-
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2020Oral administration is a pillar of the pharmaceutical industry and yet it remains challenging to administer hydrophilic therapeutics by the oral route. Smart and... (Review)
Review
Oral administration is a pillar of the pharmaceutical industry and yet it remains challenging to administer hydrophilic therapeutics by the oral route. Smart and controlled oral drug delivery could bypass the physiological barriers that limit the oral delivery of these therapeutics. Micro- and nanoscale technologies, with an unprecedented ability to create, control, and measure micro- or nanoenvironments, have found tremendous applications in biology and medicine. In particular, significant advances have been made in using these technologies for oral drug delivery. In this review, we briefly describe biological barriers to oral drug delivery and micro and nanoscale fabrication technologies. Micro and nanoscale drug carriers fabricated using these technologies, including bioadhesives, microparticles, micropatches, and nanoparticles, are described. Other applications of micro and nanoscale technologies are discussed, including fabrication of devices and tissue engineering models to precisely control or assess oral drug delivery in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Strategies to advance translation of micro and nanotechnologies into clinical trials for oral drug delivery are mentioned. Finally, challenges and future prospects on further integration of micro and nanoscale technologies with oral drug delivery systems are highlighted.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microspheres; Microtechnology; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 32707147
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.012 -
Electrophoresis Jun 2023The selective positioning and arrangement of distinct types of multiscale particles can be used in numerous applications in microfluidics, including integrated circuits,... (Review)
Review
The selective positioning and arrangement of distinct types of multiscale particles can be used in numerous applications in microfluidics, including integrated circuits, sensors and biochips. Electrokinetic (EK) techniques offer an extensive range of options for label-free manipulation and patterning of colloidal particles by exploiting the intrinsic electrical properties of the target of interest. EK-based techniques have been widely implemented in many recent studies, and various methodologies and microfluidic device designs have been developed to achieve patterning two- and three-dimensional (3D) patterned structures. This review provides an overview of the progress in electropatterning research during the last 5 years in the microfluidics arena. This article discusses the advances in the electropatterning of colloids, droplets, synthetic particles, cells, and gels. Each subsection analyzes the manipulation of the particles of interest via EK techniques such as electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis. The conclusions summarize recent advances and provide an outlook on the future of electropatterning in various fields of application, especially those with 3D arrangements as their end goal.
Topics: Electrophoresis; Colloids; Microfluidics
PubMed: 37002779
DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200286 -
Molecular Microbiology Mar 2022Advances in microfabrication technology, and its increasing accessibility, allow us to explore fungal biology as never before. By coupling molecular genetics with... (Review)
Review
Advances in microfabrication technology, and its increasing accessibility, allow us to explore fungal biology as never before. By coupling molecular genetics with fluorescence live-cell imaging in custom-designed chambers, we can now probe single yeast cell responses to changing conditions over a lifetime, characterise population heterogeneity and investigate its underlying causes. By growing filamentous fungi in complex physical environments, we can identify cross-species commonalities, reveal species-specific growth responses and examine physiological differences relevant to diverse fungal lifestyles. As affordability and expertise broadens, microfluidic platforms will become a standard technique for examining the role of fungi in cross-kingdom interactions, ranging from rhizosphere to microbiome to interconnected human organ systems. This review brings together the perspectives already gained from studying fungal biology in microfabricated systems and outlines their potential in understanding the role of fungi in the environment, health and disease.
Topics: Biology; Fungi; Humans; Microtechnology; Rhizosphere; Saccharomyces cerevisiae
PubMed: 34592794
DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14816 -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2022Janus particles have been at the center of attention over the years due to their asymmetric nature that makes them superior in many ways to conventional monophase... (Review)
Review
Janus particles have been at the center of attention over the years due to their asymmetric nature that makes them superior in many ways to conventional monophase particles. Several techniques have been reported for the synthesis of Janus particles; however, microfluidic-based techniques are by far the most popular due to their versatility, rapid prototyping, low reagent consumption and superior control over reaction conditions. In this review, we will go through microfluidic-based Janus particle synthesis techniques and highlight how recent advances have led to complex functionalities being imparted to the Janus particles.
Topics: Microfluidics; Multifunctional Nanoparticles
PubMed: 36160470
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S371579 -
Trends in Biotechnology Sep 2018Inflammation is the typical result of activating the host immune system against pathogens, and it helps to clear microbes from tissues. However, inflammation can occur... (Review)
Review
Inflammation is the typical result of activating the host immune system against pathogens, and it helps to clear microbes from tissues. However, inflammation can occur in the absence of pathogens, contributing to tissue damage and leading to disease. Understanding how immune cells coordinate their activities to initiate, modulate, and terminate inflammation is key to developing effective interventions to preserve health and combat diseases. Towards this goal, inflammation-on-a-chip tools provide unique features that greatly benefit the study of inflammation. They reconstitute tissue environments in microfabricated devices and enable real-time, high-resolution observations and quantification of cellular activities relevant to inflammation. We review here recent advances in inflammation-on-a-chip technologies and highlight the biological insights and clinical applications enabled by these emerging tools.
Topics: Cell Movement; Cytokines; Extracellular Traps; Humans; Immune System; Inflammation; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microtechnology; Monocytes; Neoplasms; Neutrophils; Organoids; Phagocytosis; Single-Cell Analysis; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 29728272
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.03.011 -
Journal of Biomedical Science Oct 2019Engineering approaches were adopted for liver microsystems to recapitulate cell arrangements and culture microenvironments in vivo for sensitive, high-throughput and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Engineering approaches were adopted for liver microsystems to recapitulate cell arrangements and culture microenvironments in vivo for sensitive, high-throughput and biomimetic drug screening. This review introduces liver microsystems in vitro for drug hepatotoxicity, drug-drug interactions, metabolic function and enzyme induction, based on cell micropatterning, hydrogel biofabrication and microfluidic perfusion. The engineered microsystems provide varied microenvironments for cell culture that feature cell coculture with non-parenchymal cells, in a heterogeneous extracellular matrix and under controllable perfusion. The engineering methods described include cell micropatterning with soft lithography and dielectrophoresis, hydrogel biofabrication with photolithography, micromolding and 3D bioprinting, and microfluidic perfusion with endothelial-like structures and gradient generators. We discuss the major challenges and trends of liver microsystems to study drug response in vitro.
Topics: Cell Engineering; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Humans; Liver; Microtechnology; Pharmaceutical Preparations
PubMed: 31660980
DOI: 10.1186/s12929-019-0575-0 -
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2020Orally ingestible medical devices provide significant advancement for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract-related conditions. From micro- to... (Review)
Review
Orally ingestible medical devices provide significant advancement for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) tract-related conditions. From micro- to macroscale devices, with designs ranging from very simple to complex, these medical devices can be used for site-directed drug delivery in the GI tract, real-time imaging and sensing of gut biomarkers. Equipped with uni-direction release, or self-propulsion, or origami design, these microdevices are breaking the barriers associated with drug delivery, including biologics, across the GI tract. Further, on-board microelectronics allow imaging and sensing of gut tissue and biomarkers, providing a more comprehensive understanding of underlying pathophysiological conditions. We provide an overview of recent advances in orally ingestible medical devices towards drug delivery, imaging and sensing. Challenges associated with gut microenvironment, together with various activation/actuation modalities of medical devices for micromanipulation of the gut are discussed. We have critically examined the relationship between materials-device design-pharmacological responses with respect to existing regulatory guidelines and provided a clear roadmap for the future.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Biomarkers; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Delivery Systems; Equipment and Supplies; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Microtechnology; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 32416112
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.05.004 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2017Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a label-free, accurate, fast, low-cost diagnostic technique that uses the principles of polarization and the motion of bioparticles in applied... (Review)
Review
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a label-free, accurate, fast, low-cost diagnostic technique that uses the principles of polarization and the motion of bioparticles in applied electric fields. This technique has been proven to be beneficial in various fields, including environmental research, polymer research, biosensors, microfluidics, medicine and diagnostics. Biomedical science research is one of the major research areas that could potentially benefit from DEP technology for diverse applications. Nevertheless, many medical science research investigations have yet to benefit from the possibilities offered by DEP. This paper critically reviews the fundamentals, recent progress, current challenges, future directions and potential applications of research investigations in the medical sciences utilizing DEP technique. This review will also act as a guide and reference for medical researchers and scientists to explore and utilize the DEP technique in their research fields.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Electrophoresis; Microfluidics; Motion
PubMed: 28245552
DOI: 10.3390/s17030449 -
International Journal of Sports... Apr 2017With the ongoing development of microtechnology, player tracking has become one of the most important components of load monitoring in team sports. The 3 main objectives... (Review)
Review
With the ongoing development of microtechnology, player tracking has become one of the most important components of load monitoring in team sports. The 3 main objectives of player tracking are better understanding of practice (provide an objective, a posteriori evaluation of external load and locomotor demands of any given session or match), optimization of training-load patterns at the team level, and decision making on individual players' training programs to improve performance and prevent injuries (eg, top-up training vs unloading sequences, return to play progression). This paper discusses the basics of a simple tracking approach and the need to integrate multiple systems. The limitations of some of the most used variables in the field (including metabolic-power measures) are debated, and innovative and potentially new powerful variables are presented. The foundations of a successful player-monitoring system are probably laid on the pitch first, in the way practitioners collect their own tracking data, given the limitations of each variable, and how they report and use all this information, rather than in the technology and the variables per se. Overall, the decision to use any tracking technology or new variable should always be considered with a cost/benefit approach (ie, cost, ease of use, portability, manpower/ability to affect the training program).
Topics: Athletes; Athletic Performance; Data Collection; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; Microtechnology; Physical Conditioning, Human; Running; Sports
PubMed: 27967285
DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2016-0499 -
Nanotechnology Jul 2016While 3D printing technologies first appeared in the 1980s, prohibitive costs, limited materials, and the relatively small number of commercially available printers... (Review)
Review
While 3D printing technologies first appeared in the 1980s, prohibitive costs, limited materials, and the relatively small number of commercially available printers confined applications mainly to prototyping for manufacturing purposes. As technologies, printer cost, materials, and accessibility continue to improve, 3D printing has found widespread implementation in research and development in many disciplines due to ease-of-use and relatively fast design-to-object workflow. Several 3D printing techniques have been used to prepare devices such as milli- and microfluidic flow cells for analyses of cells and biomolecules as well as interfaces that enable bioanalytical measurements using cellphones. This review focuses on preparation and applications of 3D-printed bioanalytical devices.
Topics: Microfluidics; Printing, Three-Dimensional
PubMed: 27250897
DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/28/284002