Article
Physics, Applied
Yunkai Wang, Yan Lu, Yongqiang Sun, Taiji Dong, Yekun Zhou, Dong Li, Lun Yan, Jiayao Sun, Chun Lei Jiang
Summary: Bridging optical tweezers and microfluidics can create a multifunctional platform for noninvasive manipulation. This study introduces a compact single fiber optical tweezer-micropipette system that can classify particles based on shape and refractive index. By combining two different-diameter micropipettes, compact microfluidic channels are formed with an internal diameter less than 30 μm. The method shows high selectivity, accuracy, low optical power consumption, and a compact structure, making it useful for applications in optical separation, cell transportation, cell sorting, and single-cell analysis.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Heera Jayan, Hongbin Pu, Da-Wen Sun
Summary: Single-cell analysis reveals the functional and structural variations of each cell, eliminating the need for traditional microbial cultivation techniques. Raman spectroscopy as a label-free, noninvasive method is ideal for spatially resolved chemical measurements at the single-cell level, offering important insights for microbial studies.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Martina Bonsignore, Sebastiano Trusso, Claudia De Pasquale, Guido Ferlazzo, Alessandro Allegra, Vanessa Innao, Caterina Musolino, Domenico Franco, Laura Maria De Plano, Salvatore Pietro Paolo Guglielmino, Fortunato Neri, Enza Fazio
Summary: In this study, micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to explore the spectral differences between different subsets of multiple myeloma plasma cells. The differences were analyzed through principal component analysis, revealing changes in protein and lipid contributions. This technology can be proposed as a diagnostic tool for rapid cell identification and assessment of intracellular biochemical changes in cancer cells.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ahmed El-Refaey, Daichi Kozawa, Tomoshi Kameda, Yuichiro K. Kato, Yoshihiro Ito, Masuki Kawamoto
Summary: This paper reports a method for sorting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) according to their diameter through noncovalent functionalization. By using pi-molecular tweezers as a structure-selective dispersant, (9,4) and (7,6) SWCNTs with diameters of approximately 0.9 nm can be isolated with a sorting ratio of 90%. The high diameter selectivity is attributed to the molecular wrapping of the pi-molecular tweezers around the SWCNT sidewalls via pi-pi and hydrophobic interactions. These findings are promising for the development of a suitable SWCNT sorting methodology and understanding the molecular-level sorting mechanism.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Optics
Siyi Qiu, Haihua Fan, Lin He
Summary: Microwave radiation has been found to have effects on dry spores at the molecular level, as well as on their germination, growth, and morphology. The microwave treatment leads to an increase in Ca2+-dipicolinic acid content and denaturation of nucleic acid in spores. Additionally, it inhibits the germination and growth rates of spores, causing them to become wrinkled and rougher.
JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE OPTICAL HEALTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. Spence, R. Brooks, D. K. Ruttley, A. Guttridge, Simon L. Cornish
Summary: The authors report simultaneous Raman sideband cooling of a single Rb-87 atom and a single Cs-133 atom held in separate optical tweezers. They demonstrate cooling of single Rb atoms in an array of four tweezers and prepare the atoms in the relative motional ground state with high efficiency. This work is a crucial step towards the formation of single RbCs molecules confined in optical tweezer arrays.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
News Item
Optics
Xiaohe Zhang, Bing Gu, Cheng-Wei Qiu
Summary: Researchers have proposed a new method that can measure the weak force of a single microscopic particle.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Katarina Rebrosova, Ota Samek, Martin Kizovsky, Silvie Bernatova, Veronika Hola, Filip Ruzicka
Summary: Rapid and accurate identification of pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance is a significant challenge in medicine. Raman spectroscopy has proven to be a quick, non-invasive, and non-destructive tool for identifying microbes and detecting antimicrobial resistance. Recent studies also suggest that combining Raman spectroscopy with optical tweezers has the potential to directly identify microbes from human body fluids.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Albert C. Aragones, Katrin F. Domke
Summary: The study introduces a plasmon-supported break-junction (PBJ) platform to significantly increase the lifetime of 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT) molecular junctions without the need for chemical modification. Experimental results show that this platform can enhance the survival period of single molecule structures and pave the way for advancements in molecular electronics.
CELL REPORTS PHYSICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Jin-Kyung Hong, Soo Bin Kim, Eun Sun Lyou, Tae Kwon Lee
Summary: Raman spectroscopy is a promising tool for identifying microbial phenotypes based on single cell Raman spectra reflecting cellular biochemical biomolecules. This nondestructive technique has the potential to greatly contribute in enhancing our understanding of microbial functions in natural and engineered systems.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Shuzhang Liang, Yuqing Cao, Yuguo Dai, Fenghui Wang, Xue Bai, Bin Song, Chaonan Zhang, Chunyuan Gan, Fumihito Arai, Lin Feng
Summary: A simple versatile optoelectronic tweezer (OET) system for manipulating microparticles with different sizes has been proposed. The system can manipulate particles ranging from 2 μm to 150 μm in diameter, and perform various functions such as sorting, rotation, and assembly without generating excessive heat that could damage bioparticles. The non-contact manipulation reduces operating process and contamination, showing potential for controlling non-contaminated cell interaction and micro-nano manipulation in the future.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ruben van den Eeckhoudt, An-Sofie Christiaens, Frederik Ceyssens, Vasileios Vangalis, Kevin J. Verstrepen, Nico Boon, Filip Tavernier, Michael Kraft, Irene Taurino
Summary: This paper presents a microfluidic device that combines a method for capturing, analyzing, and selectively releasing single cells with full-electricity. The device validates a new Two-Voltage method for capturing single cells by positive dielectrophoresis (pDEP) and utilizes broadband electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for cell analysis. The device also allows for selective release of trapped cells by turning off the pDEP signal in their trap.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Meng Li, Hang Su, Guangjie Zheng, Uwe Kuhn, Najin Kim, Guo Li, Nan Ma, Ulrich Poeschl, Yafang Cheng
Summary: Accurate determination of acidity and ion activities in aqueous droplets is a challenge for understanding atmospheric multiphase chemistry. A ratiometric Raman spectroscopy method was developed to measure the concentration of sulfate and bisulfate ions in microdroplets. The experimental results were compared with model calculations and the Extended Aerosol Inorganics Model showed good agreement, while the alternative model had substantial deviations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ruben Van den Eeckhoudt, An-Sofie Christiaens, Frederik Ceyssens, Vasileios Vangalis, Kevin J. Verstrepen, Nico Boon, Filip Tavernier, Michael Kraft, Irene Taurino
Summary: This paper introduces a microfluidic device for full-electric cell capturing, analyzing, and selectively releasing single cells. The device was experimentally demonstrated on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, showing potential for small-scale, high-throughput single-cell analysis and sorting.
Article
Biophysics
Liang Shen, Zhenhua Tian, Jinxin Zhang, Haodong Zhu, Kaichun Yang, Teng Li, Joseph Rich, Neil Upreti, Nanjing Hao, Zhichao Pei, Geonsoo Jin, Shujie Yang, Yaosi Liang, Wang Chaohui, Tony Jun Huang
Summary: This study presents acousto-dielectric tweezers that utilize surface acoustic waves and alternating current electric fields to apply controllable acoustophoretic and dielectrophoretic forces on cells, enabling the trapping and differentiation of cells based on their intrinsic biophysical properties. Experimental results demonstrate the potential applications of the mechanism in single-cell analysis, size-insensitive cell separation, and cell phenotyping.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiabao Xu, Xiaofei Yi, Guilan Jin, Di Peng, Gaoya Fan, Xiaogang Xu, Xin Chen, Huabing Yin, Jonathan M. Cooper, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Accurate and rapid identification of infectious bacteria is crucial in medicine. Raman microspectroscopy shows potential in label-free identification at the single-cell level. In this study, machine learning methods and data processing techniques were used to achieve high-accuracy bacterial identification, opening up new possibilities for high-speed Raman microspectroscopic clinical diagnostics.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peng Liang, Bo Liu, Yun Wang, Kunxiang Liu, Yinping Zhao, Wei E. Huang, Bei Li
Summary: We developed a laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technology to accurately isolate single live microbial cells. The cultivation recovery rates of the ejected single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 22% for E. coli DH5 alpha, and 74% for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). With coupled LIFT with a fluorescence microscope, we demonstrated that single cells of GFP-expressing E. coli JM109 were sorted according to fluorescence signal from a complex community of soil bacteria and subsequently cultured with 25% cultivation recovery rate. This single-cell live sorting technology could isolate single microbes with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Lihao Zhang, Chengjian Li, Di Peng, Xiaofei Yi, Shuai He, Fengxiang Liu, Xiangtai Zheng, Wei E. Huang, Liang Zhao, Xia Huang
Summary: Breast cancer subtype classification is crucial and can be accurately and rapidly done using Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning techniques. The study demonstrates that Raman spectral features can serve as cancer cell biomarkers, and the combination of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning can reveal differences among subtypes.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Weiming Tu, Wei E. Huang
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jingkai Wang, Siyu Meng, Kaicheng Lin, Xiaofei Yi, Yixiang Sun, Xiaogang Xu, Na He, Zhiqiang Zhang, Huijie Hu, Xingwang Qie, Dayi Zhang, Yuguo Tang, Wei E. Huang, Jian He, Yizhi Song
Summary: A novel culture-independent phenotyping method based on single-cell Raman spectroscopy was proposed for rapid discrimination between fungal and bacterial infections. Three Raman biomarkers were identified for distinguishing yeast and bacterial pathogens. A two-step protocol combining these biomarkers achieved an overall accuracy of 94.9% in differentiating fungal infections from bacterial infections. The method was able to identify fungi in urinary tract infection samples within half an hour and has the potential to be adopted in routine clinical practice.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Xia Huang, Chengjian Li, Lei Li, Zhiliang Lu, Lihao Zhang, Wei E. Huang, Liang Zhao
Summary: The Raman Deuterium Isotope Probing (Raman-DIP) method was used to study the effects of the GSK2334470 drug on human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7 cells) in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the drug was evaluated using the Raman-DIP method and CCK-8 assay, and both methods determined that a concentration of 10 μM was cytotoxic and inhibited cell regeneration. The Raman-DIP method accurately monitored the inhibition of cell proliferation by GSK2334470, and combining the results with fingerprint range information improved the evaluation of the drug's sensitivity.
JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Tong Yu, Archana Chandrabhan Jadhav, Jiabao B. Xu, Adrian L. L. Harris, Venugopal Nair, Wei E. E. Huang
Summary: Understanding the development of cancer resistance to therapies is crucial. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a promising oncolytic agent, but some colon cancer cells show resistance to NDV reinfection. By using Raman spectroscopic and stable isotopic techniques, we found that the resistant cells slow down their replication and divert energy to protein and lipid synthesis. Understanding metabolic reprogramming could aid in developing precision cancer treatments that target resistant cells at the single-cell level.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jochem R. Nielsen, Ruud A. Weusthuis, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Enzymes in commercial bioproduction require high efficiency, robustness, and specificity. Enzyme engineering techniques like random mutagenesis and directed evolution are often used to achieve these properties. Growth-coupling selection strategies can be used to select enzyme variants based on improved cofactor oxidation or reduction rates. This review summarizes the metabolic engineering involved in creating strains auxotrophic for the oxidized or reduced state of redox cofactors and highlights the successful applications of this technique in enzyme engineering.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jiabao Xu, Yanjun Luo, Jingkai Wang, Weiming Tu, Xiaofei Yi, Xiaogang Xu, Yizhi Song, Yuguo Tang, Xiaoting Hua, Yunsong Yu, Huabing Yin, Qiwen Yang, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Integrating AI and new diagnostic platforms in clinical microbiology laboratories can improve efficiency by reducing turnaround time and cost. Using single-cell Raman spectroscopy and AI, rapid identification of infectious fungi with high accuracy was achieved.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adam Milsom, Adam M. Squires, Andrew D. Ward, Christian Pfrang
Summary: Aerosols are present everywhere in the atmosphere and have various effects on climate, air pollution, and human health. Understanding the formation and interaction of indoor aerosols with outdoor aerosols is crucial. Surfactants play an important role in aerosol emissions and can affect cloud droplet formation, indoor air pollution, and surface film-pollutant interactions.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stephanie H. Jones, Martin D. King, Adrian R. Rennie, Andrew D. Ward, Richard A. Campbell, Arwel V. Hughes
Summary: Neutron reflectometry was used to study the oxidation of a lipid monolayer by aqueous-phase radicals. The results showed that the oxidation led to a decrease in material at the air-solution interface, which can impact Earth's radiative balance and climate change.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Teng, Wei E. Huang, Guanghe Li, Xinzi Wang, Yizhi Song, Xiaoyi Tang, Dunzhu Dawa, Bo Jiang, Dayi Zhang
Summary: In this study, an assembly technology for manufacturing Acinetobacter-based biosensor arrays using magnetic nanoparticle functionalization was developed to solve the low throughput and complicated operation problems. The biosensor array showed high viability, sensitivity, and specificity in sensing multiple contaminants in a high-throughput manner, and remained acceptable for at least 20 days. Positive correlations were found between the biosensor estimation and chemical analysis, indicating the feasibility of this magnetic nanoparticle-functionalized biosensor array for online environmental monitoring at contaminated sites.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Menghan Wu, Xinning Liu, Weiming Tu, Juntao Xia, Yina Zou, Xiaoqiang Gong, Peng Yu, Wei E. Huang, Hui Wang
Summary: In this study, a new perspective on the rationality of oriented propionate production using mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) with lactate as feedstock was proposed. The feasibility of the food waste-lactate-propionate route to reverse the original butyrate-type fermentation situation and mechanisms for maintaining stability were verified.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Connor R. R. Barker, Megan L. L. Poole, Matthew Wilkinson, James Morison, Alan Wilson, Gina Little, Edward J. J. Stuckey, Rebecca J. L. Welbourn, Andrew D. D. Ward, Martin D. D. King
Summary: This study measured the refractive index of atmospheric aerosols and discovered variations in different environmental samples. It also demonstrated the importance of organic films on mineral aerosols in relation to radiative forcing and refractive index variations.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ATMOSPHERES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
David T. T. Hinds, Samir A. A. Belhout, Paula E. E. Colavita, Andrew D. D. Ward, Susan J. J. Quinn
Summary: In this work, high loading of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were assembled on porous carbon microspheres (C mu P) to prepare surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active materials. The specific surface functionalization of C mu Ps using carboxylic acid and thiol groups allowed for the immobilization of AuNPs. By treating the surface-immobilized gold nanoparticles with hydroquinone, a roughened gold surface with significantly increased Au loading was prepared. Various characterization techniques were used to analyze the materials, and the SERS capacity of individual particles to detect malachite green was investigated. A pinning approach was employed to overcome the challenges in trapping these materials. The porous carbon particles showed great potential as versatile scaffolds for SERS applications.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)