Biotechnology Notes最新文献

{"title":"CFD study and experimental verification of droplet formation characteristics in a flow-focusing microfluidic device","authors":"Hajar Mohamadzade Sani,&nbsp;Seyed Mostafa Hosseinalipour","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study numerically investigates droplet formation in a three-dimensional flow-focusing microchannel and validates the results with a lithographically fabricated device (error <span><math><mrow><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>4</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>). The effects of injection angle, continuous phase viscosity, flow velocities, and interfacial tension on two-phase flow regimes, instantaneous flow fields, droplet size, formation frequency, and breakup time were examined. At acute angles, increasing the injection angle delays droplet detachment, producing larger droplets with greater interdroplet distance. At obtuse angles, larger injection angles slow down droplet formation and produce smaller droplets with shorter spacing. The injection angle of <span><math><mrow><mi>θ</mi><mo>=</mo><mrow><mn>90</mn><mo>°</mo></mrow></mrow></math></span> yields the maximum droplet diameter. As the flow rate ratio increases, the influence of the injection angle decreases, whereas higher capillary numbers amplify its effect. Higher continuous phase viscosity and velocity accelerate droplet formation, producing smaller droplets, while higher dispersed phase velocity and interfacial tension delay detachment, yielding larger droplets. Repeatability tests (coefficient of variation <span><math><mrow><mo>&lt;</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>%</mo></mrow></math></span>) confirm high stability and reliability. These findings provide practical guidelines for designing controlled droplet generation in microfluidic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 230-244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emergence of β-lactamase-producing Proteus mirabilis in clinical settings: A genotypic investigation of resistance mechanisms and carbapenemase genes blaNDM-1 and blaKPC-2","authors":"Aneetta Saji Joseph,&nbsp;C.V.Swapna Manjari,&nbsp;Rahul Harikumar Lathakumari,&nbsp;Leela Kakithakara Vajravelu","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Proteus mirabilis</em>, an opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in urinary and wound infections, has shown increasing multidrug resistance, posing significant therapeutic challenges. The study aims to investigate the prevalence and distribution of β-lactam resistance in <em>P. mirabilis</em> clinical isolates through the genotypic detection of the <em>bla</em>_KPC-2 and <em>bla</em>_NDM-1 genes. This study analyzed 100 clinical isolates of <em>P. mirabilis</em> obtained from various clinical specimens over a period of 10 months. Isolates were identified through standard microbiological techniques, including Gram staining, culture characteristics, and biochemical profiling. The majority of isolates (46 %) were recovered from patients aged 61–75 years, with a male predominance (65 %). Pus samples accounted for the highest number of isolates (59 %), predominantly associated with diabetic foot ulcers, cellulitis, and gangrene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Vitek (bioMérieux) showed that 33.31 % of isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics, with the highest resistance noted against ciprofloxacin (58 %), ceftazidime (50 %), and cotrimoxazole (49 %). However, piperacillin-tazobactam (96 %), Fosfomycin (94 %), and ertapenem (87 %) remained largely effective. Multidrug resistance was observed in 83 % of isolates, with 18 % showing resistance to six antibiotic classes. Molecular characterization showed that 19 % of isolates harbored the <em>bla</em>_NDM-1 gene, 8 % carried <em>bla</em>_KPC-2, and 4 % co-harbored both, indicating carbapenemase production. These findings underscore the urgent need for continuous surveillance, strict infection control measures, and prudent antibiotic use to curb the emergence and spread of resistant <em>P. mirabilis</em> strains in clinical settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 177-182"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of temperature and CO2 concentration on biological nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater using microalgae Chlorella prototheocoides","authors":"S.A. Razzak","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the potential of phototrophic microalgae, specifically Chlorella protothecoides, for biological wastewater treatment, with a focus on the effects of air temperature and CO₂ concentration on nutrient removal from tertiary municipal wastewater. Utilizing both the Monod and Arrhenius kinetic models, the research examines how temperature and nutrient availability influence microalgal growth and nutrient removal. The study finds that optimal biomass productivity occurs at 25 °C, with growth slowing at higher temperatures (30 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C). The Monod and Arrhenius models, which showed strong agreement with experimental data, revealed that temperature significantly impacted growth kinetics, with the Arrhenius model accurately predicting growth rates at lower temperatures. Activation energies for growth and cell death were determined as 5.4 kJ mol⁻¹ and 88.4 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The study also demonstrated that optimal nitrogen and phosphorus removal occurred at 25°C-30 °C, with 100 % total nitrogen (TN) removal and 85 % total phosphorus (TP) removal achieved at 30 °C. Additionally, CO₂ concentration influenced biomass productivity, with peak productivity and nutrient removal at 6 % CO₂, highlighting the importance of CO₂ levels in optimizing growth and nutrient elimination. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing conditions for microalgae-based wastewater treatment, particularly in seasonal cultivation strategies, and contribute to improving biodiesel production and nutrient removal efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 32-43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11728070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142981030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Applications of silver nanoparticles synthesized from Pichia kudriavzevii bioflocculant isolated from Kombucha tea SCOBY","authors":"Phakamani H. Tsilo ,&nbsp;Albertus K. Basson ,&nbsp;Zuzingcebo G. Ntombela ,&nbsp;Nkosinathi G. Dlamini ,&nbsp;Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.02.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying the utilization of natural products in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) recently appears to be a fascinating area of research within nanotechnology. These nanoparticles exhibit biocompatibility and inherent stability, making them highly suitable for various industrial applications. The utilization of bioflocculant-synthesized Ag nanoparticles was investigated in this study for the purpose of eliminating diverse pollutants and dyes from wastewater and solutions. In this study, Ag nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a green method utilizing a bioflocculant derived from <em>Pichia kudriavzevii</em> isolated from Kombucha tea SCOBY as a stabilizing agent. The resulting nanoparticles were then evaluated for their flocculation and antimicrobial properties. Different characterization techniques including SEM, EDX, FT-IR, TGA, and TEM were investigated from the synthesized nanoparticles. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the Ag nanoparticles was assessed on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. The EDX analysis showed elemental Ag constituted 61.93 wt% of the prepared AgNPs. SEM revealed particles with average size of 15.8 nm and were spherical in shape. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that AgNPs exhibited enhanced thermal stability, retaining over 85 % of their mass at elevated temperatures. In a concentration-dependent manner, the spherical biosynthesized nanoparticles exhibited notable cytotoxic effects on HEK 293 cell lines with over 68 % cell viability at 25 mg/mL concentration. The biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles displayed robust antimicrobial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, though Gram-negative were more susceptible with MIC of 3.125 mg/mL concentration. The nanoparticles showcased a dye removal efficiency exceeding 78 % for all the tested dyes with highest removal efficiency of 96 % for methylene blue at a dosage concentration of 0.2 mg/mL of AgNPs. The Ag nanoparticles exhibited exceptional efficiencies in removing a wide range of pollutants present in wastewater. Compared to traditional flocculants, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles demonstrated significant potential in effectively removing both biological oxygen demand (BOD) (92 % removal efficiency) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) (86 % removal efficiency). Thus, the biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles show great potential as a substitute for chemical flocculants in the treatment of industrial wastewater, offering im-proved purification capabilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 106-116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143580105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MicroRNA alterations in sperm of infertile men: Insights into oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratozoospermia","authors":"Manoharan Shunmuga Sundram ,&nbsp;Sanjeeva Ready Nellapalli ,&nbsp;Radha Vembu ,&nbsp;Manjula Gopala Krishnan ,&nbsp;Vettriselvi Venkatesan ,&nbsp;Madhan Kalagara","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Male infertility makes up almost 50 % of infertility cases in couples. Contributing factors include urogenital abnormalities, hormone imbalances, and genetic mutations. Current research highlights the important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in male reproductive health, especially in regulating spermatogenesis. Altered expression of certain miRNAs have been linked to abnormal sperm issues like oligozoospermia (less number of sperm), asthenozoospermia (less sperm motility), and teratozoospermia(abnormal-shaped sperm). In this study, we looked at the potential of four candidate miRNAs, miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296, and miR-942, as biomarkers for male infertility.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>Sperm samples were obtained from subjects subdivided into four groups based on seminal criteria including teratozoospermia, oligzoospermia, ashenozoospermia, and normospermia(healthy control). In the sperm samples, RNA was extracted using the TRIzol method. We measured miRNA expression using real-time PCR. The assessment of miR-139, miR-34b, miR-296,and miR-942 as diagnostic tools was analyzed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The investigation indicated elevated values of miR-139 in the asthenozoospermia, but miR-34b higher in teratozoospermia and miR-942 was observed to be high in all 3 groups, while miR-296 was lower in the three study groups. The motif characteristics of the ROC indicated good diagnostic capabilities for miR-139 and miR-942, as the AUC value was 0.8 (for patients with asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia group).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results have shown that miR-139 in asthenozoospermia and miR-942 in oligozoospermia can be new candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of male infertility. The use of miRNA in the diagnosis process can reveal several aspects of infertility and help to explore potential treatment in a more timely and targeted manner.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 222-229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145415141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deciphering Rickettsia conorii metabolic pathways: A treasure map to therapeutic targets","authors":"Brijesh Prajapat ,&nbsp;Ankita Sharma ,&nbsp;Sunil Kumar ,&nbsp;Dixit Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indian tick typhus is an infectious disease caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria <em>Rickettsia conorii</em> (<em>R. conorii</em>). The bacterium is transmitted to humans through bite of infected ticks and sometimes by lice, fleas or mites. The disease is restricted to some areas with few cases but in last decade it is re-emerging with large number of cases from different areas of India. The insight in to genetic makeup of bacterial pathogens can be derived from their metabolic pathways. In the current study 18 metabolic pathways were found to be unique to the pathogen (<em>R. conorii</em>). A comprehensive analysis revealed 163 proteins implicated in 18 unique metabolic pathways of <em>R. conorii</em>. 140 proteins were reported to be essential for the bacterial survival, 46 were found virulent and 10 were found involved in resistance which can enhance the bacterial pathogenesis. The functional analysis of unique metabolic pathway proteins showed the abundance of plasmid conjugal transfer TrbL/VirB6, aliphatic acid kinase short chain, signal transduction response regulator receiver and components of type IV transporter system domains. The proteins were classified into six broad categories on the basis of predicted domains, <em>i.e.</em>, metabolism, transport, gene expression and regulation, antimicrobial resistance, cell signalling and proteolysis. Further, <em>in silico</em> analysis showed that 88 proteins were suitable therapeutic targets which do not showed homology with host proteins. The 43 proteins showed hits with the DrugBank database showing their druggable nature and remaining 45 proteins were classified as novel drug targets that require further validation. The study will help to provide the better understanding of pathogens survival and embark on the development of successful therapies for the management of Indian tick typhus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11667008/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142901547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green synthesis and characterization of iron nanoparticles synthesized from bioflocculant for wastewater treatment: A review","authors":"Nkanyiso C. Nkosi ,&nbsp;Albertus K. Basson ,&nbsp;Zuzingcebo G. Ntombela ,&nbsp;Nkosinathi G. Dlamini ,&nbsp;Rajasekhar V.S.R. Pullabhotla","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding field with diverse healthcare, agriculture, and industry applications. Central to this discipline is manipulating materials at the nanoscale, particularly nanoparticles (NPs) ranging from 1 to 100 nm. These NPs can be synthesized through various methods, including chemical, physical, and biological processes. Among these, biological synthesis has gained significant attention due to its eco-friendly nature, utilizing natural resources such as microbes and plants as reducing and capping agents. However, information is scarce regarding the production of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) using biological approaches, and even less is available on the synthesis of FeNPs employing microbial bioflocculants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the synthesis of FeNPs using microbial bioflocculants, highlighting the methodologies involved and their implications for environmental applications. Recent findings indicate that microbial bioflocculants enhance the stability and efficiency of FeNP synthesis while promoting environmentally friendly production methods. The synthesized FeNPs demonstrated effective removal of contaminants from wastewater, achieving removal rates of up to 93 % for specific dyes and significant reductions in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). Additionally, these FeNPs exhibited notable antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.</div><div>This review encompasses studies conducted between January 2015 and December 2023, providing detailed characterization of the synthesized FeNPs and underscoring their potential applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 10-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11731503/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial amidases: Characterization, advances and biotechnological applications","authors":"Rajendra Singh ,&nbsp;Refana Shahul ,&nbsp;Vijay Kumar ,&nbsp;Ashok Kumar Yadav ,&nbsp;Praveen Kumar Mehta","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2024.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The amidases (EC 3.5.1.4) are versatile hydrolase biocatalysts that have been the attention of academia and industries for stereo-selective synthesis and bioremediation. These are categorized based on the amino acid sequence and substrate specificity. Notably, the Signature amidase family is distinguished by a characteristic signature sequence, GGSS(S/G)GS, which encompasses highly conserved Ser-Ser-Lys catalytic residues, and the amidases belonging to this family typically demonstrate a broad substrate spectrum activity. The amidases classified within the nitrilase superfamily possess distinct Glu-Lys-Cys catalytic residues and exhibit activity towards small aliphatic substrates. Recent discoveries have underscored the potential role of amidases in the degradation of toxic amides present in polymers, insecticides, and food products. This expands the horizons for amidase-mediated biodegradation of amide-laden pollutants and fosters sustainable development alongside organic synthesis. The burgeoning global production facilities are expected to drive a heightened demand for this enzyme, attributable to its promising chemo-, regio-, and enantioselective hydrolysis capabilities for a variety of amides. Advances in protein engineering have enhanced the catalytic efficiency, structural stability, and substrate selectivity of amidases. Concurrently, the heterologous expression of amidase genes sourced from thermophiles has facilitated the development of highly stable amidases with significant industrial relevance. Beyond their biotransformation capabilities concerning amides, through amido-hydrolase and acyltransferase activities, recent investigations have illuminated the potential of amidase-mediated degradation of amide-containing pollutants in soil and aquatic environments. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements pertaining to microbial amidases (EC 3.5.1.4), focusing on aspects such as their distribution, gene mining methodologies, enzyme stability, protein engineering, reusability, and biocatalytic efficacy in organic synthesis and biodegradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 44-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11732141/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cell bank system, establishment, and application in the virus research, diagnosis, and biopharmaceutical industries","authors":"Sina Soleimani ,&nbsp;Mohammadreza Ghorani","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The use of cells in research and diagnostic studies is important. This is of paramount importance in the biopharmaceutical product industry because cells are one of the most important platforms in the biopharmaceutical industry.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The availability of highly efficient and suitable cells that can be continuously used for the mass production of biotechnological products is crucial for maintaining human health and hygiene. So, the cells used in this comprehensive system were studied, evaluated, documented, and stored for continuous and efficient use.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>This review article discusses all aspects of cells involved in establishing this system as a Cell Bank System (CBS). Cell banking facilities, specialized laboratories, appropriate equipment, cold rooms, cryopreservation instruments, and cell authentication and characterization are mentioned. Cell handling, row materials tests, documentation, intellectual property registration, storage, backup, and transportation were explained. In addition, policies for cell retesting and revival are discussed.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>Based on the roadmap designed in this study, a comprehensive cell bank system can be formed for using in cell preparation, propagation, storage, and use of cells.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Considering that in the pharmaceutical industry, there is a need for a reliable, permanent, and uniform source of cells to produce and quality control the product, which can have significant effects on the products, by using this system and performing all of its aspects, diagnostic centers, researchers, and pharmaceutical manufacturers can access a reliable and persistent source of culture for related operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 209-221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a low-cost microfluidic chip for hyaluronidase-free oocyte denudation in mammals","authors":"Ashraf Hisham Dessouky ,&nbsp;Haitham El-Hussieny ,&nbsp;Taymour Mohammed El-Sherry ,&nbsp;Victor Parque ,&nbsp;Ahmed M.R. Fath El-Bab","doi":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biotno.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infertility in mammals is one of the most intricate medical issues requiring non-traditional interventions. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of the modern medical technologies currently used to treat infertility. However, current IVF procedures are inaccessible and unaffordable to the majority due to the high cost, the complexity of the procedure, and the reliance on highly qualified operators. For successful IVF, oocyte denudation, the process of removing cumulus cells from oocytes, is often performed. Here, microfluidics offers the potential to enhance denudation procedures and to minimize operator variability. In this paper, we propose the configuration of a microfluidic chip for oocyte denudation whose structure hybridizes inner jagged surfaces and expansion units. The jagged surface units have the role of removing the cumulus cells surrounding the oocyte by using the wall shear stress principle, and the (rounded) expansion units have the role of rotating the cumulus cells for further deployment in subsequent jagged surfaces. The proposed device can be manufactured at a low cost (&lt;1 USD)) by the engraving of CO₂ laser machine on PMMA material, and is able to circumvent the use of enzymatic components such as hyaluronidase. Experiments using computational simulations and manufactured microfluidic chips evaluated distinct geometry configurations of the jagged surfaces and identified the suitable flow rates for maximal shear stress and denudation performance. Manufactured samples of the proposed microfluidic devices have shown the denudation performance of 96.7 % and yield rate of 90 % at a constant flow rate of 1 ml/min.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100186,"journal":{"name":"Biotechnology Notes","volume":"6 ","pages":"Pages 133-142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143685338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}