Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This review article discusses the evolution of insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) and insulator-based electrokinetic (iEK) systems, highlighting recent studies that suggest particle trapping in these systems is mainly due to a balance between electroosmotic and electrophoretic effects under DC and low-frequency AC potentials, rather than dielectrophoresis. The proposed renaming of the field from DC-iDEP to DC-iEK reflects the shift in understanding particle manipulation and separation mechanisms in these systems.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biophysics
Vahid Kordzadeh-Kermani, Masoud Madadelahi, Seyed Nezameddin Ashrafizadeh, Lawrence Kulinsky, Sergio O. Martinez-Chapa, Marc J. Madou
Summary: This review introduces the on-board power supply and electrokinetic applications of electrified-LOD (eLOD) devices. By utilizing electrokinetic phenomena, different microfluids can be propelled, separated, and manipulated. While extensive research exists on stationary platforms, the applications on rotating platforms are still underdeveloped.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qiang Zhao, Yunjiao Wang, Bangyong Sun, Deqiang Wang, Gang Li
Summary: This research presents a dielectrophoretic manipulation technique based on nanogap electrodes, which allows for the capture, enrichment, and sorting of nanometer-sized objects in liquids. The technique shows potential applications in micro/nanofluidics and provides an alternative method for the non-invasive manipulation and characterization of nanoparticles such as DNA, proteins, and viruses.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Kel S. Hakim, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: Nonlinear electrokinetics technologies, such as DEP particle trapping and EROT for particle assessments, have been widely applied in the analysis, sensing, and purification of microorganisms. Recent research has made significant advancements in these technologies, showcasing the potential future developments within the field of microscale EK.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Monika U. Weber, Janusz J. Petkowski, Robert E. Weber, Bartosz Krajnik, Slawomir Stemplewski, Marta Panek, Tomasz Dziubak, Paulina Mrozinska, Anna Piela, Emil Paluch
Summary: We experimentally validated the theoretical design constraints of the ring electrode architecture and compared its performance with the dot electrode structure. The ring structure achieved 99% efficiency in bacterial capture and showed a significantly faster response to the electric field. We also identified critical design constraints for high efficiency bacterial capture.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sandra Stanke, Christian Wenger, Frank F. Bier, Ralph Hoelzel
Summary: This paper presents a simple and fast method using alternating current electrokinetic forces to immobilize sub-micrometer objects onto nanoelectrode arrays. The influenza virus is chosen as a model organism due to its medical relevance. One of the outstanding features is the ability to permanently immobilize viral material to the electrodes, eliminating the need for prior chemical surface modification. The accumulation of viral material over time is observed using fluorescence microscopy, and the influences of side effects like electrothermal fluid flow are discussed. By combining fluorescence microscopy with deconvolution, it is shown that the viral material is mainly attracted to the electrode edge.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jose Eladio Flores-Mena, Pablo Garcia-Sanchez, Antonio Ramos
Summary: In this study, we investigate the scattering of metal colloids by an insulating circular post under the influence of an alternating current (AC) electric field. We analyze the effects of electrical forces such as induced dipole-repulsion, induced-charge electroosmotic (ICEO) flow, and dielectrophoresis on the particles. The relative influence of these forces is examined in relation to the frequency of the AC field, particle size, and distance to the post. Numerical simulations are performed to model the scattering of metal colloids in a microchannel with an insulating circular post under alternating current electric fields. The simulation results show that the maximum particle deviation occurs when the applied electric field is parallel to the flow direction, and this deviation is more significant at low electric field frequencies where the ICEO interaction dominates over other mechanisms.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shreyank Goel, Dipin S. Pillai
Summary: This paper investigates the electrowetting behavior of a charge-carrying droplet and develops a reduced-order electrokinetic model. The dependence of droplet deformation and wetting alteration on electric field parameters is studied numerically. The research findings are important for applications such as biomedical diagnostics.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hawa Ringkai, Khairul Fikri Tamrin, Nadeem Ahmed Sheikh, Shahrol Mohamaddan
Summary: This study investigates the behaviors of water-in-oil droplets in an offset T-junction microchannel with different radii using micro-PIV software. The results show that increasing the radius of the microchannel leads to an increase in cross-sectional area and a decrease in the velocity of the water phase, with experimental velocities of the water droplets closely matching theoretical values.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Joseph Bentor, Mahmud Kamal Raihan, Colin McNeely, Zhijian Liu, Yongxin Song, Xiangchun Xuan
Summary: This study investigates the effects of fluid rheology on streaming DEP in a post-array microchannel with multiple contractions and expansions. Comparable iDEP focusing and trapping of particles were observed in viscoelastic polyethylene oxide and Newtonian buffer solutions, while weaker effects were found in viscoelastic and shear-thinning polyacrylamide solutions. Instabilities in electroosmotic flow were only dependent on the DC electric field, possibly due to the dynamics of polymers being advected around and through the posts.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Stanley D. Kushigbor, Zili Tang, Yang Bu, Levent Yobas
Summary: This study presents electrokinetic manipulation of submicron particles in a device with microfabricated Si electrodes, and emphasizes the functional use of electrode sidewall contours for continuous-flow manipulation of particles.
MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Kuan-Hung Chen, Shih-Han Lee, Li-Ching Kok, Tseren-Onolt Ishdorj, Hwan-You Chang, Fan-Gang Tseng
Summary: The study introduces a novel multi-functional microfluidic system, 3D-ACEK/SERS, which can rapidly concentrate bacteria from whole blood, identify bacterial species, and determine antibiotic susceptibilities. This system utilizes a hybrid electrokinetic mechanism to achieve high concentration efficiency and quick detection, with potential clinical applications.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Brian Gidudu, Evans M. N. Chirwa
Summary: The study revealed that the electrokinetic system can efficiently extract and recover biosurfactants, with the best results achieved under a voltage of 30V. Biosurfactants extracted using the electrokinetic system had fewer impurities compared to those recovered by acid precipitation.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hanieh Hadady, Fereshteh Karamali, Fatemeh Ejeian, Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard, Laleh Rafiee, Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani
Summary: Extracellular vesicles are nanoscale vesicles involved in cellular communication and biomarker transportation. Utilizing alternating current electrokinetic forces in a microfluidic device for manipulating EVs has shown to be a reliable technique for diagnosis and trapping, but the impacts of different forces on EVs should be considered.
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Zili Tang, Stanley D. Kushigbor, Levent Yobas
Summary: This device demonstrates continuous-flow electrokinetic enrichment/separation of nanoparticles, using dielectrophoresis and electrothermal flow in high-conductive media, and AC electroosmosis in low-conductive media. It achieves a high efficiency of around 100% for enrichment of 500 nm and 1 μm polystyrene spheres in media with conductivities of 0.2 and 0.01 S/m. Size-based separation is also efficiently demonstrated in deionized water using a modified design.
2021 34TH IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MICRO ELECTRO MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (MEMS 2021)
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mirna Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Guillermo Pico, Alvaro Silva Lima, Cassamo Ussemane Mussagy, Jorge Fernando Brandao Pereira, Hector Marcelo Fernandez-Lahore, Juan A. Asenjo, Marco Rito-Palomares
Summary: Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are a simple and robust bioprocessing technology with high efficiency for concentration, enrichment, recovery, and purification of biological molecules. Four relevant countries in Latin America have played important roles in the practical evolution of ATPS. Novel applications of ATPS are being explored for visionary therapeutic tasks in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sectors, and environmental purposes.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mirna Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Marco Rito-Palomares
Summary: Bioseparation is a crucial process in obtaining biological products, with researchers focusing on optimizing upstream and downstream processes leading to a technological revolution. This perspective article summarises recent advances, challenges, and future trends in bioseparation, and proposes a classification of different technologies.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alaleh Vaghef-Koodehi, Curran Dillis, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This study reports a charge-based microparticle separation technique that can achieve separation even with a small difference in particle zeta potentials of only 3.6 mV (less than 10% of the difference in previous studies). By building an accurate COMSOL Multiphysics model and experimental verification, the feasibility and reproducibility of highly similar microparticle separation were demonstrated.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Margarita Ortiz-Martinez, Mirna Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Alexandro J. Martagon, Victoria Hlavinka, Richard C. Willson, Marco Rito-Palomares
Summary: Diabetes mellitus is a complex chronic illness characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, with poor control leading to various complications. Type 2 diabetes represents the most common form and its incidence is increasing globally, particularly among children and young adults due to lifestyle factors. Early detection through cost-effective screening strategies and development of new biomarkers is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications.
CURRENT DIABETES REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alonso Ornelas-Gonzalez, Mirna Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Marco Rito-Palomares
Summary: The study demonstrates the flexibility of an enzyme-based colorimetric system for the accurate quantification of various clinically relevant biomolecules. The optimized system shows excellent linearity, precision, and sensitivity, with low variability and high recovery rates. This multi-enzyme platform has great potential for quantifying different substrates in non-conventional biofluids.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas, Yan Victoria Zhang
Summary: The use of microfluidic devices in biomedical and clinical assessments has great potential. This review article discusses the applications of these devices in three main fields and provides an overview of the novel systems and microdevices developed in the last 5 years.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alaleh Vaghef-Koodehi, Olivia D. Ernst, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This paper presents the first continuous separation of microparticles and cells with similar characteristics using linear and nonlinear electrokinetic phenomena in an insulator-based electrokinetic (iEK) system. By combining mathematical modeling and experimentation, four distinct binary mixtures of particles and cells were successfully separated. The results demonstrate good reproducibility and illustrate the potential of the iEK system for efficient separation.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Juan Enrique Perez-Cortez, Victor Hugo Sanchez-Rodriguez, Salvador Gallegos-Martinez, Cristina Chuck-Hernandez, Ciro A. Rodriguez, Mario Moises Alvarez, Grissel Trujillo-de Santiago, Elisa Vazquez-Lepe, J. Israel Martinez-Lopez
Summary: Currently, light-based bioprinter manufacturing technology is expensive and not widely adopted due to the high cost of bioinks and lack of information regarding parameter selection. This paper presents a retrofitting and assessment of a low-cost light-based 3D printing system for tissue engineering. The study includes a manufacturability test and a successful case study using previously seeded hydrogel with live cells. The results show promising viability, elongation, and alignment of the 3D bioprinted structures, demonstrating the potential of low-cost equipment for creating high-resolution structures and in vitro models.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Olivia D. Ernst, Alaleh Vaghef-Koodehi, Curran Dillis, Adrian Lomeli-Martin, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This study experimentally assessed the relationship between the nonlinear electrophoretic migration of colloidal polystyrene microparticles and their size and electrical charge. The results showed that both particle size and charge had similar effects on the nonlinear electrophoretic velocity, with an increase in size or decrease in charge leading to an increase in velocity. However, the trends were not perfect. These findings provide valuable information for the design of future separations based on size and charge.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Nuzhet Nihaar Nasir Ahamed, Carlos A. Mendiola-Escobedo, Olivia D. Ernst, Victor H. Perez-Gonzalez, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This study demonstrates that electrokinetic phenomena can be used to develop rapid and reliable methods for microparticle and cell assessments in a cost-effective and label-free manner. By using direct current (DC)-biased low-frequency alternating current (AC) voltages in an insulator-based electrokinetic (iEK) system, microparticles with a small difference in zeta potentials can be effectively separated.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Adrian Lomeli-Martin, Olivia D. Ernst, Braulio Cardenas-Benitez, Richard Cobos, Aditya S. Khai, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: Recent findings suggest that in insulator-based electrokinetics under direct current fields, dielectrophoresis is not the main mechanism responsible for particle manipulation. Instead, the combined effects of electroosmosis, linear and nonlinear electrophoresis play a more significant role. A new methodology has been developed to estimate the nonlinear electrophoretic mobility of colloidal particles, but it is limited to particles with specific properties. This study aims to expand on this methodology and investigate the properties of particles with different characteristics, as well as identify current limitations in experimental determination of nonlinear electrophoresis.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Adrian Lomeli-Martin, Nuzhet Ahamed, Vinay V. V. Abhyankar, Blanca H. H. Lapizco-Encinas
Summary: This review provides an overview of the progress in electropatterning research during the last 5 years in the microfluidics arena. It discusses the advances in electropatterning of colloids, droplets, synthetic particles, cells, and gels using electrokinetic 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.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Finja Krebs, Holger Zagst, Matthias Stein, Ratih Ratih, Robert Minkner, Mais Olabi, Sophie Hartung, Christin Scheller, Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas, Cari Sanger-van de Griend, Carlos D. Garcia, Hermann Waetzig
Summary: This article supports the development of selective, precise, fast, and validated capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods. It follows a similar article from 1998 and highlights the continuing relevance of its fundamentals while showcasing the significant achievements made in the last 25 years. With a focus on pharmaceutical and biological applications, the successful use of CE is demonstrated through over 600 carefully selected references, providing a comprehensive overview of the field. The article also includes sections on sample pretreatment, microchip CE, and a revised section on method development for protein analytes and biomolecules.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Blanca H. Lapizco-Encinas, Y. Victoria Zhang, Putuma P. Gqamana, Jana Lavicka, Frantisek Foret
Summary: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation technique that offers high resolution, great sensitivity, and short processing times. When combined with mass spectrometry (MS), CE-MS systems provide accurate characterization of ionized species and significantly enhance the capabilities of MS. This review article introduces the analytical potential of CE-MS systems and discusses recent advances and future developments.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kendra Corral-Najera, Gaurav Chauhan, Sergio O. Serna-Saldivar, Sergio O. Martinez-Chapa, Mohammad Mahdi Aeinehvand
Summary: This article discusses the importance and roles of membranes in organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms, including providing support, allowing permeation/exchange of nutrients and relevant molecules through membrane pores, and enabling the delivery of mechanical or chemical stimuli. OOC platforms allow for in vitro study of physiological processes, while membranes in OOCs broaden knowledge of how mechanical and chemical cues affect cells and organs. OOCs with membranes are used as in vitro microfluidic models to replace animal testing for various applications such as drug discovery and disease modeling.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2023)