Biomedical Microdevices最新文献

{"title":"Transcriptomic profiling of radiopaque nanoparticle-loaded, bioresorbable polymeric perivascular wrap for arteriovenous fistula maturation","authors":"Allan John R. Barcena,&nbsp;Marvin R. Bernardino,&nbsp;Dominic Karl M. Bolinas,&nbsp;Kitz Paul D. Marco,&nbsp;Anna E. Marks,&nbsp;Tosha Mae S. Manalastas,&nbsp;Archana Mishra,&nbsp;Natalie Fowlkes,&nbsp;Richard R. Bouchard,&nbsp;Jizhong Cheng,&nbsp;Steven Y. Huang,&nbsp;Marites P. Melancon","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00812-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00812-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure remains a significant clinical problem for hemodialysis access. It is driven by hemodynamic changes which promote inflammatory responses leading to neointimal hyperplasia and ultimately stenosis. Perivascular wraps have proved to be a promising intervention for mitigating hemodynamics stress. However, the molecular impact of perivascular wraps on the venous wall is not fully understood. This study aims to evaluate the molecular effects of polycaprolactone (PCL) perivascular wraps and PCL wraps embedded with radiopaque bismuth nanoparticles (PCL-Bi) on the outflow vein. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was induced in female Sprague–Dawley rats through 5/6th nephrectomy. After CKD induction, AVFs were created via end-to-side anastomosis of the external jugular vein to the common carotid artery. The AVFs were treated with either a PCL wrap, a PCL-Bi wrap, or left as unwrapped controls (<i>n</i> = 3 each group). The outflow veins were harvested for bulk RNA sequencing after 8 weeks. Differential expression and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to evaluate differences between the groups. Compared to the unwrapped controls, the PCL-wrapped AVFs showed significant downregulation of pathways related to vascular smooth muscle cell processes, endothelial cell processes, and cell adhesion. Conversely, pathways related to phagocytosis and lysosomal activity were upregulated, reflecting a controlled response to the bioresorbable scaffold. Few differences were observed between the PCL and PCL-Bi wrapped AVFs, demonstrating that the addition of bismuth nanoparticles does not negate the beneficial effects of the PCL scaffold.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10544-026-00812-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147830153","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Injectable, electrosprayed RGD-coupled alginate hydrogel microcapsules enable enhanced viability and sustained release of mesenchymal stem cells","authors":"Dominic Karl M. Bolinas,&nbsp;Allan John R. Barcena,&nbsp;Archana Mishra,&nbsp;Marvin R. Bernardino,&nbsp;Francisco M. Heralde III,&nbsp;Steven Y. Huang,&nbsp;Marites P. Melancon","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00815-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00815-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The clinical translation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies remains limited due to rapid cell clearance and stress-induced viability loss during injection. These limitations emphasize the need to develop delivery systems allowing MSCs to persist in the tissue and exert their biological effect. Cell microencapsulation within alginate (Alg) biomaterials is a promising strategy, where arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-coupled alginate (RAlg) hydrogels have recently demonstrated improved bioactivity. However, achieving precise encapsulation and injectability while preserving cell viability remains an ongoing challenge. This study presents an injectable delivery platform using electrosprayed RAlg microcapsules that enhance viability and sustain the release of MSCs. Electrospray parameters were optimized to yield a microcapsule size of 175.4 ± 21.1 μm with high uniformity and consistent spherical morphology. Electron microscopy images of the microcapsules revealed a highly ordered microporous architecture. Physicochemical characterization confirmed that the presence of RGD peptides did not significantly alter the swelling, viscoelasticity, and encapsulation efficiency of Alg. Successful encapsulation of MSCs were observed, with cells assuming a round morphology within the microcapsule. After 14 days, RAlg maintained significantly higher cell viability at 91.3% than Alg alone (84.9%). Furthermore, a time-dependent release of cells was observed, with intact microcapsules at day 1, partial degradation with 59–61% cell release at day 7, and extensive degradation with 78–81% release by day 14. Both RAlg and Alg had comparable release performance. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of electrosprayed RAlg microcapsules as a biocompatible and injectable platform for the sustained delivery of viable MSCs in regenerative medicine applications.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10544-026-00815-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147830154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Magnetic moment orientation compensation of a magnetic navigated underactuated spherical capsule robot for all-around observation","authors":"Yongshun Zhang,&nbsp;Yunhui Ma,&nbsp;Yanxia Li,&nbsp;Lin Li","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00811-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00811-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>All-around disease screening in any appointed position in 3D regions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract such as esophagus, stomach and colon is still a pending issue. Based on the rotating magnetic coaxial effect of a suspended magnet actuated by the spatial universal rotating magnetic field (SURMF), a novel underactuated spherical capsule robot(USCR) with fully suspended magnetic ring in term of the gyroscope dynamic balance, along with its lateral drive method using rotating coaxial magnetic moment, are proposed to address orthogonal decoupling of magnetic moments, flexible and efficient posture control with good stability. The underactuated structure facilitates the all around observation mode at a fixed-point and the rolling locomotion mode by the space universal rotating magnetic field (SURMF) axis manipulation, however, magnetic moment orientation deviation and motion path deviation are caused by the slip angle, thus deviation model of the decoupled rotating coaxial magnetic moment is derived, corrected and verified, which lays a foundation for the precise and stable control of the motion path by the slip angle compensation and the application of the rotating coaxial driving theory of the novel capsule.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Thermoplastic elastomer based microfluidic gradient generator for cell culture and drug testing","authors":"Kebin Li,&nbsp;Byeong-Ui Moon,&nbsp;Liviu Clime,&nbsp;Ljuboje Lukic,&nbsp;Keith Morton,&nbsp;Lidija Malic,&nbsp;Anu David,&nbsp;Christophe Faure,&nbsp;Teodor Veres","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00816-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00816-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Microfluidic systems are increasingly utilized in preclinical research, however, developing platforms that are compatible with large-scale manufacturing remains a critical challenge. In this regard, we show that thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)-based microfluidic chips could be a viable alternative to traditional poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) devices for drug testing applications. Microfluidic concentration gradient generators are essential components in these systems, enabling local spatial and temporal control of biochemical stimuli for applications such as cellular response studies and drug screening. TPEs offer key advantages, especially, optical transparency, flexibility, and compatibility with high-throughput fabrication processes compared to PDMS, thereby enhancing commercialization potential. This study demonstrates the design and fabrication of TPE-based microfluidic devices incorporating concentration gradient generators that allow precise control over solute distributions. Gradient formation was validated through numerical modeling and co-flow experiments using fluorescent dyes. The platform supported the co-culture of human lung fibroblast cells and human colon adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), which exhibited coordinated responses to gradients of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and sepantronimum bromide (YM-155). Performance benchmarks against PDMS chips demonstrated comparable functionality, underscoring the potential of TPE-based devices for future scalable and cost-effective drug testing and cellular assays.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13110213/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147759094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A dual-Nafion microfluidic preconcentrator with integrated label-free UV absorbance detection on a quartz substrate","authors":"Dong-Li Li,&nbsp;Cheng-Yeh Ke,&nbsp;Chun-Ping Jen","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00814-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00814-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A dual-Nafion microfluidic preconcentrator with integrated label-free ultraviolet absorbance detection on a quartz substrate is presented for stable electrokinetic protein enrichment and real-time monitoring. The device employs a symmetric dual-membrane architecture to spatially confine the ion-concentration-polarization enrichment zone, thereby suppressing axial migration and improving operational stability compared with conventional single-Nafion configurations. Integration of a UV-transparent quartz substrate and a chromium-defined optical window enables background-suppressed, on-chip absorbance detection at 280 nm without fluorescent labeling. Device performance was characterized using bovine serum albumin as a model protein under controlled electrokinetic conditions, where real-time absorbance measurements demonstrated stable enrichment behavior over a wide concentration range, yielding enrichment factors of approximately 39-fold, 3960-fold, and 4380-fold from initial concentrations of 1 µM, 10 nM, and 1 nM, respectively, within 30 min of operation. Compared with a previously reported single-Nafion glass-based device, the dual-Nafion platform exhibits enhanced enrichment efficiency and extends reliable operation into the low-nanomolar regime. These results highlight the advantages of combining a symmetric dual‑Nafion architecture with quartz‑based, label‑free UV absorbance detection for reproducible electrokinetic preconcentration, and demonstrate the feasibility of using this integrated platform as a front‑end module for downstream biosensing and analytical systems.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738444","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A CFD-driven supervised learning framework for rapid DLD microfluidic chip optimization in CTC separation","authors":"Tanbir Sarowar,&nbsp;Elizabeth Chen,&nbsp;Xiaolin Chen","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00813-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00813-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provide critical diagnostic information for cancer detection and monitoring, yet their isolation from whole blood remains technically challenging due to their extreme rarity. Deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidics offers label-free, size-based separation but requires precise geometric optimization, a process traditionally requiring complex and computationally expensive iterative simulations. Here we present a computational supervised machine learning framework, trained on validated CFD simulation data, that accelerates DLD device design by over three orders of magnitude compared to iterative CFD-based optimization. We generated 8.9 million particle trajectory data points through validated computational fluid dynamics simulations spanning 896 device configurations, systematically varying period number (<i>N</i> = 3–48) and particle diameter (1–14 μm). Four supervised regression algorithms, Gradient Boosting, k-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forest, and Multi-Layer Perceptron were trained to predict particle trajectories as functions of design parameters. Random Forest achieved the highest predictive accuracy (R² = 0.958) with an inference time of 89 ms per design candidate, enabling real-time interactive design exploration. The models, through prediction of the particle trajectories, successfully captured the deterministic zigzag-to-bumped mode transition and accurately identified the critical diameter range. This data-driven approach significantly reduces the reliance on repeated CFD simulations during design optimization, compressing the design exploration cycle from weeks to seconds while maintaining accuracy consistent with the underlying validated simulations. The presented framework provides a generalizable computational methodology that integrates physics-based simulations with supervised learning to accelerate microfluidic device design, offering a potential foundation for future clinical diagnostic applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optical biosensing using particle diffusometry on thermoplastic microfluidic chips bonded using direct and indirect chip bonding methods","authors":"Julio A. Rivera-De Jesus,&nbsp;Alexander B. Memmer,&nbsp;Dong Hoon Lee,&nbsp;Tamara L. Kinzer-Ursem,&nbsp;Steven T. Wereley,&nbsp;Jacqueline C. Linnes,&nbsp;Melinda A. Lake-Speers","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00810-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00810-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Thermoplastics offer a scalable and cost-effective platform for fabricating microfluidic devices for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Among them, cyclic olefin polymer (COP) stands out due to its exceptional optical clarity, making it suitable for fluorescence-based biosensing. However, bonding COP layers without compromising mechanical strength or imaging quality remains a challenge. This study systematically evaluates four bonding techniques: thermal bonding, solvent bonding, UV-curable adhesives, and pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA), using standardized 180-degree peel tests to quantify bond strength. PSA bonding exhibited the highest adhesion (0.2–0.8 N/mm), while thermal and solvent bonds were notably weaker (&lt;0.05 N/mm). Plasma treatment improved bond strength and uniformity across most methods. We demonstrate the utility of these bonding techniques by fabricating multilayer microfluidic chips compatible with particle diffusometry (PD), an optical biosensing method that detects <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> DNA via changes in nanoparticle motion. Chips were assessed for both mechanical robustness and image intensity suitability for smartphone-based PD measurements. This work provides practical design criteria for selecting prototyping-compatible bonding strategies in the development of low-cost, optically clear microfluidic diagnostic platforms.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10544-026-00810-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147728016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative study of COVID-19 point-of-care detection across human biofluids using MEMS-based near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning","authors":"Ahmed Abdelkhalik,&nbsp;Mazen Erfan,&nbsp;Bassem Mortada,&nbsp;Mohamed Gaber,&nbsp;Moataz Bellah Abdelaleem,&nbsp;Hala Hafez,&nbsp;Samia A. Girgis,&nbsp;Ossama Mansour,&nbsp;Bassam Saadany,&nbsp;Yasser M. Sabry,&nbsp;Diaa Khalil","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00806-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00806-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study explores the use of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in the 1.3–2.6 μm wavelength range, employing a handheld miniaturized microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based spectrometer for the rapid, non-invasive detection of COVID-19 from various biofluids. A total of 238 samples—including nasopharyngeal (NSP) swabs, nasal swabs, and saliva—from both COVID-19 positive and negative individuals are analysed. Machine learning algorithms process the spectral data to develop predictive models for the disease classification. Models based on a single biofluid achieve detection accuracies between 75% and 80%, while combining scans from multiple biofluids of the same individual improves accuracy to 88%. The study highlights trade-offs between sample accessibility and diagnostic performance. Overall, the findings demonstrate that NIR spectroscopy serves as a viable low-cost, portable, and rapid point-of-care (POC) solution, with strong potential for scalable mass screening—particularly in resource-limited settings.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13076386/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147669491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microarchitectonics of single-pore hollow polymeric micromotors based on polyaminoester/polycaprolactone for co-delivery of doxorubicin and curcumin against gastric cancer","authors":"Hesam Layegh,&nbsp;Sepideh Khoee","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00808-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00808-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Micromotors have garnered significant interest due to their autonomous locomotion and capabilities for active transport at the micro and nanoscale. This study presents a novel synthesis method for producing single-pore hollow polymeric microspheres (SHPMS) using a dendron-polymer conjugate derived from polyaminoester and polycaprolactone, characterized by its pH-responsiveness and amphiphilicity. The conjugate serves as a partial emulsifier in a one-step water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion process, allowing for precise morphological control over the microspheres, including adjustments to pore size and internal architecture. Following synthesis, platinum nanoparticles were loaded into the SHPMs, yielding self-propelled micromotors capable of propulsion via the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. These micromotors were tailored for the co-delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CURC) to enhance therapeutic efficacy against gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS and MKN-45) cells. Drug release studies showed excellent pH-responsiveness with markedly increased DOX release in acidic environments. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that the micromotor system exhibited significantly enhanced anticancer activity compared to free DOX, due to the synergistic effects of curcumin as a natural P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor. This combination not only reduced the required DOX concentration but also maintained therapeutic activity.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147661962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of droplet size on the encapsulation efficiency of microparticles in passive microfluidic systems","authors":"Risa Fujita,&nbsp;Masashi Kobayashi,&nbsp;Takashi Tanii,&nbsp;Masahiro Furuya,&nbsp;Shuichi Shoji,&nbsp;Daiki Tanaka","doi":"10.1007/s10544-026-00795-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10544-026-00795-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Droplet microfluidic technologies are widely used in single-cell analysis, in which passive encapsulation methods are commonly used to isolate individual cells or particles. In these systems, the number of particles per droplet is assumed to follow a Poisson distribution. However, the extent to which droplet size affects encapsulation behavior under passive conditions is poorly understood. In this study, we systematically investigated the effect of droplet diameter on single-particle encapsulation fidelity by generating agarose droplets 30, 50, and 100 μm using a flow-focusing microfluidic device. Fluorescent beads were encapsulated at a concentration corresponding to a mean occupancy of 1, and encapsulation statistics were analyzed across droplet sizes. The 30 and 50 μm droplets exhibited encapsulation distributions closely aligned with the Poisson model, whereas 100 μm droplets showed a large excess of empty droplets and substantial deviation from the expected profile. To examine whether comparable size-dependent trends are observed in a biological sample, green fluorescent protein-expressing <i>Escherichia coli</i> were encapsulated in droplets of the same sizes. The 30 μm droplets consistently showed the closest agreement with Poisson statistics, whereas the 50 and 100 μm droplets showed comparable encapsulation fidelity, with moderate deviations and a modest increase in empty droplets at the largest diameter. These findings indicate that smaller droplets provide robust stochastic encapsulation in passive systems, while larger droplets may exhibit reduced fidelity depending on particle type. Our results suggest that droplet size is an important factor to consider when designing simplified and reliable microfluidic systems for biological applications.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":490,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Microdevices","volume":"28 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10544-026-00795-0.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}