Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlie Rein, Mehmet Toner, Derin Sevenler
Summary: Soft lithography allows rapid prototyping of precise microfluidic features using a deformable elastomer like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, for applications where flexibility of PDMS is a drawback, more rigid materials like epoxy and glass have been proposed. Devices fabricated from epoxy and glass offer superior mechanical performance, feature resolution, and solvent compatibility compared to alternatives. This article presents a detailed step-by-step method for fabricating rigid microfluidic devices from soft lithography patterned epoxy and glass, demonstrating their use in high throughput cell focusing with rigid high aspect ratio spiral microchannels.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alper Baran Sozmen, Ahu Arslan Yildiz
Summary: A new polymer-assisted bonding method was proposed, combined with various phase-changing materials as channel-protective agents. Through experimentation, the optimal bonding solvent and polymer concentration were determined and successfully applied in the fabrication of a micro-droplet generator.
MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yuanyuan Wei, Tianle Wang, Yuye Wang, Shuwen Zeng, Yi-Ping Ho, Ho-Pui Ho
Summary: In this paper, a simple, rapid, low-cost, biocompatible, and detachable microfluidic chip fabrication method based on Parafilm(R) is reported. The Parafilm(R) acts as both a bonding agent and a functional membrane, allowing the fabrication of 3D structured microfluidic chips within 2 hours with high ultimate tensile stress and high shear stress. The fabricated chips demonstrate better stability, reliability, and high performance for practical actuation devices. Moreover, the Parafilm(R)-based microfluidic devices show excellent biocompatibility and can be used for biochemical applications and point-of-care diagnostics.
Article
Optics
Larry O'Connell, Brice Poirier, Oleksii Bratash, Charlene Pleniere, Loic Leroy, Yoann Roupioz, Pierre R. Marcoux
Summary: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using commercial laser direct writing equipment for rapid electrode patterning on glass substrates, particularly for electrokinetically active plasmonic sensors. The results show that using a commercial printed circuit board prototyper, interdigitated electrode arrays can be patterned on gold-coated glass slides and surface plasmon resonance prisms. These patterned surfaces can be used for trapping and electrokinetic manipulation of bacteria, as well as for sensing bacterial interactions using surface plasmon resonance imaging.
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Rokas Garmasukis, Claudia Hackl, Christian Dusny, Christian Elsner, Ales Charvat, Andreas Schmid, Bernd Abel
Summary: This paper presents an innovative and low-cost method for rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips. The technique involves controlled deposition of aqueous microdroplets on a cooled surface to create printed ice microstructures, which are then coated with a UV-curable acrylic cover layer. The technology is applied to create a microfluidic chip for cell-customized optical-cell analysis, and the chip design is optimized for different cell types. The authors demonstrate the feasibility of using this chip for physiological analysis of different cell types.
MICROFLUIDICS AND NANOFLUIDICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Roberto Paoli, Davide Di Giuseppe, Maider Badiola-Mateos, Eugenio Martinelli, Maria Jose Lopez-Martinez, Josep Samitier
Summary: This paper discusses the application of digital manufacturing and rapid prototyping technologies in Organ-on-a-Chip applications, as well as the main thermoplastic material choices and manufacturing methods, and investigates the limitations of the PDMS soft lithography strategy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shanshan Qin, Gaozhi Ou, Biao Wang, Zheyu Li, Rui Hu, Ying Li, Yunhuang Yang
Summary: This study reports a photolithography-free method for rapid fabrication of PDMS devices. By using a laser cutter to ablate a tape, a male photoresist mold can be obtained within 5 minutes by a simple heating-step. The method offers advantages of low input, simple operation procedure, and short fabrication time.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yesman Akuoko, Robert L. Hanson, David H. Harris, Jacob B. Nielsen, Elaine Lazalde, Adam T. Woolley
Summary: The study demonstrates the fabrication of microfluidic devices for DNA capture and fluorescence detection of antibiotic resistance gene sequences, showing simplicity, robustness, and affordability. Results indicate that relative fluorescence increases with target DNA concentration, with synthetic target DNA exhibiting higher fluorescence signal and percent recovery compared to plasmid DNA.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Guo Song, Yang Weicheng, Luo Yong
Summary: This study demonstrates a simple method for fabricating microfluidic devices using novel thermoset polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD). The process is similar to soft lithography using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The semi-cured PDCPD gel retains the advantages of rapid and easy assembly achieved with PDMS. Two methods were developed to form permanent bonding between PDCPD and PDMS, glass, and PDCPD. The solvent compatibility of PDCPD was tested and it showed excellent tolerance to many solvents but low tolerance to aromatic hydrocarbons, tetrahydrofuran, and chlorinated solvents. PDCPD devices demonstrated high transmittance in the visible-light region and droplets were successfully generated on a PDCPD microfluidic device. This study confirms the feasibility of using PDCPD as a routine material for rapid prototyping.
JOURNAL OF MICROMECHANICS AND MICROENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Adam L. Bachmann, Brendan Hanrahan, Michael D. Dickey, Nathan Lazarus
Summary: This paper presents a method of laser forming that can self-fold 2D printed circuit boards into 3D structures with electronic function. The laser settings are tuned to achieve cutting or folding, and two approaches are explored to enable folding of commercial PCBs. The technique can create complex, multifold structures with integrated electronics, and has the potential for rapid prototyping of complex 3D electronics.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Santiago Franco Corredor, Fadoua Mayoussi, Manuel Luitz, Andrea Kick, Andreas Goralczyk, David Boecherer, Grace Vera, Dorothea Helmer, Frederik Kotz-Helmer, Bastian E. Rapp
Summary: Polystyrene (PS) is a commonly used material in medical, biological, and biomedical applications due to its beneficial properties. However, rapid prototyping and high-resolution shaping of PS, particularly on a micron scale, are still limited. This study introduces a novel photocurable PS photoresin that enables the fabrication of microfluidic chips with high optical transparency and comparable properties to commercial PS. This method allows researchers in various fields to produce suitable PS structures using commercial equipment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Kay Bischoff, Dominik Muecke, Gian-Luca Roth, Cemal Esen, Ralf Hellmann
Summary: In this study, we report on the laser ablation of cyclic olefin copolymer using an amplified ultrashort pulsed laser in the ultraviolet spectral range. The results demonstrate high ablation depth, excellent surface roughness, and increasing ablation efficiencies with increasing fluence. Comparing with an infrared laser wavelength, UV ablation shows significant advantages in terms of ablation efficiency, surface roughness, and quality. This study provides an efficient and qualitative tool for the laser machining of cyclic olefin copolymer using high-power UV ultrashort pulsed lasers.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pengcheng Sun, Xiuqing Hao, Yuankai Jin, Yingying Yin, Chenyang Wu, Jie Zhang, Lujia Gao, Steven Wang, Zuankai Wang
Summary: This study proposes a heterogeneous water-infused divergent surface (WIDS) that can effectively transport high-viscosity liquids by reducing viscous drag through its heterogeneous, slippery topological design and generating capillary forces through its heterogeneous wetting distributions. Experimental results show that this heterogeneous design can transport liquids with viscosities exceeding 12,500 mPa s, which is two orders of magnitude higher than current state-of-the-art techniques. Furthermore, this heterogeneous design is applicable to various high-viscosity liquids and can be made flexible, making it promising for applications in systems that require viscous liquid management, such as micropatterning.
Article
Mechanics
Fangjing Luo, Jianxin Yang, Ruixue Zhou, Yao Li, Tianyang Luan, Zongbao Li, Jiayin Wu, Qian Shou, Xiaobo Xing
Summary: This study presents a novel micromixer for efficient and controllable mixing based on photothermal vortices. The vortices, generated from an array of linear heat sources excited by a laser, provide stable disturbance to fluid interfaces and enhance the mixing efficiency. The study reveals the interactions between vortices and the mixing mechanism of fluids, and explores the effects of various factors on the mixing performance.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yin Yao, Yiqiang Fan
Summary: This study introduces a rapid and low-cost method for fabricating open-channel hydrogel-based microfluidic devices using CO2 laser ablation, with detailed investigation on the profiles of laser-ablated microchannels. Additionally, an easy-to-access storage method for hydrogel-based microfluidic devices is proposed.
BIOMEDICAL MICRODEVICES
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
Shiwei Liu, Gaoliang Peng, Zhixiong Li, Weihua Li
Summary: This paper focuses on the analytical jump criteria problem for a class of Duffing systems based on the concave-convex property. The defined single critical jump point is proved to be an inflection point, and the analytical jump-avoidance criteria under different excitations are established. The sensitivities of dynamic parameters are discussed, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical simulations and comparisons.
JOURNAL OF VIBRATION AND CONTROL
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Samith Hettiarachchi, Haotian Cha, Lingxi Ouyang, Amith Mudugamuwa, Hongjie An, Gregor Kijanka, Navid Kashaninejad, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Jun Zhang
Summary: This paper comprehensively studies the latest progress in microfluidic technology for submicron and nanoparticle manipulation and separation. It summarizes the principles of traditional techniques and explores the physics, device design, working mechanism, and applications of different microfluidic approaches. The merits and demerits of microfluidic techniques are compared to conventional technologies. Seven standard post-separation detection techniques for nanoparticles are summarized, and current challenges and future perspectives on microfluidic technology for nanoparticle manipulation are discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yue Chen, Xuanhan Chen, Zhenhong Zhu, Mingyuan Sun, Shen Li, Minfeng Gan, Shi-Yang Tang, Weihua Li, Shiwu Zhang, Lining Sun, Xiangpeng Li
Summary: This study developed foam-core liquid metal (FCLM) droplets that can be manipulated in 3D in an electrolyte. The FCLM droplets are made by coating liquid metal on the surface of a copper-grafted foam sphere and actuated by electrically inducing Marangoni flow. Multiple droplets can form 3D structures, showing potential for wider applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Guolin Yun, Tim Cole, Yuxin Zhang, Jiahao Zheng, Shuaishuai Sun, Yiming Ou-yang, Jian Shu, Hongda Lu, Qingtian Zhang, Yongjing Wang, Duc Pham, Tawfique Hasan, Weihua Li, Shiwu Zhang, Shi-Yang Tang
Summary: Reported the development of an electro-mechano responsive Field's metal hybrid elastomer with variable conductivity and stiffness, which can be applied in soft robotics and electronic devices. This material demonstrates significant improvements in performance compared to existing approaches and has potential applications in resilient robotic systems, intelligent instruments, and flexible electronics.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Dimple Palanilkunnathil Thomas, Jun Zhang, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Hang Thu Ta
Summary: This review covers the physiology of the human gut and the engineering approaches of gut-on-a-chip (GOC) models, including materials and fabrication, cell types, stimuli, and gut microbiota. The applications, challenges, possible solutions, and prospects for GOC models and technology are thoroughly discussed.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Yulin Liao, Donghong Ning, Pengfei Liu, Haiping Du, Weihua Li
Summary: This article presents a versatile electrically interconnected suspension system for vehicles, which offers variable iner-tance and variable damping in the heave direction and variable stiffness in the roll direction. The system achieves suspension interconnection electrically, providing improved design flexibility, energy efficiency, and system response. Test results show that the proposed system has significant performance improvements compared to a passive suspension, reducing resonance by 13.0%.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Haowei Duan, Yizhou Wang, Shi-Yang Tang, Ting-Hui Xiao, Keisuke Goda, Ming Li
Summary: This study presents a carbon-based E-CRISPR modified with gold nanoparticles and MXene Ti3C2 for stable and sensitive detection of nucleic acids. The developed sensor shows excellent analytical performance and long-term shelf life.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Yun Lu, Yudong Cao, Yi Chen, Hui Li, Weihua Li, Haiping Du, Shiwu Zhang, Shuaishuai Sun
Summary: Piezoelectric based ultrasonic transducer has great potential in wearable muscle force estimation by detecting human motion characteristics. However, muscle force estimation during dynamic motion is still challenging due to the nonlinearity of muscle contraction. In this study, a wearable multi-sensory system was developed using ultrasound and inertial measurement unit sensors to predict muscle force based on real-time muscle deformation and joint angle variation. The system was evaluated for muscle force estimation during isometric contraction assessment and dynamic knee exercise, showing high accuracy and promising application in dynamic muscle force estimation.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Hongda Lu, Qingtian Zhang, Xumin Huang, Tim Cole, Guolin Yun, Yuxin Zhang, Ruirui Qiao, Weihua Li, Shi-Yang Tang
Summary: Stretchable conductive composites (SCCs) are widely used in stretchable electronic devices as interconnects and sensors due to their tunable electromechanical properties and high stretchability. This work presents an automatic SCC production platform (ASPP) that can produce SCCs with high consistency in properties. The versatility of ASPP is demonstrated by fabricating SCCs with different fillers and structures. The fabricated SCCs are utilized in various intelligent tactile sensing and heating platforms. The ASPP shows great potential in fabricating SCCs for soft robotics and wearable devices.
SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jialin Wu, Hui Fang, Jun Zhang, Sheng Yan
Summary: The advancement of microfluidics has led to significant discoveries and technologies in life sciences. However, the lack of industry standards and configurability has made the design and fabrication of microfluidic devices challenging. Modular microfluidics, which integrates standardized microfluidic modules into a complex platform, offers portability, on-site deployability, and high customization. In this review, we discuss the working mechanisms of basic microfluidic modules, their feasibility as modular components, connection approaches, advantages over integrated microfluidics, and future perspectives.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Yan Yan, Haiping Du, Qing-Long Han, Weihua Li
Summary: This study presents a real-time switching topology technique to improve the performance of connected autonomous vehicles under poor communication. A sliding mode controller is designed for a nonlinear heterogeneous vehicle model with packet loss, and Lyapunov analysis is applied to ensure stability. A two-step switching topology framework is introduced to optimize the platoon's performance. Numerical simulations show significant improvements in platoon tracking ability, fuel efficiency, and driving comfort.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INTELLIGENT VEHICLES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingtian Zhang, Hongda Lu, Guolin Yun, Liping Gong, Zexin Chen, Shida Jin, Haiping Du, Zhen Jiang, Weihua Li
Summary: The researchers have developed a liquid metal-doped polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel that exhibits ultra-high conductivity and excellent mechanical properties. The high conductivity is achieved through the self-sintering behavior of the liquid metal, while the impressive mechanical properties are attributed to the formation of polymer crystalline regions and polymer-tannic acid multiple hydrogen bonds.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Lei Deng, Shuaishuai Sun, Qihao Wu, Ning Gong, Jiang Yang, Shiwu Zhang, Haiping Du, Weihua Li
Summary: This study develops a highly stable quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) vibration isolation system integrated with magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) to overcome the unstable problem of QZS systems and expand their application range.
NONLINEAR DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Vladimir Sokolovski, Tongfei Tian, Jie Ding, Weihua Li
Summary: This study focused on the rheological measurements and normal compression tests of a shear thickening fluid (STF) below room temperature from -20 to 20 degrees C. The STF was composed of 20% fumed silica and 80% ethylene glycol by weight. Various tests were conducted on the STF, including temperature dependency tests, steady-state tests, oscillatory frequency sweep tests, oscillatory shear strain amplitude sweep tests, and normal compression tests. The results showed that temperature, frequency, and shear rate all played important roles in the performance of the STF. The equivalent normal stiffness of the STF could be increased by lowering the temperature or increasing the shear rate. A mathematical model was used to represent the viscosity of the STF within the tested temperature range.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yi-Wen Wu, Shaker Alkaraki, Shi-Yang Tang, Yi Wang, James R. Kelly
Summary: This article reviews the application and technology advancement of gallium (Ga)-based liquid metal (LM) in high-frequency circuits and antennas. It discusses the material properties and manufacturing techniques of LMs, as well as their use in flexible/wearable electronics, reconfigurable circuits, and antennas. The article presents design concepts and implementation techniques of LM-enabled high-frequency circuits and antennas, highlighting key capabilities and discussing the challenges and opportunities with Ga-based LM materials.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE IEEE
(2023)
