Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valentin Romanov, Giulia Silvani, Huiyu Zhu, Charles D. Cox, Boris Martinac
Summary: This study demonstrates the high-throughput characterization of adherent cells using acoustic force spectroscopy (AFS), showing that cells' stiffness and viscoelasticity can be influenced by temperature and pharmacological treatments targeting the membrane-cytoskeleton interface. Furthermore, the ability to differentiate between cells based on protein expression levels was shown by rapidly probing over 1000 cells from three different cell lines expressing different levels of the mechanosensitive protein Piezo1 using AFS.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yingwen Chen, Xuanqun Wang, Xing Na, Yingkun Zhang, Zan Li, Xiaohui Chen, Linfeng Cai, Jia Song, Ren Xu, Chaoyong Yang
Summary: Single-cell microRNA (miRNA) sequencing provides comprehensive insights into the abundance and complex networks of miRNAs and their dynamic regulation of cellular events. However, current benchtop-based technologies for single-cell miRNA sequencing have limitations in terms of throughput, efficiency, manual operations, and reagent costs. In this study, a highly multiplexed and automated sample preparation platform called Hiper-seq is introduced, which is based on digital microfluidics (DMF). The platform allows for the construction of miRNA sequencing libraries through digital control of addressable droplets on the DMF chip, enabling selective isolation and parallel processing of multiple single cells. This platform offers higher throughput and efficiency for single-cell miRNA measurement, with a smaller reaction volume and lower reagent cost compared to benchtop methods. Furthermore, it has been successfully applied to explore miRNAs involved in the ossification of mouse skeletal stem cells after bone fracture, leading to the discovery of previously unreported miRNAs that regulate bone repairing.
Article
Biology
Theo Aspert, Didier Hentsch, Gilles Charvin, Ihor Smal
Summary: This article introduces a high-throughput single-cell division tracking method based on a microfluidic image acquisition platform and deep learning software, which can automatically reconstruct cellular replicative lifespans and provide comprehensive temporal cellular metrics for studying cellular adaptation dynamics and real-time cell survival under environmental stress.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zachary P. Harmer, Megan N. McClean
Summary: Lustro is a platform that combines light stimulation with laboratory automation, allowing for efficient high-throughput screening and characterization of optogenetic systems. It automates the movement of microwell plates between devices and enables the stimulation and measurement of optogenetic strains.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jingyu Qi, Haibin Zhu, Yijian Li, Xiangyu Guan, Ying He, Guanhua Ren, Qiang Guo, Longqi Liu, Ying Gu, Xuan Dong, Ya Liu
Summary: Cell-cell interaction is an important way for transmitting information and activating the effects of functional cells. Researchers propose a droplet-based microfluidic platform for cell-cell interaction sequencing and screening, which allows for efficient analysis and interpretation of single-cell transcriptomes in cell interactions. This work fills a gap in the current experimental platform for cell-cell interaction research and has significant practical implications in biomedicine.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Parisa Shiri, Veronica Lai, Tara Zepel, Daniel Griffin, Jonathan Reifman, Sean Clark, Shad Grunert, Lars P. E. Yunker, Sebastian Steiner, Henry Situ, Fan Yang, Paloma L. Prieto, Jason E. Hein
Summary: Solubility screening is essential but labor intensive. By developing a flexible robotic system with computer vision and iterative feedback, researchers can successfully measure solubility in multiple solvents autonomously, saving time and resources.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shahrzad Talebian, Mehdi Javanmard
Summary: The majority of existing automated cell counter instruments are complex, expensive, and bulky, limiting their use to laboratories. Researchers have developed a portable smartphone-based particle counting platform to address the lack of accessible cell counting technology in rural and developing areas. This technology utilizes a smartphone camera and custom-developed algorithm to detect and count particles in sample solutions with high accuracy and wide applicability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
S. Angiolillo, S. Micheli, C. Laterza, O. Gagliano
Summary: The generation of iPSCs via somatic cell reprogramming has provided an unlimited in vitro source of patient-specific cells, which revolutionizes the creation of human in vitro models and the study of diseases. Lab-on-a-chip technology has emerged as a reliable alternative to conventional models, allowing precise control of the cellular microenvironment. The development of automated microfluidic platforms enables cost-effective high-throughput assays, but challenges remain in terms of device production robustness and ease of use.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Yi Zhang, Nurhidayah Binte Mohamed Yazid, Pei-Yun Ho, Xuyang Hu, Songlin Chen, Shawn Vasoo, Pojchanun Kanitthamniyom
Summary: This study presents an automated magnetic digital microfluidics-based platform, called DropCarba, for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli (CPGNB). The platform simplifies the testing process, improves consistency, and has comparable results to the standard Carba NP test. It provides a valuable contribution to combating antibiotic resistance.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yingying Wang, Zhen Zhu, Ke Liu, Qin Xiao, Yangye Geng, Feng Xu, Shuiping Ouyang, Ke Zheng, Yimin Fan, Nan Jin, Xiangwei Zhao, Mario A. Marchisio, Dejing Pan, Qing-An Huang
Summary: In this study, a high-throughput microfluidic chip for diploid yeast long-term culturing, optical inspection, and cell-aging analysis was developed. The chip features delicate microstructures to ensure cell stability and alleviate stress. Using this chip, the researchers were able to track the replicative lifespan and budding time interval of diploid yeast cells and observe cell desynchronization during aging.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marie-Ming Aynaud, J. Javier Hernandez, Seda Barutcu, Ulrich Braunschweig, Kin Chan, Joel D. Pearson, Daniel Trcka, Suzanna L. Prosser, Jaeyoun Kim, Miriam Barrios-Rodiles, Mark Jen, Siyuan Song, Jess Shen, Christine Bruce, Bryn Hazlett, Susan Poutanen, Liliana Attisano, Rod Bremner, Benjamin J. Blencowe, Tony Mazzulli, Hong Han, Laurence Pelletier, Jeffrey L. Wrana
Summary: The study introduces a platform called C19-SPAR-Seq, which can analyze tens of thousands of patient samples for SARS-CoV-2 in a single run, with high specificity and sensitivity demonstrated through experimental trials in clinical diagnostics.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Optics
Ning Zhou, Jiaji Li, Runnan Zhang, Zhidong Bai, Shun Zhou, Qian Chen, Chao Zuo
Summary: This study presents a 3D label-free refractive index imaging technique based on single-exposure intensity diffraction tomography (sIDT) using a color-multiplexed illumination scheme. By capturing the scattering field from different directions and separating monochromatic intensity images, the 3D refractive index distribution of the object can be reconstructed. The method demonstrates reliable performance in label-free, high-throughput, and real-time 3D volumetric biological imaging applications.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zheng Ao, Sunghwa Song, Chunhui Tian, Hongwei Cai, Xiang Li, Yifei Miao, Zhuhao Wu, Jonathan Krzesniak, Bo Ning, Mingxia Gu, Luke P. Lee, Feng Guo
Summary: Aging of the immune system influences brain aging and the development of age-related diseases. This study presents the development of a human brain organoid microphysiological analysis platform to investigate immune-driven brain aging. The platform incorporates 3D printing and dynamic rocking flow to model neuroimmune interaction and demonstrates that aged monocytes may drive brain aging. The researchers believe that this platform holds promise for studying aging, neural immunological diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yingqing Lu, Jia Wang, R. Michael van Dam, Alexander Hsiao
Summary: Recent advancements in droplet-based radiochemistry platforms have allowed for reactions in small volumes, offering numerous advantages. However, evaporation and loss of activity can occur in open droplet formats. To overcome this limitation, a pipette-based radiosynthesizer platform was developed, enabling reactions in a sealed well. This platform utilizes a pipettor and specialized attachments to perform all synthesis operations, including fluoride trapping and release, liquid transfers, and heating. As a proof-of-concept, the synthesis of [F-18]Fallypide on the platform resulted in high yields, purity, and molar activity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
S. Vickovic, B. Lotstedt, J. Klughammer, S. Mages, A. Segerstolpe, O. Rozenblatt-Rosen, A. Regev
Summary: The spatial organization of cells and molecules is crucial for tissue function and disease. Spatial transcriptomics, a technique for capturing and locating RNA in tissues, has been advanced with the development of a fully automated platform called Spatial Multi-Omics (SM-Omics). SM-Omics combines spatial transcriptomics and antibody-based protein measurement, allowing high-throughput analysis of multiple omics in a short time.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
