1
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Cai L, Zhao C, Cao X, Lu M, Li N, Luo Y, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Chinese herb pollen derived micromotors as active oral drug delivery system for gastric ulcer treatment. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:28-36. [PMID: 37790918 PMCID: PMC10542601 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable efforts have been devoted to treating gastric ulcers. Attempts in this field tend to develop drug delivery systems with prolonged gastric retention time. Herein, we develop novel Chinese herb pollen-derived micromotors as active oral drug delivery system for treating gastric ulcer. Such Chinese herb pollen-derived micromotors are simply produced by asymmetrically sputtering Mg layer onto one side of pollen grains. When exposed to gastric juice, the Mg layer can react with the hydrogen ions, resulting in intensive generation of hydrogen bubbles to propel the micromotors. Benefiting from the autonomous motion and unique spiny structure, our micromotors can move actively in the stomach and adhere to the surrounding tissues. Besides, their special architecture endows the micromotors with salient capacity of drug loading and releasing. Based on these features, we have demonstrated that our Chinese herb pollen-derived micromotors could effective deliver berberine hydrochloride and show desirable curative effect on the gastric ulcer model of mice. Therefore, these Chinese herb pollen-derived micromotors are anticipated to serve as promising oral drug delivery carriers for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Cai
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Xinyue Cao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Minhui Lu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Yuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yongan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, 100850, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Southeast University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518071, China
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2
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Liu H, Peng C, Guo S, Liu X, Li X. Rod-Shaped Liquid Plasticine as Cuttable Minireactor for Photodynamic Therapy of Tumors. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2309535. [PMID: 38193268 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising non-invasive approach for cancer treatment. Enhancing its efficacy and understanding its absorption-induced attenuation are significant while the solutions are limited, particularly for the latter. In this study, a rod-shaped liquid plasticine (LP), comprised of a tumor cell solution encased by a nanoparticle monolayer, is used to serve as a powerful minireactor for addressing these issues. The channel structure, openness, and cuttability of the LP reactor are exploited for providing benefits to PDT. The resulting PDT efficacy is several times higher than those from droplet reactors with common spherical shapes. The attenuation law, which is fundamental in PDT yet poorly understood due to the lack of experimental approaches, is preliminarily uncovered here from the perspective of in vitro experiments by using the LP's cuttability, affording quantitative understanding on this difficult subject. These findings provide insights into the widely-concerned topics in PDT, and highlight the great potential of an LP reactor in offering innovation power for the biochemical and biomedical arenas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Liu
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Chenxi Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Shuaichen Guo
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Xiaowang Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering (IBME), Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, China
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3
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Li X, Pang X, Jiang H, Duan M, Liu H, Yang Z, Xi Y, Russell TP. Open millifluidics based on powder-encased channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302907120. [PMID: 37399425 PMCID: PMC10334759 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302907120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Millifluidics, the manipulation of liquid flow in millimeter-sized channels, has been a revolutionary concept in chemical processing and engineering. The solid channels that contain the liquids, though, are not flexible in their design and modification, and prevent contact with the external environment. All-liquid constructs, on the other hand, while flexible and open, are imbedded in a liquid environment. Here, we provide a route to circumvent these limitations by encasing the liquids in a hydrophobic powder in air that jams on the surface, containing and isolating flowing fluids, offering flexibility and adaptability in design, as manifest in the ability to reconfigure, graft, and segment the constructs. Along with the open nature of these powder-contained channels that allow arbitrary connections/disconnections and substance addition/extraction, numerous applications can be opened in the biological, chemical, and material arenas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoguang Li
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Xianglong Pang
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Haohao Jiang
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Mei Duan
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Heng Liu
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Zhujun Yang
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Yuhang Xi
- Shaanxi Basic Discipline (Liquid Physics) Research Center, School of Physical Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi710129, China
| | - Thomas P. Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA94720
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, MA01003
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing100029, China
- Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Sendai980-8577, Japan
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4
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Liquid-embedded (bio)printing of alginate-free, standalone, ultrafine, and ultrathin-walled cannular structures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2206762120. [PMID: 36745792 PMCID: PMC9963289 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206762120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While there has been considerable success in the three-dimensional bioprinting of relatively large standalone filamentous tissues, the fabrication of solid fibers with ultrafine diameters or those cannular featuring ultrathin walls remains a particular challenge. Here, an enabling strategy for (bio)printing of solid and hollow fibers whose size ranges could be facilely adjusted across a broad spectrum, is reported, using an aqueous two-phase embedded (bio)printing approach combined with specially designed cross-linking and extrusion methods. The generation of standalone, alginate-free aqueous architectures using this aqueous two-phase strategy allowed freeform patterning of aqueous bioinks, such as those composed of gelatin methacryloyl, within the immiscible aqueous support bath of poly(ethylene oxide). Our (bio)printing strategy revealed the fabrication of standalone solid or cannular structures with diameters as small as approximately 3 or 40 μm, respectively, and wall thicknesses of hollow conduits down to as thin as <5 μm. With cellular functions also demonstrated, we anticipate the methodology to serve as a platform that may satisfy the needs for the different types of potential biomedical and other applications in the future, especially those pertaining to cannular tissues of ultrasmall diameters and ultrathin walls used toward regenerative medicine and tissue model engineering.
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5
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Zhang S, Qi C, Zhang W, Zhou H, Wu N, Yang M, Meng S, Liu Z, Kong T. In Situ Endothelialization of Free-Form 3D Network of Interconnected Tubular Channels via Interfacial Coacervation by Aqueous-in-Aqueous Embedded Bioprinting. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209263. [PMID: 36448877 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The challenge of bioprinting vascularized tissues is structure retention and in situ endothelialization. The issue is addressed by adopting an aqueous-in-aqueous 3D embedded bioprinting strategy, in which the interfacial coacervation of the cyto-mimic aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are employed for maintaining the suspending liquid architectures, and serving as filamentous scaffolds for cell attachment and growth. By incorporating endothelial cells in the ink phase of ATPS, tubular lumens enclosed by coacervated complexes of polylysine (PLL) and oxidized bacteria celluloses (oxBC) can be cellularized with a confluent endothelial layer, without any help of adhesive peptides. By applying PLL/oxBC ATPS for embedded bioprinting, free-form 3D vascular networks with in situ endothelialization of interconnected tubular lumens are achieved. This simple approach is a one-step process without any sacrificed templates and post-treatments. The resultant functional vessel networks with arbitrary complexity are suspended in liquid medium and can be conveniently handled, opening new routes for the in vitro production of thick vascularized tissues for pathological research, regeneration therapy and animal-free drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Cheng Qi
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Nihuan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Si Meng
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
- Department of Urology, Inst Translat Med, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
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6
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Aqueous two-phase emulsions toward biologically relevant applications. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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7
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Hua Z, Man J, Liu G, Li J, Zhou C, Xia H, Li J. Complex Suspended Janus Droplets Constructed through Solvent Evaporation-Induced Phase Separation at the Air-Liquid Interface. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:10994-11002. [PMID: 36048165 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01460] [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
Phase separation technology has attracted extensive scientific interest because of its intriguing structure changes during the phase separation process. Phase separation inside emulsion droplets in continuous surroundings has been well studied in recent years. Many investigations have also been conducted to study the droplet phase separation phenomena in noncontinuous surroundings. However, studies on the phase separation phenomena and the spreading behavior of suspended droplets at the air-liquid interface were rarely reported. In this study, PEGDA-glycerol suspended Janus droplets with a patchy structure were produced by utilizing solvent evaporation-induced droplet phase separation at the air-liquid interface. By altering the glycerol/PEGDA volume ratio, the initial proportion of ethanol, and the concentration of surfactants, suspended droplets with different morphologies can be achieved, which include filbert-shaped droplets (FSDs), half lotus seedpod single-phase Janus droplets (HLSDs), lotus seedpod single-phase Janus droplets (LSDs), lotus seedpod-shaped droplets (LSSDs), multiple-bulge droplets (MBDs), and half gourd-shaped droplets (HGSDs). A patchy structure was generated at the air-droplet interface, which was attributed to the Marangoni stresses induced by nonuniform evaporation. Furthermore, a modified spreading coefficient theory was constructed and verified to illustrate the phase separation at the air-droplet interface, which was the first research to predict the phase separation phenomena at the air-liquid interface via spreading coefficients theory. Moreover, we studied the factors that led to the droplets being able to float by designing the combined parameters, including three interfacial tensions and the equilibrium contact angles. Therefore, a simple and versatile strategy for creating suspended Janus droplets has been developed for the first time, which holds significant potential in a variety of applications for material synthesis, such as the electrospinning solution behavior when sprayed from the nozzle into the air.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chenchen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
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8
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Agashe C, Varshney R, Sangwan R, Gill AK, Alam M, Patra D. Anisotropic Compartmentalization of the Liquid-Liquid Interface using Dynamic Imine Chemistry. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:8296-8303. [PMID: 35762368 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The liquid-liquid interface offers a fascinating avenue for generating hierarchical compartments. Herein, the dynamic imine chemistry is employed at the oil-water interface to investigate the effect of dynamic covalent bonds for modulating the droplet shape. The imine bond formation between oil-soluble aromatic aldehydes and water-soluble polyethyleneimine greatly stabilized the oil-water interface by substantially lowering the interfacial tension. The successful jamming of imine-mediated assemblies was observed when a compressive force was applied to the droplet. Thus, the anisotropic compartmentalization of the liquid-liquid interface was created, and it was later altered by changing the pH of the surrounding environment. Finally, a proof-of-concept demonstration of a pH-triggered cargo release across the interfacial membrane confirmed the feasibility of stimuli-responsive behavior of dynamic imine assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmayee Agashe
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Rohit Varshney
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Rekha Sangwan
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Arshdeep K Gill
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Mujeeb Alam
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Debabrata Patra
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Knowledge City, Manauli, SAS Nagar, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India
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9
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Adjustable object floating states based on three-segment three-phase contact line evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201665119. [PMID: 35316136 PMCID: PMC9060461 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201665119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adjusting the floating states when objects float on water shows great potential for assembly, mineral flotation, nanostructured construction, and floating robot design, but the real-time regulation of floating states is challenging. Inspired by the different floating states of a falling fruit, we propose a facile strategy to transform the object between different floating states based on a three-segment three-phase contact line evolution. In addition, the potential of floating state transformation in solar-powered water evaporation, interface catalysis, and drug delivery is demonstrated. These findings provide insights into floating regulation and show great potential for floating-related applications. Objects floating on water are ubiquitous in nature and daily life. The floating states of objects are significant for a wide range of fields, including assembly, mineral flotation, nanostructured construction, and floating robot design. Generally, an object exhibits a unique and fixed floating state. The real-time regulation of floating states by a simple method is attractive but challenging. Based on in-depth analysis of the different floating states of fruits falling on water, we reveal that the mutable floating states are caused by the three-segment three-phase contact line dynamics. Accordingly, we propose a “buoyancy hysteresis loop” for the transformation of objects between different floating states. More importantly, we demonstrate the potential applications of floating state transformation in solar-powered water evaporation and interface catalysis. The evaporation and catalytic efficiencies can be changed several times by switching the floating state. These findings deepen the understanding of the interfacial effect to the floating of micro-objects and show great potential for floating-related fields.
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10
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Yan J, Baird MA, Popple DC, Zettl A, Russell TP, Helms BA. Structured-Liquid Batteries. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:3979-3988. [PMID: 35196003 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Chemical systems may be maintained far from equilibrium by sequestering otherwise reactive species into different microenvironments. It remains a significant challenge to control the amount of chemical energy stored in such systems and to utilize it on demand to perform useful work. Here, we show that redox-active molecules compartmentalized in multiphasic structured-liquid devices can be charged and discharged to power a load on an external circuit. The two liquid phases of these devices feature charge-complementary polyelectrolytes that serve a dual purpose: they generate an ionically conductive coacervate membrane at the liquid-liquid interface, providing structural support; they also mitigate active-material crossover between phases via ion pairing with the oppositely charged anolyte and catholyte active materials. Structured-liquid batteries enabled by this design were rechargeable over hundreds of hours. We envision that these devices may be integrated with soft electronics to enable functional circuits for smart textiles, medical implants, and wearables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Yan
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Michael A Baird
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Derek C Popple
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Alex Zettl
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute at the University of California Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, Conte Center for Polymer Research, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Brett A Helms
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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11
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Continuous, autonomous subsurface cargo shuttling by nature-inspired meniscus-climbing systems. Nat Chem 2021; 14:208-215. [PMID: 34845343 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-021-00837-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Water-walking insects can harness capillary forces by changing their body posture to climb or descend the meniscus between the surface of water and a solid object. Controlling surface tension in this manner is necessary for predation, escape and survival. Inspired by this behaviour, we demonstrate autonomous, aqueous-based synthetic systems that overcome the meniscus barrier and shuttle cargo subsurface to and from a landing site and a targeted drop-off site. We change the sign of the contact angle of a coacervate sac containing an aqueous phase or of a hydrogel droplet hanging from the surface by controlling the normal force acting on the sac or droplet. The cyclic buoyancy-induced cargo shuttling occurs continuously, as long as the supply of reactants diffusing to the sac or droplet from the surrounding aqueous phase is not exhausted. These findings may lead to potential applications in autonomously driven reaction or delivery systems and micro-/milli-robotics.
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12
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Liu Y, Sun L, Zhang H, Shang L, Zhao Y. Microfluidics for Drug Development: From Synthesis to Evaluation. Chem Rev 2021; 121:7468-7529. [PMID: 34024093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Drug development is a long process whose main content includes drug synthesis, drug delivery, and drug evaluation. Compared with conventional drug development procedures, microfluidics has emerged as a revolutionary technology in that it offers a miniaturized and highly controllable environment for bio(chemical) reactions to take place. It is also compatible with analytical strategies to implement integrated and high-throughput screening and evaluations. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the entire microfluidics-based drug development system, from drug synthesis to drug evaluation. The challenges in the current status and the prospects for future development are also discussed. We believe that this review will promote communications throughout diversified scientific and engineering communities that will continue contributing to this burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiao Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, the International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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13
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Song R, Cho S, Shin S, Kim H, Lee J. From shaping to functionalization of micro-droplets and particles. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:3395-3416. [PMID: 36133725 PMCID: PMC9419121 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00276g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The structure of microdroplet and microparticle is a critical factor in their functionality, which determines the distribution and sequence of physicochemical reactions. Therefore, the technology of precisely tailoring their shape is requisite for implementing the user demand functions in various applications. This review highlights various methodologies for droplet shaping, classified into passive and active approaches based on whether additional body forces are applied to droplets to manipulate their functions and fabricate them into microparticles. The passive approaches cover batch emulsification, solvent evaporation and diffusion, micromolding, and microfluidic methods. In active approaches, the external forces, such as electrical and magnetic fields or optical lithography, are applied to microdroplets. Special attention is also given to latest technologies using microdroplets and microparticles, especially in the fields of biological, optical, robotic, and environmental applications. Finally, this review aims to address the advantages and disadvantages of the introduced approaches and suggests the direction for further development in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryungeun Song
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Korea
| | - Seongsu Cho
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Korea
| | - Seonghun Shin
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Korea
| | - Hyejeong Kim
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University Seoul 02841 Korea
| | - Jinkee Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Korea
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 Korea
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14
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Abstract
The impact and splash of liquid drops on solid substrates are ubiquitous in many important fields. However, previous studies have mainly focused on spherical drops while the non-spherical situations, such as raindrops, charged drops, oscillating drops, and drops affected by electromagnetic field, remain largely unexplored. Using ferrofluid, we realize various drop shapes and illustrate the fundamental role of shape in impact and splash. Experiments show that different drop shapes produce large variations in spreading dynamics, splash onset, and splash amount. However, underlying all these variations we discover universal mechanisms across various drop shapes: the impact dynamics is governed by the superellipse model, the splash onset is triggered by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, and the amount of splash is determined by the energy dissipation before liquid taking off. Our study generalizes the drop impact research beyond the spherical geometry, and reveals the potential of using drop shape to control impact and splash. The dynamics of droplet impact and splash is important in many applications, yet its analysis involves difficult intertwined aspects. Here Liu et al. make shape parametrically accessible to experiment, with ferrofluidic drops passing a magnetic field in a defined way.
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15
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Zhao C, Cai L, Nie M, Shang L, Wang Y, Zhao Y. Cheerios Effect Inspired Microbubbles as Suspended and Adhered Oral Delivery Systems. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004184. [PMID: 33854900 PMCID: PMC8025035 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Oral drug administration has an important role in medical treatment. Attempts to develop drug microcarriers with desired features for extended duration and improved absorption is highly sought. Herein, inspired by the physical phenomenon of the Cheerios effect, a novel microfluidic electrospray microbubble carrier is presented that can suspend and actively adhere to the stomach for durable oral delivery. Compared with conventional fabrication methods, the present strategy shows stability and controllability of the product. Benefiting from their uniform hollow structure, the resultant microbubbles present the same behavior of the Cheerios and can float in the gastric juice, adhere and remain to the stomach wall, which thus enhance the duration and absorption of the loaded drugs. Based on these, it is demonstrated as a proof of concept that the dexamethasone-loaded hollow microbubbles can be applied to oral administration and remain suspended and adhered to the stomach of murine for more than 1 d, showing good therapeutic effect in treating lupus erythematosus. Thus, it is believed that the microbubbles floating system will find important values in long-term oral administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyInstitute of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Lijun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
| | - Min Nie
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyInstitute of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyInstitute of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- Zhongshan‐Xuhui HospitalThe Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigeneticsthe International Co‐laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and MetabolismMinistry of Science and Technology, and Institutes of Biomedical SciencesFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Yongan Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyInstitute of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical CountermeasuresInstitute of Pharmacology and ToxicologyAcademy of Military Medical SciencesBeijing100850China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and ImmunologyInstitute of Translational MedicineThe Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjing210002China
- State Key Laboratory of BioelectronicsSchool of Biological Science and Medical EngineeringSoutheast UniversityNanjing210096China
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16
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Lin D, Liu T, Yuan Q, Yang H, Ma H, Shi S, Wang D, Russell TP. Stabilizing Aqueous Three-Dimensional Printed Constructs Using Chitosan-Cellulose Nanocrystal Assemblies. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:55426-55433. [PMID: 33228355 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c16602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The assembly and binding of nanoparticles at the interfaces of aqueous two-phase systems enable the three-dimensional (3D) printing of all-aqueous naturally occurring materials. When a dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is brought into contact with chitosan dissolved in an aqueous solution of dextran, the CNCs and chitosan diffuse to the interface between the two immiscible aqueous solutions, electrostatically interact, and form a solid, membranous layer sufficiently rapidly to 3D print tubules of one liquid in the other. The diameter, length, spatial arrangement, and stability of the printed tubules can be broadly controlled. Adsorption and directional diffusion of ionic species across the membranous layer make heavy metal ion removal possible. The results present a platform for fabricating and developing all-aqueous compartmentalized systems where function can be independently coupled to the inherent functionality of the nanoparticles or ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Lin
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Tan Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Qingqing Yuan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongkun Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Hongyang Ma
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Shaowei Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Thomas P Russell
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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Chen H, Bian F, Sun L, Zhang D, Shang L, Zhao Y. Hierarchically Molecular Imprinted Porous Particles for Biomimetic Kidney Cleaning. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2005394. [PMID: 33184956 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Blood purification by adsorption of excessive biomolecules is vital for maintaining human health. Here, inspired by kidney self-purification, which removes a number of biomolecules with different sizes simultaneously, hierarchical molecular-imprinted inverse opal particles integrated with a herringbone microfluidic chip for efficient biomolecules cleaning are presented. The particle possesses combinative porous structure with both surface and interior imprints for the specific recognition of small molecules and biomacromolecules. Additionally, the presence of the herringbone mixer largely improve the adsorption efficiency due to enhanced mixing. Moreover, the inverse opal framework of the particles give rise to optical sensing ability for self-reporting of the adsorption states. These features, together with its reusability, biosafety, and biocompatibility, make the platform highly promising for clinical blood purification and artificial kidney construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxu Chen
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Feika Bian
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Dagan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Luoran Shang
- Zhongshan-Xuhui Hospital, the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Institute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
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Liu Z, Zhou W, Qi C, Kong T. Interface Engineering in Multiphase Systems toward Synthetic Cells and Organelles: From Soft Matter Fundamentals to Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2002932. [PMID: 32954548 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cells have a major role in gaining insight into the complex biological processes of living cells; they also give rise to a range of emerging applications from gene delivery to enzymatic nanoreactors. Living cells rely on compartmentalization to orchestrate reaction networks for specialized and coordinated functions. Principally, the compartmentalization has been an essential engineering theme in constructing cell-mimicking systems. Here, efforts to engineer liquid-liquid interfaces of multiphase systems into membrane-bounded and membraneless compartments, which include lipid vesicles, polymer vesicles, colloidosomes, hybrids, and coacervate droplets, are summarized. Examples are provided of how these compartments are designed to imitate biological behaviors or machinery, including molecule trafficking, growth, fusion, energy conversion, intercellular communication, and adaptivity. Subsequently, the state-of-art applications of these cell-inspired synthetic compartments are discussed. Apart from being simplified and cell models for bridging the gap between nonliving matter and cellular life, synthetic compartments also are utilized as intracellular delivery vehicles for nuclei acids and nanoreactors for biochemical synthesis. Finally, key challenges and future directions for achieving the full potential of synthetic cells are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Wen Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
| | - Cheng Qi
- College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
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20
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Jones CD, Lewis AR, Jones DR, Ottley CJ, Liu K, Steed JW. Lilypad aggregation: localised self-assembly and metal sequestration at a liquid-vapour interface. Chem Sci 2020; 11:7501-7510. [PMID: 34123033 PMCID: PMC8159346 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02190c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatially resolved soft materials, such as vesicles and microgels, have shown promise as selective adsorbents and microscale reaction vessels. However, spatiotemporal control of aggregation can be difficult to achieve. In this study, nickel(ii) chloride and a dipyridyl oligo(urea) ligand were combined in a vapour-diffusion setup to produce a localised spheroidal aggregate at the liquid-vapour interface. This aggregate forms via the self-assembly and fusion of monodisperse colloids and grows until its weight is no longer counterbalanced by surface tension. A simple physical model reveals that this process, termed lilypad aggregation, is possible only for surface energies that favour neither bulk aggregation nor the growth of an interfacial film. These surface energies dictate the final size and shape of the aggregate and may be estimated through visual monitoring of its changing morphology. Lilypad aggregates sequester metal from the surrounding sol and can be collected manually from the surface of the liquid.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aled R Lewis
- Systems and Process Engineering Centre (SPEC), Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, University of Swansea Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP UK
| | - Daniel R Jones
- Systems and Process Engineering Centre (SPEC), Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, University of Swansea Singleton Park Swansea SA2 8PP UK
| | | | - Kaiqiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Surface and Colloid Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University Xi'an 710119 China
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