Seongcheol Shin, Boeun Jeon, Wonkyu Kang, Cholong Kim, Jonghoon Choi, Sung Chul Hong, Hyun Ho Lee
{"title":"Characterization of microfluidic trap and mixer module for rapid fluorescent tagging of microplastics","authors":"Seongcheol Shin, Boeun Jeon, Wonkyu Kang, Cholong Kim, Jonghoon Choi, Sung Chul Hong, Hyun Ho Lee","doi":"10.1007/s10404-024-02716-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study introduces a practical approach utilizing microfluidic trap and mixer modules fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices. These modules were employed to capture and fluorescently label various randomly shaped microplastics (MPs) like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). Within the MPs trap module, grooves were incorporated into a straight-lined channel using SU-8 photolithography. This design induced turbulence effectively trapping and gathering the MPs within aqueous phases at 15 groove spaces, which achieved a trapping efficiency of up to 69% for PS MPs sized at a flow rate of 2 mL/min. Additionally, a mixer module featuring two flow inlets was designed to create a serpentine microfluidic channel, whose design significantly reduced sample and reagent (Nile Red) consumption during MP fluorescence staining at 80 °C. Furthermore, 2 nm gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), conjugated with a PS binding peptide (PSBP), were examined as an alternative fluorescent agent at room temperature. Photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) showcased efficiency of mixer module in labeling 30 mL MP solutions within a short time of 15 min. Moreover, a combined platform integrating trap and mixer devices was devised, incorporating a disposable heating pad and filter paper unit, which offers a simplified and compact MPs staining tool including spherical PE nanoplastics (200 nm–99 μm). This study aims to propose a preliminary concept for a lab-on-a-chip, facilitating the simultaneous collection and fluorescent labeling, which can be instrumentally implemented in future MPs monitoring.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":706,"journal":{"name":"Microfluidics and Nanofluidics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Microfluidics and Nanofluidics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10404-024-02716-0","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study introduces a practical approach utilizing microfluidic trap and mixer modules fabricated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices. These modules were employed to capture and fluorescently label various randomly shaped microplastics (MPs) like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). Within the MPs trap module, grooves were incorporated into a straight-lined channel using SU-8 photolithography. This design induced turbulence effectively trapping and gathering the MPs within aqueous phases at 15 groove spaces, which achieved a trapping efficiency of up to 69% for PS MPs sized at a flow rate of 2 mL/min. Additionally, a mixer module featuring two flow inlets was designed to create a serpentine microfluidic channel, whose design significantly reduced sample and reagent (Nile Red) consumption during MP fluorescence staining at 80 °C. Furthermore, 2 nm gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), conjugated with a PS binding peptide (PSBP), were examined as an alternative fluorescent agent at room temperature. Photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) showcased efficiency of mixer module in labeling 30 mL MP solutions within a short time of 15 min. Moreover, a combined platform integrating trap and mixer devices was devised, incorporating a disposable heating pad and filter paper unit, which offers a simplified and compact MPs staining tool including spherical PE nanoplastics (200 nm–99 μm). This study aims to propose a preliminary concept for a lab-on-a-chip, facilitating the simultaneous collection and fluorescent labeling, which can be instrumentally implemented in future MPs monitoring.
期刊介绍:
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish papers in all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip science and technology. The objectives of the journal are to (1) provide an overview of the current state of the research and development in microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices, (2) improve the fundamental understanding of microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena, and (3) discuss applications of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. Topics covered in this journal include:
1.000 Fundamental principles of micro- and nanoscale phenomena like,
flow, mass transport and reactions
3.000 Theoretical models and numerical simulation with experimental and/or analytical proof
4.000 Novel measurement & characterization technologies
5.000 Devices (actuators and sensors)
6.000 New unit-operations for dedicated microfluidic platforms
7.000 Lab-on-a-Chip applications
8.000 Microfabrication technologies and materials
Please note, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics does not publish manuscripts studying pure microscale heat transfer since there are many journals that cover this field of research (Journal of Heat Transfer, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, etc.).