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Electrophoresis Nov 2023The application of microfluidic technology in forensic medicine has steadily expanded over the last two decades due to the favorable features of low cost, rapidity, high... (Review)
Review
The application of microfluidic technology in forensic medicine has steadily expanded over the last two decades due to the favorable features of low cost, rapidity, high throughput, user-friendliness, contamination-free, and minimum sample and reagent consumption. In this context, bibliometric methods were adopted to visualize the literature information contained in the Science Citation Index Expanded from 1989 to 2022, focusing on the co-occurrence analysis of forensic and microfluidic topics. A deep interpretation of the literature was conducted based on co-occurrence results, in which microfluidic technologies and their applications in forensic medicine, particularly forensic genetics, were elaborated. The purpose of this review is to provide an impartial evaluation of the utilization of microfluidic technology in forensic medicine. Additionally, the challenges and future trends of implementing microfluidic technology in forensic genetics are also addressed.
Topics: Microfluidics; Forensic Medicine
PubMed: 37857551
DOI: 10.1002/elps.202200268 -
Biotechnology Advances 2024The separation of specific cell populations is instrumental in gaining insights into cellular processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and advancing applications in... (Review)
Review
The separation of specific cell populations is instrumental in gaining insights into cellular processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and advancing applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and cell therapies. Microfluidic methods for cell separation have propelled the field forward, benefitting from miniaturization, advanced fabrication technologies, a profound understanding of fluid dynamics governing particle separation mechanisms, and a surge in interdisciplinary investigations focused on diverse applications. Cell separation methodologies can be categorized according to their underlying separation mechanisms. Passive microfluidic separation systems rely on channel structures and fluidic rheology, obviating the necessity for external force fields to facilitate label-free cell separation. These passive approaches offer a compelling combination of cost-effectiveness and scalability when compared to active methods that depend on external fields to manipulate cells. This review delves into the extensive utilization of passive microfluidic techniques for cell separation, encompassing various strategies such as filtration, sedimentation, adhesion-based techniques, pinched flow fractionation (PFF), deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), inertial microfluidics, hydrophoresis, viscoelastic microfluidics, and hybrid microfluidics. Besides, the review provides an in-depth discussion concerning cell types, separation markers, and the commercialization of these technologies. Subsequently, it outlines the current challenges faced in the field and presents a forward-looking perspective on potential future developments. This work hopes to aid in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge in cell separation, guiding future research, and informing practical applications across diverse scientific disciplines.
Topics: Cell Separation; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; Filtration; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidics
PubMed: 38220118
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108317 -
Electrophoresis Sep 2023The problem of pesticide residue contamination has attracted widespread attention and poses a risk to human health. The current traditional pesticide residue detection... (Review)
Review
The problem of pesticide residue contamination has attracted widespread attention and poses a risk to human health. The current traditional pesticide residue detection methods have difficulty meeting rapid and diverse field screening requirements. Microfluidic technology integrates functions from sample preparation to detection, showing great potential for quick and accurate high-throughput detection of pesticide residues. This paper reviews the latest research progress on microfluidic technology for pesticide residue detection. First, the commonly used microfluidic materials are summarized, including silicon, glass, paper, polydimethylsiloxane, and polymethyl methacrylate. We evaluated their advantages and disadvantages in pesticide residue detection applications. Second, the current pesticide residue detection technology based on microfluidics and its application to real samples are summarized. Finally, we discuss this technology's present challenges and future research directions. This study is expected to provide a reference for the future development of microfluidic technology for pesticide residue detection.
Topics: Humans; Pesticide Residues; Microfluidics; Drug Contamination
PubMed: 37496295
DOI: 10.1002/elps.202300048 -
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy : CII Dec 2023Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in the treatment of diverse cancer types. However, the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents faces... (Review)
Review
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach in the treatment of diverse cancer types. However, the development of novel immunotherapeutic agents faces persistent challenges due to poor translation from preclinical to clinical stages. To address these challenges, the integration of microfluidic models in research efforts has recently gained traction, bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo systems. This approach enables modeling of the complex human tumor microenvironment and interrogation of cancer-immune interactions. In this review, we analyze the current and potential applications of microfluidic tumor models in cancer immunotherapy development. We will first highlight current trends in the immunooncology landscape. Subsequently, we will discuss recent examples of microfluidic models applied to investigate mechanisms of immune-cancer interactions and for developing and screening cancer immunotherapies in vitro. First steps toward their validation for predicting human in vivo outcomes are discussed. Finally, promising opportunities that microfluidic tumor models offer are highlighted considering their advantages and current limitations, and we suggest possible next steps toward their implementation and integration into the immunooncology drug development process.
Topics: Humans; Microphysiological Systems; Microfluidics; Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment; Immunotherapy
PubMed: 37923890
DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03572-7 -
Biofabrication Jul 2023Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death worldwide, leading to increased medical care costs. To turn the scale, it is essential to acquire a more... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death worldwide, leading to increased medical care costs. To turn the scale, it is essential to acquire a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of CVDs and thus formulate more efficient and reliable treatments. Over the last decade, tremendous effort has been made to develop microfluidic systems to recapitulate native cardiovascular environments because of their unique advantages over conventional 2D culture systems and animal models such as high reproductivity, physiological relevance, and good controllability. These novel microfluidic systems could be extensively adopted for natural organ simulation, disease modeling, drug screening, disease diagnosis and therapy. Here, a brief review of the innovative designs of microfluidic devices for CVDs research is presented, with specific discussions on material selection, critical physiological and physical considerations. In addition, we elaborate on various biomedical applications of these microfluidic systems such as blood-vessel-on-a-chip and heart-on-a-chip, which are conducive to the investigation of the underlying mechanisms of CVDs. This review also provides systematic guidance on the construction of next-generation microfluidic systems for the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Finally, the challenges and future directions in this field are highlighted and discussed.
Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular Diseases; Microphysiological Systems; Microfluidics; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Heart
PubMed: 37267929
DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/acdaf9 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Aug 2023Droplet microfluidics enables development of workflows with low sample consumption and high throughput. Fluorescence-based assays are most used with droplet... (Review)
Review
Droplet microfluidics enables development of workflows with low sample consumption and high throughput. Fluorescence-based assays are most used with droplet microfluidics; however, the requirement of a fluorescent reporter restricts applicability of this approach. The coupling of droplets to mass spectrometry (MS) has enabled selective assays on complex mixtures to broaden the analyte scope. Droplet microfluidics has been interfaced to MS via electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI). The works reviewed herein outline the development of this nascent field as well as initial exploration of its application in biotechnology and bioanalysis, including synthetic biology, reaction development, and in vivo sensing.
Topics: Microfluidics; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
PubMed: 37336080
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102962 -
Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery Jul 2023High content screening (HCS) is an important tool for drug screening. However, the potential of HCS in the field of drug screening and synthetic biology is limited by... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
High content screening (HCS) is an important tool for drug screening. However, the potential of HCS in the field of drug screening and synthetic biology is limited by traditional culture platforms that use multi-well plates, which have several disadvantages. Recently, microfluidic devices have gradually been applied in HCS, which significantly reduces experimental costs, increases assay throughput, and improves the accuracy of drug screening.
AREAS COVERED
This review provides an overview of microfluidic devices for high-content screening in drug discovery platforms, including droplet, microarray, and organs-on-chip technologies.
EXPERT OPINION
HCS is a promising technology increasingly adopted by the pharmaceutical industry as well as academic researchers for drug discovery and screening. In particular, microfluidic-based HCS shows unique advantages, and microfluidics technology has promoted significant advancements and broader usage and applicability of HCS in drug discovery. With the integration of stem cell, gene editing technology, and other biological technologies, microfluidics-based HCS will expand the application scope of personalized disease and drug screening models. The authors anticipate rapid developments in this field, with microfluidic-based approaches becoming increasingly important in HCS applications.
Topics: Humans; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Drug Discovery; Microfluidics; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
PubMed: 37219918
DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2216013 -
Trends in Biotechnology Oct 2023The skin is the body's largest organ, continuously exposed to and affected by natural and anthropogenic nanomaterials (materials with external and internal dimensions in... (Review)
Review
The skin is the body's largest organ, continuously exposed to and affected by natural and anthropogenic nanomaterials (materials with external and internal dimensions in the nanoscale range). This broad spectrum of insults gives rise to irreversible health effects (from skin corrosion to cancer). Organ-on-chip systems can recapitulate skin physiology with high fidelity and potentially revolutionize the safety assessment of nanomaterials. Here, we review current advances in skin-on-chip models and their potential to elucidate biological mechanisms. Further, strategies are discussed to recapitulate skin physiology on-chip, improving control over nanomaterials exposure and transport across cells. Finally, we highlight future opportunities and challenges from design and fabrication to acceptance by regulatory bodies and industry.
Topics: Microfluidics; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Nanostructures; Skin
PubMed: 37419838
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.05.009 -
Biosensors & Bioelectronics Nov 2023Human cerebral organoids (COs), generated from stem cells, are emerging animal alternatives for understanding brain development and neurodegeneration diseases. Long-term...
Human cerebral organoids (COs), generated from stem cells, are emerging animal alternatives for understanding brain development and neurodegeneration diseases. Long-term growth of COs is currently hindered by the limitation of efficient oxygen infiltration and continuous nutrient supply, leading to general inner hypoxia and cell death at the core region of the organoids. Here, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic platform with dynamic fluidic perturbation and oxygen supply. We demonstrated COs cultured in the 3D microfluidic system grew continuously for over 50 days without cell death at the core region. Increased cell proliferation and enhanced cell differentiation were also observed and verified with immunofluorescence staining, proteomics and metabolomics. Time-lapse proteomics from 7 consecutive acquisitions between day 4 and day 30 identified 546 proteins differently expressed accompanying COs growth, which were mainly relevant to nervous system development, in utero embryonic development, brain development and neuron migration. Our 3D microfluidic platform provides potential utility for culturing high-homogeneous human organoids.
Topics: Animals; Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Microfluidics; Biosensing Techniques; Cell Death; Organoids; Oxygen
PubMed: 37651948
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115635 -
Acta Biomaterialia Apr 2024In the field of tissue engineering, local hypoxia in large-cell structures (larger than 1 mm) poses a significant challenge. Oxygen-releasing biomaterials supply an... (Review)
Review
In the field of tissue engineering, local hypoxia in large-cell structures (larger than 1 mm) poses a significant challenge. Oxygen-releasing biomaterials supply an innovative solution through oxygen delivery in a sustained and controlled manner. Compared to traditional methods such as emulsion, sonication, and agitation, microfluidic technology offers distinct benefits for oxygen-releasing material production, including controllability, flexibility, and applicability. It holds enormous potential in the production of smart oxygen-releasing materials. This review comprehensively covers the fabrication and application of microfluidic-enabled oxygen-releasing biomaterials. To begin with, the physical mechanism of various microfluidic technologies and their differences in oxygen carrier preparation are explained. Then, the distinctions among diverse oxygen-releasing components in regards for oxygen-releasing mechanism, oxygen-carrying capacity, and duration of oxygen release are presented. Finally, the present obstacles and anticipated development trends are examined together with the application outcomes of oxygen-releasing biomaterials based on microfluidic technology in the biomedical area. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Oxygen is essential for sustaining life, and hypoxia (a condition of low oxygen) is a significant challenge in various diseases. Microfluidic-based oxygen-releasing biomaterials offer precise control and outstanding performance, providing unique advantages over traditional approaches for tissue engineering. However, comprehensive reviews on this topic are currently lacking. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of various microfluidic technologies and their applications for developing oxygen-releasing biomaterials. We compare the characteristics of organic and inorganic oxygen-releasing biomaterials and highlight the latest advancements in microfluidic-enabled oxygen-releasing biomaterials for tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. This review may hold the potential to make a significant contribution to the field, with a profound impact on the scientific community.
Topics: Oxygen; Humans; Biocompatible Materials; Tissue Engineering; Animals; Microfluidics
PubMed: 38579919
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.03.032