1
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Lin J, Chen S, Zhang C, Liao J, Chen Y, Deng S, Mao Z, Zhang T, Tian N, Song Y, Zeng T. Recent advances in microfluidic technology of arterial thrombosis investigations. Platelets 2024; 35:2316743. [PMID: 38390892 DOI: 10.1080/09537104.2024.2316743] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic technology has emerged as a powerful tool in studying arterial thrombosis, allowing researchers to construct artificial blood vessels and replicate the hemodynamics of blood flow. This technology has led to significant advancements in understanding thrombosis and platelet adhesion and aggregation. Microfluidic models have various types and functions, and by studying the fabrication methods and working principles of microfluidic chips, applicable methods can be selected according to specific needs. The rapid development of microfluidic integrated system and modular microfluidic system makes arterial thrombosis research more diversified and automated, but its standardization still needs to be solved urgently. One key advantage of microfluidic technology is the ability to precisely control fluid flow in microchannels and to analyze platelet behavior under different shear forces and flow rates. This allows researchers to study the physiological and pathological processes of blood flow, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of arterial thrombosis. In conclusion, microfluidic technology has revolutionized the study of arterial thrombosis by enabling the construction of artificial blood vessels and accurately reproducing hemodynamics. In the future, microfluidics will place greater emphasis on versatility and automation, holding great promise for advancing antithrombotic therapeutic and prophylactic measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Shangjin Nanfu Hospital/Shangjin Branch of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunying Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Liao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuemei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shanying Deng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhigang Mao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tonghao Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Na Tian
- Anesthesiology Department, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Yali Song
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Zeng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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2
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Rasekh M, Harrison S, Schobesberger S, Ertl P, Balachandran W. Reagent storage and delivery on integrated microfluidic chips for point-of-care diagnostics. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:28. [PMID: 38825594 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00709-y] [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] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic-based point-of-care diagnostics offer several unique advantages over existing bioanalytical solutions, such as automation, miniaturisation, and integration of sensors to rapidly detect on-site specific biomarkers. It is important to highlight that a microfluidic POC system needs to perform a number of steps, including sample preparation, nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection. Each of these stages involves mixing and elution to go from sample to result. To address these complex sample preparation procedures, a vast number of different approaches have been developed to solve the problem of reagent storage and delivery. However, to date, no universal method has been proposed that can be applied as a working solution for all cases. Herein, both current self-contained (stored within the chip) and off-chip (stored in a separate device and brought together at the point of use) are reviewed, and their merits and limitations are discussed. This review focuses on reagent storage devices that could be integrated with microfluidic devices, discussing further issues or merits of these storage solutions in two different sections: direct on-chip storage and external storage with their application devices. Furthermore, the different microvalves and micropumps are considered to provide guidelines for designing appropriate integrated microfluidic point-of-care devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoochehr Rasekh
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - Sam Harrison
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Silvia Schobesberger
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Ertl
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wamadeva Balachandran
- College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
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3
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Chen W, Wang P, Li B. Experimental Study on SPR Array Sensing Chip Integrated with Microvalves. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:2540. [PMID: 38676157 PMCID: PMC11054027 DOI: 10.3390/s24082540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
This paper discusses a microfluidic system designed for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing, incorporating integrated microvalves. This system is built from a layered structure of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The functionality of the microvalves is verified through a conductance method involving electrodes positioned at the microfluidic channels' inlets and outlets. These microvalves can fully close at a control pressure of 0.3 MPa, with their operation depending on the duration of the applied pressure. The study further explores the coordinated operation of multiple microvalves to regulate the sequential flow of samples and reagents in the system. In SPR detection experiments, the microfluidic system is integrated with an SPR array sensing system to control the injection of NaCl solutions via the microvalves, and the observation of phase change curves in different chip regions are observed. The findings validate the microvalves' dependability and suitability for use in SPR array sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanwan Chen
- Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Research Institute of Tsinghua, Pearl River Delta, Guangzhou 510530, China
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4
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Sun Y, Zhang W, Gu J, Xia L, Cao Y, Zhu X, Wen H, Ouyang S, Liu R, Li J, Jiang Z, Cheng D, Lv Y, Han X, Qiu W, Cai K, Song E, Cao Q, Li L. Magnetically driven capsules with multimodal response and multifunctionality for biomedical applications. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1839. [PMID: 38424039 PMCID: PMC10904804 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46046-9] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Untethered capsules hold clinical potential for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Although considerable progress has been achieved recently in this field, the constraints imposed by the narrow spatial structure of the capsule and complex gastrointestinal tract environment cause many open-ended problems, such as poor active motion and limited medical functions. In this work, we describe the development of small-scale magnetically driven capsules with a distinct magnetic soft valve made of dual-layer ferromagnetic soft composite films. A core technological advancement achieved is the flexible opening and closing of the magnetic soft valve by using the competitive interactions between magnetic gradient force and magnetic torque, laying the foundation for the functional integration of both drug release and sampling. Meanwhile, we propose a magnetic actuation strategy based on multi-frequency response control and demonstrate that it can achieve effective decoupled regulation of the capsule's global motion and local responses. Finally, through a comprehensive approach encompassing ideal models, animal ex vivo models, and in vivo assessment, we demonstrate the versatility of the developed magnetic capsules and their multiple potential applications in the biomedical field, such as targeted drug delivery and sampling, selective dual-drug release, and light/thermal-assisted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Sun
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wang Zhang
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Junnan Gu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Liangyu Xia
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yinghao Cao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xinhui Zhu
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hao Wen
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Shaowei Ouyang
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Ruiqi Liu
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jialong Li
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhenxing Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Denglong Cheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yiliang Lv
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiaotao Han
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Wu Qiu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Kailin Cai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Enmin Song
- School of Computer and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Quanliang Cao
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Liang Li
- Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Electromagnetic Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, China.
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5
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Gopinathan KA, Mishra A, Mutlu BR, Edd JF, Toner M. A Microfluidic Transistor for Liquid Signal Processing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.31.543146. [PMID: 37398240 PMCID: PMC10312585 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.31.543146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics have enabled significant advances in molecular biology 1-3 , synthetic chemistry 4,5 , diagnostics 6,7 , and tissue engineering 8 . However, there has long been a critical need in the field to manipulate fluids and suspended matter with the precision, modularity, and scalability of electronic circuits 9-11 . Just as the electronic transistor enabled unprecedented advances in the control of electricity on an electronic chip, a microfluidic analogue to the transistor could enable improvements in the complex, scalable control of reagents, droplets, and single cells on an autonomous microfluidic chip. Prior works on creating a microfluidic analogue to the electronic transistor 12-14 could not replicate the transistor's saturation behavior, which is crucial to perform analog amplification 15 and is fundamental to modern circuit design 16 . Here we exploit the fluidic phenomenon of flow-limitation 17 to develop a microfluidic element with flow-pressure characteristics completely analogous to the current-voltage characteristics of the electronic transistor. As this microfluidic transistor successfully replicates all of the key operating regimes of the electronic transistor (linear, cut-off and saturation), we are able to directly translate a variety of fundamental electronic circuit designs into the fluidic domain, including the amplifier, regulator, level shifter, logic gate, and latch. Finally, we demonstrate a "smart" particle dispenser that senses single suspended particles, performs liquid signal processing, and accordingly controls the movement of said particles in a purely fluidic system without electronics. By leveraging the vast repertoire of electronic circuit design, microfluidic transistor-based circuits are easy to integrate at scale, eliminate the need for external flow control, and enable uniquely complex liquid signal processing and single-particle manipulation for the next generation of chemical, biological, and clinical platforms.
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6
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Wu J, Fang H, Zhang J, Yan S. Modular microfluidics for life sciences. J Nanobiotechnology 2023; 21:85. [PMID: 36906553 PMCID: PMC10008080 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-01846-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement of microfluidics has enabled numerous discoveries and technologies in life sciences. However, due to the lack of industry standards and configurability, the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices require highly skilled technicians. The diversity of microfluidic devices discourages biologists and chemists from applying this technique in their laboratories. Modular microfluidics, which integrates the standardized microfluidic modules into a whole, complex platform, brings the capability of configurability to conventional microfluidics. The exciting features, including portability, on-site deployability, and high customization motivate us to review the state-of-the-art modular microfluidics and discuss future perspectives. In this review, we first introduce the working mechanisms of the basic microfluidic modules and evaluate their feasibility as modular microfluidic components. Next, we explain the connection approaches among these microfluidic modules, and summarize the advantages of modular microfluidics over integrated microfluidics in biological applications. Finally, we discuss the challenge and future perspectives of modular microfluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Wu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Fang
- Nanophotonics Research Center, Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Sheng Yan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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7
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Liu J, Sheng Z, Zhang M, Li J, Zhang Y, Xu X, Yu S, Cao M, Hou X. Non-Newtonian fluid gating membranes with acoustically responsive and self-protective gas transport control. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2023; 10:899-907. [PMID: 36541214 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh01182d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Control of gas transport through porous media is desired in multifarious processes such as chemical reactions, interface absorption, and medical treatment. Liquid gating technology, based on dynamically adaptive interfaces, has been developed in recent years and has shown excellent control capability in gas manipulation-the reversible opening and closing of a liquid gate for gas transport as the applied pressure changes. Here, we report a new strategy to achieve self-protective gas transport control by regulating the dynamic porous interface in a non-Newtonian fluid gating membrane based on the shear thickening fluid. The gas transport process can be suspended and restored via modulation of the acoustic field, owing to the transition of particle-to-particle interactions in a confined geometry. Our experimental and theoretical results support the stability and tunability of the gas transport control. In addition, relying on the shear thickening behaviour of the gating fluid, the transient response can be achieved to resist high-impact pressure. This strategy could be utilized to design integrated smart materials used in complex and extreme environments such as hazardous and explosive gas transportation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zhizhi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China.
| | - Mengchuang Zhang
- Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jianyu Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Yunmao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Xue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Shijie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Min Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen 361005, China
- Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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8
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Closed-loop Control Systems for Pumps used in Portable Analytical Systems. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1695:463931. [PMID: 37011525 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.463931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
The demand for accurate control of the flowrate/pressure in chemical analytical systems has given rise to the adoption of mechatronic approaches in analytical instruments. A mechatronic device is a synergistic system which combines mechanical, electronic, computer and control components. In the development of portable analytical devices, considering the instrument as a mechatronic system can be useful to mitigate compromises made to decrease space, weight, or power consumption. Fluid handling is important for reliability, however, commonly utilized platforms such as syringe and peristaltic pumps are typically characterized by flow/pressure fluctuations and slow responses. Closed loop control systems have been used effectively to decrease the difference between desired and realized fluidic output. This review discusses the way control systems have been implemented for enhanced fluidic control, categorized by pump type. Advanced control strategies used to enhance the transient and the steady state responses are discussed, along with examples of their implementation in portable analytical systems. The review is concluded with the outlook that the challenge in adequately expressing the complexity and dynamics of the fluidic network as a mathematical model has yielded a trend towards the adoption of experimentally informed models and machine learning approaches.
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9
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Ba Hashwan SS, Khir MHM, Nawi IM, Ahmad MR, Hanif M, Zahoor F, Al-Douri Y, Algamili AS, Bature UI, Alabsi SS, Sabbea MOB, Junaid M. A review of piezoelectric MEMS sensors and actuators for gas detection application. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2023; 18:25. [PMID: 36847870 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-023-03779-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Piezoelectric microelectromechanical system (piezo-MEMS)-based mass sensors including the piezoelectric microcantilevers, surface acoustic waves (SAW), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT), and film bulk acoustic wave resonators (FBAR) are highlighted as suitable candidates for highly sensitive gas detection application. This paper presents the piezo-MEMS gas sensors' characteristics such as their miniaturized structure, the capability of integration with readout circuit, and fabrication feasibility using multiuser technologies. The development of the piezoelectric MEMS gas sensors is investigated for the application of low-level concentration gas molecules detection. In this work, the various types of gas sensors based on piezoelectricity are investigated extensively including their operating principle, besides their material parameters as well as the critical design parameters, the device structures, and their sensing materials including the polymers, carbon, metal-organic framework, and graphene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed S Ba Hashwan
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia.
| | - Mohd Haris Md Khir
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Illani Mohd Nawi
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Radzi Ahmad
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Mehwish Hanif
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Furqan Zahoor
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Y Al-Douri
- Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research Centre (NANOCAT), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Piri Reis University, Eflatun Sk. No: 8, 34940, Tuzla, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Applied Science and Astronomy, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdullah Saleh Algamili
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Usman Isyaku Bature
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Sami Sultan Alabsi
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed O Ba Sabbea
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Muhammad Junaid
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610, Seri Iskandar, Malaysia
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, 87300, Pakistan
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10
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Song Q, Chen Y, Hou P, Zhu P, Helmer D, Kotz-Helmer F, Rapp BE. Fabrication of Multi-Material Pneumatic Actuators and Microactuators Using Stereolithography. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:244. [PMID: 36837944 PMCID: PMC9966499 DOI: 10.3390/mi14020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pneumatic actuators are of great interest for device miniaturization, microactuators, soft robots, biomedical engineering, and complex control systems. Recently, multi-material actuators have become of high interest to researchers due to their comprehensive range of suitable applications. Three-dimensional (3D) printing of multi-material pneumatic actuators would be the ideal way to fabricate customized actuators, but so far, this is mostly limited to deposition-based methodologies, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM) or Polyjetting. Vat-based stereolithography is one of the most relevant high-resolution 3D printing methods but is only rarely utilized in the multi-material 3D printing of materials. This study demonstrated multi-material stereolithography using combinations of materials with different Young's moduli, i.e., 0.5 MPa and 1.1 GPa, for manufacturing pneumatic actuators and microactuators with a resolution as small as 200 μm. These multi-material actuators have advantages over single-material actuators in terms of their deformation controllability and ease of assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchuan Song
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yunong Chen
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peilong Hou
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Pang Zhu
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dorothea Helmer
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Glassomer GmbH, In den Kirchenmatten 54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Frederik Kotz-Helmer
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Glassomer GmbH, In den Kirchenmatten 54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bastian E. Rapp
- Laboratory of Process Technology, NeptunLab, Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- FIT Freiburg Center of Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Glassomer GmbH, In den Kirchenmatten 54, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Materials Research Center (FMF), University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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11
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Winkler S, Menke J, Meyer KV, Kortmann C, Bahnemann J. Automation of cell culture assays using a 3D-printed servomotor-controlled microfluidic valve system. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4656-4665. [PMID: 36342331 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00629d] [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
Microfluidic valve systems show great potential to automate mixing, dilution, and time-resolved reagent supply within biochemical assays and novel on-chip cell culture systems. However, most of these systems require a complex and cost-intensive fabrication in clean room facilities, and the valve control element itself also requires vacuum or pressure sources (including external valves, tubing, ports and pneumatic control channels). Addressing these bottlenecks, the herein presented biocompatible and heat steam sterilizable microfluidic valve system was fabricated via high-resolution 3D printing in a one-step process - including inlets, micromixer, microvalves, and outlets. The 3D-printed valve membrane is deflected via miniature on-chip servomotors that are controlled using a Raspberry Pi and a customized Python script (resulting in a device that is comparatively low-cost, portable, and fully automated). While a high mixing accuracy and long-term robustness is established, as described herein the system is further applied in a proof-of-concept assay for automated IC50 determination of camptothecin with mouse fibroblasts (L929) monitored by a live-cell-imaging system. Measurements of cell growth and IC50 values revealed no difference in performance between the microfluidic valve system and traditional pipetting. This novel design and the accompanying automatization scripts provide the scientific community with direct access to customizable full-time reagent control of 2D cell culture, or even novel organ-on-a-chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Winkler
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jannik Menke
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina V Meyer
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carlotta Kortmann
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Janina Bahnemann
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstraße 1, 86159 Augsburg, Germany.
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12
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Peshin S, Madou M, Kulinsky L. Microvalves for Applications in Centrifugal Microfluidics. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:8955. [PMID: 36433550 PMCID: PMC9693484 DOI: 10.3390/s22228955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Centrifugal microfluidic platforms (CDs) have opened new possibilities for inexpensive point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. They are now widely used in applications requiring polymerase chain reaction steps, blood plasma separation, serial dilutions, and many other diagnostic processes. CD microfluidic devices allow a variety of complex processes to transfer onto the small disc platform that previously were carried out by individual expensive laboratory equipment requiring trained personnel. The portability, ease of operation, integration, and robustness of the CD fluidic platforms requires simple, reliable, and scalable designs to control the flow of fluids. Valves play a vital role in opening/closing of microfluidic channels to enable a precise control of the flow of fluids on a centrifugal platform. Valving systems are also critical in isolating chambers from the rest of a fluidic network at required times, in effectively directing the reagents to the target location, in serial dilutions, and in integration of multiple other processes on a single CD. In this paper, we review the various available fluidic valving systems, discuss their working principles, and evaluate their compatibility with CD fluidic platforms. We categorize the presented valving systems into either "active", "passive", or "hybrid"-based on their actuation mechanism that can be mechanical, thermal, hydrophobic/hydrophilic, solubility-based, phase-change, and others. Important topics such as their actuation mechanism, governing physics, variability of performance, necessary disc spin rate for valve actuation, valve response time, and other parameters are discussed. The applicability of some types of valves for specialized functions such as reagent storage, flow control, and other applications is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehan Peshin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Marc Madou
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- School of Engineering and Science, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Lawrence Kulinsky
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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13
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Wang X, Chan V, Corridon PR. Acellular Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts from Polymers: Methods, Achievements, Characterization, and Challenges. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14224825. [PMID: 36432950 PMCID: PMC9695055 DOI: 10.3390/polym14224825] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive and permanent damage to the vasculature leading to different pathogenesis calls for developing innovative therapeutics, including drugs, medical devices, and cell therapies. Innovative strategies to engineer bioartificial/biomimetic vessels have been extensively exploited as an effective replacement for vessels that have seriously malfunctioned. However, further studies in polymer chemistry, additive manufacturing, and rapid prototyping are required to generate highly engineered vascular segments that can be effectively integrated into the existing vasculature of patients. One recently developed approach involves designing and fabricating acellular vessel equivalents from novel polymeric materials. This review aims to assess the design criteria, engineering factors, and innovative approaches for the fabrication and characterization of biomimetic macro- and micro-scale vessels. At the same time, the engineering correlation between the physical properties of the polymer and biological functionalities of multiscale acellular vascular segments are thoroughly elucidated. Moreover, several emerging characterization techniques for probing the mechanical properties of tissue-engineered vascular grafts are revealed. Finally, significant challenges to the clinical transformation of the highly promising engineered vessels derived from polymers are identified, and unique perspectives on future research directions are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Immunology and Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vincent Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (P.R.C.)
| | - Peter R. Corridon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Immunology and Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (P.R.C.)
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14
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Leonaviciene G, Mazutis L. RNA cytometry of single-cells using semi-permeable microcapsules. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:e2. [PMID: 36268865 PMCID: PMC9841424 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Analytical tools for gene expression profiling of individual cells are critical for studying complex biological systems. However, the techniques enabling rapid measurements of gene expression on thousands of single-cells are lacking. Here, we report a high-throughput RNA cytometry for digital profiling of single-cells isolated in liquid droplets enveloped by a thin semi-permeable membrane (microcapsules). Due to the selective permeability of the membrane, the desirable enzymes and reagents can be loaded, or replaced, in the microcapsule at any given step by simply changing the reaction buffer in which the microcapsules are dispersed. Therefore, complex molecular biology workflows can be readily adapted to conduct nucleic acid analysis on encapsulated mammalian cells, or other biological species. The microcapsules support sequential multi-step enzymatic reactions and remain intact under different biochemical conditions, freezing, thawing, and thermocycling. Combining microcapsules with conventional FACS provides a high-throughput approach for conducting RNA cytometry of individual cells based on their digital gene expression signature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Leonaviciene
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Centre, Vilnius University, 7 Sauletekio av., Vilnius, LT-10257, Lithuania
| | - Linas Mazutis
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +370 5 2234356;
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15
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Chen X, Zhang C, Liu B, Chang Y, Pang W, Duan X. A self-contained acoustofluidic platform for biomarker detection. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3817-3826. [PMID: 36069822 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00541g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Self-contained microfluidic platforms with on-chip integration of flow control units, microreactors, (bio)sensors, etc. are ideal systems for point-of-care (POC) testing. However, current approaches such as micropumps and microvalves, increase the cost and the control system, and it is rather difficult to integrate into a single chip. Herein, we demonstrated a versatile acoustofluidic platform actuated by a Lamb wave resonator (LWR) array, in which pumping, mixing, fluidic switching, and particle trapping are all achieved on a single chip. The high-speed microscale acoustic streaming triggered by the LWR in the confined microchannel can be utilized to realize a flow resistor and switch. Variable unidirectional pumping was realized by regulating the relative position of the LWR in various custom-designed microfluidic structures and adoption of different geometric parameters for the microchannel. In addition, to realize quantitative biomarker detection, the on-chip flow resistor, micropump, micromixer and particle trapper were also integrated with a CMOS photo sensor and electronic driver circuit, resulting in an automated handheld microfluidic system with no moving parts. Finally, the acoustofluidic platform was tested for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) sensing, which demonstrates the biocompatibility and applied potency of this proposed self-contained system in POC biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Chuanchao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Bohua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Ye Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Wei Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Xuexin Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology & Instruments, and College of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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16
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Yen SH, Chin PC, Hsu JY, Lin JL. Characterization of a Droplet Containing the Clustered Magnetic Beads Manipulation by Magnetically Actuated Chips. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1622. [PMID: 36295975 PMCID: PMC9610654 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A magnetically actuated chip was successfully developed in this study to perform the purpose of transportation for a droplet containing clustered magnetic beads. The magnetic field gradient is generated by the chip of the two-layer 4 × 4 array micro-coils, which was commercially fabricated by printing circuit board (PCB) technology. A numerical model was first established to investigate the magnetic field and thermal field for such a micro-coil. Consequently, the numerical simulations were in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. Moreover, a theoretical analysis was derived to predict the dynamic behaviors of the droplets. This analysis will offer the optimal operation for such a magnetically actuated chip. This study aims to successfully implement the concept of "digital microfluidics" in "point-of-care testing" (POCT). In the future, the micro-coil chip will be of substantial benefit to genetic analysis and infectious disease detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jr-Lung Lin
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-7-6577-711 (ext. 3320); Fax:+886-7-6578-853
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17
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Wang S, Zhou R, Hou Y, Wang M, Hou X. Photochemical effect driven fluid behavior control in microscale pores and channels. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.11.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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18
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Review of Bubble Applications in Microrobotics: Propulsion, Manipulation, and Assembly. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13071068. [PMID: 35888885 PMCID: PMC9324494 DOI: 10.3390/mi13071068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, microbubbles have been widely used in the field of microrobots due to their unique properties. Microbubbles can be easily produced and used as power sources or tools of microrobots, and the bubbles can even serve as microrobots themselves. As a power source, bubbles can propel microrobots to swim in liquid under low-Reynolds-number conditions. As a manipulation tool, microbubbles can act as the micromanipulators of microrobots, allowing them to operate upon particles, cells, and organisms. As a microrobot, microbubbles can operate and assemble complex microparts in two- or three-dimensional spaces. This review provides a comprehensive overview of bubble applications in microrobotics including propulsion, micromanipulation, and microassembly. First, we introduce the diverse bubble generation and control methods. Then, we review and discuss how bubbles can play a role in microrobotics via three functions: propulsion, manipulation, and assembly. Finally, by highlighting the advantages and current challenges of this progress, we discuss the prospects of microbubbles in microrobotics.
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19
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Rothbauer M, Reihs EI, Fischer A, Windhager R, Jenner F, Toegel S. A Progress Report and Roadmap for Microphysiological Systems and Organ-On-A-Chip Technologies to Be More Predictive Models in Human (Knee) Osteoarthritis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:886360. [PMID: 35782494 PMCID: PMC9240813 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.886360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic debilitating joint disease affecting hundreds of million people globally, is associated with significant pain and socioeconomic costs. Current treatment modalities are palliative and unable to stop the progressive degeneration of articular cartilage in OA. Scientific attention has shifted from the historical view of OA as a wear-and-tear cartilage disorder to its recognition as a whole-joint disease, highlighting the contribution of other knee joint tissues in OA pathogenesis. Despite much progress in the field of microfluidic systems/organs-on-a-chip in other research fields, current in vitro models in use do not yet accurately reflect the complexity of the OA pathophenotype. In this review, we provide: 1) a detailed overview of the most significant recent developments in the field of microsystems approaches for OA modeling, and 2) an OA-pathophysiology-based bioengineering roadmap for the requirements of the next generation of more predictive and authentic microscale systems fit for the purpose of not only disease modeling but also of drug screening to potentially allow OA animal model reduction and replacement in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rothbauer
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopeadic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
- *Correspondence: Mario Rothbauer,
| | - Eva I. Reihs
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopeadic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anita Fischer
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopeadic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reinhard Windhager
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopeadic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florien Jenner
- Veterinary Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Vienna (VETERM), Equine Surgery Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Toegel
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopeadic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Vienna, Austria
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20
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Fang Y, Wereley ST, Moran JL, Warsinger DM. Electric double layer overlap limits flow rate in Janus electrocatalytic self-pumping membranes. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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21
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Li MS, Wong HL, Ip YL, Peng Z, Yiu R, Yuan H, Wai Wong JK, Chan YK. Current and Future Perspectives on Microfluidic Tear Analytic Devices. ACS Sens 2022; 7:1300-1314. [PMID: 35579258 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Most current invasive analytic devices for disease diagnosis and monitoring require the collection of blood, which causes great discomfort for patients and may potentially cause infection. This explains the great need for noninvasive devices that utilize other bodily fluids like sweat, saliva, tears, or urine. Among them, eye tears are easily accessible, less complex in composition, and less susceptible to dilution. Tears also contain valuable clinical information for the diagnosis of ocular and systemic diseases as the tear analyte level shows great correlation with the blood analyte level. These unique advantages make tears a promising platform for use in clinical settings. As the volume of tear film and the rate of tear flow are only microliters in size, the use of microfluidic technology in analytic devices allows minimal sample consumption. Hence, more and more microfluidic tear analytic devices have been proposed, and their working mechanisms can be broadly categorized into four main types: (a) electrochemical, (b) photonic crystals, (c) fluorescence, and (d) colorimetry. These devices are being developed toward the application of point-of-care tests with rapid yet accurate results. This review aims to provide a general overview of the recent developmental trend of microfluidic devices for tear analysis. Moreover, the fundamental principle behind each type of device along with their strengths and weaknesses will be discussed, especially in terms of their abilities and potential in being used in point-of-care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Shek Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Ho Lam Wong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Yan Lam Ip
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Zhiting Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Rachel Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Grantham Hospital, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Hao Yuan
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, P R China
| | - Jasper Ka Wai Wong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
- Department of Ophthalmology, Grantham Hospital, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hong Kong SAR 000000
| | - Yau Kei Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 000000
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22
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Lai WH, Mu H, Lu Y, Chen H, Wen JW, Wu HJ, Cheng CM, Huang J. Dual-cell culture system with identical culture environment for comparison of anti-cancer drug toxicity. Chem Eng Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2022.117555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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23
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Flow Regulation Performance Analysis of Microfluidic Passive Valve for High Throughput Liquid Delivery. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13050687. [PMID: 35630154 PMCID: PMC9143073 DOI: 10.3390/mi13050687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A microfluidic passive valve (MPV) is important for precise flow control, and it determines the reliability of the microfluidic system. In this paper, a novel MPV capable of delivering a constant flow rate independently of inlet pressure changes is proposed. The flow rate of the MPV is adjusted by the difference between the fluid force on the upper surface of the valve core and the spring force. The constant flow rate of the MPV is maintained by automatically changing the size of the gap channel formed by the groove on the valve core and the baffle on the valve body. The nearly constant flow rate of the MPV is 6.26 mL/min, with a variation of 6.5% under the inlet pressure varied from 1.25 kPa to 3.5 kPa. In addition, the flow characteristics of the MPV are analyzed by numerical simulation. With the increase in the inlet pressure, the maximum velocity gradually increases, while the increment of the maximum velocity decreases. In the movement process of the valve core, the region of pressure drop becomes larger. This work has a certain reference value for the design and research of the MPVs with high throughput liquid delivery.
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24
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Burdó-Masferrer M, Díaz-González M, Sanchis A, Calleja Á, Marco MP, Fernández-Sánchez C, Baldi A. Compact Microfluidic Platform with LED Light-Actuated Valves for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Automation. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:280. [PMID: 35624581 PMCID: PMC9139117 DOI: 10.3390/bios12050280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip devices incorporating valves and pumps can perform complex assays involving multiple reagents. However, the instruments used to drive these chips are complex and bulky. In this article, a new wax valve design that uses light from a light emitting diode (LED) for both opening and closing is reported. The valves and a pumping chamber are integrated in lab-on-a-foil chips that can be fabricated at low cost using rapid prototyping techniques. A chip for the implementation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) is designed. A porous nitrocellulose material is used for the immobilization of capture antibodies in the microchannel. A compact generic instrument with an array of 64 LEDs, a linear actuator to drive the pumping chamber, and absorbance detection for a colorimetric readout of the assay is also presented. Characterization of all the components and functionalities of the platform and the designed chip demonstrate their potential for assay automation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Burdó-Masferrer
- Institut de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.D.-G.); (Á.C.); (C.F.-S.)
| | - María Díaz-González
- Institut de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.D.-G.); (Á.C.); (C.F.-S.)
| | - Ana Sanchis
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.); (M.-P.M.)
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Álvaro Calleja
- Institut de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.D.-G.); (Á.C.); (C.F.-S.)
| | - María-Pilar Marco
- Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.); (M.-P.M.)
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - César Fernández-Sánchez
- Institut de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.D.-G.); (Á.C.); (C.F.-S.)
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Baldi
- Institut de Microelectronica de Barcelona, IMB-CNM (CSIC), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.D.-G.); (Á.C.); (C.F.-S.)
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25
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A High-Performance Synthetic Jet Piezoelectric Air Pump with Petal-Shaped Channel. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22093227. [PMID: 35590926 PMCID: PMC9103783 DOI: 10.3390/s22093227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The synthetic jet piezoelectric air pump is a potential miniature device for electronic cooling. In order to improve the performance of the device, a small-sized synthetic jet piezoelectric air pump is proposed in this work, which is mainly characterized by petal-shaped inlet channels. First, the structure and working principle of the piezoelectric vibrator and the proposed pump are analyzed. Then, three synthetic jet piezoelectric air pumps with different inlet channels are compared. These inlets are the direct channels, the diffuser/nozzle channels, and the petal-shaped channels, respectively. Furthermore, the performance of the synthetic jet piezoelectric air pump with the petal-shaped inlet channels is optimized by orthogonal tests. Finally, the simulation was used to investigate the heat dissipation capability of the synthetic jet piezoelectric pump. The experimental results show that among the three inlet channels, the petal-shaped channel can greatly improve the performance of the pump. The unoptimized pump with petal-shaped channels has a maximum flow rate of 1.8929 L/min at 100 V, 3.9 kHz. Additionally, the optimized pump with petal-shaped channels reaches a maximum flow rate of 3.0088 L/min at 100 V, 3.7 kHz, which is 58.95% higher than the unoptimized one. The proposed synthetic jet piezoelectric air pump greatly improves the output performance and has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, and easy integration. The convective heat transfer coefficient of the synthetic jet piezoelectric pump is 28.8 W/(m2·°C), which can prove that the device has a better heat dissipation capability.
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Acoustics-Actuated Microrobots. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13030481. [PMID: 35334771 PMCID: PMC8949854 DOI: 10.3390/mi13030481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microrobots can operate in tiny areas that traditional bulk robots cannot reach. The combination of acoustic actuation with microrobots extensively expands the application areas of microrobots due to their desirable miniaturization, flexibility, and biocompatibility features. Herein, an overview of the research and development of acoustics-actuated microrobots is provided. We first introduce the currently established manufacturing methods (3D printing and photolithography). Then, according to their different working principles, we divide acoustics-actuated microrobots into three categories including bubble propulsion, sharp-edge propulsion, and in-situ microrotor. Next, we summarize their established applications from targeted drug delivery to microfluidics operation to microsurgery. Finally, we illustrate current challenges and future perspectives to guide research in this field. This work not only gives a comprehensive overview of the latest technology of acoustics-actuated microrobots, but also provides an in-depth understanding of acoustic actuation for inspiring the next generation of advanced robotic devices.
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Ficai D, Gheorghe M, Dolete G, Mihailescu B, Svasta P, Ficai A, Constantinescu G, Andronescu E. Microelectromechanical Systems Based on Magnetic Polymer Films. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:mi13030351. [PMID: 35334643 PMCID: PMC8952241 DOI: 10.3390/mi13030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have been increasingly used worldwide in a wide range of applications, including high tech, energy, medicine or environmental applications. Magnetic polymer composite films have been used extensively in the development of the micropumps and valves, which are critical components of the microelectromechanical systems. Based on the literature survey, several polymers and magnetic micro and nanopowders can be identified and, depending on their nature, ratio, processing route and the design of the device, their performances can be tuned from simple valves and pumps to biomimetic devices, such as, for instance, hearth ventricles. In many such devices, polymer magnetic films are used, the disposal of the magnetic component being either embedded into the polymer or coated on the polymer. One or more actuation zones can be used and the flow rate can be mono-directional or bi-directional depending on the design. In this paper, we review the main advances in the development of these magnetic polymer films and derived MEMS: microvalve, micropump, micromixer, microsensor, drug delivery micro-systems, magnetic labeling and separation microsystems, etc. It is important to mention that these MEMS are continuously improving from the point of view of performances, energy consumption and actuation mechanism and a clear tendency in developing personalized treatment. Due to the improved energy efficiency of special materials, wearable devices are developed and be suitable for medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisa Ficai
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania;
- National Research Center for Food Safety, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (G.D.); (E.A.)
- National Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marin Gheorghe
- Center for Technological Electronics and Interconnection Techniques, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bulevardul Iuliu Maniu, 061071 Bucharest, Romania; (M.G.); (B.M.); (P.S.)
- NANOM—MEMS, George Cosbuc 9, 505400 Rasnov, Romania
| | - Georgiana Dolete
- National Research Center for Food Safety, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (G.D.); (E.A.)
- National Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Mihailescu
- Center for Technological Electronics and Interconnection Techniques, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bulevardul Iuliu Maniu, 061071 Bucharest, Romania; (M.G.); (B.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Paul Svasta
- Center for Technological Electronics and Interconnection Techniques, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bulevardul Iuliu Maniu, 061071 Bucharest, Romania; (M.G.); (B.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Anton Ficai
- National Research Center for Food Safety, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (G.D.); (E.A.)
- National Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
- Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Gabriel Constantinescu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bulevardul Eroii Sanitari 8, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Ecaterina Andronescu
- National Research Center for Food Safety, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania; (G.D.); (E.A.)
- National Center for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
- Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Gh. Polizu 1-7, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street 3, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
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Liu J, Xu X, Lei Y, Zhang M, Sheng Z, Wang H, Cao M, Zhang J, Hou X. Liquid Gating Meniscus-Shaped Deformable Magnetoelastic Membranes with Self-Driven Regulation of Gas/Liquid Release. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2107327. [PMID: 34762328 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid gating membranes have been demonstrated to show unprecedented properties of dynamicity, stability, adaptivity, and stimulus-responsiveness. Most recently, smart liquid gating membranes have attracted increasing attention to bring some brand-new properties for real-world applications, and various environment-driven systems have been created. Here, a self-driven system of a smart liquid gating membrane is further developed by designing a new sytem based on a liquid gating magnetoelastic porous membrane with reversible meniscus-shaped deformations, and it is not subject to the complex gating liquid restriction of magnetorheological fluids. Compared with other systems, this magnetic-responsive self-driven system has the advantage that it provides a universal and convenient way to realize active regulation of gas/liquid release. Experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrate the stability, the nonfouling behavior, and the tunability of the system. In addition, this system can be used to perfectly open and close gas transport, and the gating pressure threshold for the liquid release can be reduced under the same conditions. Based on the above capabilities, combined with the fast and 3D contactless operation, it will be of benefit in fields ranging from visible gas/liquid mixture content monitoring and energy-saving multiphase separation, remote fluid release, and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yi Lei
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Mengchuang Zhang
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Zhizhi Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Huimeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Min Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xu Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Department of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Jiujiang Research Institute, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
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Lin JL. Design and Fabrication of Pneumatically Actuated Valveless Pumps. MICROMACHINES 2021; 13:16. [PMID: 35056181 PMCID: PMC8780249 DOI: 10.3390/mi13010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a valveless pump was successfully designed and fabricated for the purpose of medium transportation. Different from traditional pumps, the newly designed pump utilizes an actuated or a deflected membrane, and it serves as the function of a check valve at the same time. For achieving the valveless property, an inlet or outlet port positioned in an upper- or lower-layer thin membrane was designed to be connected to an entrance or exit channel. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation were conducted simultaneously to investigate the large deformation characteristics of the membranes and to determine the proper location of the inlet or outlet port on the proposed pump. Then, the valveless pump was fabricated on the basis of the proposed design. In the experiment, the maximum flow rate of the proposed pump exceeded 12.47 mL/min at a driving frequency of 5.0 Hz and driving pressure of 68.95 kPa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jr-Lung Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City 84001, Taiwan
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Light-Responsive Soft Actuators: Mechanism, Materials, Fabrication, and Applications. ACTUATORS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/act10110298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Soft robots are those that can move like living organisms and adapt to the surrounding environment. Compared with traditional rigid robots, the advantages of soft robots, in terms of material flexibility, human–computer interaction, and biological adaptability, have received extensive attention. Flexible actuators based on light response are one of the most promising ways to promote the field of cordless soft robots, and they have attracted the attention of scientists in bionic design, actuation implementation, and application. First, the three working principles and the commonly used light-responsive materials for light-responsive actuators are introduced. Then, the characteristics of light-responsive soft actuators are sequentially presented, emphasizing the structure strategy, actuation performance, and emerging applications. Finally, this review is concluded with a perspective on the existing challenges and future opportunities in this nascent research frontier.
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Han Y, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Chen B, Chen X, Hou X. Photothermally induced liquid gate with navigation control of the fluid transport. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Prasanna P, Rathee S, Rahul V, Mandal D, Chandra Goud MS, Yadav P, Hawthorne S, Sharma A, Gupta PK, Ojha S, Jha NK, Villa C, Jha SK. Microfluidic Platforms to Unravel Mysteries of Alzheimer's Disease: How Far Have We Come? Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101022. [PMID: 34685393 PMCID: PMC8537508 DOI: 10.3390/life11101022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant health concern with enormous social and economic impact globally. The gradual deterioration of cognitive functions and irreversible neuronal losses are primary features of the disease. Even after decades of research, most therapeutic options are merely symptomatic, and drugs in clinical practice present numerous side effects. Lack of effective diagnostic techniques prevents the early prognosis of disease, resulting in a gradual deterioration in the quality of life. Furthermore, the mechanism of cognitive impairment and AD pathophysiology is poorly understood. Microfluidics exploits different microscale properties of fluids to mimic environments on microfluidic chip-like devices. These miniature multichambered devices can be used to grow cells and 3D tissues in vitro, analyze cell-to-cell communication, decipher the roles of neural cells such as microglia, and gain insights into AD pathophysiology. This review focuses on the applications and impact of microfluidics on AD research. We discuss the technical challenges and possible solutions provided by this new cutting-edge technique to understand disease-associated pathways and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Prasanna
- School of Applied Sciences, KK University, Nalanda 803115, Bihar, India;
- Correspondence: or (P.P.); (S.K.J.)
| | - Shweta Rathee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Sonipat 131028, Haryana, India;
| | - Vedanabhatla Rahul
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India;
| | - Debabrata Mandal
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur 844101, Bihar, India;
| | | | - Pardeep Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
| | - Susan Hawthorne
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co., Londonderry BT52 1SA, UK;
| | - Ankur Sharma
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Science and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (A.S.); (P.K.G.)
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Science and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (A.S.); (P.K.G.)
| | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
- Correspondence: or (P.P.); (S.K.J.)
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Kare SS, Rountree CM, Troy JB, Finan JD, Saggere L. Neuromodulation using electroosmosis. J Neural Eng 2021; 18:10.1088/1741-2552/ac00d3. [PMID: 33984848 PMCID: PMC8177066 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac00d3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Our laboratory has proposed chemical stimulation of retinal neurons using exogenous glutamate as a biomimetic strategy for treating vision loss caused by photoreceptor (PR) degenerative diseases. Although our previousin-vitrostudies using pneumatic actuation indicate that chemical retinal stimulation is achievable, an actuation technology that is amenable to microfabrication, as needed for anin-vivoimplantable device, has yet to be realized. In this study, we sought to evaluate electroosmotic flow (EOF) as a mechanism for delivering small quantities of glutamate to the retina. EOF has great potential for miniaturization.Approach.An EOF device to dispense small quantities of glutamate was constructed and its ability to drive retinal output tested in anin-vitropreparation of PR degenerate rat retina.Main results.We built and tested an EOF microfluidic system, with 3D printed and off-the-shelf components, capable of injecting small volumes of glutamate in a pulsatile fashion when a low voltage control signal was applied. With this device, we produced excitatory and inhibitory spike rate responses in PR degenerate rat retinae. Glutamate evoked spike rate responses were also observed to be voltage-dependent and localized to the site of injection.Significance.The EOF device performed similarly to a previously tested conventional pneumatic microinjector as a means of chemically stimulating the retina while eliminating the moving plunger of the pneumatic microinjector that would be difficult to miniaturize and parallelize. Although not implantable, the prototype device presented here as a proof of concept indicates that a retinal prosthetic based on EOF-driven chemical stimulation is a viable and worthwhile goal. EOF should have similar advantages for controlled dispensing of charged neurochemicals at any neural interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Siva Kare
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Corey M Rountree
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - John B Troy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - John D Finan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Laxman Saggere
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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Abe T, Oh-hara S, Ukita Y. Adoption of reinforcement learning for the intelligent control of a microfluidic peristaltic pump. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:034101. [PMID: 33986901 PMCID: PMC8106535 DOI: 10.1063/5.0032377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We herein report a study on the intelligent control of microfluidic systems using reinforcement learning. Integrated microvalves are utilized to realize a variety of microfluidic functional modules, such as switching of flow pass, micropumping, and micromixing. The application of artificial intelligence to control microvalves can potentially contribute to the expansion of the versatility of microfluidic systems. As a preliminary attempt toward this motivation, we investigated the application of a reinforcement learning algorithm to microperistaltic pumps. First, we assumed a Markov property for the operation of diaphragms in the microperistaltic pump. Thereafter, components of the Markov decision process were defined for adaptation to the micropump. To acquire the pumping sequence, which maximizes the flow rate, the reward was defined as the obtained flow rate in a state transition of the microvalves. The present system successfully empirically determines the optimal sequence, which considers the physical characteristics of the components of the system that the authors did not recognize. Therefore, it was proved that reinforcement learning could be applied to microperistaltic pumps and is promising for the operation of larger and more complex microsystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Abe
- Department of Engineering, Integrated Graduate School of Medicine, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8510, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Oh-hara
- Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8510, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Ukita
- Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu 400-8510, Japan
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Man Y, Ban M, Li A, Jin X, Du Y, Pan L. A microfluidic colorimetric biosensor for in-field detection of Salmonella in fresh-cut vegetables using thiolated polystyrene microspheres, hose-based microvalve and smartphone imaging APP. Food Chem 2021; 354:129578. [PMID: 33756331 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A microfluidic colorimetric biosensor was developed using thiolated polystyrene microspheres (SH-PSs) for aggregating of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), a novel hose-based microvalve for controlling the flow direction, and a smartphone imaging APP for monitoring colorimetric signals. Aptamer-PS-cysteamine conjugates were used as detection probes and reacted with Salmonella in samples. Complementary DNA - magnetic nanoparticle (cDNA - MNP) conjugates were used as capture probes, reacted with the free aptamer-PS-cysteamine conjugates. AuNPs were aggregated on the surface of Salmonella-aptamer-PS-cysteamine conjugates, resulting in a visible color change in the detection chamber, which indicating different concentrations of Salmonella. The limit of detection was low to 6.0 × 101 cfu/mL. The microfluidic biosensor exhibited a good specificity. It was evaluated by analyzing salad samples spiked with Salmonella. The recoveries ranged from 91.68% to 113.76%, which indicated its potential application in real samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Man
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; Risk Assessment Lab for Agro-products (Beijing), Ministry of Agriculture. P.R. China, Beijing 100097, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China.
| | - Meijing Ban
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing 102206, China
| | - An Li
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; Risk Assessment Lab for Agro-products (Beijing), Ministry of Agriculture. P.R. China, Beijing 100097, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Xinxin Jin
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; Risk Assessment Lab for Agro-products (Beijing), Ministry of Agriculture. P.R. China, Beijing 100097, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yuanfang Du
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; Risk Assessment Lab for Agro-products (Beijing), Ministry of Agriculture. P.R. China, Beijing 100097, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Ligang Pan
- Beijing Research Center for Agricultural Standards and Testing, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China; Risk Assessment Lab for Agro-products (Beijing), Ministry of Agriculture. P.R. China, Beijing 100097, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Agriculture Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100097, China.
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Numerical Study of the Microflow Characteristics in a V-ball Valve. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12020155. [PMID: 33557370 PMCID: PMC7914495 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
V-ball valves are widely applied in many process industries to regulate fluid flow, and they have advantages of good approximately equal percentage flow characteristics and easy maintenance. However, in some applications, the V-ball valve needs to have good performance under both large and extremely small flow coefficients. In this paper, the improvement of the original V-ball valve is made and the flow characteristics between the original and the improved V-ball valve are compared. Two types of small gaps are added to the original V-ball, namely the gap with an approximately rectangular port and the gap with an approximately triangular port. The effects of the structure and the dimension of the gap on flow characteristics are investigated. Results show that within the gap, the flow coefficient increases but the loss coefficient decreases as the valve opening increases, and the flow coefficient has an approximately linear relationship with the flow cross-area of the added gap. Results also show that under the same flow cross-area, the flow coefficient has a higher value if the distance between the gap and the ball center is greater or if the gap is an approximately rectangular port, while the loss coefficient has an opposite trend.
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Fukuba T, Fujii T. Lab-on-a-chip technology for in situ combined observations in oceanography. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:55-74. [PMID: 33300537 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00871k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The oceans sustain the global environment and diverse ecosystems through a variety of biogeochemical processes and their complex interactions. In order to understand the dynamism of the local or global marine environments, multimodal combined observations must be carried out in situ. On the other hand, instrumentation of in situ measurement techniques enabling biological and/or biochemical combined observations is challenging in aquatic environments, including the ocean, because biochemical flow analyses require a more complex configuration than physicochemical electrode sensors. Despite this technical hurdle, in situ analyzers have been developed to measure the concentrations of seawater contents such as nutrients, trace metals, and biological components. These technologies have been used for cutting-edge ocean observations to elucidate the biogeochemical properties of water mass with a high spatiotemporal resolution. In this context, the contribution of lab-on-a-chip (LoC) technology toward the miniaturization and functional integration of in situ analyzers has been gaining momentum. Due to their mountability, in situ LoC technologies provide ideal instrumentation for underwater analyzers, especially for miniaturized underwater observation platforms. Consequently, the appropriate combination of reliable LoC and underwater technologies is essential to realize practical in situ LoC analyzers suitable for underwater environments, including the deep sea. Moreover, the development of fundamental LoC technologies for underwater analyzers, which operate stably in extreme environments, should also contribute to in situ measurements for public or industrial purposes in harsh environments as well as the exploration of the extraterrestrial frontier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuhiro Fukuba
- Institute for Marine-Earth Exploration and Engineering, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Natsushima-cho 2-15, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan.
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Gao RZ, Ren CL. Synergizing microfluidics with soft robotics: A perspective on miniaturization and future directions. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:011302. [PMID: 33564346 PMCID: PMC7861881 DOI: 10.1063/5.0036991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Soft robotics has gone through a decade of tremendous progress in advancing both fundamentals and technologies. It has also seen a wide range of applications such as surgery assistance, handling of delicate foods, and wearable assistive systems driven by its soft nature that is more human friendly than traditional hard robotics. The rapid growth of soft robotics introduces many challenges, which vary with applications. Common challenges include the availability of soft materials for realizing different functions and the precision and speed of control required for actuation. In the context of wearable systems, miniaturization appears to be an additional hurdle to be overcome in order to develop truly impactful systems with a high user acceptance. Microfluidics as a field of research has gone through more than two decades of intense and focused research resulting in many fundamental theories and practical tools that have the potentials to be applied synergistically to soft robotics toward miniaturization. This perspective aims to introduce the potential synergy between microfluidics and soft robotics as a research topic and suggest future directions that could leverage the advantages of the two fields.
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Chircov C, Bîrcă AC, Grumezescu AM, Andronescu E. Biosensors-on-Chip: An Up-to-Date Review. Molecules 2020; 25:E6013. [PMID: 33353220 PMCID: PMC7765790 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25246013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Generally, biosensors are designed to translate physical, chemical, or biological events into measurable signals, thus offering qualitative and/or quantitative information regarding the target analytes. While the biosensor field has received considerable scientific interest, integrating this technology with microfluidics could further bring significant improvements in terms of sensitivity and specificity, resolution, automation, throughput, reproducibility, reliability, and accuracy. In this manner, biosensors-on-chip (BoC) could represent the bridging gap between diagnostics in central laboratories and diagnostics at the patient bedside, bringing substantial advancements in point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic applications. In this context, the aim of this manuscript is to provide an up-to-date overview of BoC system development and their most recent application towards the diagnosis of cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Chircov
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (A.C.B.); (E.A.)
| | - Alexandra Cătălina Bîrcă
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (A.C.B.); (E.A.)
| | - Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (A.C.B.); (E.A.)
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest—ICUB, University of Bucharest, 050657 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ecaterina Andronescu
- Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania; (C.C.); (A.C.B.); (E.A.)
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Lin ZH, Li XJ, Jin ZJ, Qian JY. Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis on Membrane Behavior of a Microfluidic Passive Valve. MEMBRANES 2020; 10:E300. [PMID: 33096936 PMCID: PMC7589823 DOI: 10.3390/membranes10100300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the effect of membrane features on flow characteristics in the microfluidic passive valve (MPV) and the membrane behavior against fluid flow are studied using the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis. Firstly, the microvalve model with different numbers of microholes and pitches of microholes are designed to investigate the flow rate of the MPV. The result shows that the number of microholes on the membrane has a significant impact on the flow rate of the MPV, while the pitch of microholes has little effect on it. The constant flow rate maintained by the microvalve (the number of microholes n = 4) is 5.75 mL/min, and the threshold pressure to achieve the flow rate is 4 kPa. Secondly, the behavior of the membrane against the fluid flow is analyzed. The result shows that as the inlet pressure increases, the flow resistance of the MPV increases rapidly, and the deformation of the membrane gradually becomes stable. Finally, the effect of the membrane material on the flow rate and the deformation of the membrane are studied. The result shows that changes in the material properties of the membrane cause a decrease in the amount of deformation in all stages the all positions of the membrane. This work may provide valuable guidance for the optimization of microfluidic passive valve in microfluidic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-hao Lin
- Institute of Process Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; (Z.-h.L.); (X.-j.L.); (Z.-j.J)
| | - Xiao-juan Li
- Institute of Process Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; (Z.-h.L.); (X.-j.L.); (Z.-j.J)
| | - Zhi-jiang Jin
- Institute of Process Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; (Z.-h.L.); (X.-j.L.); (Z.-j.J)
| | - Jin-yuan Qian
- Institute of Process Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; (Z.-h.L.); (X.-j.L.); (Z.-j.J)
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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Effect of Blade Outlet Angle on the Flow Field and Preventing Overload in a Centrifugal Pump. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11090811. [PMID: 32867032 PMCID: PMC7570082 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The influence of the blade outlet angle on preventing overload in a submersible centrifugal pump and the pump performance characteristics were studied numerically for a low specific speed multi-stage submersible pump. The tested blade outlet angles were 16°, 20°, 24°, 28°, and 32°. The results show that the blade outlet angle significantly affects the external flow characteristics and the power curve can be controlled to prevent overload by properly reducing the blade outlet angle. Increasing the blade outlet angle significantly increases the low pressure area at the impeller inlet, which makes cavitation more likely. Therefore, β2 = 16° provides the best anti-cavitation flow field. Increasing the blade outlet angle also increases the flow separation near the blade working face, which increases the size of the axial vortex along the blade working surface, which rotates in the direction opposite to the impeller rotation and then extends towards the impeller inlet.
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Influence of Non-Structural Parameters on Dual Parallel Jet Characteristics of Porous Nozzles. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11080772. [PMID: 32823817 PMCID: PMC7465785 DOI: 10.3390/mi11080772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
As an important actuator of the dual parallel jet, the porous nozzle has some non-structural parameters (such as inlet pressure, nozzle spacing ratio, etc.) which have a significant influence on energy transport, chemical combustion and pollutant generation. The research on the microfluidic state of the porous nozzle dual parallel jet, however, remains insufficient because of its microjet pattern and complex intersection process. In this paper, the authors used numerical simulation and an experimental method to clarify the influence of porous nozzles’ non-structural parameters on dual parallel jet characteristics. The results show that the inlet pressure only changes the pressure peak value on the parallel jet axis; the starting point (SP) and peak point (PP) on the parallel jet axis, which are located at Xsp = 22 mm and Xpp = 75 mm, respectively, are not changed; and with the increase in the nozzle spacing ratio, the merging points (MPs) on the parallel jet axis are Xmp = 25 mm, 32 mm and 59 mm, respectively. The merging point and the combined point move to a farther distance and the inner deflection angle of the jet is weakened.
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Gao ZX, Liu P, Yue Y, Li JY, Wu H. Comparison of Swing and Tilting Check Valves Flowing Compressible Fluids. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11080758. [PMID: 32781638 PMCID: PMC7464032 DOI: 10.3390/mi11080758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although check valves have attracted a lot of attention, work has rarely been completed done when there is a compressible working fluid. In this paper, the swing check valve and the tilting check valve flowing high-temperature compressible water vapor are compared. The maximum Mach number under small valve openings, the dynamic opening time, and the hydrodynamic moment acting on the valve disc are chosen to evaluate the difference between the two types of check valves. Results show that the maximum Mach number increases with the decrease in the valve opening and the increase in the mass flow rate, and the Mach number and the pressure difference in the tilting check valve are higher. In the swing check valve, the hydrodynamic moment is higher and the valve opening time is shorter. Furthermore, the valve disc is more stable for the swing check valve, and there is a periodical oscillation of the valve disc in the tilting check valve under a small mass flow rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-xin Gao
- SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC, Suzhou 215129, China; (Z.-x.G.); (Y.Y.); (J.-y.L.); (H.W.)
- Institute of Process Equipment, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Ping Liu
- SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC, Suzhou 215129, China; (Z.-x.G.); (Y.Y.); (J.-y.L.); (H.W.)
| | - Yang Yue
- SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC, Suzhou 215129, China; (Z.-x.G.); (Y.Y.); (J.-y.L.); (H.W.)
| | - Jun-ye Li
- SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC, Suzhou 215129, China; (Z.-x.G.); (Y.Y.); (J.-y.L.); (H.W.)
| | - Hui Wu
- SUFA Technology Industry Co., Ltd., CNNC, Suzhou 215129, China; (Z.-x.G.); (Y.Y.); (J.-y.L.); (H.W.)
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Numerical Calculation of Energy Performance and Transient Characteristics of Centrifugal Pump under Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Condition. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11080728. [PMID: 32731433 PMCID: PMC7465507 DOI: 10.3390/mi11080728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The unstable operation of a centrifugal pump under the gas-liquid two-phase condition seriously affects its performance and reliability. In order to study the gas phase distribution and the unsteady force in an impeller, based on the Euler-Euler heterogeneous flow model, the steady and unsteady numerical calculations of the gas-liquid two-phase full flow field in a centrifugal pump was carried out, and the simulation results were compared with the test data. The results show that the test results are in good agreement with the simulation data, which proves the accuracy of the numerical calculation method. The energy performance curve of the model pump decreases with the increase of the gas content, which illustrates a serious impact on the performance under the part-load operating condition. The results reveal that the high-efficiency-operating range become narrow, as the gas content increases. The gas phase is mainly distributed on the suction surface of the impeller blades. When the gas content reaches a certain value, the gas phase separation occurs. As the inlet gas content increases, the radial force on the impeller blades decreases. The pattern of the pressure pulsation is similar to that under pure water and low gas content conditions, and the number of peaks during the pulsation is equal to the number of the impeller blades. After the gas content reaches a certain value, the pressure fluctuates disorderly and the magnitude and the direction of radial force change frequently, which are detrimental to the operation stability of the pump. The intensity of the pressure pulsations in the impeller flow channel continues to increase in the direction of the flow under pure water conditions. The pressure pulsation intensities at the blade inlet and the volute tongue become more severe with the increase of the gas content.
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Kuriu S, Kadonosono T, Kizaka-Kondoh S, Ishida T. Slicing Spheroids in Microfluidic Devices for Morphological and Immunohistochemical Analysis. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11050480. [PMID: 32384758 PMCID: PMC7281316 DOI: 10.3390/mi11050480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices utilizing spheroids play important roles in in vitro experimental systems to closely simulate morphological and biochemical characteristics of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. For the observation and analysis of the inner structure of spheroids, sectioning is an efficient approach. However, conventional microfluidic devices are difficult for sectioning, and therefore, spheroids inside the microfluidic channels have not been sliced well. We proposed a microfluidic device created from embedding resin for sectioning. Spheroids were cultured, embedded by resin, and sectioned in the microfluidic device. Slices of the sectioned spheroids yielded clear images at the cellular level. According to morphological and immunohistochemical analyses of the slices of the spheroid, specific protein distribution was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Kuriu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (T.I.)
| | - Tetsuya Kadonosono
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan; (T.K.); (S.K.-K.)
| | - Shinae Kizaka-Kondoh
- Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan; (T.K.); (S.K.-K.)
| | - Tadashi Ishida
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Kanagawa 226-8503, Japan
- Correspondence: (S.K.); (T.I.)
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