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Holler C, Taylor RW, Schambony A, Möckl L, Sandoghdar V. A paintbrush for delivery of nanoparticles and molecules to live cells with precise spatiotemporal control. Nat Methods 2024; 21:512-520. [PMID: 38347139 PMCID: PMC10927540 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Delivery of very small amounts of reagents to the near-field of cells with micrometer spatial precision and millisecond time resolution is currently out of reach. Here we present μkiss as a micropipette-based scheme for brushing a layer of small molecules and nanoparticles onto the live cell membrane from a subfemtoliter confined volume of a perfusion flow. We characterize our system through both experiments and modeling, and find excellent agreement. We demonstrate several applications that benefit from a controlled brush delivery, such as a direct means to quantify local and long-range membrane mobility and organization as well as dynamical probing of intercellular force signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Holler
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Richard William Taylor
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Schambony
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leonhard Möckl
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vahid Sandoghdar
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany.
- Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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2
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Deliorman M, Ali DS, Qasaimeh MA. Next-Generation Microfluidics for Biomedical Research and Healthcare Applications. Biomed Eng Comput Biol 2023; 14:11795972231214387. [PMID: 38033395 PMCID: PMC10683381 DOI: 10.1177/11795972231214387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic systems offer versatile biomedical tools and methods to enhance human convenience and health. Advances in these systems enables next-generation microfluidics that integrates automation, manipulation, and smart readout systems, as well as design and three-dimensional (3D) printing for precise production of microchannels and other microstructures rapidly and with great flexibility. These 3D-printed microfluidic platforms not only control the complex fluid behavior for various biomedical applications, but also serve as microconduits for building 3D tissue constructs-an integral component of advanced drug development, toxicity assessment, and accurate disease modeling. Furthermore, the integration of other emerging technologies, such as advanced microscopy and robotics, enables the spatiotemporal manipulation and high-throughput screening of cell physiology within precisely controlled microenvironments. Notably, the portability and high precision automation capabilities in these integrated systems facilitate rapid experimentation and data acquisition to help deepen our understanding of complex biological systems and their behaviors. While certain challenges, including material compatibility, scaling, and standardization still exist, the integration with artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, smart materials, and miniaturization holds tremendous promise in reshaping traditional microfluidic approaches. This transformative potential, when integrated with advanced technologies, has the potential to revolutionize biomedical research and healthcare applications, ultimately benefiting human health. This review highlights the advances in the field and emphasizes the critical role of the next generation microfluidic systems in advancing biomedical research, point-of-care diagnostics, and healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dima Samer Ali
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohammad A Qasaimeh
- Division of Engineering, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Bae J, Seo S, Wu R, Kim T. Programmable and Pixelated Solute Concentration Fields Controlled by Three-Dimensionally Networked Microfluidic Source/Sink Arrays. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20273-20283. [PMID: 37830478 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Membrane-integrated microfluidic platforms have played a pivotal role in understanding natural phenomena coupled with solute concentration gradients at the micro- and nanoscale, enabling on-chip microscopy in well-defined planar concentration fields. However, the standardized two-dimensional fabrication schemes in microfluidics have impeded the realization of more complex and diverse chemical environmental conditions due to the limited possible arrangements of source/sink conditions in a fluidic domain. In this study, we present a microfluidic platform with a three-dimensional microchannel network design, where discretized membranes can be integrated and individually controlled in a two-dimensional array format at any location within the entire quasi-two-dimensional solute concentration field. We elucidate the principles of the device to implement operations of the pixel-like sources/sinks and dynamically programmable control of various long-lasting solute concentration fields. Furthermore, we demonstrate the application of the generated solute concentration fields in manipulating the transport of micrometer or submicrometer particles with a high degree of freedom, surpassing conventionally available solute concentration fields. This work provides an experimental tool for investigating complex systems under high-order chemical environmental conditions, thereby facilitating the extensive development of higher-performance micro- and nanotechnologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyeol Bae
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangjin Seo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Ronghui Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Taesung Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
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4
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Boulais E, Gervais T. The 2D microfluidics cookbook - modeling convection and diffusion in plane flow devices. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:1967-1980. [PMID: 36884010 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01033j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of microfluidic systems operate not through networks of microchannels but instead through using 2D flow fields. While the design rules for channel networks are already well-known and exposed in microfluidics textbooks, the knowledge underlying transport in 2D microfluidics remains scattered piecemeal and is not easily accessible to experimentalists and engineers. In this tutorial review, we formulate a unified framework for understanding, analyzing and designing 2D microfluidic technologies. We first show how a large number of seemingly different devices can all be modelled using the same concepts, namely flow and diffusion in a Hele-Shaw cell. We then expose a handful of mathematical tools, accessible to any engineer with undergraduate level mathematics knowledge, namely potential flow, superposition of charges, conformal transforms and basic convection-diffusion. We show how these tools can be combined to obtain a simple "recipe" that models almost any imaginable 2D microfluidic system. We end by pointing to more advanced topics beyond 2D microfluidics, namely interface problems and flow and diffusion in the third dimension. This forms the basis of a complete theory allowing for the design and operation of new microfluidic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Boulais
- Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
| | - Thomas Gervais
- Polytechnique Montreal, 2500 Chemin de Polytechnique, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Institut du Cancer de Montréal (ICM) and Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Canada
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5
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Feng C, Mao M, Zhang X, Liao Y, Xiao X, Liu H, Liu K. Programmable microfluidics for dynamic multiband camouflage. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:43. [PMID: 37033108 PMCID: PMC10073183 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00494-3] [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: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Achieving multiband camouflage covering both visible and infrared regions is challenging due to the broad bandwidth and differentiated regulation demand in diverse regions. In this work, we propose a programmable microfluidic strategy that uses dye molecules in layered fluids to manipulate visible light- and infrared-semitransparent solvent to manipulate infrared light. With three primary fluid inputs, we achieve 64 chromaticity values and 8 emissivities from 0.42 to 0.90. In view of the wide tuning range, we demonstrate that the microfluidic film can dynamically change its surface reflectance to blend into varying backgrounds in both visible and infrared images. Moreover, we fabricate the microfluidic device in a textile form and demonstrate its ability to match exactly with the colors of natural leaves of different seasons in the full hyperspectrum range. Considering the broadband modulation and ease of operation, the programmable microfluidic strategy provides a feasible approach for smart optical surfaces in long-span optical spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunzao Feng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Mingran Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Yutian Liao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Xiaohui Xiao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Huidong Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
| | - Kang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Machinery Transients, School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 Hubei China
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6
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Pixelated Microfluidics for Drug Screening on Tumour Spheroids and Ex Vivo Microdissected Tumour Explants. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041060. [PMID: 36831403 PMCID: PMC9954565 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Anticancer drugs have the lowest success rate of approval in drug development programs. Thus, preclinical assays that closely predict the clinical responses to drugs are of utmost importance in both clinical oncology and pharmaceutical research. 3D tumour models preserve the tumoral architecture and are cost- and time-efficient. However, the short-term longevity, limited throughput, and limitations of live imaging of these models have so far driven researchers towards less realistic tumour models such as monolayer cell cultures. Here, we present an open-space microfluidic drug screening platform that enables the formation, culture, and multiplexed delivery of several reagents to various 3D tumour models, namely cancer cell line spheroids and ex vivo primary tumour fragments. Our platform utilizes a microfluidic pixelated chemical display that creates isolated adjacent flow sub-units of reagents, which we refer to as fluidic 'pixels', over tumour models in a contact-free fashion. Up to nine different treatment conditions can be tested over 144 samples in a single experiment. We provide a proof-of-concept application by staining fixed and live tumour models with multiple cellular dyes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the response of the tumour models to biological stimuli can be assessed using the platform. Upscaling the microfluidic platform to larger areas can lead to higher throughputs, and thus will have a significant impact on developing treatments for cancer.
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7
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Brun PT. Fluid-Mediated Fabrication of Complex Assemblies. JACS AU 2022; 2:2417-2425. [PMID: 36465550 PMCID: PMC9709784 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.2c00427] [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: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This Perspective accounts for recent progress in the directed control of interfacial fluid flows harnessed to assemble architected soft materials. We are focusing on the paradigmatic problem of free-surface flows in curable elastomers. These elastomers are initially liquid and cure into elastic solids whose shape is imparted by concomitant and competing phenomena: flow-induced deformations and curing. Particular attention is given to the role of capillary forces in these systems. Originating from the cohesive nature of liquids and thus favoring smooth interfaces, capillary forces can also promote the destabilization of interfaces, e.g., into droplets. In turn, such mechanical instabilities tend to grow into regular patterns, e.g., forming hexagonal lattices. We discuss how the universality, robustness, and ultimate regularity of these out-of-equilibrium processes could serve as a basis for new fabrication paradigms, where instabilities are directed to generate target architected solids obtained without each element laid in place by direct mechanized intervention.
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8
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Zhao L, Wang X. 3D printed microfluidics for cell biological applications. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Taylor DP, Mathur P, Renaud P, Kaigala GV. Microscale hydrodynamic confinements: shaping liquids across length scales as a toolbox in life sciences. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1415-1437. [PMID: 35348555 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01101d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Hydrodynamic phenomena can be leveraged to confine a range of biological and chemical species without needing physical walls. In this review, we list methods for the generation and manipulation of microfluidic hydrodynamic confinements in free-flowing liquids and near surfaces, and elucidate the associated underlying theory and discuss their utility in the emerging area of open space microfluidics applied to life-sciences. Microscale hydrodynamic confinements are already starting to transform approaches in fundamental and applied life-sciences research from precise separation and sorting of individual cells, allowing localized bio-printing to multiplexing for clinical diagnosis. Through the choice of specific flow regimes and geometrical boundary conditions, hydrodynamic confinements can confine species across different length scales from small molecules to large cells, and thus be applied to a wide range of functionalities. We here provide practical examples and implementations for the formation of these confinements in different boundary conditions - within closed channels, in between parallel plates and in an open liquid volume. Further, to enable non-microfluidics researchers to apply hydrodynamic flow confinements in their work, we provide simplified instructions pertaining to their design and modelling, as well as to the formation of hydrodynamic flow confinements in the form of step-by-step tutorials and analytical toolbox software. This review is written with the idea to lower the barrier towards the use of hydrodynamic flow confinements in life sciences research.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Taylor
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
- Microsystems Laboratory 4, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Prerit Mathur
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
- Dept. of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH), Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Renaud
- Microsystems Laboratory 4, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Govind V Kaigala
- IBM Research - Europe, Säumerstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
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Shao C, Chi J, Shang L, Fan Q, Ye F. Droplet microfluidics-based biomedical microcarriers. Acta Biomater 2022; 138:21-33. [PMID: 34718181 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Droplet microfluidic technology provides a new platform for controllable generation of microdroplets and droplet-derived materials. In particular, because of the ability in high-throughput production and accurate control of the size, structure, and function of these materials, droplet microfluidics presents unique advantages in the preparation of functional microcarriers, i.e., microsized liquid containers or solid particles that serve as substrates of biomolecules or cells. These microcarriers could be extensively applied in the areas of cell culture, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. In this review, we focus on the fabrication of microcarriers from droplet microfluidics, and discuss their applications in the biomedical field. We start with the basic principle of droplet microfluidics, including droplet generation regimes and its control methods. We then introduce the fabrication of biomedical microcarriers based on single, double, and multiple emulsion droplets, and emphasize the various applications of microcarriers in biomedical field, especially in 3D cell culture, drug development and biomedical detection. Finally, we conclude this review by discussing the limitations and challenges of droplet microfluidics in preparing microcarriers. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Because of its precise control and high throughput, droplet microfluidics has been employed to generate functional microcarriers, which have been widely used in the areas of drug development, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. This review is significant because it emphasizes recent progress in research on droplet microfluidics in the preparation and application of biomedical microcarriers. In addition, this review suggests research directions for the future development of biomedical microcarriers based on droplet microfluidics by presenting existing shortcomings and challenges.
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Zhang Q, Feng S, Lin L, Mao S, Lin JM. Emerging open microfluidics for cell manipulation. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5333-5348. [PMID: 33972984 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01516d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cell manipulation is the foundation of biochemical studies, which demands user-friendly, multifunctional and precise tools. Based on flow confinement principles, open microfluidics can control the movement of microscale liquid in open space. Every position of the circuit is accessible to external instruments, making it possible to perform precise treatment and analysis of cells at arbitrary target positions especially at the single-cell/sub-cell level. Benefiting from its unique superiority, various manipulations including patterned cell culture, 3D tissue modelling, localized chemical stimulation, online cellular factor analysis, single cell sampling, partial cell treatment, and subcellular free radical attack can be easily realized. In this tutorial review, we summarize two basic ideas to design open microfluidics: open microfluidic networks and probes. The principles of mainstream open microfluidic methods are explained, and their recent important applications are introduced. Challenges and developing trends of open microfluidics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Shuo Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Sifeng Mao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minamiohsawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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