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Fan R, Wu J, Duan S, Jin L, Zhang H, Zhang C, Zheng A. Droplet-based microfluidics for drug delivery applications. Int J Pharm 2024; 663:124551. [PMID: 39106935 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
The microfluidic method primainly utilizes two incompatible liquids as continuous phase and dispersed phase respectively. It controls the formation of droplets by managing the microchannel structure and the flow rate ratio of the two phases. Droplet-based microfluidics is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary research field encompassing physics, biochemistry, and Microsystems engineering. Droplet microfluidics offer a diverse and practical toolset that enables chemical and biological experiments to be conducted at high speeds and with greater efficiency compared to traditional instruments. The applications of droplet-based microfluidics are vast, including areas such as drug delivery, owing to its compatibility with numerous chemical and biological reagents and its ability to carry out various operations. This technology has been extensively researched due to its promising features. In this review, we delve into the materials used in droplet generation-based microfluidic devices, manufacturing techniques, methods for droplet generation in channels, and, finally, we summarize the applications of droplet generation-based microfluidics in drug delivery vectors, encompassing nanoparticles, microspheres, microcapsules, and hydrogel particles. We also discuss the challenges and future prospects of this technology across a wide array of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Fan
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Shuwei Duan
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Lili Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University College of Pharmacy, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Changhao Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, Yanbian University College of Pharmacy, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China.
| | - Aiping Zheng
- Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, China.
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2
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Argueta-Diaz V, Owens M, Al Ramadan A. Increasing Optical Path Lengths in Micro-Fluidic Devices Using a Multi-Pass Cell. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:820. [PMID: 39064331 PMCID: PMC11278631 DOI: 10.3390/mi15070820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
This study presents a novel absorption cell with a circular geometry that can be integrated into microfluidic devices for optical spectroscopy applications. The absorption cell is made of PDMS/SU8 and offers an optical path length that is 8.5 times its diameter, resulting in a significant increase in the sensitivity of the measurements. Overall, this design provides a reliable and efficient solution for optical spectroscopy in microfluidic systems, enabling the precise detection and analysis of small quantities of analytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - McKenna Owens
- College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
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3
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Darvish F, Shumaly S, Li X, Dong Y, Diaz D, Khani M, Vollmer D, Butt HJ. Control of spontaneous charging of sliding water drops by plasma-surface treatment. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10640. [PMID: 38724519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60595-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Slide electrification is the spontaneous separation of electric charges at the rear of water drops sliding over solid surfaces. This study delves into how surfaces treated with a low-pressure plasma impact water slide electrification. Ar, O2, and N2 plasma treatment reduced the drop charge and contact angles on glass, quartz, and SU-8 coated with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroctyltrichlorosilane (PFOTS), and polystyrene. Conversely, 64% higher drop charge was achieved using electrode-facing treatment in plasma chamber. Based on the zeta potential, Kelvin potential, and XPS measurements, the plasma effects were attributed to alterations of the topmost layer's chemistry, such as oxidation and etching, and superficially charge deposition. The surface top layer charges were less negative after electrode-facing and more negative after bulk plasma treatment. As a result, the zeta potential was less negative after electrode-facing and more negative after bulk plasma treatment. Although the fluorinated layer was applied after plasma activation, we observed a discernible impact of plasma-glass treatment on drop charging. Plasma surface modification offers a means to adjust drop charges: electrode-facing treatment of the fluorinated layer leads to an enhanced drop charge, while plasma treatment on the substrate prior to fluorination diminishes drop charges, all without affecting contact angles or surface roughness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Darvish
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Sajjad Shumaly
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Xiaomei Li
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Yun Dong
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Diego Diaz
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mohammadreza Khani
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C., Evin, Tehran, 1983963113, Iran
| | - Doris Vollmer
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Butt
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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Bernasconi R, Invernizzi GP, Gallo Stampino E, Gotti R, Gatti D, Magagnin L. Printing MEMS: Application of Inkjet Techniques to the Manufacturing of Inertial Accelerometers. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:2082. [PMID: 38004939 PMCID: PMC10672808 DOI: 10.3390/mi14112082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
In the last few years, the manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) by means of innovative tridimensional and bidimensional printing technologies has significantly catalyzed the attention of researchers. Inkjet material deposition, in particular, can become a key enabling technology for the production of polymer-based inertial sensors characterized by low cost, high manufacturing scalability and superior sensitivity. In this paper, a fully inkjet-printed polymeric accelerometer is proposed, and its manufacturing steps are described. The manufacturing challenges connected with the inkjet deposition of SU-8 as a structural material are identified and addressed, resulting in the production of a functional spring-mass sensor. A step-crosslinking process allows optimization of the final shape of the device and limits defects typical of inkjet printing. The resulting device is characterized from a morphological point of view, and its functionality is assessed in performing optical readout. The acceleration range of the optimized device is 0-0.7 g, its resolution is 2 × 10-3 g and its sensitivity is 6745 nm/g. In general, the work demonstrates the feasibility of polymeric accelerometer production via inkjet printing, and these characteristic parameters demonstrate their potential applicability in a broad range of uses requiring highly accurate acceleration measurements over small displacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Bernasconi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via L. Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (G.P.I.); (E.G.S.); (L.M.)
| | - Gabriele Pietro Invernizzi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via L. Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (G.P.I.); (E.G.S.); (L.M.)
| | - Elisa Gallo Stampino
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via L. Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (G.P.I.); (E.G.S.); (L.M.)
| | - Riccardo Gotti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano e IFN-CNR, Via G. Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (D.G.)
| | - Davide Gatti
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano e IFN-CNR, Via G. Previati 1/C, 23900 Lecco, Italy; (R.G.); (D.G.)
| | - Luca Magagnin
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, Via L. Mancinelli 7, 20131 Milano, Italy; (G.P.I.); (E.G.S.); (L.M.)
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Li Y, Dong D, Qu Y, Li J, Chen S, Zhao H, Zhang Q, Jiao Y, Fan L, Sun D. A Multidrug Delivery Microrobot for the Synergistic Treatment of Cancer. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2301889. [PMID: 37423966 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202301889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug combination therapy provides an effective strategy for malignant tumor treatment. This paper presents the development of a biodegradable microrobot for on-demand multidrug delivery. By combining magnetic targeting transportation with tumor therapy, it is hypothesized that loading multiple drugs on different regions of a single magnetic microrobot can enhance a synergistic effect for cancer treatment. The synergistic effect of using two drugs together is greater than that of using each drug separately. Here, a 3D-printed microrobot inspired by the fish structure with three hydrogel components: skeleton, head, and body structures is demonstrated. Made of iron oxide (Fe3 O4 ) nanoparticles embedded in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), the skeleton can respond to magnetic fields for microrobot actuation and drug-targeted delivery. The drug storage structures, head, and body, made by biodegradable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) exhibit enzyme-responsive cargo release. The multidrug delivery microrobots carrying acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and doxorubicin (DOX) in drug storage structures, respectively, exhibit the excellent synergistic effects of ASA and DOX by accelerating HeLa cell apoptosis and inhibiting HeLa cell metastasis. In vivo studies indicate that the microrobots improve the efficiency of tumor inhibition and induce a response to anti-angiogenesis. The versatile multidrug delivery microrobot conceptualized here provides a way for developing effective combination therapy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Dingran Dong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yun Qu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Junyang Li
- Center for Robotics and Automation, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518000, China
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Shuxun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yang Jiao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Lei Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Center for Robotics and Automation, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- Center for Robotics and Automation, Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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Kim JH, Jang SH, Kim YJ. Photolithographic patterning on multi-wavelength quantum dot film of the improved conversion efficiency for digital holography. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:34667-34676. [PMID: 37859217 DOI: 10.1364/oe.498121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
A triple-wavelength patterned quantum dot film was fabricated for the light source of digital holography to improve both the axial measurement range and noise reduction. The patterned quantum dot film was fabricated after optimizing the photolithography process condition based on the UV-curable quantum dot solution, which was capable of multiple patterning processes. In addition, an optimized pattern structure was developed by adding TiO2 nanoparticles to both the quantum dot and bank layers to increase the scattering effect for the improved photoluminescence intensity. Finally, the newly developed light source with the balanced spectral distribution was applied to the digital holography, rendering it applicable as an improved light source.
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Wu Y, Ding G, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Liu R, Sun Y. Preparation of Highly Stable Polymer Microstructure with Enhanced Adhesion Strength by Pushpin-like Nano/Microstructure Array. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15041015. [PMID: 36850298 PMCID: PMC9966650 DOI: 10.3390/polym15041015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This polymer microstructure expands more available application, which is a milestone for the development of micro-electro-mechanical system devices towards intelligence and multifunction. Poor interface bonding between the polymer and Si or metal is a particular problem, which restricts the application and promotion of polymer materials. In this study, a transition strengthening layer is proposed to obtain a highly stable polymer microstructure by enhancing the interfacial adhesion strength. The transition strengthening layer is activated by a pushpin-like nano/microstructure array with micromachining technology. Given its good graphical qualities and compatibility, epoxy negative photoresist SU-8 is applied to evaluate the strengthened capabilities of the pushpin-like nano/microstructure array. The microstructure of SU-8 is prepared by the same processes, and then the adhesion strength between the SU-8 microstructure and various activated substrates is tested by the thrust tester. It was determined that SU-8 with an activated pushpin-like microstructure array possessed a highly stable adhesion ability, and its adhesion strength increased from 6.51 MPa to 15.42 MPa. With its ultrahigh stable adhesion ability, it has been applied in fabricating three typical microstructures (hollow square microstructure, gradually increasing adjacent periodic microstructure, and slender strip microstructures) and large-area SU-8 microstructures to evaluate the feasibility of the transition strengthening layer and repeatability and universality of the microfabrication processes. The drifting and gluing phenomenon are avoided by this method compared with the traditional design. The proposed pushpin-like nano/microstructure array is promising in enhancing the stability of polymer microstructures with a substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjin Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Guifu Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Rui Liu
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Materials Science and Engineering Education, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003, China
| | - Yunna Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Micro/Nano Fabrication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Correspondence:
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Nydegger M, Pruška A, Galinski H, Zenobi R, Reiser A, Spolenak R. Additive manufacturing of Zn with submicron resolution and its conversion into Zn/ZnO core-shell structures. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:17418-17427. [PMID: 36385575 PMCID: PMC9714770 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr04549d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Electrohydrodynamic redox 3D printing (EHD-RP) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technique with submicron resolution and multi-metal capabilities, offering the possibility to switch chemistry during deposition "on-the-fly". Despite the potential for synthesizing a large range of metals by electrochemical small-scale AM techniques, to date, only Cu and Ag have been reproducibly deposited by EHD-RP. Here, we extend the materials palette available to EHD-RP by using aqueous solvents instead of organic solvents, as used previously. We demonstrate deposition of Cu and Zn from sacrificial anodes immersed in acidic aqueous solvents. Mass spectrometry indicates that the choice of the solvent is important to the deposition of pure Zn. Additionally, we show that the deposited Zn structures, 250 nm in width, can be partially converted into semiconducting ZnO structures by oxidation at 325 °C in air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirco Nydegger
- Laboratory for Nanometallurgy, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Adam Pruška
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Henning Galinski
- Laboratory for Nanometallurgy, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Renato Zenobi
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alain Reiser
- Laboratory for Nanometallurgy, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich 8093, Switzerland.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ralph Spolenak
- Laboratory for Nanometallurgy, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, Zürich 8093, Switzerland.
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Golvari P, Alkameh K, Kuebler SM. Si-H Surface Groups Inhibit Methacrylic Polymerization: Thermal Hydrosilylation of Allyl Methacrylate with Silicon Nanoparticles. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:8366-8373. [PMID: 35686698 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen-terminated silicon nanoparticles (H-SiNPs) inhibit anerobic thermal autopolymerization of methacrylates. When heated to 100 °C under an inert atmosphere, allyl methacrylate (AMA) was stable for at least 95 h in the presence of 1.2 wt % H-SiNPs, exhibiting less than 0.15% conversion, whereas the neat monomer solidified within 24 h (over 10% conversion after 34 h). A mechanism is proposed that is based on H-transfer from SiNPs to the thermally activated methacrylic dimer biradical, quenching autopolymerization. An analysis of SiNPs isolated after heating in AMA reveals the grafting of ester groups. Thermal hydrosilylation offers a facile way to attach an allyl group to the surface of SiNPs.
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Micropatterned Polypyrrole/Hydroxyapatite Composite Coatings Promoting Osteoinductive Activity by Electrical Stimulation. COATINGS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/coatings12060849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Conductive polypyrrole (PPy) has excellent biocompatibility and structural stability. It is an ideal electroactive biomaterial that can apply exogenous electrical stimulation to promote osteoblast differentiation. However, PPy is a kind of bio-inert material, which does not have osteoinductive capacity. Therefore, we have introduced a kind of bioactive material, hydroxyapatite (HA), to construct PPy/HA composite to enhance bioactivity and osteoinduction. In addition, micron-topological morphology of scattered grid pattern has been designed and introduced to the PPy/HA coatings, which can further enhance the regulation ability of the coatings to the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. In vitro simulated body fluids (SBFs) immersion test results have demonstrated that the fabricated micropatterned PPy/HA composite coatings perform bioactivity well and can promote the mineral deposition of HA on the surface. Moreover, it can also benefit the proliferation and osteognetic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, when accompanied by external electrical stimulation (ES). In this study, we have successfully constructed electroactive and bioactive coatings, the method of which can potentially be applied to the surface functional modification of traditional bone repair metals.
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