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De Lora JA, Aubermann F, Frey C, Jahnke T, Wang Y, Weber S, Platzman I, Spatz JP. Evaluation of Acoustophoretic and Dielectrophoretic Forces for Droplet Injection in Droplet-Based Microfluidic Devices. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:16097-16105. [PMID: 38617618 PMCID: PMC11007716 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Acoustophoretic forces have been successfully implemented into droplet-based microfluidic devices to manipulate droplets. These acoustophoretic forces in droplet microfluidic devices are typically generated as in acoustofluidic devices through transducer actuation of a piezoelectric substrate such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3), which is inherently accompanied by the emergence of electrical fields. Understanding acoustophoretic versus dielectrophoretic forces produced by electrodes and transducers within active microfluidic devices is important for the optimization of device performance during design iterations. In this case study, we design microfluidic devices with a droplet injection module and report an experimental strategy to deduce the respective contribution of the acoustophoretic versus dielectrophoretic forces for the observed droplet injection. Our PDMS-based devices comprise a standard oil-in-water droplet-generating module connected to a T-junction injection module featuring actuating electrodes. We use two different electrode geometries produced within the same PDMS slab as the droplet production/injection channels by filling low-melting-point metal alloy into channels that template the electrode geometries. When these electrodes are constructed on LiNbO3 as the substrate, they have a dual function as a piezoelectric transducer, which we call embedded liquid metal interdigitated transducers (elmIDTs). To decipher the contribution of acoustophoretic versus dielectrophoretic forces, we build the same devices on either piezoelectric LiNbO3 or nonpiezo active glass substrates with different combinations of physical device characteristics (i.e., elmIDT geometry and alignment) and operate in a range of phase spaces (i.e., frequency, voltage, and transducer polarity). We characterize devices using techniques such as laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) and infrared imaging, along with evaluating droplet injection for our series of device designs, constructions, and operating parameters. Although we find that LiNbO3 device designs generate acoustic fields, we demonstrate that droplet injection occurs only due to dielectrophoretic forces. We deduce that droplet injection is caused by the coupled dielectrophoretic forces arising from the operation of elmIDTs rather than by acoustophoretic forces for this specific device design. We arrive at this conclusion because equivalent droplet injection occurs without the presence of an acoustic field using the same electrode designs on nonpiezo active glass substrate devices. This work establishes a methodology to pinpoint the major contributing force of droplet manipulation in droplet-based acoustomicrofluidics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline A. De Lora
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Aubermann
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Frey
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Timotheus Jahnke
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yuanzhen Wang
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Weber
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilia Platzman
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim P. Spatz
- Department
of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute
for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
for Molecular Systems Engineering (IMSE), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Max
Planck School Matter to Life, Jahnstraße 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Jiang L, Guo K, Chen Y, Xiang N. Droplet Microfluidics for Current Cancer Research: From Single-Cell Analysis to 3D Cell Culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1335-1354. [PMID: 38420753 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01866] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Differences in drug resistance and treatment response caused by the heterogeneity of cancer cells are the primary reasons for poor cancer therapy outcomes in patients. In addition, current in vitro anticancer drug-screening methods rely on two-dimensional monolayer-cultured cancer cells, which cannot accurately predict drug behavior in vivo. Therefore, a powerful tool to study the heterogeneity of cancer cells and produce effective in vitro tumor models is warranted to leverage cancer research. Droplet microfluidics has become a powerful platform for the single-cell analysis of cancer cells and three-dimensional cell culture of in vitro tumor spheroids. In this review, we discuss the use of droplet microfluidics in cancer research. Droplet microfluidic technologies, including single- or double-emulsion droplet generation and passive- or active-droplet manipulation, are concisely discussed. Recent advances in droplet microfluidics for single-cell analysis of cancer cells, circulating tumor cells, and scaffold-free/based 3D cell culture of tumor spheroids have been systematically introduced. Finally, the challenges that must be overcome for the further application of droplet microfluidics in cancer research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Kefan Guo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
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3
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Nan L, Mao T, Shum HC. Self-synchronization of reinjected droplets for high-efficiency droplet pairing and merging. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:24. [PMID: 36910256 PMCID: PMC9995457 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00502-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Droplet merging serves as a powerful tool to add reagents to moving droplets for biological and chemical reactions. However, unsynchronized droplet pairing impedes high-efficiency merging. Here, we develop a microfluidic design for the self-synchronization of reinjected droplets. A periodic increase in the hydrodynamic resistance caused by droplet blocking a T-junction enables automatic pairing of droplets. After inducing spacing, the paired droplets merge downstream under an electric field. The blockage-based design can achieve a 100% synchronization efficiency even when the mismatch rate of droplet frequencies reaches 10%. Over 98% of the droplets can still be synchronized at nonuniform droplet sizes and fluctuating reinjection flow rates. Moreover, the droplet pairing ratio can be adjusted flexibly for on-demand sample addition. Using this system, we merge two groups of droplets encapsulating enzyme/substrate, demonstrating its capacity to conduct multi-step reactions. We also combine droplet sorting and merging to coencapsulate single cells and single beads, providing a basis for high-efficiency single-cell sequencing. We expect that this system can be integrated with other droplet manipulation systems for a broad range of chemical and biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Nan
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong China
| | - Tianjiao Mao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong China
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Matsuo M, Hashishita H, Tanaka S, Nakata S. Sequentially Selective Coalescence of Binary Self-Propelled Droplets upon Collective Motion. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2073-2079. [PMID: 36692295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03344] [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
Subsequent synthesis and detection using droplets as microreactors have shown promise in the development of novel materials and drugs because microreactors enable small-scale synthesis and detection of covalent/non-covalent intermolecular interactions. Self-organization exhibited by autonomous droplets under non-equilibrium conditions is beneficial for manipulating the sequentiality and selectivity of droplet coalescence because expensive equipment or elaborate techniques are not required with the autonomy of droplets. However, to our knowledge, selective coalescence caused by the collective motion of self-propelled droplets has not been demonstrated in inanimate systems. Here, we report sequentially selective coalescence based on the dynamic collective pattern of self-propelled droplets composed of ethyl salicylate (ES) or butyl salicylate (BS). When ES and BS droplets were placed on an aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution, the collective motion of droplets resulted in three stages of selective coalescence on the time development. Initially, coalescence was observed only between different types of self-propelled droplets. Subsequently, the formed droplets selectively coalesced with ES droplets. Finally, mature droplets merged with BS droplets. The sequentially selective coalescence was discussed from the dynamic pattern formation of swarming droplets and the collapse of the SDS monolayer at the o/w interface caused by the difference in Laplace pressure and the interfacial instability at the contact point between droplets. Thus, this study formulates a strategy of sequentially selective coalescence of droplets via the collective motion of non-identical self-propelled droplets, promoting a new type of powerful and efficient automation technology based on an autonomous inanimate manner of spatiotemporal pattern formation under non-equilibrium conditions for the droplet manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muneyuki Matsuo
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Hiromi Hashishita
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Shinpei Tanaka
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8521, Japan
| | - Satoshi Nakata
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
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Jiang L, Yang H, Cheng W, Ni Z, Xiang N. Droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy: a review. Analyst 2023; 148:203-221. [PMID: 36508171 DOI: 10.1039/d2an01747d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important biomarkers of liquid biopsy. The number and heterogeneity of CTCs play an important role in cancer diagnosis and personalized medicine. However, owing to the low-abundance biomarkers of CTCs, conventional assays are only able to detect CTCs at the population level. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a highly sensitive method to analyze CTCs at the single-cell level. As an important branch of microfluidics, droplet microfluidics is a high-throughput and sensitive single-cell analysis platform for the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs. In this review, we focus on the quantitative detection and heterogeneity analysis of CTCs using droplet microfluidics. Technologies that enable droplet microfluidics, particularly high-throughput droplet generation and high-efficiency droplet manipulation, are first discussed. Then, recent advances in detecting and analyzing CTCs using droplet microfluidics from the different aspects of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites are introduced. The purpose of this review is to provide guidance for the continued study of droplet microfluidics for CTC-based liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Hang Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Weiqi Cheng
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Zhonghua Ni
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
| | - Nan Xiang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Design and Manufacture of Micro-Nano Biomedical Instruments, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211189, China.
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6
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Jin S, Ye G, Cao N, Liu X, Dai L, Wang P, Wang T, Wei X. Acoustics-Controlled Microdroplet and Microbubble Fusion and Its Application in the Synthesis of Hydrogel Microspheres. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:12602-12609. [PMID: 36194518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02080] [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
Droplet fusion technology is a key technology for many droplet-based biochemical medical applications. By integrating a symmetrical flow channel structure, we demonstrate an acoustics-controlled fusion method of microdroplets using surface acoustic waves. Different kinds of microdroplets can be staggered and ordered in the symmetrical flow channel, proving the good arrangement effect of the microfluidic chip. This method can realize not only the effective fusion of microbubbles but also the effective fusion of microdroplets of different sizes without any modification. Further, we investigate the influence of the input frequency and peak-to-peak value of the driving voltage on microdroplets fusion, giving the effective fusion parameter conditions of microdroplets. Finally, this method is successfully used in the preparation of hydrogel microspheres, offering a new platform for the synthesis of hydrogel microspheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaobo Jin
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Guoyong Ye
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Na Cao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou450052, China
| | - Xuling Liu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Liguo Dai
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Pengpeng Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Mechanical Equipment, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou450002, China
| | - Xueyong Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an710049, China
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7
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Wu L, Guo Z, Liu W. Surface behaviors of droplet manipulation in microfluidics devices. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 308:102770. [PMID: 36113310 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2022.102770] [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: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of microfluidic technology has caused a revolutionary impact in the fields of chemistry, medicine, and life sciences. Also, droplet control is one of the most important technologies in the field of microfluidics. In order to achieve different degrees of droplet transport, the dynamic balance of the competing processes of droplet driving force and fluid resistance should be controlled to achieve good selectivity of droplet transport. Here, we focus on the principles of droplet transport in microfluidic devices, including the driving forces for droplet transport in fluids and the effects of transport properties on droplet transport. After that, the effects of external fields on the directional transport of droplets and the advantages and disadvantages of each external field in droplet transport are discussed in detail. Finally, the applications and challenges of droplet microfluidics in chemical, biomedical, and mechanical systems are comprehensively introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linshan Wu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguang Guo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the Green Preparation and Application of Functional Materials, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weimin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China
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8
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Nath A, Sudeepthi A, Sen AK. Trapping of Aqueous Droplets under Surface Acoustic Wave-Driven Streaming in Oil-Filled Microwells. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:4763-4773. [PMID: 35395155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microwell arrays are ideal platforms for cell culturing, cell separation, and low-volume liquid handling. The ability to manipulate droplets in microwells could open up the opportunity for developing new biochemical assays. Here, we study the trapping of aqueous droplets in an oil-filled microwell driven by the application of nanometer amplitude vibrations called surface acoustic waves (SAW). We elucidate the dynamics of the droplet within the vortex toward the final trapping location and the physics of the trapping phenomenon using a theoretical model by considering the relevant forces. Our study revealed that the combined effect of acoustic radiation and hydrodynamic forces leads to droplet migration and trapping. We demarcate the trapping and nontrapping regimes in terms of the minimum critical input power required for the trapping of droplets of different sizes and densities. We find that the critical power varies as the square of the droplet size and is higher for a denser droplet. The effects of input power and droplet size on the trapping location and trapping time are also studied.
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9
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Sudeepthi A, Nath A, Yeo LY, Sen AK. Coalescence of Droplets in a Microwell Driven by Surface Acoustic Waves. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:1578-1587. [PMID: 33478219 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c03292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microwell arrays are amongst the most commonly used platforms for biochemical assays. However, the coalescence of droplets that constitute the dispersed phase of suspensions housed within microwells has not received much attention to date. Herein, we study the coalescence of droplets in a two-phase system in a microwell driven by surface acoustic waves (SAWs). The microwell structure, together with symmetric exposure to SAW irradiation, coupled from beneath the microwell via a piezoelectric substrate, gives rise to the formation of a pair of counter-rotating vortices that enable droplet transport, trapping, and coalescence. We elucidate the physics of the coalescence phenomenon using a scaling analysis of the relevant forces, namely, the acoustic streaming-induced drag force, the capillary and viscous forces associated with the drainage of the thin continuous phase film between the droplets and the van der Waals attraction force. We confirm that droplet-droplet interface contact is established through the formation of a liquid bridge, whose neck radius grows linearly in time in the preceding viscous regime and proportionally with the square root of time in the subsequent inertial regime. Further, we investigate the influence of the input SAW power and droplet size on the film drainage time and demarcate the coalescence and non-coalescence regimes to derive a criterion for the onset of coalescence. The distinct deformation patterns observed for a pair of contacting droplets in both the regimes are elucidated and the possibility for driving concurrent coalescence of multiple droplets is demonstrated. We expect the study will find relevance in the demulsification of immiscible phases and the mixing of samples/reagents within microwells for a variety of biochemical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Sudeepthi
- Micro Nano Bio -Fluidics Unit, Fluid Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - A Nath
- Micro Nano Bio -Fluidics Unit, Fluid Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - L Y Yeo
- Micro/Nanophysics Research Laboratory, School of Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University), Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - A K Sen
- Micro Nano Bio -Fluidics Unit, Fluid Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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10
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Habibi R, He V, Ghavamian S, de Marco A, Lee TH, Aguilar MI, Zhu D, Lim R, Neild A. Exosome trapping and enrichment using a sound wave activated nano-sieve (SWANS). LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3633-3643. [PMID: 32901635 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00623h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes, a form of extracellular vesicle, are an important precursor in regenerative medicine. Microfluidic methods exist to capture these sub-micrometer sized objects from small quantities of sample, ideal for multiple diagnostic applications. To address the challenge of extraction from large volumes, we use the visual access offered by microfluidic techniques to probe the physical mechanisms behind a method which is compatible with future upscaling. The sound wave actuated nano-sieve uses resonant modes in a packed bed of microparticles to exert trapping forces on nanoparticles. Here, we examine the role of the microparticle size, demonstrating better performance from 15 μm particles than 7 μm particles. When applied to biological samples, we demonstrate for the first time that a packed bed of these larger particles is capable of capturing exosomes and liposomes, the captured particles being on average 20 to 40 times smaller than the pores within the trapped bed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhollah Habibi
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia.
| | - Vincent He
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia.
| | - Sara Ghavamian
- Applied Micro and Nano Technology Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia
| | - Alex de Marco
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia
| | - Tzong-Hsien Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia
| | - Marie-Isabel Aguilar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia
| | - Dandan Zhu
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria - Australia and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria - Australia
| | - Rebecca Lim
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria - Australia and Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria - Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Laboratory for Micro Systems, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria - Australia.
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11
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Zhou J, Habibi R, Akbaridoust F, Neild A, Nosrati R. Paper-Based Acoustofluidics for Separating Particles and Cells. Anal Chem 2020; 92:8569-8578. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Zhou
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Ruhollah Habibi
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Farzan Akbaridoust
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Adrian Neild
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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12
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Wu J, Xia H, Wang W, Foo Y, Wang Z, Du H. A droplet platform capable of handling dissimilar liquids and its application for separation of bacteria from blood. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:034102. [PMID: 32454926 PMCID: PMC7211087 DOI: 10.1063/5.0006111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
For passive droplet generation, multiple parameters such as the fluid viscosities and flow rates of the continuous and discrete phases correlate to each other, raising relevant control difficulties. In the current study, a droplet platform that is capable of handling dissimilar liquids is proposed. Through combining oscillatory flow and electric charge, synchronized generation and forced coalescence of different droplets can be achieved. Its application for the separation of E. coli from blood is tested, which leads to a high capture efficiency with less sample and within a shorter time than usual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Wu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanming Xia
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 73 Nanyang drive, Singapore 637662
| | - Yuhao Foo
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 73 Nanyang drive, Singapore 637662
| | - Zhiping Wang
- Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology, 73 Nanyang drive, Singapore 637662
| | - Hejun Du
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
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13
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Ai Y, Xie R, Xiong J, Liang Q. Microfluidics for Biosynthesizing: from Droplets and Vesicles to Artificial Cells. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903940. [PMID: 31603270 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Fabrication of artificial biomimetic materials has attracted abundant attention. As one of the subcategories of biomimetic materials, artificial cells are highly significant for multiple disciplines and their synthesis has been intensively pursued. In order to manufacture robust "alive" artificial cells with high throughput, easy operation, and precise control, flexible microfluidic techniques are widely utilized. Herein, recent advances in microfluidic-based methods for the synthesis of droplets, vesicles, and artificial cells are summarized. First, the advances of droplet fabrication and manipulation on the T-junction, flow-focusing, and coflowing microfluidic devices are discussed. Then, the formation of unicompartmental and multicompartmental vesicles based on microfluidics are summarized. Furthermore, the engineering of droplet-based and vesicle-based artificial cells by microfluidics is also reviewed. Moreover, the artificial cells applied for imitating cell behavior and acting as bioreactors for synthetic biology are highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future trends in microfluidic-based artificial cells are discussed. This review should be helpful for researchers in the fields of microfluidics, biomaterial fabrication, and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Ai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Ruoxiao Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jialiang Xiong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Qionglin Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Beijing Key Lab of Microanalytical Methods & Instrumentation, Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
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Bussiere V, Vigne A, Link A, McGrath J, Srivastav A, Baret JC, Franke T. High-Throughput Triggered Merging of Surfactant-Stabilized Droplet Pairs Using Traveling Surface Acoustic Waves. Anal Chem 2019; 91:13978-13985. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b03521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Bussiere
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
| | - Aurélie Vigne
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5031, Pessac 33600, France
| | - Andreas Link
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
| | - John McGrath
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
| | - Aparna Srivastav
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5031, Pessac 33600, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thomas Franke
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
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