Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Uros Zupancic, Joshua Rainbow, Pedro Estrela, Despina Moschou
Summary: This paper analyzes the critical technological considerations for using commercial PCB platforms as reliable electrochemical sensing platforms, demonstrating that PCB-based electrodes can be reliably fabricated for sensitive electrochemical biosensors following pre-cleaning techniques. The proposed optimization of surface pre-treatment is essential for the development of robust and sensitive PCB-based electrochemical sensors for both clinical and environmental diagnostics and monitoring applications.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jesus David Urbano-Gamez, Lourdes Valdes-Sanchez, Carmen Aracil, Berta de la Cerda, Francisco Perdigones, Alvaro Plaza Reyes, Francisco J. Diaz-Corrales, Isabel Relimpio Lopez, Jose Manuel Quero
Summary: Printed circuit board (PCB) technology is widely used in biomedicine to create Lab-on-PCB systems, integrating microfluidics and electronics. The study found that the solder mask of a commercial PCB showed no cytotoxic effects on retinal cultures, indicating its potential for use as a substrate for customized microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Additionally, the biocompatibility of Uniz zSG amber resin, a 3D printer material, was also evaluated.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Carlos E. C. Lopes, Lucas V. de Faria, Diele A. G. Araujo, Eduardo M. Richter, Thiago R. L. C. Paixao, Luiza M. F. Dantas, Rodrigo A. A. Munoz, Iranaldo S. da Silva
Summary: In this study, a 3D-printed electrode was manufactured using a conductive filament and used for the detection of antibiotics. By improving the electrode preparation method, the fouling phenomenon on the electrode surface was solved, and comparable analytical performance to conventional electrodes was achieved. This method is suitable for routine analysis of environmental, pharmaceutical, and food samples.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virag Rona, Bulcsu Bencze, Kata Kelemen, Daniel Vegh, Reka Toth, Tamas Koi, Peter Hegyi, Gabor Varga, Noemi Katinka Rozsa, Zoltan Geczi
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review to investigate the efficacy of chitosan-containing chewing gums and their inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans. The results showed that chitosan reduced the number of bacteria, but further studies are needed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Xiaoxiao Song, Keyu Wang, Zhuo Chen, Kaixu Ren, Peng Liu
Summary: The impact of four surface finishes on electrochemical migration in printed circuit board production was analyzed through a modified water drop test. The study found that electroless nickel/immersion gold (ENIG) had the best ability to resist electrochemical migration, followed by lead-free hot air solder leveling (HASL), HASL, and Cu. The growth of dendrites in lead-free HASL, HASL, and Cu was related to the solubility product of metal ions, while the electrochemical migration process of ENIG was different, with nickel hydroxide and oxide being the main factors contributing to high electrochemical migration resistance.
JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Priyakant Pushkar, Arvind Kumar Mungray
Summary: The study showed that sediment height, anode size, and chamber volume can impact the diffusion impedance and power density in benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs), suggesting practical implications for improving energy generation efficiency. Microbial consortia were found to play a crucial role in mass transport phenomena and electrochemical diffusion in BMFCs.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Francisco Perdigones, Jose Manuel Quero
Summary: This paper discusses the opportunities for fabricating electronic and biomedical engineering devices using Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). PCB substrates have historically been used to support electronic device components and provide connectivity with copper lines. PCB substrates are also being increasingly used in biomedical engineering due to their commercial availability, low cost, tolerance, and versatility. The paper highlights the alternative uses of different layers and materials, such as copper, gold, FR4, silver, vias, solder masks, and rigid and flexible substrates. It also mentions various applications, including sensors, biosensors, actuators, and PCB-based lab-on-chip devices used in DNA amplification for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hong Du, Qi Shen, Pu Li, Dingyu Xing, Wenyi Dong, Zijun Dong, Feiyun Sun
Summary: With the rapid development of the PCB industry, the release of TBBPA during manufacturing processes has become a recognized problem. This study analyzed the generation and fate of TBBPA in industrial wastewater during PCB manufacturing processes. The raw materials and various fabrication procedures were found to introduce TBBPA into wastewater. Flocculation-sedimentation and activated sludge processes were both effective in removing over 80% of TBBPA from wastewater, with various factors affecting their removal capabilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Gustavo Martins, Jeferson L. Gogola, Lucas H. Budni, Bruno C. Janegitz, Luiz H. Marcolino-Junior, Marcio F. Bergamini
Summary: In this study, a novel immunosensor was constructed using a commercial 3D conductive filament made of carbon black and polylactic acid (PLA) for the detection of Hantavirus Araucaria nucleoprotein. The device showed promising results for quantitative detection of Np in a range of 30 to 240 μg mL(-1) and was successfully used for virus detection in human serum samples. The conductive filament showed potential as a suitable platform for immunosensing due to its simple design and ability to anchor biomolecules.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helena Salgado, Ana T. P. C. Gomes, Ana S. Duarte, Jose M. F. Ferreira, Carlos Fernandes, Maria Helena Figueiral, Pedro Mesquita
Summary: This study tested the antimicrobial activity and surface roughness of a graphene-enhanced dental resin against Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. The increase in graphene concentration resulted in increased surface roughness. Graphene was effective in inhibiting the growth and adhesion of C. albicans and S. mutans.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Leandro H. de S. Silva, Agostinho A. F. Junior, George O. A. Azevedo, Sergio C. Oliveira, Bruno J. T. Fernandes
Summary: Technological advancements have led to improvements in daily life, but also raised concerns about how to deal with electronic waste, particularly waste PCBs. Recycling waste PCBs, which contain precious materials and components, is challenging due to their diverse composition. A proposed method aims to evaluate the economic feasibility of recycling ICs from WPCBs, involving estimating IC area and weight, and determining the potential metal recovery. The use of deep learning models like YOLO has shown promising results in detecting ICs from WPCBs, with the potential to extract a significant amount of metals and silicon elements for recycling.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleonora Hubenova, Mario Mitov, Yolina Hubenova
Summary: The Gram-positive bacterium Paenibacillus profundus YoMME, entrapped in an alginate polymer, retained its extracellular electron transfer capabilities. Current densities up to 30 mA/m² were achieved at an applied potential of -200 mV. Higher initial current densities were observed at applied potentials of +220 mV and +600 mV. The electrochemical behavior of the encapsulated bioelectrodes was characterized using different techniques and the impedance spectra provided crucial insights into the development of the bacterial culture within the alginate matrix.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nora Alomeir, Yan Zeng, Ahmed Fadaak, Tong Tong Wu, Hans Malmstrom, Jin Xiao
Summary: This study assessed the effect of Nystatin on duo-species biofilms of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans using an in vitro cariogenic biofilm model. The results showed that Nystatin eliminated C. albicans at 44 hours and reduced the abundance of S. mutans in the biofilms. Nystatin also altered the structure of the biofilms and down-regulated the expression of S. mutans genes. Therefore, developing clinical regimens for dental caries prevention or treatment from an anti-fungal perspective is necessary.
ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Iftikhar A. Soomro, Anser Ahmad, Rana H. Raza
Summary: This paper introduces a robust PCB classification system based on computer vision and deep learning, achieving high accuracy in e-waste recycling sorting by utilizing datasets under various conditions and a deep learning model.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zhengyi Li, Qinrui Wu, Yixin Zhang, Xuedong Zhou, Xian Peng
Summary: This study investigated the lysine malonylation (Kmal) sites in Streptococcus mutans and found that they are involved in various metabolic pathways. Kmal substrates were globally altered in the biofilm growth state compared to the planktonic growth state, suggesting distinct functional implications between malonylation and acetylation.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Nirmita Dutta, Peter B. Lillehoj, Pedro Estrela, Gorachand Dutta
Summary: Cytokines play crucial roles in immune regulation, with their aberrant expression possibly linked to diseases. Cytokine profiling can aid in diagnosing and monitoring disease progression, as well as evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Adil Mustafa, Elisa Pedone, Lucia Marucci, Despina Moschou, Mirella Di Lorenzo
Summary: This study introduces a novel microfluidic device that effectively separates viable and non-viable T cells based on their dielectric properties. Through computational fluid dynamics simulations, a separation efficiency of 96% was achieved under specific AC frequency and flow rate. This work paves the way for on-demand lab-on-a-chip applications.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Gauri Paduthol, Teji Shenne Korma, Amit Agrawal, Debjani Paul
Summary: The study introduces a universal two-inlet microfluidic gradient generator that can generate gradient profiles by controlling the inlet flow rates, using an analytical model to predict the necessary flow rates and validating it through simulations and experiments. The device successfully matches target functions with generated gradient profiles without the need to change internal barriers for each new profile, making it user-friendly.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Kamal Prakash Prasanna Ravindran Nair, Thulya Chakkumpulakkal Puthan Veettil, Bayden R. Wood, Debjani Paul, Tuncay Alan
Summary: The identification of biomarkers from blood plasma is crucial for diagnostic tests. Haemoprocessor, a portable and robust open-fluidic system, utilizes Travelling Surface Acoustic Waves (TSAW) to separate plasma and red blood cells. Spectroscopy and analysis confirmed the quality and integrity of the plasma separation, validating the potential of Haemoprocessor as a platform for cell enrichment and plasma separation.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Katarzyna Bialas, Despina Moschou, Frank Marken, Pedro Estrela
Summary: Biosensors have been widely studied as they offer the possibility of translating standard laboratory methods into small, portable devices. Enzymes are commonly used for determination purposes due to their high selectivity and sensitivity, but their poor shelf-life poses a limitation. This review explores the possibility of using other materials with enzyme-like activity as substitutes for enzymes in point-of-care biosensors. Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are crucial components in enzyme-less catalytic sensors, but achieving high selectivity and sensitivity remains a challenge. By studying the properties of nanoparticle-based sensors, this review aims to identify the key factors determining their catalytic performance and bridge the gap between fundamental and applied research.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shijia Liu, Ayse Ay, Qiaochu Luo, Xiangqi Hu, Katarzyna Bialas, Gorachand Dutta, Despina Moschou, Anna Regoutz
Summary: The integration of non-enzymatic glucose sensing entities into device designs compatible with industrial production is crucial for the widespread adoption of non-invasive glucose sensors. This study explores the use of copper oxide electrodes prepared through direct annealing on flexible polyimide substrates for electrochemical glucose sensing. The optimal annealing conditions are determined through a combination of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and the observed physico-chemical electrode characteristics are directly compared with electrochemical testing. The study identifies an annealing temperature of 250 degrees C for 8 hours as the best compromise between sensor performance and minimal interference.
MATERIALS RESEARCH EXPRESS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arabinda Behera, Oshin Sharma, Debjani Paul, Anirban Sain
Summary: Molecular self-assembly is crucial in biological functions, but aberrant self-assembly can lead to diseases. This study investigates the assembly kinetics of fibers using kinetic Monte Carlo simulation and finds similar initial lag time distributions for different polymerization mechanisms. By studying temperature-dependent growth rates and off-rates of hemoglobin fibers, non-monotonic behavior in mean lag time is observed.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Senjuti Chakraborty, Siddhant Jaitpal, Sourav Acharya, Debjani Paul
Summary: One of the key factors in biosensor design is having an effective capture layer. Surface-immobilized proteins, particularly antibody-antigen combinations, are commonly used as capture ligands in flow-based biosensors. The surface coverage of these proteins can be influenced by the linker chemistry and microchannel geometry. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of different linkers (glutaraldehyde, EDC-NHS, sulfo-SMCC, sulfo-NHS-biotin) in straight, serpentine, and square-wave microchannel geometries using streptavidin as a model protein. We found that straight microchannels achieved the highest level of protein immobilization, regardless of the linker chemistry used. Moreover, sulfo-NHS-biotin showed the highest immobilization of streptavidin among all the linkers for each microchannel geometry.
JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sourav Acharya, Jasleen Chhabra, Soumyo Mukherji, Debjani Paul
Summary: Centrifugal microfluidic platforms have gained popularity in research and diagnostic applications. Handling large sample volumes without a pump is a challenge in these platforms. The authors present an affordable and portable platform (< USD 40) that can handle sample volumes of up to 50 ml without a pump. The platform utilizes a Mariotte bottle for sample inflow, enabling constant flow rate and basic operations such as volume metering, flow switching, and mixing.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Md Ramiz Raza, Jijo Easo George, Savita Kumari, Mithun K. Mitra, Debjani Paul
Summary: We present a two-layer microfluidic device to examine how confinement and chemical gradient affect the motility of E. coli. Our results indicate that the trajectories of bacteria exhibit superdiffusive behavior even without a chemical gradient. This behavior is further enhanced when a chemical gradient or stronger confinement is introduced. Our findings suggest that E. coli modulates both its runs and tumbles in response to physical confinement and chemical gradients. Understanding bacteria's motility behavior in their natural habitats has implications for various applications.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Smriti Sinha, Akashlina Basu, Jai Shukla, Shirin Dasgupta, Gorachand Dutta, Soumen Das
Summary: A simple, reagent-free, non-destructive, smartphone-integrated paper-based device was developed for measuring blood hematocrit (Hct) level. The device, calibrated using a custom-made Python algorithm, showed wide linear range, high accuracy, and suitability for quantitative estimation and quality assessment in different medical settings.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Nidhi P. Rao, C. M. C. Vaishnavi, Malavika S. Kumar, S. Vishnu, Bimalendu Mukherjee, N. Karthik, Gorachand Dutta, Avijit Kumar Das
Summary: This review discusses the recent advancements in chemosensors for the selective detection of essential amino acids. Different sensing techniques, such as reaction-based approach, DNA-based sensors, nanoparticle formation, coordination ligand binding, host-guest chemistry, fluorescence indicator displacement (FID) approach, electrochemical sensors, carbon dot-based sensors, MOF-based sensors and metal-based techniques, are described.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Nidhi Pandey, Mukti Mandal, Dibyendu Samanta, Gayatri Mukherjee, Gorachand Dutta
Summary: In this study, an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor based on a nanobody was developed for the quantitative detection of soluble CTLA-4. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, and could detect sCTLA-4 in serum samples with attomole sensitivity. It has the potential to facilitate timely diagnosis of disease progression and assist in patient selection for immunotherapeutic interventions.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shailesh B. Lad, Shomdutta Roy, Jijo Easo George, Himadri Chakraborti, Saumitra Lalsare, Bikash Barik, Arushi Singh, Amrutraj Zade, Sachee Agrawal, Jayanthi Shastri, Anirvan Chatterjee, Kantimay Das Gupta, Debjani Paul, Kiran Kondabagil
Summary: We developed a portable pathogen nucleic acid detection system using PortAbs, PNA, and a cyanine dye. The system can detect target DNA at low concentrations and has a shorter detection time compared to previous studies.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
A. Gupta, N. Rana, B. Jacob, Samrat, N. Mehendale, D. Paul, P. Perlekar
Summary: In this study, we investigated the spreading of bacterial colonies on nutrient-rich agar plates at different temperatures. We observed that the colonies spread radially outwards for all temperatures. By using growth rates obtained from well-mixed culture experiments and assuming the Fisher model estimate for the spreading speed, we concluded that the diffusivity of the colony is also temperature dependent.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
