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Saupe M, Wiedemeier S, Gastrock G, Römer R, Lemke K. Flexible Toolbox of High-Precision Microfluidic Modules for Versatile Droplet-Based Applications. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:250. [PMID: 38398978 PMCID: PMC10891953 DOI: 10.3390/mi15020250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Although the enormous potential of droplet-based microfluidics has been successfully demonstrated in the past two decades for medical, pharmaceutical, and academic applications, its inherent potential has not been fully exploited until now. Nevertheless, the cultivation of biological cells and 3D cell structures like spheroids and organoids, located in serially arranged droplets in micro-channels, has a range of benefits compared to established cultivation techniques based on, e.g., microplates and microchips. To exploit the enormous potential of the droplet-based cell cultivation technique, a number of basic functions have to be fulfilled. In this paper, we describe microfluidic modules to realize the following basic functions with high precision: (i) droplet generation, (ii) mixing of cell suspensions and cell culture media in the droplets, (iii) droplet content detection, and (iv) active fluid injection into serially arranged droplets. The robustness of the functionality of the Two-Fluid Probe is further investigated regarding its droplet generation using different flow rates. Advantages and disadvantages in comparison to chip-based solutions are discussed. New chip-based modules like the gradient, the piezo valve-based conditioning, the analysis, and the microscopy module are characterized in detail and their high-precision functionalities are demonstrated. These microfluidic modules are micro-machined, and as the surfaces of their micro-channels are plasma-treated, we are able to perform cell cultivation experiments using any kind of cell culture media, but without needing to use surfactants. This is even more considerable when droplets are used to investigate cell cultures like stem cells or cancer cells as cell suspensions, as 3D cell structures, or as tissue fragments over days or even weeks for versatile applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Saupe
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Microreaction Technologies, Technical University of Ilmenau, 98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Stefan Wiedemeier
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Gunter Gastrock
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Robert Römer
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
| | - Karen Lemke
- Institute for Bioprocessing and Analytical Measurement Techniques e.V., 37308 Heilbad Heiligenstadt, Germany; (S.W.); (G.G.); (R.R.); (K.L.)
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Zhao S, Nie Y, Wei Y, Yu P, He W, Zhu N, Li Y, Ji D, Guo K. Design and parametric optimization of a fan-notched baffle structure mixer for enhancement of liquid-liquid two-phase chemical process. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL REACTOR ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/ijcre-2022-0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The mixing uniformity plays a crucial role in a liquid-liquid two-phase chemical process. To quantify the uniformity of the liquid–liquid process, the specific surface area ratio is proposed and studied through computational fluid dynamics simulation. There is a scale effect in the liquid–liquid two phase chemical processing that the specific surface area ratio decreases to 7.01% when the diameter of the Y-like mixer increases from 1 mm to 10 mm. A millimeter-scale mixer with a fan-notched baffle structure was designed, and the baffle unit length, baffle tilt angle, baffle notch size and baffle thickness of the mixer were optimized. Compared with the 1 mm Y-like mixer, the specific surface area ratio of the 10 mm mixer with notched baffle structures increases to 2.5 times and the treatment capacity increases to 100 times. Additionally, experiment and simulation results prove that FNBS is considered to be a suitable structure for enhancing liquid-liquid two-phase. This study will provide a useful reference for the design of large-scale mixers applicable to liquid-liquid heterogeneous chemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangfei Zhao
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Yingying Nie
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Yimin Wei
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Pengjie Yu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Wei He
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Ning Zhu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
| | - Yuguang Li
- Institute of Nanjing Advanced Biomaterials & Processing Equipment , Nanjing 211299 , China
| | - Dong Ji
- Institute of Nanjing Advanced Biomaterials & Processing Equipment , Nanjing 211299 , China
| | - Kai Guo
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering , Nanjing Tech University , Nanjing 211816 , China
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Cao J, Russo DA, Xie T, Groß GA, Zedler JAZ. A droplet-based microfluidic platform enables high-throughput combinatorial optimization of cyanobacterial cultivation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15536. [PMID: 36109626 PMCID: PMC9477827 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are fast-growing, genetically accessible, photoautotrophs. Therefore, they have attracted interest as sustainable production platforms. However, the lack of techniques to systematically optimize cultivation parameters in a high-throughput manner is holding back progress towards industrialization. To overcome this bottleneck, here we introduce a droplet-based microfluidic platform capable of one- (1D) and two-dimension (2D) screening of key parameters in cyanobacterial cultivation. We successfully grew three different unicellular, biotechnologically relevant, cyanobacteria: Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973 and Synechococcus sp. UTEX 3154. This was followed by a highly-resolved 1D screening of nitrate, phosphate, carbonate, and salt concentrations. The 1D screening results suggested that nitrate and/or phosphate may be limiting nutrients in standard cultivation media. Finally, we use 2D screening to determine the optimal N:P ratio of BG-11. Application of the improved medium composition in a high-density cultivation setup led to an increase in biomass yield of up to 15.7%. This study demonstrates that droplet-based microfluidics can decrease the volume required for cyanobacterial cultivation and screening up to a thousand times while significantly increasing the multiplexing capacity. Going forward, microfluidics have the potential to play a significant role in the industrial exploitation of cyanobacteria.
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Breukers J, Op de Beeck H, Rutten I, López Fernández M, Eyckerman S, Lammertyn J. Highly flexible and accurate serial picoinjection in droplets by combined pressure and flow rate control. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3475-3488. [PMID: 35943442 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00368f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Picoinjection is a robust method for reagent addition into microfluidic droplets and has enabled the implementation of numerous multistep droplet assays. Although serial picoinjectors allow to screen many conditions in one run by injecting different combinations of reagents, their use is limited because it is complex to accurately control each injector independently. Here, we present a novel method for flexible, individual picoinjector control that allows to inject a predefined range of volumes by controlling the flow rate of the injector as well as turning off injection by setting the equilibrium pressure, which resulted in a stable interface of the injector liquid with the main microfluidic channel. Robust setting of the equilibrium pressure of an injector was achieved by applying accurate (R2 > 0.94) linear models between the injector and oil pressure in real-time. To illustrate the flexibility of this method, we performed several proof-of-concepts using 1, 2 or 3 picoinjectors loaded with fluorescent dyes. We successfully demonstrated picoinjection approaches using time-invariant settings, in which an injector setting was applied for prolonged times, and time-variant picoinjection, in which the injector settings were continuously varied in order to sweep the injected volumes, both resulting in monodisperse (CV < 3.4%) droplet libraries with different but reproducible fluorescent intensities. To illustrate the potential of the technology for fast compound concentration screenings, we studied the effect of a concentration range of a detergent on single-cell lysis. We anticipate that this robust and versatile methodology will make the serial picoinjection technology more accessible to researchers, allowing its wide implementation in numerous life science applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Breukers
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
| | - Hannah Op de Beeck
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
| | - Iene Rutten
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
| | - Montserrat López Fernández
- Confo Therapeutics, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 30, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB-Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB-Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, Ghent 9052, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 75, Ghent 9052, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Lammertyn
- Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium.
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Microfluidic Network Simulations Enable On-Demand Prediction of Control Parameters for Operating Lab-on-a-Chip-Devices. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9081320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Reliable operation of lab-on-a-chip systems depends on user-friendly, precise, and predictable fluid management tailored to particular sub-tasks of the microfluidic process protocol and their required sample fluids. Pressure-driven flow control, where the sample fluids are delivered to the chip from pressurized feed vessels, simplifies the fluid management even for multiple fluids. The achieved flow rates depend on the pressure settings, fluid properties, and pressure-throughput characteristics of the complete microfluidic system composed of the chip and the interconnecting tubing. The prediction of the required pressure settings for achieving given flow rates simplifies the control tasks and enables opportunities for automation. In our work, we utilize a fast-running, Kirchhoff-based microfluidic network simulation that solves the complete microfluidic system for in-line prediction of the required pressure settings within less than 200 ms. The appropriateness of and benefits from this approach are demonstrated as exemplary for creating multi-component laminar co-flow and the creation of droplets with variable composition. Image-based methods were combined with chemometric approaches for the readout and correlation of the created multi-component flow patterns with the predictions obtained from the solver.
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Vitorino R, Guedes S, da Costa JP, Kašička V. Microfluidics for Peptidomics, Proteomics, and Cell Analysis. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1118. [PMID: 33925983 PMCID: PMC8145566 DOI: 10.3390/nano11051118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidics is the advanced microtechnology of fluid manipulation in channels with at least one dimension in the range of 1-100 microns. Microfluidic technology offers a growing number of tools for manipulating small volumes of fluid to control chemical, biological, and physical processes relevant to separation, analysis, and detection. Currently, microfluidic devices play an important role in many biological, chemical, physical, biotechnological and engineering applications. There are numerous ways to fabricate the necessary microchannels and integrate them into microfluidic platforms. In peptidomics and proteomics, microfluidics is often used in combination with mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. This review provides an overview of using microfluidic systems for peptidomics, proteomics and cell analysis. The application of microfluidics in combination with MS detection and other novel techniques to answer clinical questions is also discussed in the context of disease diagnosis and therapy. Recent developments and applications of capillary and microchip (electro)separation methods in proteomic and peptidomic analysis are summarized. The state of the art of microchip platforms for cell sorting and single-cell analysis is also discussed. Advances in detection methods are reported, and new applications in proteomics and peptidomics, quality control of peptide and protein pharmaceuticals, analysis of proteins and peptides in biomatrices and determination of their physicochemical parameters are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Vitorino
- UnIC, Departamento de Cirurgia e Fisiologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, 4785-999 Porto, Portugal
- iBiMED, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 00351234 Aveiro, Portugal
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 00351234 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Sofia Guedes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 00351234 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - João Pinto da Costa
- Department of Chemistry & Center for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 00351234 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Václav Kašička
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemigovo n. 542/2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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