Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sara Gimondi, Carlos F. Guimaraes, Sara F. Vieira, Virginia M. F. Goncalves, Maria E. Tiritan, Rui L. Reis, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: Polymeric nanoparticles with well-controlled sizes were produced using a microfluidic device. The study explored the influence of several parameters on the synthesis process and evaluated the cytocompatibility and drug carrier efficacy of the nanoparticles. The results demonstrated the importance of nanoparticle size in drug encapsulation, release, and overall biological efficacy.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junyao Wang, Xingyu Chen, Huan Liu, Yunpeng Li, Tianhong Lang, Rui Wang, Bowen Cui, Weihua Zhu
Summary: This paper presents a helical three-dimensional passive micromixer fabricated through 3D printing and polymer dissolution technology, which effectively improves the mixing efficiency according to experimental results.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amir Pourabed, Tayyaba Younas, Chang Liu, Bhuvana K. Shanbhag, Lizhong He, Tuncay Alan
Summary: This study successfully tuned the size of protein nanoparticles through a mechanical route by modifying the mixing time and strength, while keeping the chemical parameters constant. Using an acoustically actuated micro-mixer allowed for the assembly of protein particles with tunable sizes, leading to smaller particles with a more uniform size distribution than traditional batch processes.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hamid Aghamohammadi, Seied Ali Hosseini, Sanjana Srikant, Alexander Wong, Mahla Poudineh
Summary: This paper introduces a computational model for the rational design and optimization of immunobead-based assays in microfluidic mixing channels. The model examines various factors affecting the efficiency of analyte capture on the surface of microbeads and is validated experimentally. It can be adapted to a wide range of target molecules and different device designs.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Shuai Yuan, Mingyong Zhou, Tao Peng, Qiang Li, Fengze Jiang
Summary: This article introduces a novel planar mixer with staggered Z-shaped baffles and evaluates its mixing ability through numerical investigations. The results show that the mixer achieves high mixing efficiency within a certain range of Reynolds numbers, and different vortex patterns can improve the mixing quality.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Matthew N. O'Brien N. Laramy, Antonio P. Costa, Yareli Maciel Cebrero, Johnson Joseph, Apoorva Sarode, Nanzhi Zang, Lee Joon Kim, Kate Hofmann, Shirley Wang, Alexandre Goyon, Stefan G. Koenig, Michal Hammel, Greg L. Hura
Summary: This article systematically investigates how the mixer technology used to form lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) influences LNP structure. The study compares a coaxial turbulent jet mixer and a staggered herringbone microfluidic mixer. Results show that LNPs generated with the coaxial turbulent jet mixer are consistently smaller, have a narrower particle size distribution, and have a higher encapsulation rate compared to the microfluidic mixer, but have a greater variation in internal structure with less ordered cores. Similar trends are observed for mRNA-LNPs produced by the coaxial turbulent jet mixer, but with more frequent bleb features.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Mate Kalovics, Kristof Ivan, Zsolt Szabo
Summary: A microfluidic mixer is integrated with a dual-band microwave resonator for in situ monitoring of liquid mixing. The mixer utilizes a complementary double split-ring resonator etched in the ground plane of a microstrip transmission line. Through simulations, optimal channel configurations are designed to increase sensitivity, minimize required sample volume, and eliminate unwanted microfluidic mixing. The device allows for unambiguous chemical identification by monitoring the frequency variation of resonances.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Matteo Antognoli, Daniel Stoecklein, Chiara Galletti, Elisabetta Brunazzi, Dino Di Carlo
Summary: This study optimized mixing efficiency by analyzing sequences of cylindrical obstacles in the inertial regime, predicted and optimized interfacial stretching of co-flowing fluids using a specialized software, and tested new passive mixer designs using confocal microscopy and CFD simulations, achieving mixing efficiencies around 80%.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Diviya Santhanes, Alex Wilkins, Huiming Zhang, Robert John Aitken, Mingtao Liang
Summary: Lipid/polymer hybrid nanoparticles loaded with red fluorescent protein encoded plasmid DNA were successfully formulated using microfluidics. These nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency and transfection efficacy, demonstrating their potential for clinical applications in DNA therapeutics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wei Li, Qiaoli Chen, Thejus Baby, Song Jin, Yun Liu, Guangze Yang, Chun-Xia Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the fundamental principles of polymer nanoparticle drug encapsulation through microfluidic technology. Using curcumin and PEG-PLGA as a model system, the research revealed the different precipitation and mixing times of the two components in the microfluidic device, leading to low drug loading. This provides a new perspective on understanding and controlling the formation of drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles and offers guidelines for selecting the appropriate combinations of drugs, polymers, solvents, and devices.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jiayu Zhou, Yishu Zhai, Jumei Xu, Tian Zhou, Lian Cen
Summary: This study investigated the feasibility of microfluidic preparation of PLGA composite microspheres with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to finely manipulate drug release behaviors. The results showed that PLGA-MSNs achieved sustained release for 4 months without any burst release, while PLGA microspheres encountered a burst release in the mid-term of the studied duration. Incorporating MSNs into PLGA microspheres via microfluidics could be an efficient strategy to finely tune drug release behavior.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
WenQin Wang, XinSheng Fang, NengYin Wang, Yong Li, Tong Hao
Summary: This study reports the realization of acoustic double-zero-index metamaterials (DZIM) by coupling two identical Helmholtz resonators with a connecting channel. The system can generate independently tunable dipolar and virtually unchanged monopolar modes, allowing for simultaneous crossing of mass density and bulk modulus reciprocal zeros. Experimental results agree well with numerical calculations, and a broadband cloaking effect is demonstrated in a two-dimensional waveguide.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Xu Hua Cao, Jin Feng Du, Gui Jun Ji, Dennis Chi Zhou, Yiu-Kwok Cheng, Ming Li, Ning Hua Zhu, Wei Li
Summary: We present a simple and novel scheme for reconfigurable frequency mixing using a filter-free photonic microwave in-phase/quadrature modulator. By utilizing proper photodetection configuration, four different frequency mixing functions can be conveniently achieved: single-ended mixing, balanced mixing, I/Q mixing, and image-reject mixing. Our experimental results demonstrate a high mixing spur suppression, frequency tunability, and image rejection ratio for the proposed frequency mixer.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michela Varani, Giuseppe Campagna, Valeria Bentivoglio, Matteo Serafinelli, Maria Luisa Martini, Filippo Galli, Alberto Signore
Summary: The study successfully developed radiolabeled PLGA nanoparticles using microfluidic technique, with 60 nm nanoparticles showing optimal biodistribution and stability in mice, providing potential for targeted tumor studies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Enrica Chiesa, Antonietta Greco, Rossella Dorati, Bice Conti, Giovanna Bruni, Dimitrios Lamprou, Ida Genta
Summary: The study successfully synthesized new multifunctional polymeric nanoparticles for blood pool contrast agents using microfluidic technology. By co-encapsulating iodinated contrast agents and antioxidants into the nanoparticles, the protective effect on human kidney cells was preliminarily assessed, showing promising potential for further applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bhuvana K. Shanbhag, Chang Liu, G. C. Pradeep, Tayyaba Younas, Kevin K. Y. Hu, Alex J. Fulcher, Weston B. Struwe, David Steer, Geoff Dumsday, Ian S. Harper, Philipp Kukura, Victoria S. Haritos, Lizhong He
Summary: The authors have developed a versatile protein assembling method to create customized protein particles for various applications, such as biocatalysis, sensing, and labeling. They have successfully demonstrated the co-assembly of two functional proteins within a single particle. This strategy provides a reliable way to fabricate protein particles with new functionalities on demand.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jason Brenker, Katja Henzler, Camelia N. Borca, Thomas Huthwelker, Tuncay Alan
Summary: This paper presents an X-ray compatible microfluidic platform for in situ characterization of chemical reactions at synchrotron light sources. The new approach with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels sandwiched between ultrathin, X-ray transparent silicon nitride observation windows and rigid substrates demonstrates easy to implement techniques to probe reacting solutions and study their reactions in real-time. This platform has the advantages of being suitable for high energy and tender X-rays, operable in a vacuum environment, and robust enough for continuous scanning with high spatial and time resolution.
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.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zongsheng Zou, Tayyaba Younas, Geoff Dumsday, Victoria S. Haritos, Lizhong He
Summary: RNA aptamers have the ability to specifically and selectively bind to various macromolecules, cell surfaces, and viruses, and find wide applications in biosensors, diagnostics, and therapeutic treatments and drug delivery. This article presents a new E. coli-based approach for rapidly producing multimeric RNA aptamer transcripts in vivo, using a designed double-stranded spacer to protect the transcript ends. The produced multimeric and fluorescent RNA aptamers were stable and easily isolated, and their full functionality was confirmed through binding assays and fluorescence measurements. This approach shows promise for rapid and cost-effective production of RNA aptamers.
BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tayyaba Younas, Chang Liu, Weston B. Struwe, Philipp Kukura, Lizhong He
Summary: Researchers have engineered light-responsive RNA-protein nanowires that exhibit non-covalent light-switching ability. By utilizing the high affinity between RNA and protein, they replaced green fluorescence protein with an optogenetic protein pair system, allowing blue light-controlled photo-switching. These RNA-protein structures can serve as biocompatible frameworks for incorporating versatile elements such as RNA, DNA, and enzymes.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad Mosarof Hossain, Babar Shabbir, Jingying Liu, Zhichen Wan, Sumeet Walia, Qiaoliang Bao, Tuncay Alan, Sudha Mokkapati
Summary: Bisphenol A exposure is associated with increased risk of various diseases. Monitoring BPA exposure is important for human healthcare. A microfluidic device based on MoS2 field-effect transistor has been developed to detect biomolecules at low concentrations. The functionalized MoS2 FET sensors show high sensitivity and can detect BPA concentration as low as 1 pg mL(-1).
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kajal Sharma, Shipra Pandey, Hariharan Sekar, Tuncay Alan, Venkat Gundabala
Summary: In this study, curcumin loaded alginate microfibers were generated using microfluidic technique and their efficacy in combination therapy (blue light + curcumin) against drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was evaluated. The results showed that the curcumin loaded microfibers exhibited good antibacterial activity and effectively eliminated biofilms formed by multidrug resistant S. aureus.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ali-Reza Shokouhi, Yaping Chen, Hao Zhe Yoh, Jason Brenker, Tuncay Alan, Takahide Murayama, Koukou Suu, Yasuhiro Morikawa, Nicolas H. Voelcker, Roey Elnathan
Summary: A non-viral electroactive nanoinjection (ENI) platform is developed to efficiently deliver and express CAR genes in primary human T cells, with high transfection efficiency and minimal cellular perturbation. The ENI-transfected CAR-T cells show effective suppression of lymphoma cell growth, demonstrating the platform's potential for ex vivo cell engineering in CAR-T cell therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nastaran Meftahi, Maciej Adam Surmiak, Sebastian O. Fuerer, Kevin James Rietwyk, Jianfeng Lu, Sonia Ruiz Raga, Caria Evans, Monika Michalska, Hao Deng, David P. McMeekin, Tuncay Alan, Doojin Vak, Anthony S. R. Chesman, Andrew J. Christofferson, David A. Winkler, Udo Bach, Salvy P. Russo
Summary: Organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have the potential to become the next-generation, cost-effective solar panels due to their competitive cost and high efficiency. However, their poor stability is a major drawback. A new subset of PSCs called quasi-two-dimensional Ruddlesden-Popper PSCs (quasi-2D RP PSCs) has shown improved photostability and resilience to environmental conditions. In this study, a combinatorial, machine learning enhanced high-throughput perovskite film fabrication and optimization approach is proposed to accelerate the search for new quasi-2D RP PSCs. By using spin-coating free robotic fabrication processes, perovskite films with different compositions are produced, and their performance data is used to train a machine learning model for materials optimization and design. The ML-optimized quasi-2D RP perovskite films achieved solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of up to 16.9%.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shu Huang, Chuang Feng, Edwin L. H. Mayes, Bicheng Yao, Zijun He, Sajjad Asadi, Tuncay Alan, Jie Yang
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kajal Sharma, Shipra Pandey, Hariharan Sekar, Tuncay Alan, Venkat Gundabala
Summary: In this study, curcumin loaded alginate microfibers were generated using the microfluidic technique. The efficacy of a combined therapy (blue light + curcumin) against drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm was assessed. The results showed that the curcumin loaded alginate microfibers exhibited good eradication activity against drug resistant S. aureus biofilms under blue light irradiation.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Christian K. O. Dzuvor, Bhuvana K. Shanbhag, Tayyaba Younas, Hsin-Hui Shen, Victoria S. Haritos, Lizhong He
Summary: Antimicrobial nanomaterials, such as protein-based nanoparticles, have been developed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, protein-only nanoparticles were engineered to target resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The engineered nanoparticles showed stronger bactericidal ability, enhanced stability, and caused extensive damages to bacterial cell walls, making them a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Amir Pourabed, Thulya Chakkumpulakkal Puthan Veettil, Citsabehsan Devendran, Prasanna Nair, Bayden R. Wood, Tuncay Alan
Summary: Malaria, a life-threatening disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes, requires better diagnostic platforms to improve detection sensitivity and reduce processing times and costs. With the use of an acoustically actuated microfluidic mixer, blood cell lysis can be enhanced, leading to increased efficiency in releasing hemoglobin into plasma. The combination of acoustofluidic/spectroscopic approach shows promise for point-of-care blood diagnosis, especially in detecting neonatal and congenital malaria.
