detect the cell aggregates, based on the difference of the optical properties between the cell aggregates and surrounding solution before their encapsulation in hydrogel microcapsules. This strategy is used because the difference in optical property between the cell-aggregate-laden hydrogel microcapsules and empty microcapsules is too small to tell them apart with a commonly used optical sensor. The DEP actuator, which is controlled by the sensor and microcontrollers, is for selectively extracting the targeted hydrogel microcapsules by DEP force. The results indicate this system can achieve selective extraction of cell-aggregate-laden hydrogel microcapsules with ∼100% efficiency without compromising the cell viability, and can improve the purity of the cell-aggregate-laden microcapsules by more than 75 times compared with nonselective extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Sun
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Patrick Durkin
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jianrong Li
- Department of
Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Thomas L. Toth
- Department
of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Department
of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Xiaoming He
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Dorothy
M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Comprehensive
Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Fischell
Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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Ke LY, Kuo ZK, Chen YS, Yeh TY, Dong M, Tseng HW, Liu CH. Cancer immunotherapy μ-environment LabChip: taking advantage of optoelectronic tweezers. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 18:106-114. [PMID: 29211085 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00963a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A cancer immunotherapy μ-environment LabChip, equipped with titanium oxide phthalocyanine (TiOPc)-based optoelectronic tweezers (OET) to achieve direct cell-cell contact, can be used to study the interaction between immune cells and other cells for real-time analysis of NK cells' behavior. In microfluidic devices, it is difficult to solve dead zone problems and observe dynamic cell-cell interactions. We have created a stable and static culture μ-environment which can enhance NK cell activities. In addition, OET is used to solve dead zone problems by manipulating a single cell into four-leaf-clover-shaped (FLCS) microwells made of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) through optofluidic maskless lithography, causing direct cell-cell contact. Our design reconstructed an in vitro human immune system for the study of dynamic immunological response. When the NK cells came into contact with the target cells in the μ-environment LabChip, we observed that the target cells showed apoptotic characteristics (i.e. cell shrinkage and blebbing within 2 h and then die within 3 h). In addition, our μ-environment LabChip demonstrated higher NK cell activity compared with conventional analysis. We have created an innovative cancer immunotherapy μ-environment LabChip to provide a stable and static μ-environment for cell-cell interaction study. Furthermore, our μ-environment LabChip showed the potential to enhance NK cell activity and to study immunological interactions between immune cells and cancer cells dynamically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yi Ke
- Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City 30013, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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Nam J, Lim CS. A conductive liquid-based surface acoustic wave device. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3750-5. [PMID: 27528442 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00827e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Surface acoustic wave-based microfluidic devices are popular for fluid and particle manipulation because of their noninvasiveness, low energy consumption, and easy integration with other systems. However, they have been limited by the use of patterned metal electrodes on a piezoelectric substrate, which requires expensive and complicated fabrication processes. Herein, we show a simpler and more cost-effective method for generating surface acoustic waves using eutectic gallium indium as a conductive liquid which can replace conventional patterned metal electrodes. We also demonstrate the comparable performance for acoustic streaming and mixing using conductive liquid-based surface acoustic wave devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghun Nam
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Korea University Guro Hospital, Guro 2-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul 152-703, Korea.
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Karle M, Vashist SK, Zengerle R, von Stetten F. Microfluidic solutions enabling continuous processing and monitoring of biological samples: A review. Anal Chim Acta 2016; 929:1-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2016.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Klopfer M, Banyard D, Li GP, Widgerow A, Bachman M. A fluid collection system for dermal wounds in clinical investigations. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2016; 10:024113. [PMID: 27051470 PMCID: PMC4808064 DOI: 10.1063/1.4943133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we demonstrate the use of a thin, self adherent, and clinically durable patch device that can collect fluid from a wound site for analysis. This device is manufactured from laminated silicone layers using a novel all-silicone double-molding process. In vitro studies for flow and delivery were followed by a clinical demonstration for exudate collection efficiency from a clinically presented partial thickness burn. The demonstrated utility of this device lends itself for use as a research implement used to clinically sample wound exudate for analysis. This device can serve as a platform for future integration of wearable technology into wound monitoring and care. The demonstrated fabrication method can be used for devices requiring thin membrane construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Klopfer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry Samuelli School of Engineering, University of California at Irvine , Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | | | - G-P Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry Samuelli School of Engineering, University of California at Irvine , Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | | | - Mark Bachman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Henry Samuelli School of Engineering, University of California at Irvine , Irvine, California 92697, USA
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