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ACS Nano Jun 2017We discuss the state of the art and innovative micro- and nanoscale technologies that are finding niches and opening up new opportunities in medicine, particularly in... (Review)
Review
We discuss the state of the art and innovative micro- and nanoscale technologies that are finding niches and opening up new opportunities in medicine, particularly in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. We take the design of point-of-care applications and the capture of circulating tumor cells as illustrative examples of the integration of micro- and nanotechnologies into solutions of diagnostic challenges. We describe several novel nanotechnologies that enable imaging cellular structures and molecular events. In therapeutics, we describe the utilization of micro- and nanotechnologies in applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and pharmaceutical development/testing. In addition, we discuss relevant challenges that micro- and nanotechnologies face in achieving cost-effective and widespread clinical implementation as well as forecasted applications of micro- and nanotechnologies in medicine.
Topics: Animals; Drug Delivery Systems; Equipment Design; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microtechnology; Nanomedicine; Nanotechnology; Point-of-Care Systems; Tissue Engineering; Translational Research, Biomedical
PubMed: 28524668
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01493 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Dec 2018Label-free optical sensor systems have emerged that exhibit extraordinary sensitivity for detecting physical, chemical, and biological entities at the micro/nanoscale.... (Review)
Review
Label-free optical sensor systems have emerged that exhibit extraordinary sensitivity for detecting physical, chemical, and biological entities at the micro/nanoscale. Particularly exciting is the detection and analysis of molecules, on miniature optical devices that have many possible applications in health, environment, and security. These micro- and nanosensors have now reached a sensitivity level that allows for the detection and analysis of even single molecules. Their small size enables an exceedingly high sensitivity, and the application of quantum optical measurement techniques can allow the classical limits of detection to be approached or surpassed. The new class of label-free micro- and nanosensors allows dynamic processes at the single-molecule level to be observed directly with light. By virtue of their small interaction length, these micro- and nanosensors probe light-matter interactions over a dynamic range often inaccessible by other optical techniques. For researchers entering this rapidly advancing field of single-molecule micro- and nanosensors, there is an urgent need for a timely review that covers the most recent developments and that identifies the most exciting opportunities. The focus here is to provide a summary of the recent techniques that have either demonstrated label-free single-molecule detection or claim single-molecule sensitivity.
Topics: Microtechnology; Nanotechnology; Optical Phenomena
PubMed: 30073717
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201801246 -
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2020Microneedles (MNs) have been used to deliver drugs for over two decades. These platforms have been proven to increase transdermal drug delivery efficiency dramatically...
Microneedles (MNs) have been used to deliver drugs for over two decades. These platforms have been proven to increase transdermal drug delivery efficiency dramatically by penetrating restrictive tissue barriers in a minimally invasive manner. While much of the early development of MNs focused on transdermal drug delivery, this technology can be applied to a variety of other non-transdermal biomedical applications. Several variations, such as multi-layer or hollow MNs, have been developed to cater to the needs of specific applications. The heterogeneity in the design of MNs has demanded similar variety in their fabrication methods; the most common methods include micromolding and drawing lithography. Numerous materials have been explored for MN fabrication which range from biocompatible ceramics and metals to natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers. Recent advances in MN engineering have diversified MNs to include unique shapes, materials, and mechanical properties that can be tailored for organ-specific applications. In this review, we discuss the design and creation of modern MNs that aim to surpass the biological barriers of non-transdermal drug delivery in ocular, vascular, oral, and mucosal tissue.
Topics: Administration, Topical; Biological Transport; Drug Delivery Systems; Equipment Design; Humans; Microinjections; Microtechnology; Polymers; Prostheses and Implants
PubMed: 31837356
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.11.010 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Jun 2022Primary tumor organoids (PTOs) growth in hydrogels have emerged as an important in vitro model that recapitulates many characteristics of the native tumor tissue, and... (Review)
Review
Primary tumor organoids (PTOs) growth in hydrogels have emerged as an important in vitro model that recapitulates many characteristics of the native tumor tissue, and have important applications in fundamental cancer research and for the development of useful therapeutic treatment. This paper begins with reviewing the methods of isolation of primary tumor cells. Then, recent advances on the instructive hydrogels as biomimetic extracellular matrix for primary tumor cell culture and construction of PTO models are summarized. Emerging microtechnology for growth of PTOs in microscale hydrogels and the applications of PTOs are highlighted. This paper concludes with an outlook on the future directions in the investigation of instructive hydrogels for PTO growth.
Topics: Cell Culture Techniques; Extracellular Matrix; Hydrogels; Microtechnology; Organoids
PubMed: 35182456
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102479 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2021Microfabrication and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft-lithography techniques became popular for microfluidic prototyping at the lab, but even after protocol... (Review)
Review
Microfabrication and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft-lithography techniques became popular for microfluidic prototyping at the lab, but even after protocol optimization, fabrication is yet a long, laborious process and partly user-dependent. Furthermore, the time and money required for the master fabrication process, necessary at any design upgrade, is still elevated. Digital Manufacturing (DM) and Rapid-Prototyping (RP) for microfluidics applications arise as a solution to this and other limitations of photo and soft-lithography fabrication techniques. Particularly for this paper, we will focus on the use of subtractive DM techniques for Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) applications. Main available thermoplastics for microfluidics are suggested as material choices for device fabrication. The aim of this review is to explore DM and RP technologies for fabrication of an OoC with an embedded membrane after the evaluation of the main limitations of PDMS soft-lithography strategy. Different material options are also reviewed, as well as various bonding strategies. Finally, a new functional OoC device is showed, defining protocols for its fabrication in Cyclic Olefin Polymer (COP) using two different RP technologies. Different cells are seeded in both sides of the membrane as a proof of concept to test the optical and fluidic properties of the device.
Topics: Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidics; Microtechnology; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Polymers
PubMed: 33669434
DOI: 10.3390/s21041382 -
Cytotherapy Mar 2016Despite considerable regulatory and clinical hurdles, the development and use of cell-based therapies are gaining momentum. As more of these therapies move toward... (Review)
Review
Despite considerable regulatory and clinical hurdles, the development and use of cell-based therapies are gaining momentum. As more of these therapies move toward commercial approval and larger-scale distribution, associated manufacturing and processing technologies are being advanced. Modern technologies directed at downstream processing seek to distribute such therapies from the manufacturing site to the patient more efficiently and reliably. Novel small-scale downstream solutions boost the transformation of cell therapies from abstraction to reality.
Topics: Batch Cell Culture Techniques; Bioreactors; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Cryopreservation; Cytological Techniques; Humans; Microtechnology; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 26857225
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2015.12.003 -
Topics in Current Chemistry 2015The lectin microarray is an emerging technology for glycomics. It has already found maximum use in diverse fields of glycobiology by providing simple procedures for... (Review)
Review
The lectin microarray is an emerging technology for glycomics. It has already found maximum use in diverse fields of glycobiology by providing simple procedures for differential glycan profiling in a rapid and high-throughput manner. Since its first appearance in the literature in 2005, many application methods have been developed essentially on the same platform, comprising a series of glycan-binding proteins immobilized on an appropriate substrate such as a glass slide. Because the lectin microarray strategy does not require prior liberation of glycans from the core protein in glycoprotein analysis, it should encourage researchers not familiar with glycotechnology to use glycan analysis in future work. This feasibility should provide a broader range of experimental scientists with good opportunities to investigate novel aspects of glycoscience. Applications of the technology include not only basic sciences but also the growing fields of bio-industry. This chapter describes first the essence of glycan profiling and the basic fabrication of the lectin microarray for this purpose. In the latter part the focus is on diverse applications to both structural and functional glycomics, with emphasis on the wide applicability now available with this new technology. Finally, the importance of developing advanced lectin engineering is discussed.
Topics: Animals; Automation, Laboratory; Body Fluids; Glycomics; Glycoproteins; Humans; Lectins; Microtechnology; Polysaccharides; Protein Array Analysis; Protein Engineering; Staining and Labeling
PubMed: 25821171
DOI: 10.1007/128_2014_612 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Feb 2021Stretchable and flexible electronics conformal to human skin or implanted into biological tissues has attracted considerable interest for emerging applications in health...
Stretchable and flexible electronics conformal to human skin or implanted into biological tissues has attracted considerable interest for emerging applications in health monitoring and medical treatment. Although various stretchable materials and structures have been designed and manufactured, most are limited to two-dimensional (2D) layouts for interconnects and active components. Here, by using projection microstereolithography (PμSL)-based three-dimensional (3D) printing, we introduce a versatile microfabrication process to push the manufacturing limit and achieve previously inaccessible 3D geometries at a high resolution of 2 μm. After coating the printed microstructures with thin Au films, the 3D conductive structures offer exceptional stretchability (∼130%), conformability, and stable electrical conductivity (<5% resistance change at 100% tensile strain). This fabrication process can be further applied to directly create complicated 3D interconnect networks of sophisticated active components, as demonstrated with a stretchable capacitive pressure sensor array here. The proposed scheme allows a simple, facile, and scalable manufacturing route for complex, integrated 3D flexible electronic systems.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Electric Conductivity; Electronics; Humans; Microtechnology; Particle Size; Polymers; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Surface Properties; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 33587597
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c20162 -
Analytica Chimica Acta Apr 2019Microencapsulation of living cells is a field that has been heavily investigated by many researchers over the past two decades. Numerous experimental setups have been... (Review)
Review
Microencapsulation of living cells is a field that has been heavily investigated by many researchers over the past two decades. Numerous experimental setups have been developed to encapsulate living cells in microbeads using different microfluidic devices and materials. Previous studies have investigated different microfluidic devices and materials for use in cancer treatment, drug delivery, environmental remediation, food production, and cell culture contexts. Some of the current challenges to these setups are maintaining reasonable levels of cell viability, cell leaching, nutrient and oxygen diffusion, and ensuring uniform microbead shape and size distribution. Addressing these issues and identifying the most reproducible and convenient setup enables researchers to efficiently encapsulate living cells and further advance the biomedical field. The efficiency of microencapsulation in terms of cell viability and uniform microbead shape and size distribution are directly related to the type of device used and the cross-linking method applied. Hence, the focus of this review is to assess the effects of using T-junction, flow-focusing, and co-flow microfluidic devices as well as thermal, ionic, and photo cross-linking methods for the microencapsulation of living cells. Recent applications of bacteria microencapsulation using microfluidic systems since 2017 are presented.
Topics: Animals; Capsules; Cell Survival; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microtechnology
PubMed: 30712554
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.12.056 -
Medecine Sciences : M/S Jan 2017Additive manufacturing covers a number of fashionable technologies that attract the interest of researchers in biomaterials and tissue engineering. Additive... (Review)
Review
Additive manufacturing covers a number of fashionable technologies that attract the interest of researchers in biomaterials and tissue engineering. Additive manufacturing applied to regenerative medicine covers two main areas: 3D printing and biofabrication. If 3D printing has penetrated the world of regenerative medicine, bioassembly and bioimprinting are still in their infancy. The objective of this paper is to make a non-exhaustive review of these different complementary aspects of additive manufacturing in restorative and regenerative medicine or for tissue engineering.
Topics: Bioprinting; Humans; Microtechnology; Models, Anatomic; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Regenerative Medicine; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds
PubMed: 28120756
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20173301009