Editorial Material
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Jan Fritz, Val M. Runge
Summary: This article introduces important innovations and cutting-edge topics in musculoskeletal radiology, including the application of artificial intelligence and deep learning in MRI, the molecular specificity and improved spatial resolution of CT, and other related technologies and methods.
INVESTIGATIVE RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Hanjin Seo, Leekang Jeon, Jaeyeong Kwon, Hyomin Lee
Summary: The recent advance in RNA-based therapeutics using lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for efficient delivery of nucleic acids has led to effective treatment of various diseases. This review summarizes the progress made in LNP research, including the constituent components, formulations, and diverse applications. The use of microfluidic methodologies for precise assembly of LNP with controllable composition and size, high encapsulation efficiency, and scalable production is highlighted. Current challenges and emerging approaches to overcome these challenges are also discussed.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Fortis Gaba, William J. Tipping, Mark Salji, Karen Faulds, Duncan Graham, Hing Y. Leung
Summary: Raman spectroscopic analysis is a promising optical tool for detecting molecular composition in prostate cancer. It is non-destructive, non-invasive, and allows for real-time evaluation of treatment efficacy. Raman techniques can be applied in biopsy analysis, assessment of surgical margins, and treatment monitoring.
Review
Physiology
Adip G. Bhargav, Joseph S. Domino, Anthony M. Alvarado, Chad A. Tuchek, David Akhavan, Paul J. Camarata
Summary: Gliomas, the most common primary brain tumors in adults, have a poor prognosis. Current standard treatment involves surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although efforts to find effective therapies have been made, curative treatments remain elusive. Recent advances in computational techniques and translational paradigms have allowed for real-time, patient-specific diagnostics, characterization of glioma-brain network dynamics, and modeling of disease processes. These methodologies have the potential to guide treatment selection, surgical planning, and investigation into mechanisms of therapy resistance.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Liang Chen, Alireza Ghiasvand, Brett Paull
Summary: Affordable and accessible diagnostic tools in resource-limited settings are urgently needed to improve global public health. Paper-and thread-based microfluidics have gained significant attention in developing diagnostic devices due to their low-cost, accessibility, simplicity, and portability. This review focuses on fluid transport mechanisms, detection techniques, and applications in microfluidic thread-based analytical devices (mu TADs), discussing challenges and perspectives for further advances and improvements.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yangzhi Zhu, Shaopei Li, Jinghang Li, Natashya Falcone, Qingyu Cui, Shilp Shah, Martin C. Hartel, Ning Yu, Patric Young, Natan Roberto Barros, Zhuohong Wu, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Menekse Ermis, Canran Wang, Heemin Kang, Junmin Lee, Solmaz Karamikamkar, Samad Ahadian, Vadim Jucaud, Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Han-Jun Kim, Ali Khademhosseini
Summary: Smart contact lenses (SCLs) are wearable intelligent ocular prosthetic devices capable of monitoring various physiological parameters and delivering drugs for the treatment of ocular diseases. This comprehensive review discusses the current status, potential, and future opportunities of SCL development, covering fabrication, applications, and commercialization.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qingfu Zhu, Yijiang Huang, Qinsi Yang, Fei Liu
Summary: EVs serve as important cell-to-cell communication mediators for biomarker discovery, diagnostics and therapeutics; Metabolomics is crucial for studying cell phenotypes and disease mechanisms, with particular significance in EV metabolome research; Current focus lies in enhancing EV sample purity and developing new technologies for EV metabolomics research.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Respiratory System
Simon Dominik Herkenrath, Michael Dreher, Daniela Gompelmann, Matthias Held, Andreas Rembert Koczulla, Thomas Koehnlein, Gernot Rohde, Julia Waelscher, Henrik Watz, Winfried Johannes Randerath
Summary: Experts at the 2020 Luftschlosser conference discussed technical innovations in pneumology, spanning from e-health to treatments. Artificial intelligence plays a role in broader screening, but there are still unanswered questions, especially regarding the quality and utility of medical apps.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Shuo Yin, Aipeng Chen, Yue Ding, Jia Song, Rui Chen, Peng Zhang, Chaoyong Yang
Summary: Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles, play essential roles in various physiological and pathological processes by selectively enclosing various RNAs and mediating intercellular communications. Accurate analysis of exosomal RNAs is crucial for both research and clinical applications. This review provides an overview of exosomal RNAs and discusses the advances in detection techniques and their applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy, highlighting their potential as non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic tools. The challenges and future prospects in exosomal RNA analysis for diagnostic and therapeutic applications are also discussed.
TRAC-TRENDS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Xian Zhao, Youxiu Zhong, Xudong Wang, Jiuheng Shen, Wenlin An
Summary: In this review, we summarized the characteristics, mechanisms, and biogenesis of circular RNA (circRNA), as well as its regulatory role in disease onset and progression. CircRNA can function mainly as miRNA sponges to regulate gene expression and protein transportation. It has great application prospects but also significant challenges.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
B. M. Tiemeijer, J. Tel
Summary: Single-cell techniques, especially microfluidics and microgel technology, are playing an increasingly important role in cell biological research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of how different types of hydrogels can be incorporated into droplet-based methods, offering novel and reliable analytic and screening applications in cell biology research.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Christopher T. Desire, R. Dario Arrua, Xanthe L. Strudwick, Zlatko Kopecki, Allison J. Cowin, Emily F. Hilder
Summary: Significant technical advancements have been made in the field of western blotting through the use of microfluidic technologies over the past two decades. This review provides a critical overview of these advancements, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The development of commercially available systems, including those for single cell analysis, is highlighted. The review also covers recent developments such as automation algorithms, different materials/chemistries, projection electrophoresis, and triBlots, as well as the potential of these systems for point-of-care devices in healthcare.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY A
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Leyla Amirifar, Mohsen Besanjideh, Rohollah Nasiri, Amir Shamloo, Fatemeh Nasrollahi, Natan Roberto de Barros, Elham Davoodi, Ahmet Erdem, Mahboobeh Mahmoodi, Vahid Hosseini, Hossein Montazerian, Jamileh Jahangiry, Mohammad Ali Darabi, Reihaneh Haghniaz, Mehmet R. Dokmeci, Nasim Annabi, Samad Ahadian, Ali Khademhosseini
Summary: Droplet-based microfluidic systems have become a significant tool in biomedical applications, allowing for manipulation of fluid volumes and enabling advancements in mixing, sorting, encapsulation, sensing, and high throughput device design. This review provides an overview of droplet generation methods, emulsification and particle synthesis approaches, and various biomedical applications. It also discusses the latest trends and future potentials in the field.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Jie Tan, Shulan Sun, Dongyue Jiang, Minyi Xu, Xiangyu Chen, Yongchen Song, Zhong Lin Wang
Summary: This paper reviews the technical advances and performance of TENG-powered EWOD devices in recent years, and presents the challenges and future directions for development, opening up opportunities for self-powered liquid actuators based on TENG and EWOD.
Review
Oncology
Molly Roy, Yu-Ping Yang, Olivia Bosquet, Sapna K. Deo, Sylvia Daunert
Summary: This paper reviews the laboratory techniques used in isolating and studying exosomes, the current understanding of exosomes in gynecologic malignancies, and the potential for clinical applications. It highlights the role of exosomes in cancer growth and spread, and their potential in improving the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic cancers.
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Fobang Liu, Nga Lee Ng, Hang Lu
Summary: Exposure to atmospheric particulate matter is a leading global health risk, but it is still unclear what components or characteristics of PM account for its toxicity. Acellular assays focus on assessing the oxidative potential of PM, while cellular assays help elucidate cellular responses and damage mechanisms. Microfluidic techniques offer a valuable alternative to address current challenges in evaluating PM toxicity.
AEROSOL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Seleipiri Charles, Guillaume Aubry, Han-Ting Chou, Annalise B. Paaby, Hang Lu
Summary: The article introduces a method for large-scale smFISH imaging using microfluidics to reduce labor intensity. By designing embryo traps and developing a protocol that allows for efficient chemical exchange of hundreds of C. elegans embryos simultaneously, the bottleneck of performing efficient reagent exchange on chip for large numbers of embryos is addressed. Additionally, the device design optimizes imaging throughput and allows for high-temporal-resolution studies, benefiting large-scale RNAi and drug screens beyond C. elegans embryos.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Shivesh Chaudhary, Sol Ah Lee, Yueyi Li, Dhaval S. Patel, Hang Lu
Summary: This article introduces a probabilistic-graphical-model framework, CRF_ID, based on Conditional Random Fields, for unbiased and automated cell identification. CRF_ID achieves higher accuracy and better robustness against challenging noise conditions in experimental data compared to existing methods. Additionally, it can boost accuracy by efficiently building atlases from annotated data and easily adding new features.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Gongchen Sun, Cassidy-Arielle Manning, Ga Hyun Lee, Maryam Majeed, Hang Lu
Summary: This paper presents an ultrasimple and effective approach, microswimmer combing, for rapidly isolating live small animals on an open-surface array. The method utilizes a dynamic contact line-combing mechanism designed for highly active microswimmers, offering robust isolation and simple operation. The versatile open-surface device enables various screening applications for biologists and opens up new opportunities for studying active microswimmers.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Fangyuan Zhou, Fang Zhang, Veronika Zarnitsyna, Larissa Doudy, Zhou Yuan, Kaitao Li, Rodger P. McEver, Hang Lu, Cheng Zhu
Summary: Selectins and integrins play crucial roles in recruiting leukocytes to inflamed tissues. Studies have found that E- and P-selectins have different effects on the activation of α(L)β(2), with varying responses observed at different temperatures.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lining Arnold Ju, Sabine Kossmann, Yunduo Charles Zhao, Laura Moldovan, Yingqi Zhang, Savindi De Zoysa Ramasundara, Fangyuan Zhou, Hang Lu, Imala Alwis, Simone M. Schoenwaelder, Yuping Yuan, Shaun P. Jackson
Summary: Microvascular thrombosis and inflammation are major causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Studies have shown that the three-dimensional geometry plays a significant role in regulating neutrophil recruitment and adhesion stability.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guillaume Aubry, Marija Milisavljevic, Hang Lu
Summary: The study demonstrates a highly efficient single-animal encapsulation unit for controlling the chemical environment in droplets, as well as an automation scheme for executing complex protocols. By careful use of interfacial forces, the system enables the generation of chemical gradients inaccessible in previous multiphase systems. This platform allows for large-scale screening of complex dynamic phenotypes in small animals.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kathleen Bates, Kim N. Le, Hang Lu
Summary: The study introduces a deep-learning-based tool for tracking and detecting model organisms in various environments, along with a free web-based tool for developing deep learning object detection models. Accurate behavioral tracking is crucial for ethological studies, while traditional image processing techniques may fail in complex environments.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shivesh Chaudhary, Sihoon Moon, Hang Lu
Summary: Supervised deep-denoising methods based on volumetric functional imaging have important applications in improving whole-brain imaging, large field-of-view imaging in freely moving animals, and recovering complex neurite structures.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fobang Liu, Tianchang Xu, Nga Lee Ng, Hang Lu
Summary: This study reveals that oxidative stress may be a mechanism through which ambient fine particulate matter exerts adverse biological effects. It also demonstrates the association between cellular health and ROS levels upon exposure to secondary organic aerosols, emphasizing the role of oxidative stress in the biological effects of SOA exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Zachary C. Stevenson, Megan J. Moerdyk-Schauwecker, Stephen A. Banse, Dhaval S. Patel, Hang Lu, Patrick C. Phillips
Summary: High-throughput transgenesis using synthetic DNA libraries is a powerful method for exploring genetic function. However, the need for library transgenesis has restricted its application to single-cell models. In this study, we present TARDIS, a method that overcomes these limitations and enables large-scale transgenesis in multicellular systems. We demonstrate its utility in Caenorhabditis elegans and show that transformation yields can be increased up to approximately 1000-fold compared to current methods.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Omotola Okesanjo, Guillaume Aubry, Sven Behrens, Hang Lu, J. Carson Meredith
Summary: Surfactant-free capillary foams (CFs) are highly tolerant to oil and have unique stability and flow properties. They can flow through a microporous environment and recover a large percentage of foam pumped through it. CF flow lacks steady state and exhibits phenomena such as increasing apparent viscosity, reconfigurable flow paths, and intermittent clogging of the micromodel from oil-particle composites and trapped bubbles in pores. CFs surprisingly exhibit similar bubble generation and destruction mechanisms to classical foams despite the absence of surfactants.
