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Biosensors Jan 2024Single-cell analysis provides an overwhelming strategy for revealing cellular heterogeneity and new perspectives for understanding the biological function and disease... (Review)
Review
Single-cell analysis provides an overwhelming strategy for revealing cellular heterogeneity and new perspectives for understanding the biological function and disease mechanism. Moreover, it promotes the basic and clinical research in many fields at a single-cell resolution. A digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) is an absolute quantitative analysis technology with high sensitivity and precision for DNA/RNA or protein. With the development of microfluidic technology, digital PCR has been used to achieve absolute quantification of single-cell gene expression and single-cell proteins. For single-cell specific-gene or -protein detection, digital PCR has shown great advantages. So, this review will introduce the significance and process of single-cell analysis, including single-cell isolation, single-cell lysis, and single-cell detection methods, mainly focusing on the microfluidic single-cell digital PCR technology and its biological application at a single-cell level. The challenges and opportunities for the development of single-cell digital PCR are also discussed.
Topics: Polymerase Chain Reaction; Microfluidics; DNA; RNA; Single-Cell Analysis
PubMed: 38391982
DOI: 10.3390/bios14020064 -
Nature Communications Mar 2024Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro... (Review)
Review
Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro systems that recapitulate patient-like pathophysiology are emerging as alternatives to conventional animal-based models. In this review, we explore the interconnected pathogenic features of different types of ND, discuss the general strategy to modelling NDs using a microfluidic chip, and introduce the organoid-on-a-chip as the next advanced relevant model. Lastly, we overview how these models are being applied in academic and industrial drug development. The integration of microfluidic chips, stem cells, and biotechnological devices promises to provide valuable insights for biomedical research and developing diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for NDs.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Microfluidics; Organoids; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
PubMed: 38472255
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46554-8 -
Lab on a Chip Feb 2024Microbial life is at the heart of many diverse environments and regulates most natural processes, from the functioning of animal organs to the cycling of global carbon.... (Review)
Review
Microbial life is at the heart of many diverse environments and regulates most natural processes, from the functioning of animal organs to the cycling of global carbon. Yet, the study of microbial ecology is often limited by challenges in visualizing microbial processes and replicating the environmental conditions under which they unfold. Microfluidics operates at the characteristic scale at which microorganisms live and perform their functions, thus allowing for the observation and quantification of behaviors such as growth, motility, and responses to external cues, often with greater detail than classical techniques. By enabling a high degree of control in space and time of environmental conditions such as nutrient gradients, pH levels, and fluid flow patterns, microfluidics further provides the opportunity to study microbial processes in conditions that mimic the natural settings harboring microbial life. In this review, we describe how recent applications of microfluidic systems to microbial ecology have enriched our understanding of microbial life and microbial communities. We highlight discoveries enabled by microfluidic approaches ranging from single-cell behaviors to the functioning of multi-cellular communities, and we indicate potential future opportunities to use microfluidics to further advance our understanding of microbial processes and their implications.
Topics: Animals; Microfluidics; Ecology
PubMed: 38344937
DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00784g -
Drug Discovery Today Apr 2024This review highlights the transformative impact of microfluidic technology on personalized drug delivery. Microfluidics addresses issues in traditional drug synthesis,... (Review)
Review
This review highlights the transformative impact of microfluidic technology on personalized drug delivery. Microfluidics addresses issues in traditional drug synthesis, providing precise control and scalability in nanoparticle fabrication, and microfluidic platforms show high potential for versatility, offering patient-specific dosing and real-time monitoring capabilities, all integrated into wearable technology. Covalent conjugation of antibodies to nanoparticles improves bioactivity, driving innovations in drug targeting. The integration of microfluidics with sensor technologies and artificial intelligence facilitates real-time feedback and autonomous adaptation in drug delivery systems. Key challenges, such as droplet polydispersity and fluidic handling, along with future directions focusing on scalability and reliability, are essential considerations in advancing microfluidics for personalized drug delivery.
Topics: Humans; Microfluidics; Artificial Intelligence; Reproducibility of Results; Drug Delivery Systems; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 38428803
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103936 -
Molecular Biotechnology Mar 2024Efficient healthcare management demands prompt decision-making based on fast diagnostics tools, astute data analysis, and informatics analysis. The rapid detection of... (Review)
Review
Efficient healthcare management demands prompt decision-making based on fast diagnostics tools, astute data analysis, and informatics analysis. The rapid detection of analytes at the point of care is ensured using microfluidics in synergy with nanotechnology and biotechnology. The nanobiosensors use nanotechnology for testing, rapid disease diagnosis, monitoring, and management. In essence, nanobiosensors detect biomolecules through bioreceptors by modulating the physicochemical signals generating an optical and electrical signal as an outcome of the binding of a biomolecule with the help of a transducer. The nanobiosensors are sensitive and selective and play a significant role in the early identification of diseases. This article reviews the detection method used with the microfluidics platform for nanobiosensors and illustrates the benefits of combining microfluidics and nanobiosensing techniques by various examples. The fundamental aspects, and their application are discussed to illustrate the advancement in the development of microfluidics-based nanobiosensors and the current trends of these nano-sized sensors for point-of-care diagnosis of various diseases and their function in healthcare monitoring.
Topics: Microfluidics; Biosensing Techniques; Nanotechnology; Biotechnology
PubMed: 37166577
DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00760-9 -
Nanoscale Horizons Nov 2023The field of nanomaterials has progressed dramatically over the past decades with important contributions to the biomedical area. The physicochemical properties of... (Review)
Review
The field of nanomaterials has progressed dramatically over the past decades with important contributions to the biomedical area. The physicochemical properties of nanomaterials, such as the size and structure, can be controlled through manipulation of mass and heat transfer conditions during synthesis. In particular, microfluidic systems with rapid mixing and precise fluid control are ideal platforms for creating appropriate synthesis conditions. One notable example of microfluidics-based synthesis is the development of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA vaccines with accelerated clinical translation and robust efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to LNPs, microfluidic systems have been adopted for the controlled synthesis of a broad range of nanomaterials. In this review, we introduce the fundamental principles of microfluidic technologies including flow field- and multiple field-based methods for fabricating nanoparticles, and discuss their applications in the biomedical field. We conclude this review by outlining several major challenges and future directions in the implementation of microfluidic synthesis of nanomaterials.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Microfluidics; Pandemics; Nanostructures; COVID-19; Estrus
PubMed: 37723984
DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00217a -
Nature Communications Jul 2023Platelets, small hemostatic blood cells, are derived from megakaryocytes. Both bone marrow and lung are principal sites of thrombopoiesis although underlying mechanisms...
Platelets, small hemostatic blood cells, are derived from megakaryocytes. Both bone marrow and lung are principal sites of thrombopoiesis although underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Outside the body, however, our ability to generate large number of functional platelets is poor. Here we show that perfusion of megakaryocytes ex vivo through the mouse lung vasculature generates substantial platelet numbers, up to 3000 per megakaryocyte. Despite their large size, megakaryocytes are able repeatedly to passage through the lung vasculature, leading to enucleation and subsequent platelet generation intravascularly. Using ex vivo lung and an in vitro microfluidic chamber we determine how oxygenation, ventilation, healthy pulmonary endothelium and the microvascular structure support thrombopoiesis. We also show a critical role for the actin regulator Tropomyosin 4 in the final steps of platelet formation in lung vasculature. This work reveals the mechanisms of thrombopoiesis in lung vasculature and informs approaches to large-scale generation of platelets.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Blood Platelets; Microfluidics; Megakaryocytes; Thrombopoiesis; Lung
PubMed: 37419900
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39598-9 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology Dec 2023Comprehensively understanding the female reproductive system is crucial for safeguarding fertility and preventing diseases concerning women's health. With the capacity... (Review)
Review
Comprehensively understanding the female reproductive system is crucial for safeguarding fertility and preventing diseases concerning women's health. With the capacity to simulate the intricate physio- and patho-conditions, and provide diagnostic platforms, microfluidic chips have fundamentally transformed the knowledge and management of female reproductive health, which will ultimately promote the development of more effective assisted reproductive technologies, treatments, and drug screening approaches. This review elucidates diverse microfluidic systems in mimicking the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, placenta and cervix, and we delve into the culture of follicles and oocytes, gametes' manipulation, cryopreservation, and permeability especially. We investigate the role of microfluidics in endometriosis and hysteromyoma, and explore their applications in ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. At last, the current status of assisted reproductive technology and integrated microfluidic devices are introduced briefly. Through delineating the multifarious advantages and challenges of the microfluidic technology, we chart a definitive course for future research in the woman health field. As the microfluidic technology continues to evolve and advance, it holds great promise for revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of female reproductive health issues, thus propelling us into a future where we can ultimately optimize the overall wellbeing and health of women everywhere.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Microfluidics; Genitalia, Female; Reproduction; Uterus; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
PubMed: 38111049
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02258-7 -
Analytical Biochemistry Dec 2023Microarrays are powerful tools for high-throughput bioassays that can extract information from tens of thousands of micro-spots consisting of biomolecules. This... (Review)
Review
Microarrays are powerful tools for high-throughput bioassays that can extract information from tens of thousands of micro-spots consisting of biomolecules. This information is invaluable to many applications, such as drug discovery and disease diagnostics. Different applications of these microarrays need spots of different shapes, sizes, and chemistries to achieve their goals. Micro/nano-fabrication techniques are used to make microarrays with different feature structures and array densities for required assay procedures. Understanding these fabrication methods is essential to creating an effective microarray. The purpose of this article is to critically review fabrication methods used in recent microarray-based bioassay studies. We summarized commonly used microarray fabrication techniques and filled the gap in recent literature on relevant topics. We discussed recent examples of how microarrays were fabricated and used in a variety of bioassays. Specifically, we examined microarray printing, various microlithography techniques, and microfluidics-based microarray fabrication. We evaluated how their application shaped the fabrication methods and compared their performance based on different applications. In the end, we discussed current challenges and outlined potential future directions. This review addressed the gap in literature and provided important insights for choosing appropriate fabrication techniques towards different applications.
Topics: Microarray Analysis; Microfluidics; Biological Assay
PubMed: 37914004
DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115369 -
Analytica Chimica Acta May 2024Two-dimensional (2D) cultures do not fully reflect the human organs' physiology and the real effectiveness of the used therapy. Therefore, three-dimensional (3D) models... (Review)
Review
Two-dimensional (2D) cultures do not fully reflect the human organs' physiology and the real effectiveness of the used therapy. Therefore, three-dimensional (3D) models are increasingly used in bioanalytical science. Organ-on-a-chip systems are used to obtain cellular in vitro models, better reflecting the human body's in vivo characteristics and allowing us to obtain more reliable results than standard preclinical models. Such 3D models can be used to understand the behavior of tissues/organs in response to selected biophysical and biochemical factors, pathological conditions (the mechanisms of their formation), drug screening, or inter-organ interactions. This review characterizes 3D models obtained in microfluidic systems. These include spheroids/aggregates, hydrogel cultures, multilayers, organoids, or cultures on biomaterials. Next, the methods of formation of different 3D cultures in Organ-on-a-chip systems are presented, and examples of such Organ-on-a-chip systems are discussed. Finally, current applications of 3D cell-on-a-chip systems and future perspectives are covered.
Topics: Humans; Microphysiological Systems; Organoids; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Microfluidics
PubMed: 38553129
DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342413