Nickel(II)as one of the primary categories of heavy metals can lead to serious health problems if achieving the critical levels in the water.Thus,it is vital to propose a stable,reliable,and economical approach for de...Nickel(II)as one of the primary categories of heavy metals can lead to serious health problems if achieving the critical levels in the water.Thus,it is vital to propose a stable,reliable,and economical approach for detecting Ni ions.The microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(µPADs)are potential candidates for the detection of water quality parameters including pH,heavy ions,nitrite and so on.However,it suffers from a huge error caused by the environment and artificial mistakes.In this study,we proposed an improved technique route to increase the stability and reliability of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices.The main technique points include a stable light source,a matched camera,improved reliability of the devices,and effective calculated methods.Finally,we established 15 standard curves that could be used to detect nickel ions and obtained uniform colorimetric results with reliability and repeatability.With those improvements,the relative errors for the five types of real water samples from the Zhongshan industrial parks were reduced to 0.26%,14.78%,24.20%,50.29%and 3.53%,respectively.These results were conducive to exploring this technique for the detection of nickel ions in wastewater from the Zhongshan industrial parks.The results demonstrated that the above technique route is promising for the detection of other heavy metal ions in industrial effluent.展开更多
Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by...Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by using portable diagnostic devices,avoiding sending samples to the medical laboratories.It has been extensively explored for diagnosing and monitoring patients’diseases and health conditions with the assistance of development in biochemistry and microfluidics.Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(μPADs)have gained dramatic popularity in POCT because of their simplicity,user-friendly,fast and accurate result reading and low cost.SeveralμPADs have been successfully commercialized and received excellent feedback during the past several decades.This review briefly discusses the main types ofμPADs,preparation methods and their detection principles,followed by a few representative examples.The future perspectives of the development inμPADs are also provided.展开更多
Paper-based microchips have different advantages,such as better biocompatibility,simple production,and easy handling,making them promising candidates for clinical diagnosis and other fields.This study describes ametho...Paper-based microchips have different advantages,such as better biocompatibility,simple production,and easy handling,making them promising candidates for clinical diagnosis and other fields.This study describes amethod developed to fabricate modular three-dimensional(3D)paper-based microfluidic chips based on projection-based 3D printing(PBP)technology.A series of two-dimensional(2D)paper-based microfluidic modules was designed and fabricated.After evaluating the effect of exposure time on the accuracy of the flow channel,the resolution of this channel was experimentally analyzed.Furthermore,several 3D paper-based microfluidic chips were assembled based on the 2D ones using different methods,with good channel connectivity.Scaffold-based 2D and hydrogel-based 3D cell culture systems based on 3D paper-based microfluidic chips were verified to be feasible.Furthermore,by combining extrusion 3D bioprinting technology and the proposed 3D paper-based microfluidic chips,multiorgan microfluidic chips were established by directly printing 3D hydrogel structures on 3D paperbased microfluidic chips,confirming that the prepared modular 3D paper-based microfluidic chip is potentially applicable in various biomedical applications.展开更多
Zinc and its compounds, alloys and composites play an important role in the modern day world and find application in almost every aspect that can improve the quality of our lives. This ranges from supplements and phar...Zinc and its compounds, alloys and composites play an important role in the modern day world and find application in almost every aspect that can improve the quality of our lives. This ranges from supplements and pharmaceuticals that are meant to improve our health and wellbeing to additives meant to guard or reduce corrosion in metals. However, over the past several years, a new area of technology has been garnering a great deal of attention and has made use of zinc and its compounds. This is with reference to paper-based microfluidic technology that offers several advantages and that keeps expanding in the amount of applications it covers. In this paper, a review is offered for the applications that have used zinc or zinc compounds in paper-based microfluidic devices.展开更多
Developing precise extracellular vesicles(EVs)labelling techniques with minimal disturbance is of great importance to the follow-up EVs detection and analysis.However,currently available methods such as using probes t...Developing precise extracellular vesicles(EVs)labelling techniques with minimal disturbance is of great importance to the follow-up EVs detection and analysis.However,currently available methods such as using probes to conjugate phospholipids or membrane proteins have certain limitations due to EV steric hindrance,dye aggregation,etc.Here,we present a microfluidic platform to enhance EVs’labelling efficiency and improve their detection.This platform provides excellent sample throughput and high-efficiency EV labelling at lower label concentrations with an optimized flowing rate.Flow cytometry analysis(FCM)and cellular uptake results show that EV labelling by utilizing this platform possesses the merits of a higher labelling efficiency with 64.1%relative improvement than conventional co-incubation method and a lower background noise.Moreover,this technique maintains EVs’size,morphology and biological activities.After the recipient cells uptake the EVs treated by the microfluidic platform,the spatial and temporal distribution of EVs in the cells are clearly observed.These results demonstrate that our method holds great potential in efficient labelling of EVs,which is essential to subsequent EV quantification and analysis.展开更多
Wang G,Hong M,Yang C,et al.Biomimetic chloroplasts:Two-phase microfluidic platforms with selective permeability for artificial photosynthesis.Droplet.2025;4(4):e70019.http://gffzzd3cc09b8251d45dfsnufu9uo0xc0k69bk.ffgz.tsg.suse.edu.cn/10.1002/dro2.70019 The correspondi...Wang G,Hong M,Yang C,et al.Biomimetic chloroplasts:Two-phase microfluidic platforms with selective permeability for artificial photosynthesis.Droplet.2025;4(4):e70019.http://gffzzd3cc09b8251d45dfsnufu9uo0xc0k69bk.ffgz.tsg.suse.edu.cn/10.1002/dro2.70019 The corresponding author information in the published version was incomplete due to an oversight during submission.The correct corresponding authors are.展开更多
Three-dimensional(3D)cell culture systems better simulate the in vivo microenvironment by promoting intercellular interactions and functional expression,which are crucial for tissue engineering and regenerative medici...Three-dimensional(3D)cell culture systems better simulate the in vivo microenvironment by promoting intercellular interactions and functional expression,which are crucial for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.However,conventional two-dimensional(2D)culture platforms fail to mimic the spatial complexity of in vivo tissues,often resulting in altered cellular behavior and limited physiological relevance.In this research,we introduce a 3D cell culture platform based on a digital microfluidic(DMF)system.This platform integrates DMF electrode actuation with 3Dprinted microstructure arrays,enabling precise capture and aggregation of cells within a defined 3D scaffold.While cells initially adhere in a 2D structure,they rapidly self-assemble into a 3D cell spheroid on the chip.The platform’s capabilities for droplet dispersion,fusion,and movement were validated using the 3D-printed DMF chip.The key parameters,such as applied voltage,microstructure height,and electrode spacing,were systematically investigated for their effects on droplet manipulation.Cell viability and proliferation assays in 24,48,and 72 hours confirmed that the 3D microstructured scaffolds exhibit excellent biocompatibility and provide a microenvironment favorable for in vivolike cell growth.Overall,this integrated DMF chip supports robust 3D cell growth and represents a versatile tool for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.展开更多
Digital microfluidic(DMF)technology is widely used in bioanalysis and chemical reactions due to its accuracy and flexibility in manipulating droplets.However,most DMF systems usually rely on complex electrode fabricat...Digital microfluidic(DMF)technology is widely used in bioanalysis and chemical reactions due to its accuracy and flexibility in manipulating droplets.However,most DMF systems usually rely on complex electrode fabrication and high driving voltages.Sensor integration in DMF systems is also quite rare.In this study,a programmable magnetic digital microfluidic(PMDMF)platform integrated with electrochemical detection system was proposed.It enables non-contact,flexible droplet manipulation without complex processes and high voltages,meeting the requirements of automated electrochemical detection.The platform includes a magnetic control system,a microfluidic chip,and an electrochemical detection system.The magnetic control system consists of a microcoil array circuit board,a N52 permanent magnet,and an Arduino control module.N52 magnets generate localized magnetic fields to drive droplet movement,while the Arduino module enables programmable control for precise manipulation.The maximum average velocity of the droplet is about 3.9 cm/s.The microfluidic chip was fabricated using 3D printing and the superhydrophobic surface of chip was fabricated by spray coating.The electrochemical detection system consists of the MoS2@CeO2/PVA working electrode,Ag/AgCl reference electrode,and carbon counter electrode.To evaluate the practical value of the integrated platform,glucose in sweat was automatically and accurately detected.The proposed platform has a wide linear detection range(0.01–0.25 mM),a lower LOD(6.5μM),a superior sensitivity(7833.54μA·mM−1·cm−2),and excellent recovery rate(88.1-113.5%).It has an extensive potential for future application in the fields of medical diagnostics and point-of-care testing.展开更多
Cardiovascular diseases account for ~40% of global deaths annually. This situation has revealed the urgent need forthe investigation and development of corresponding drugs for pathogenesis due to the complexity of res...Cardiovascular diseases account for ~40% of global deaths annually. This situation has revealed the urgent need forthe investigation and development of corresponding drugs for pathogenesis due to the complexity of researchmethods and detection techniques. An in vitro cardiomyocyte model is commonly used for cardiac drug screeningand disease modeling since it can respond to microphysiological environmental variations through mechanoelectricfeedback. Microfluidic platforms are capable of accurate fluid control and integration with analysis and detectiontechniques. Therefore, various microfluidic platforms (i.e., heart-on-a-chip) have been applied for the reconstruction ofthe physiological environment and detection of signals from cardiomyocytes. They have demonstrated advantages inmimicking the cardiovascular structure and function in vitro and in monitoring electromechanical signals. This reviewpresents a summary of the methods and technologies used to monitor the contractility and electrophysiologicalsignals of cardiomyocytes within microfluidic platforms. Then, applications in common cardiac drug screening andcardiovascular disease modeling are presented, followed by design strategies for enhancing physiology studies. Finally,we discuss prospects in the tissue engineering and sensing techniques of microfluidic platforms.展开更多
This paper reports an electrochemical microfluidic paper-based analytical device(EμPAD)for glucose detection,featuring a highly sensitive working electrode(WE)decorated with zinc oxide nanowires(ZnO NWs).In addition ...This paper reports an electrochemical microfluidic paper-based analytical device(EμPAD)for glucose detection,featuring a highly sensitive working electrode(WE)decorated with zinc oxide nanowires(ZnO NWs).In addition to the common features ofμPADs,such as their low costs,high portability/disposability,and ease of operation,the reported EμPAD has three further advantages.(i)It provides higher sensitivity and a lower limit of detection(LOD)than previously reportedμPADs because of the high surface-to-volume ratio and high enzyme-capturing efficiency of the ZnO NWs.(ii)It does not need any light-sensitive electron mediator(as is usually required in enzymatic glucose sensing),which leads to enhanced biosensing stability.(iii)The ZnO NWs are directly synthesized on the paper substrate via low-temperature hydrothermal growth,representing a simple,low-cost,consistent,and mass-producible process.To achieve superior analytical performance,the on-chip stored enzyme(glucose oxidase)dose and the assay incubation time are tuned.More importantly,the critical design parameters of the EμPAD,including the WE area and the ZnO-NW growth level,are adjusted to yield tunable ranges for the assay sensitivity and LOD.The highest sensitivity that we have achieved is 8.24μA·mM−1·cm−2,with a corresponding LOD of 59.5μM.By choosing the right combination of design parameters,we constructed EμPADs that cover the range of clinically relevant glucose concentrations(0−15 mM)and fully calibrated these devices using spiked phosphate-buffered saline and human serum.We believe that the reported approach for integrating ZnO NWs on EμPADs could be well utilized in many other designs of EμPADs and provides a facile and inexpensive paradigm for further enhancing the device performance.展开更多
Rapid,high-throughput,timely,multiplex diagnosis of respiratory-tract infections still relies on laboratory infrastructure,sequential assays,and trained personnel,thereby delaying targeted therapy and outbreak contain...Rapid,high-throughput,timely,multiplex diagnosis of respiratory-tract infections still relies on laboratory infrastructure,sequential assays,and trained personnel,thereby delaying targeted therapy and outbreak containment.In this study,a Fully Automated rotary microfluidic platform(FA-RMP)for high-throughput multiplex respiratory tract pathogens detection was presented.FA-RMP enables a true“sample-in,result-out”workflow through the integration of swab lysis,reagent partitioning,lyophilized reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification(RT-LAMP),and movingprobe fluorescence read-out,all encapsulated with a disposable microfluidic cartridge and paired with a 9 kg,fourchannel benchtop reader.The FA-RMP enables parallel processing of 16 independent reactions within 30 min,supporting simultaneous detection of up to 4 distinct clinical samples.Analytical validation using serially diluted Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)DNA established a limit of detection(LoD)of 50 copies μL-1 and a log-linear correlation between threshold time and template load(R2=0.9528).Testing with eight non-target respiratory pathogens yielded no amplification,confirming high analytical specificity.FA-RMP successfully detected the clinical samples with influenza A,influenza B,and MP,further demonstrating its robust multiplex detection capability.By integrating automated sample preparation,multiplex isothermal amplification and quantitative detection into a portable,high-throughput system,the platform delivers laboratory-grade performance at the point of care,serving as a scalable tool for routine respiratory pathogens screening and rapid epidemic response.展开更多
In vitro evaluation of novel therapeutic approaches often fails to reliably predict efficacy and toxicity,especially when recapitulating conditions involving recirculating cells.Current testing strategies are often ba...In vitro evaluation of novel therapeutic approaches often fails to reliably predict efficacy and toxicity,especially when recapitulating conditions involving recirculating cells.Current testing strategies are often based on static co-culturing of cells in suspension and 3D tissue models,where cell sedimentation on the target tissue can occur.The observed effects may then mostly be a consequence of sedimentation and of the corresponding forced cell-tissue interactions.The realization of continuous medium flow helps to better recapitulate physiological conditions and cell-tissue interactions.To tackle current limitations of perfused organ-on-chip approaches,we developed a microfluidic chip and operation concept,which prevents undesired sedimentation and accumulation of suspended cells during multiple days by relying on gravity-driven perfusion.Our platform,which we termed“human immune flow(hiFlow)chip”,enables to co-culture cells in suspension with up to 7 preformed microtissue models.Here,we present the design principle and operation of the platform,and we validate its performance by culturing cells and microtissues of a variety of different origins.Cells and tissues could be monitored on chip via high-resolution microscopy,while cell suspensions and microtissues could be easily retrieved for off-chip analysis.Our results demonstrate that primary immune cells and a range of different spheroid models of healthy and diseased tissues can be maintained for over 6 days on chip.As proof-of-concept cell-tissue interaction assay,we used an antibody treatment against diffuse midline glioma,a highly aggressive pediatric tumor.We are confident that our platform will help to increase the prediction power of in vitro preclinical testing of novel therapeutics that rely on the interaction of circulating cells with organ tissues.展开更多
The development of biomimetic chloroplasts offers significant potential in addressing global energy and environmental challenges.Traditional droplet-based models are limited by transmembrane transport inefficiencies,l...The development of biomimetic chloroplasts offers significant potential in addressing global energy and environmental challenges.Traditional droplet-based models are limited by transmembrane transport inefficiencies,leading to the accumulation of aqueous products that severely hinder reaction performance.In this work,we present a biomimetic chloroplast system that integrates light-dependent and lightindependent reactions,reaction compartments,and selectively permeable interfaces,fabricated using a biphasic microfluidic platform.The permeable interface facilitates continuous substrate–product exchange,mitigating product inhibition and side reactions,thus enhancing reaction efficiency.Furthermore,a quartz spiral tube was engineered to amplify Dean vortex effects,improving mass transfer.This system exhibited a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide regeneration efficiency during lightdependent reactions that was 5.52 times higher than that of conventional slurry reactors.In the light-independent reaction,the energy conversion efficiency for the transformation ofα-ketoglutaric acid to L-glutamic acid reached 1.45 times that of natural photosynthesis.As the first comprehensive integration of photosynthetic processes within artificial chloroplasts,this work combines biological mechanisms with engineered components to establish a transformative platform for efficient energy conversion and directional biosynthesis.This breakthrough advances the field of photocatalysis and bioinspired technologies,with wide-reaching implications for sustainable energy and synthetic biology applications.展开更多
显微视野下多定点细菌生长图像的定时程分析对于测定最低抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)及研究抗生素对细菌生长的微观影响具有重要意义。为探究抗生素对细菌的抑制效果,研究人员构建了一种基于微观图像特征的微流控...显微视野下多定点细菌生长图像的定时程分析对于测定最低抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)及研究抗生素对细菌生长的微观影响具有重要意义。为探究抗生素对细菌的抑制效果,研究人员构建了一种基于微观图像特征的微流控机械显微分析平台。针对数据采集过程中图像对比度较低及模型在检测细菌等小目标时性能不足的问题,本文提出了基于限制对比度的自适应直方图均衡化的图像增强方法,并设计了高效的跨阶段瓶颈结构、基于注意力的多尺度特征融合的改进模型。改进后的模型在细菌图像的mAP0.5指标上由74.9%提升至78.5%,在BCCD数据集上亦提升了1.5%。融合改进的YOLOv8(You Only Look Once Version 8)模型与分割一切模型(Segment Anything Model,SAM),构建了YOLO-SAM二阶段模型,用于提取细菌微观图像的面积特征。该模型进一步应用于分析不同浓度硫酸阿米卡星作用下细菌的面积大小分布变化。同时,比较了宏观光密度(Optical Density,OD)值和微观图像特征在多浓度抗生素条件下的分布梯度。通过对3550帧数据的分析,确定硫酸阿米卡星的最低抑菌浓度约为7.5μg/mL。不同浓度抗生素对细菌生长的动态影响可在约2 h内显现,显著快于传统OD值变化方法。该方法可实现对任意目标样本的不同时程生长情况的分析,具备准确、快速、可追踪及样本数据容量大的优势。展开更多
Paper-based microfluidic devices offer unparalleled adaptability for the development of low-cost,point-of-care analytical tests.The potential for these devices to drastically improve access to healthcare around the gl...Paper-based microfluidic devices offer unparalleled adaptability for the development of low-cost,point-of-care analytical tests.The potential for these devices to drastically improve access to healthcare around the globe is obvious,but very few tests have found success in clinical environments.Here,we identify manufacturing-specifically,methods to pattern paper devices at large scales-as a major barrier to translating prototype paper-based devices from the academic benchtop to the field.We introduce current methods used to pattern papers and discuss their utility as means to prototype and manufacture paper-based devices.展开更多
As a novel type of miniaturized instrumentation,high-throughput droplet-based microfluidics is playing an increasingly significant role in food safety inspection and quality control.The popularization of traditional i...As a novel type of miniaturized instrumentation,high-throughput droplet-based microfluidics is playing an increasingly significant role in food safety inspection and quality control.The popularization of traditional instrumental analysis is largely limited by the need for lengthy analysis time and costly instrumentation.The novel high-throughput droplet-based microfluidic screening platform(DMSP)has advantages of high screening rate,single-cell packaging,and less reagent consumption that solves the drawbacks of traditional instruments.In this review,we introduce the generation and manipulation of high-throughput DMSP,after which we summarize their recent applications in food analysis.These applications were demonstrated in the directed evolution of microorganisms for fermented food,improving the catalytic efficiency of enzymes for food processing,screening of nutraceutical ingredients,and detection of hazardous substances.We also provide a critical evaluation of the state of high-throughput DMSP and suggestions for future development directions.展开更多
Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is regarded as a potential routine to achieve environment-friendly ammonia production,because of its abundant nitrogen resources,clean energy utilization and flexible o...Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is regarded as a potential routine to achieve environment-friendly ammonia production,because of its abundant nitrogen resources,clean energy utilization and flexible operation.However,it is hindered by low activity and selectivity,in which con-dition well-designed catalysts are urgently in need.In this work,a binary Mo/Ir nanodots/carbon(Mo/Ir/C)hetero-material is efficiently constructed via microfluidic strategy,of which the nanodots are ho-mogeneously distributed on the carbon skeleton and the average size is approximately 1 nm.Excellent performance for NRR is obtained in 1 mol L-1 KOH,of which the optimized ammonia yield and faradic efficiency are 7.27μg h-1 cm-2 and 2.31%respectively.Moreover,the optimized ammonia yield of 6.20μg h-1 cm-2 and faradic efficiency of 10.59%are also obtained in 0.005 mol L-1 H2SO4.This work achieves the continuous-flow synthesis and controllable adjustment of hetero-materials for favorable morphologies,which provides an innovative pathway for catalyst design and further promotes the development of ammonia production field.展开更多
Wearable devices have received tremendous interests in human sweat analysis in the past few years.However,the widely used polymeric substrates and the layer-by-layer stacking structures greatly influence the cost-effi...Wearable devices have received tremendous interests in human sweat analysis in the past few years.However,the widely used polymeric substrates and the layer-by-layer stacking structures greatly influence the cost-efficiency,conformability and breathability of the devices,further hindering their practical applications.Herein,we report a facile and low-cost strategy for the fabrication of a skin-friendly thread/paper-based wearable system consisting of a sweat reservoir and a multi-sensing component for simultaneous in situ analysis of sweat pH and lactate.In the system,hydrophilic silk thread serves as the micro-channel to guide the liquid flow.Filter papers were functionalized to prepare colorimetric sensors for lactate and pH.The smartphone-based quantitative analysis shows that the sensors are sensitive and reliable.Although pH may interfere the lactate detection,the pH detected simultaneously could be employed to correct the measured data for the achievement of a precise lactate level.After being integrated with a hydrophobic arm guard,the system was successfully used for the on-body measurement of pH and lactate in the sweats secreted from the volunteers.This low-cost,easy-to-fabricate,light-weight and flexible thread/paper-based microfluidic sensing device may hold great potentials as a wearable system in human sweat analysis and point-of-care diagnostics.展开更多
The rapid formation of a glial/fibrotic scar is one of the main factors hampering axon growth after spinal cord injury. The bidirectional Eph B2/ephrin-B2 signaling of the fibroblast-astrocyte contact-dependent intera...The rapid formation of a glial/fibrotic scar is one of the main factors hampering axon growth after spinal cord injury. The bidirectional Eph B2/ephrin-B2 signaling of the fibroblast-astrocyte contact-dependent interaction is a trigger for glial/fibrotic scar formation. In the present study, a new in vitro model was produced by coculture of fibroblasts and astrocytes wounded by scratching to mimic glial/fibrotic scar-like structures using an improved slide system. After treatment with RNAi to downregulate Eph B2, changes in glial/fibrotic scar formation and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons were examined. Following RNAi treatment, fibroblasts and astrocytes dispersed without forming a glial/fibrotic scar-like structure. Furthermore, the expression levels of neurocan, NG2 and collagen I in the coculture were reduced, and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons was enhanced. These findings suggest that suppression of Eph B2 expression by RNAi attenuates the formation of a glial/fibrotic scar and promotes axon growth. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangsu Province, China(approval No. 2019-0506-002) on May 6, 2019.展开更多
基金funded by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation[Grant No.Z210006]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.62275061].
摘要Nickel(II)as one of the primary categories of heavy metals can lead to serious health problems if achieving the critical levels in the water.Thus,it is vital to propose a stable,reliable,and economical approach for detecting Ni ions.The microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(µPADs)are potential candidates for the detection of water quality parameters including pH,heavy ions,nitrite and so on.However,it suffers from a huge error caused by the environment and artificial mistakes.In this study,we proposed an improved technique route to increase the stability and reliability of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices.The main technique points include a stable light source,a matched camera,improved reliability of the devices,and effective calculated methods.Finally,we established 15 standard curves that could be used to detect nickel ions and obtained uniform colorimetric results with reliability and repeatability.With those improvements,the relative errors for the five types of real water samples from the Zhongshan industrial parks were reduced to 0.26%,14.78%,24.20%,50.29%and 3.53%,respectively.These results were conducive to exploring this technique for the detection of nickel ions in wastewater from the Zhongshan industrial parks.The results demonstrated that the above technique route is promising for the detection of other heavy metal ions in industrial effluent.
摘要Point-of-care testing(POCT)refers to a category of diagnostic tests that are performed at or near to the site of the patients(also called bedside testing)and is capable of obtaining accurate results in a short time by using portable diagnostic devices,avoiding sending samples to the medical laboratories.It has been extensively explored for diagnosing and monitoring patients’diseases and health conditions with the assistance of development in biochemistry and microfluidics.Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices(μPADs)have gained dramatic popularity in POCT because of their simplicity,user-friendly,fast and accurate result reading and low cost.SeveralμPADs have been successfully commercialized and received excellent feedback during the past several decades.This review briefly discusses the main types ofμPADs,preparation methods and their detection principles,followed by a few representative examples.The future perspectives of the development inμPADs are also provided.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52235007,YH)the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.T2121004,YH)+3 种基金the NationalNatural Science Foundation of China(No.52305300,MJX)the Fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M722826,MJX)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82203602,JW)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LQ22H160020,JW)。
摘要Paper-based microchips have different advantages,such as better biocompatibility,simple production,and easy handling,making them promising candidates for clinical diagnosis and other fields.This study describes amethod developed to fabricate modular three-dimensional(3D)paper-based microfluidic chips based on projection-based 3D printing(PBP)technology.A series of two-dimensional(2D)paper-based microfluidic modules was designed and fabricated.After evaluating the effect of exposure time on the accuracy of the flow channel,the resolution of this channel was experimentally analyzed.Furthermore,several 3D paper-based microfluidic chips were assembled based on the 2D ones using different methods,with good channel connectivity.Scaffold-based 2D and hydrogel-based 3D cell culture systems based on 3D paper-based microfluidic chips were verified to be feasible.Furthermore,by combining extrusion 3D bioprinting technology and the proposed 3D paper-based microfluidic chips,multiorgan microfluidic chips were established by directly printing 3D hydrogel structures on 3D paperbased microfluidic chips,confirming that the prepared modular 3D paper-based microfluidic chip is potentially applicable in various biomedical applications.
摘要Zinc and its compounds, alloys and composites play an important role in the modern day world and find application in almost every aspect that can improve the quality of our lives. This ranges from supplements and pharmaceuticals that are meant to improve our health and wellbeing to additives meant to guard or reduce corrosion in metals. However, over the past several years, a new area of technology has been garnering a great deal of attention and has made use of zinc and its compounds. This is with reference to paper-based microfluidic technology that offers several advantages and that keeps expanding in the amount of applications it covers. In this paper, a review is offered for the applications that have used zinc or zinc compounds in paper-based microfluidic devices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.62074155,62204253 and 62205366)Guangdong Program(No.2016ZT06D631)+1 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(Nos.2020A1515110938 and 2020A1515110142)Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee(Nos.KCXFZ202002011008124 and JCYJ20210324101405016)。
摘要Developing precise extracellular vesicles(EVs)labelling techniques with minimal disturbance is of great importance to the follow-up EVs detection and analysis.However,currently available methods such as using probes to conjugate phospholipids or membrane proteins have certain limitations due to EV steric hindrance,dye aggregation,etc.Here,we present a microfluidic platform to enhance EVs’labelling efficiency and improve their detection.This platform provides excellent sample throughput and high-efficiency EV labelling at lower label concentrations with an optimized flowing rate.Flow cytometry analysis(FCM)and cellular uptake results show that EV labelling by utilizing this platform possesses the merits of a higher labelling efficiency with 64.1%relative improvement than conventional co-incubation method and a lower background noise.Moreover,this technique maintains EVs’size,morphology and biological activities.After the recipient cells uptake the EVs treated by the microfluidic platform,the spatial and temporal distribution of EVs in the cells are clearly observed.These results demonstrate that our method holds great potential in efficient labelling of EVs,which is essential to subsequent EV quantification and analysis.
摘要Wang G,Hong M,Yang C,et al.Biomimetic chloroplasts:Two-phase microfluidic platforms with selective permeability for artificial photosynthesis.Droplet.2025;4(4):e70019.http://gffzzd3cc09b8251d45dfsnufu9uo0xc0k69bk.ffgz.tsg.suse.edu.cn/10.1002/dro2.70019 The corresponding author information in the published version was incomplete due to an oversight during submission.The correct corresponding authors are.
基金funded by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2025A1515012751)Guangdong Special Support Plan(2023TQ07Z692)+2 种基金Specialized Areas of Key Importance in Ordinary Universities in Guangdong Province(2025ZDZX4037,2023ZDZX3010)Macao Science and Technology Development Fund(FDCT)(FDCT0168/2023/RIA3,FDCT004/2023/SKL)University of Macao(MYRG2023-00034-IME).
摘要Three-dimensional(3D)cell culture systems better simulate the in vivo microenvironment by promoting intercellular interactions and functional expression,which are crucial for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.However,conventional two-dimensional(2D)culture platforms fail to mimic the spatial complexity of in vivo tissues,often resulting in altered cellular behavior and limited physiological relevance.In this research,we introduce a 3D cell culture platform based on a digital microfluidic(DMF)system.This platform integrates DMF electrode actuation with 3Dprinted microstructure arrays,enabling precise capture and aggregation of cells within a defined 3D scaffold.While cells initially adhere in a 2D structure,they rapidly self-assemble into a 3D cell spheroid on the chip.The platform’s capabilities for droplet dispersion,fusion,and movement were validated using the 3D-printed DMF chip.The key parameters,such as applied voltage,microstructure height,and electrode spacing,were systematically investigated for their effects on droplet manipulation.Cell viability and proliferation assays in 24,48,and 72 hours confirmed that the 3D microstructured scaffolds exhibit excellent biocompatibility and provide a microenvironment favorable for in vivolike cell growth.Overall,this integrated DMF chip supports robust 3D cell growth and represents a versatile tool for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2023YFB3208200)the equipment research and development projects of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(PTYQ2024YZ0010)+3 种基金the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality Project(XTCX-KJ-2024-038)National Natural Science Foundation of China(62401555)Shanghai Science and Technology Development Funds(23J21900100)supported by the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF under Grant Number GZC20232838.
摘要Digital microfluidic(DMF)technology is widely used in bioanalysis and chemical reactions due to its accuracy and flexibility in manipulating droplets.However,most DMF systems usually rely on complex electrode fabrication and high driving voltages.Sensor integration in DMF systems is also quite rare.In this study,a programmable magnetic digital microfluidic(PMDMF)platform integrated with electrochemical detection system was proposed.It enables non-contact,flexible droplet manipulation without complex processes and high voltages,meeting the requirements of automated electrochemical detection.The platform includes a magnetic control system,a microfluidic chip,and an electrochemical detection system.The magnetic control system consists of a microcoil array circuit board,a N52 permanent magnet,and an Arduino control module.N52 magnets generate localized magnetic fields to drive droplet movement,while the Arduino module enables programmable control for precise manipulation.The maximum average velocity of the droplet is about 3.9 cm/s.The microfluidic chip was fabricated using 3D printing and the superhydrophobic surface of chip was fabricated by spray coating.The electrochemical detection system consists of the MoS2@CeO2/PVA working electrode,Ag/AgCl reference electrode,and carbon counter electrode.To evaluate the practical value of the integrated platform,glucose in sweat was automatically and accurately detected.The proposed platform has a wide linear detection range(0.01–0.25 mM),a lower LOD(6.5μM),a superior sensitivity(7833.54μA·mM−1·cm−2),and excellent recovery rate(88.1-113.5%).It has an extensive potential for future application in the fields of medical diagnostics and point-of-care testing.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NO.62371267,62121003)Key R&D Program of Shandong Province(Major innovation project)(2022CXGC020501)+4 种基金Science,Education and Industry Integration Innovation Pilot Project from Qilu University of Technology(Shandong Academy of Sciences)(NO.2022JBZ02-01)Research Leader Studio in Colleges and Universities of Jinan(NO.2021GXRC083)Innovation Team of Organ-on-a-Chip Manufacturing Key Technologies(NO.202333015,Funded by Jinan Science and Technology Bureau)Young Innovative Talents Introduction&Cultivation Program for Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province(Granted by Department of Education of Shandong Province,Sub-Title 1:Innovative Research Team of High-Performance Integrated Device,Sub-Title 2:Innovative Research Team of Advanced Energy Equipment)Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(ZR2023QH405)。
摘要Cardiovascular diseases account for ~40% of global deaths annually. This situation has revealed the urgent need forthe investigation and development of corresponding drugs for pathogenesis due to the complexity of researchmethods and detection techniques. An in vitro cardiomyocyte model is commonly used for cardiac drug screeningand disease modeling since it can respond to microphysiological environmental variations through mechanoelectricfeedback. Microfluidic platforms are capable of accurate fluid control and integration with analysis and detectiontechniques. Therefore, various microfluidic platforms (i.e., heart-on-a-chip) have been applied for the reconstruction ofthe physiological environment and detection of signals from cardiomyocytes. They have demonstrated advantages inmimicking the cardiovascular structure and function in vitro and in monitoring electromechanical signals. This reviewpresents a summary of the methods and technologies used to monitor the contractility and electrophysiologicalsignals of cardiomyocytes within microfluidic platforms. Then, applications in common cardiac drug screening andcardiovascular disease modeling are presented, followed by design strategies for enhancing physiology studies. Finally,we discuss prospects in the tissue engineering and sensing techniques of microfluidic platforms.
摘要This paper reports an electrochemical microfluidic paper-based analytical device(EμPAD)for glucose detection,featuring a highly sensitive working electrode(WE)decorated with zinc oxide nanowires(ZnO NWs).In addition to the common features ofμPADs,such as their low costs,high portability/disposability,and ease of operation,the reported EμPAD has three further advantages.(i)It provides higher sensitivity and a lower limit of detection(LOD)than previously reportedμPADs because of the high surface-to-volume ratio and high enzyme-capturing efficiency of the ZnO NWs.(ii)It does not need any light-sensitive electron mediator(as is usually required in enzymatic glucose sensing),which leads to enhanced biosensing stability.(iii)The ZnO NWs are directly synthesized on the paper substrate via low-temperature hydrothermal growth,representing a simple,low-cost,consistent,and mass-producible process.To achieve superior analytical performance,the on-chip stored enzyme(glucose oxidase)dose and the assay incubation time are tuned.More importantly,the critical design parameters of the EμPAD,including the WE area and the ZnO-NW growth level,are adjusted to yield tunable ranges for the assay sensitivity and LOD.The highest sensitivity that we have achieved is 8.24μA·mM−1·cm−2,with a corresponding LOD of 59.5μM.By choosing the right combination of design parameters,we constructed EμPADs that cover the range of clinically relevant glucose concentrations(0−15 mM)and fully calibrated these devices using spiked phosphate-buffered saline and human serum.We believe that the reported approach for integrating ZnO NWs on EμPADs could be well utilized in many other designs of EμPADs and provides a facile and inexpensive paradigm for further enhancing the device performance.
摘要Rapid,high-throughput,timely,multiplex diagnosis of respiratory-tract infections still relies on laboratory infrastructure,sequential assays,and trained personnel,thereby delaying targeted therapy and outbreak containment.In this study,a Fully Automated rotary microfluidic platform(FA-RMP)for high-throughput multiplex respiratory tract pathogens detection was presented.FA-RMP enables a true“sample-in,result-out”workflow through the integration of swab lysis,reagent partitioning,lyophilized reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification(RT-LAMP),and movingprobe fluorescence read-out,all encapsulated with a disposable microfluidic cartridge and paired with a 9 kg,fourchannel benchtop reader.The FA-RMP enables parallel processing of 16 independent reactions within 30 min,supporting simultaneous detection of up to 4 distinct clinical samples.Analytical validation using serially diluted Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)DNA established a limit of detection(LoD)of 50 copies μL-1 and a log-linear correlation between threshold time and template load(R2=0.9528).Testing with eight non-target respiratory pathogens yielded no amplification,confirming high analytical specificity.FA-RMP successfully detected the clinical samples with influenza A,influenza B,and MP,further demonstrating its robust multiplex detection capability.By integrating automated sample preparation,multiplex isothermal amplification and quantitative detection into a portable,high-throughput system,the platform delivers laboratory-grade performance at the point of care,serving as a scalable tool for routine respiratory pathogens screening and rapid epidemic response.
基金the support for flow cytometry and microscopy by the single cell facility(SCF)at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurichfinancially supported by the Innosuisse grant 38880.1 IP-LS.by the“Personalized Health and Related Technologies(PHRT)”of the ETH Domain(Project#2021-351).
摘要In vitro evaluation of novel therapeutic approaches often fails to reliably predict efficacy and toxicity,especially when recapitulating conditions involving recirculating cells.Current testing strategies are often based on static co-culturing of cells in suspension and 3D tissue models,where cell sedimentation on the target tissue can occur.The observed effects may then mostly be a consequence of sedimentation and of the corresponding forced cell-tissue interactions.The realization of continuous medium flow helps to better recapitulate physiological conditions and cell-tissue interactions.To tackle current limitations of perfused organ-on-chip approaches,we developed a microfluidic chip and operation concept,which prevents undesired sedimentation and accumulation of suspended cells during multiple days by relying on gravity-driven perfusion.Our platform,which we termed“human immune flow(hiFlow)chip”,enables to co-culture cells in suspension with up to 7 preformed microtissue models.Here,we present the design principle and operation of the platform,and we validate its performance by culturing cells and microtissues of a variety of different origins.Cells and tissues could be monitored on chip via high-resolution microscopy,while cell suspensions and microtissues could be easily retrieved for off-chip analysis.Our results demonstrate that primary immune cells and a range of different spheroid models of healthy and diseased tissues can be maintained for over 6 days on chip.As proof-of-concept cell-tissue interaction assay,we used an antibody treatment against diffuse midline glioma,a highly aggressive pediatric tumor.We are confident that our platform will help to increase the prediction power of in vitro preclinical testing of novel therapeutics that rely on the interaction of circulating cells with organ tissues.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:31901057General Science ProgramofWuxi Healthcare Commission,Grant/Award Number:M202347+5 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Numbers:2682016CX101,2682025ZTPY047Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientist in Shandong Province,Grant/Award Number:ZR2024YQ064Shandong Province Science and Technology Small and Medium Enterprises Innovation Capacity Improvement Project,Grant/Award Number:2024TSGC008Shandong Provincial Key Research and Development Project,Grant/Award Numbers:2020CXGC011304,2022CXGC020206TaiShan Scholars,Grant/Award Number:tsqn202408256Qilu University of Technology(Shandong Academy of Sciences),Grant/Award Number:2023JBZ03。
摘要The development of biomimetic chloroplasts offers significant potential in addressing global energy and environmental challenges.Traditional droplet-based models are limited by transmembrane transport inefficiencies,leading to the accumulation of aqueous products that severely hinder reaction performance.In this work,we present a biomimetic chloroplast system that integrates light-dependent and lightindependent reactions,reaction compartments,and selectively permeable interfaces,fabricated using a biphasic microfluidic platform.The permeable interface facilitates continuous substrate–product exchange,mitigating product inhibition and side reactions,thus enhancing reaction efficiency.Furthermore,a quartz spiral tube was engineered to amplify Dean vortex effects,improving mass transfer.This system exhibited a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide regeneration efficiency during lightdependent reactions that was 5.52 times higher than that of conventional slurry reactors.In the light-independent reaction,the energy conversion efficiency for the transformation ofα-ketoglutaric acid to L-glutamic acid reached 1.45 times that of natural photosynthesis.As the first comprehensive integration of photosynthetic processes within artificial chloroplasts,this work combines biological mechanisms with engineered components to establish a transformative platform for efficient energy conversion and directional biosynthesis.This breakthrough advances the field of photocatalysis and bioinspired technologies,with wide-reaching implications for sustainable energy and synthetic biology applications.
摘要显微视野下多定点细菌生长图像的定时程分析对于测定最低抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)及研究抗生素对细菌生长的微观影响具有重要意义。为探究抗生素对细菌的抑制效果,研究人员构建了一种基于微观图像特征的微流控机械显微分析平台。针对数据采集过程中图像对比度较低及模型在检测细菌等小目标时性能不足的问题,本文提出了基于限制对比度的自适应直方图均衡化的图像增强方法,并设计了高效的跨阶段瓶颈结构、基于注意力的多尺度特征融合的改进模型。改进后的模型在细菌图像的mAP0.5指标上由74.9%提升至78.5%,在BCCD数据集上亦提升了1.5%。融合改进的YOLOv8(You Only Look Once Version 8)模型与分割一切模型(Segment Anything Model,SAM),构建了YOLO-SAM二阶段模型,用于提取细菌微观图像的面积特征。该模型进一步应用于分析不同浓度硫酸阿米卡星作用下细菌的面积大小分布变化。同时,比较了宏观光密度(Optical Density,OD)值和微观图像特征在多浓度抗生素条件下的分布梯度。通过对3550帧数据的分析,确定硫酸阿米卡星的最低抑菌浓度约为7.5μg/mL。不同浓度抗生素对细菌生长的动态影响可在约2 h内显现,显著快于传统OD值变化方法。该方法可实现对任意目标样本的不同时程生长情况的分析,具备准确、快速、可追踪及样本数据容量大的优势。
摘要Paper-based microfluidic devices offer unparalleled adaptability for the development of low-cost,point-of-care analytical tests.The potential for these devices to drastically improve access to healthcare around the globe is obvious,but very few tests have found success in clinical environments.Here,we identify manufacturing-specifically,methods to pattern paper devices at large scales-as a major barrier to translating prototype paper-based devices from the academic benchtop to the field.We introduce current methods used to pattern papers and discuss their utility as means to prototype and manufacture paper-based devices.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFC2104901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372279,32072161).
摘要As a novel type of miniaturized instrumentation,high-throughput droplet-based microfluidics is playing an increasingly significant role in food safety inspection and quality control.The popularization of traditional instrumental analysis is largely limited by the need for lengthy analysis time and costly instrumentation.The novel high-throughput droplet-based microfluidic screening platform(DMSP)has advantages of high screening rate,single-cell packaging,and less reagent consumption that solves the drawbacks of traditional instruments.In this review,we introduce the generation and manipulation of high-throughput DMSP,after which we summarize their recent applications in food analysis.These applications were demonstrated in the directed evolution of microorganisms for fermented food,improving the catalytic efficiency of enzymes for food processing,screening of nutraceutical ingredients,and detection of hazardous substances.We also provide a critical evaluation of the state of high-throughput DMSP and suggestions for future development directions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant Nos.22025801 and 22208190)National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents(grant No.BX2021146)Shuimu Tsinghua Scholar Program(grant No.2021SM055).
摘要Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is regarded as a potential routine to achieve environment-friendly ammonia production,because of its abundant nitrogen resources,clean energy utilization and flexible operation.However,it is hindered by low activity and selectivity,in which con-dition well-designed catalysts are urgently in need.In this work,a binary Mo/Ir nanodots/carbon(Mo/Ir/C)hetero-material is efficiently constructed via microfluidic strategy,of which the nanodots are ho-mogeneously distributed on the carbon skeleton and the average size is approximately 1 nm.Excellent performance for NRR is obtained in 1 mol L-1 KOH,of which the optimized ammonia yield and faradic efficiency are 7.27μg h-1 cm-2 and 2.31%respectively.Moreover,the optimized ammonia yield of 6.20μg h-1 cm-2 and faradic efficiency of 10.59%are also obtained in 0.005 mol L-1 H2SO4.This work achieves the continuous-flow synthesis and controllable adjustment of hetero-materials for favorable morphologies,which provides an innovative pathway for catalyst design and further promotes the development of ammonia production field.
基金supported by Chongqing Natural Science Foundation(cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0314)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(XDJK2019B002)Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Micro-Nano Biomedical Materials and Devices.
摘要Wearable devices have received tremendous interests in human sweat analysis in the past few years.However,the widely used polymeric substrates and the layer-by-layer stacking structures greatly influence the cost-efficiency,conformability and breathability of the devices,further hindering their practical applications.Herein,we report a facile and low-cost strategy for the fabrication of a skin-friendly thread/paper-based wearable system consisting of a sweat reservoir and a multi-sensing component for simultaneous in situ analysis of sweat pH and lactate.In the system,hydrophilic silk thread serves as the micro-channel to guide the liquid flow.Filter papers were functionalized to prepare colorimetric sensors for lactate and pH.The smartphone-based quantitative analysis shows that the sensors are sensitive and reliable.Although pH may interfere the lactate detection,the pH detected simultaneously could be employed to correct the measured data for the achievement of a precise lactate level.After being integrated with a hydrophobic arm guard,the system was successfully used for the on-body measurement of pH and lactate in the sweats secreted from the volunteers.This low-cost,easy-to-fabricate,light-weight and flexible thread/paper-based microfluidic sensing device may hold great potentials as a wearable system in human sweat analysis and point-of-care diagnostics.
基金supported by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutes of China(PAPD)the Science and Technology Plan Project of Nantong of China,No.JC2020026(to JW)the National Science Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China,No.19KJB310012(to RYY)。
摘要The rapid formation of a glial/fibrotic scar is one of the main factors hampering axon growth after spinal cord injury. The bidirectional Eph B2/ephrin-B2 signaling of the fibroblast-astrocyte contact-dependent interaction is a trigger for glial/fibrotic scar formation. In the present study, a new in vitro model was produced by coculture of fibroblasts and astrocytes wounded by scratching to mimic glial/fibrotic scar-like structures using an improved slide system. After treatment with RNAi to downregulate Eph B2, changes in glial/fibrotic scar formation and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons were examined. Following RNAi treatment, fibroblasts and astrocytes dispersed without forming a glial/fibrotic scar-like structure. Furthermore, the expression levels of neurocan, NG2 and collagen I in the coculture were reduced, and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons was enhanced. These findings suggest that suppression of Eph B2 expression by RNAi attenuates the formation of a glial/fibrotic scar and promotes axon growth. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangsu Province, China(approval No. 2019-0506-002) on May 6, 2019.