Ahmed Azmeer, Ibraheem Kanan, Ghaleb A. Husseini, Mohamed Abdelgawad
{"title":"Finger-operated pumping platform for microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles","authors":"Ahmed Azmeer, Ibraheem Kanan, Ghaleb A. Husseini, Mohamed Abdelgawad","doi":"10.1007/s10404-024-02738-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) offers many advantages over traditional bench-top preparation techniques, including better control over particle size and higher uniformity. Although many studies have reported the use of low-cost microfluidic chips for nanoparticle synthesis, the technology is still expensive due to the high cost of the pumps needed to generate the required flows inside microchannels. Here, we present a low-cost finger-operated constant-pressure pumping platform capable of generating pressures as high as 120 kPa using finger-operated pumping caps that can be attached to any pop bottle. The platform costs around $208 and enables the generation of flow rate ratios (FRR) of up to 47:1 for the continuous flow synthesis of NPs. The pump has a resolution of 500 Pa per stroke and exhibits stable pressures for up to a few hours. To show the functionality of the proposed pump, we used it to prepare pegylated liposomes and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 47 nm to 250 nm with an average polydispersity of 20% using commercially available micromixer chips and in-house made hydrodynamic flow focusing devices. We believe this platform will render microfluidic preparation of NPs accessible to any laboratory with minimal capabilities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":706,"journal":{"name":"Microfluidics and Nanofluidics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-14","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/s10404-024-02738-8","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
Microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles (NPs) offers many advantages over traditional bench-top preparation techniques, including better control over particle size and higher uniformity. Although many studies have reported the use of low-cost microfluidic chips for nanoparticle synthesis, the technology is still expensive due to the high cost of the pumps needed to generate the required flows inside microchannels. Here, we present a low-cost finger-operated constant-pressure pumping platform capable of generating pressures as high as 120 kPa using finger-operated pumping caps that can be attached to any pop bottle. The platform costs around $208 and enables the generation of flow rate ratios (FRR) of up to 47:1 for the continuous flow synthesis of NPs. The pump has a resolution of 500 Pa per stroke and exhibits stable pressures for up to a few hours. To show the functionality of the proposed pump, we used it to prepare pegylated liposomes and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 47 nm to 250 nm with an average polydispersity of 20% using commercially available micromixer chips and in-house made hydrodynamic flow focusing devices. We believe this platform will render microfluidic preparation of NPs accessible to any laboratory with minimal capabilities.
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.).