Lab on a Chip最新文献

{"title":"Micro- and milli-fluidic sample environments for <i>in situ</i> X-ray analysis in the chemical and materials sciences.","authors":"Mark A Levenstein, Corinne Chevallard, Florent Malloggi, Fabienne Testard, Olivier Taché","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00637b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00637b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>X-ray-based methods are powerful tools for structural and chemical studies of materials and processes, particularly for performing time-resolved measurements. In this critical review, we highlight progress in the development of X-ray compatible microfluidic and millifluidic platforms that enable high temporal and spatial resolution X-ray analysis across the chemical and materials sciences. With a focus on liquid samples and suspensions, we first present the origins of microfluidic sample environments for X-ray analysis by discussing some alternative liquid sample holder and manipulator technologies. The bulk of the review is then dedicated to micro- and milli-fluidic devices designed for use in the three main areas of X-ray analysis: (1) scattering/diffraction, (2) spectroscopy, and (3) imaging. While most research to date has been performed at synchrotron radiation facilities, the recent progress made using commercial and laboratory-based X-ray instruments is then reviewed here for the first time. This final section presents the exciting possibility of performing <i>in situ</i> and <i>operando</i> X-ray analysis in the 'home' laboratory and transforming microfluidic and millifluidic X-ray analysis into a routine method in physical chemistry and materials research.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Amplification-free CRISPR/Cas based dual-enzymatic colorimetric nucleic acid biosensing device.","authors":"Guodong Tong, Pabitra Nath, Yuki Hiruta, Daniel Citterio","doi":"10.1039/d4lc01039f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc01039f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nucleic acid testing (NAT) is widely considered the gold standard in analytical fields, with applications spanning environmental monitoring, forensic science and clinical diagnostics, among others. However, its widespread use is often constrained by complicated assay procedures, the need for specialized equipment, and the complexity of reagent handling. In this study, we demonstrate a fully integrated 3D-printed biosensensing device employing a CRISPR/Cas12a-based dual-enzymatic mechanism for highly sensitive and user-friendly nucleic acid detection. A plastic probe stick was designed to host small-sized gold nanoparticles, enhancing enzyme labeling density. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was then conjugated <i>via</i> single-stranded DNA, requiring only a single enzyme substrate addition to generate a simple visual signal change. This approach eliminates the need for amplification or centrifugation steps, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 10 pM - among the highest sensitivities reported for amplification-free colorimetric nucleic acid detection. Furthermore, we developed a device that incorporates this probe stick, integrates all necessary reagents, and features a smartphone-compatible accessory for quantitative analysis. This allows end-users to perform visual or quantitative DNA analysis with simple operations, achieving a visual detection limit of approximately 100 pM, comparable to other CRISPR-based non-amplified nucleic acid detection methods. Additionally, the system successfully distinguished perfectly matched from mismatched nucleic acid sequences, demonstrating its specificity and versatility. Although certain design limitations affected the sensitivity of the integrated device compared to the probe stick alone, the simplicity and portability of this device make it a promising tool for rapid nucleic acid screening in clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and food safety control. This study paves the way for the development of practical biosensors for point-of-care testing (POCT) applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges in blood fractionation for cancer liquid biopsy: how can microfluidics assist?","authors":"Robert Salomon, Sajad Razavi Bazaz, Kirk Mutafopulos, David Gallego-Ortega, Majid Warkiani, David Weitz, Dayong Jin","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00563e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00563e","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Liquid biopsy provides a minimally invasive approach to characterise the molecular and phenotypic characteristics of a patient's individual tumour by detecting evidence of cancerous change in readily available body fluids, usually the blood. When applied at multiple points during the disease journey, it can be used to monitor a patient's response to treatment and to personalise clinical management based on changes in disease burden and molecular findings. Traditional liquid biopsy approaches such as quantitative PCR, have tended to look at only a few biomarkers, and are aimed at early detection of disease or disease relapse using predefined markers. With advances in the next generation sequencing (NGS) and single-cell genomics, simultaneous analysis of both circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs) is now a real possibility. To realise this, however, we need to overcome issues with current blood collection and fractionation processes. These include overcoming the need to add a preservative to the collection tube or the need to rapidly send blood tubes to a centralised processing lab with the infrastructure required to fractionate and process the blood samples. This review focuses on outlining the current state of liquid biopsy and how microfluidic blood fractionation tools can be used in cancer liquid biopsy. We describe microfluidic devices that can separate plasma for ctDNA analysis, and devices that are important in isolating the cellular component(s) in liquid biopsy, <i>i.e.</i>, individual CTCs and CTC clusters. To facilitate a better understanding of these devices, we propose a new categorisation system based on how these devices operate. The three categories being 1) solid Interaction devices, 2) fluid Interaction devices and 3) external force/active devices. Finally, we conclude that whilst some assays and some cancers are well suited to current microfluidic techniques, new tools are necessary to support broader, clinically relevant multiomic workflows in cancer liquid biopsy.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sample-to-answer microfluidic device towards the point-of-need detection of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> enterotoxin genes in ruminant milk.","authors":"Maha Shalaby, Valentina Busin, Xiaoxiang Yan, Seyda Cengiz, Mehmet Cemal Adiguzel, Jonathan M Cooper, Taya Forde, Julien Reboud","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00907j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00907j","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Milk is commonly screened both for indicators of animal disease and health, but also for foodborne hazards. Included in these analyses is the detection of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, that can produce an enterotoxin, causing staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP), which often leads to sudden onset of significant gastrointestinal symptoms in humans. Epidemiological data on SFP are limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Many conventional assays for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins rely on the detection of the genes coding for them, either directly in food samples or after bacterial culture. Currently, many of the nucleic acid-based methods used require specific expertise and equipment, whilst bacterial culture takes 24-48 hours; both are contributory factors that limit efforts either during food safety emergencies or routine screening. Here we present the development of a \"sample-to-answer\" isothermal nucleic acid loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) assay in a microfluidic device for the detection of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> enterotoxin genes in ruminant milk. A multiplex LAMP assay targeting two of the most prevalent <i>S. aureus</i> enterotoxin-encoding genes (A and B) was integrated into a microfluidic device combining simple 1 : 10 dilution for sample preparation and a lateral flow assay for easy readout. We achieved a limit of detection of 10⁴ colony forming units per ml in spiked cow and goat milk samples, an order of magnitude more sensitive than the European recommendation for the maximum allowable presence of coagulase-positive staphylococci in raw milk. The assay showed no cross-reactivity in detecting other tested non-enterotoxigenic <i>S. aureus</i> strains or associated foodborne pathogens. The test integrated the simplicity of use of microfluidic devices with the sensitivity, specificity and rapidity of a nucleic acid-based assay, and a simple lateral flow readout to provide an appropriate device to ensure the safety of milk for human consumption. To illustrate its potential for point-of-need practical applications, the test was performed in agricultural settings in rural Turkey in a limited feasibility exercise.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Aptamer selection <i>via</i> versatile microfluidic platforms and their diverse applications.","authors":"Yi-Da Chung, Yi-Cheng Tsai, Chi-Hung Wang, Gwo-Bin Lee","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00859f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00859f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aptamers are synthetic oligonucleotides that bind with high affinity and specificity to various targets, making them invaluable for diagnostics, therapeutics, and biosensing. Microfluidic platforms can improve the efficiency and scalability of aptamer selection, especially through advancements in systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) methods. Microfluidic SELEX methods are less time-consuming and labor-intensive and include critical steps like library preparation, binding, partitioning, and amplification. This review examines the contributions of microfluidic technology to SELEX-based aptamer identification, with alternative methods like conditional SELEX, <i>in vivo</i>-like SELEX and Non-SELEX for selecting aptamers and also discusses critical SELEX steps over the past decade. This work also examined the integrated microfluidic systems for SELEX, highlighting innovations such as conditional SELEX and <i>in vivo</i>-like SELEX. These advancements provide potential solutions to existing challenges in aptamer selection using conventional SELEX, especially concerning biological samples. A trend toward non-SELEX methods was also reviewed and discussed, wherein nucleic acid amplification was eliminated to improve aptamer selection. Microfluidic platforms have demonstrated versatility not only in aptamer selection but also in various detection applications; they allow for precise control of liquid flow and have been essential in the advancement of therapeutic aptamers, facilitating accurate screening, enhancing drug delivery systems, and enabling targeted therapeutic interventions. Although advances in microfluidic technology are expected to enhance aptamer-based diagnostics, therapeutics, and biosensing, challenges still persist, especially in up-scaling microfluidic systems for various clinical applications. The advantages and limitations of integrating microfluidic platforms with aptamer development are further addressed, emphasizing areas for future research. We also present a perspective on the future of microfluidic systems and aptamer technologies, highlighting their increasing significance in healthcare and diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Droplets in open microfluidics: generation, manipulation, and application in cell analysis.","authors":"Jiaxu Lin, Ying Hou, Qiang Zhang, Jin-Ming Lin","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00646a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00646a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Open droplet microfluidics is an emerging technology that generates, manipulates, and analyzes droplets in open configuration systems. Droplets function as miniaturized reactors for high-throughput analysis due to their compartmentalization and parallelization, while openness enables addressing and accessing the targeted contents. The convergence of two technologies facilitates the localization and intricate manipulation of droplets using external tools, showing great potential in large-scale chemical and biological applications, particularly in cell analysis. In this review, we first introduce various methods of droplet generation and manipulation in open environments. Next, we summarize the typical applications of open droplet systems in cell culture. Then, a comprehensive overview of cell analysis is provided, including nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, and behaviors. Finally, we present a discussion of current challenges and perspectives in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Particle manipulation under X-force fields.","authors":"Chundong Xue, Yifan Yin, Xiaoyu Xu, Kai Tian, Jinghong Su, Guoqing Hu","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00794h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00794h","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Particle manipulation is a central technique that enhances numerous scientific and medical applications by exploiting micro- and nanoscale control within fluidic environments. In this review, we systematically explore the multifaceted domain of particle manipulation under the influence of various X-force fields, integral to lab-on-a-chip technologies. We dissect the fundamental mechanisms of hydrodynamic, gravitational, optical, magnetic, electrical, and acoustic forces and detail their individual and synergistic applications. In particular, our discourse extends to advanced multi-modal manipulation strategies that harness the combined power of these forces, revealing their enhanced efficiency and precision in complex assays and diagnostic frameworks. The integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomous systems further enhances the capabilities of these microfluidic platforms, leading to transformative innovations in personalized medicine and point-of-care diagnostics. This review not only highlights current technological advances, but also forecasts the trajectory of future developments, emphasizing the escalating precision and scalability essential for advancing lab-on-a-chip applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Droplet microfluidics: unveiling the hidden complexity of the human microbiome.","authors":"Yibin Xu, Zhiyi Wang, Caiming Li, Shuiquan Tian, Wenbin Du","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00877d","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d4lc00877d","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human body harbors diverse microbial communities essential for maintaining health and influencing disease processes. Droplet microfluidics, a precise and high-throughput platform for manipulating microscale droplets, has become vital in advancing microbiome research. This review introduces the foundational principles of droplet microfluidics, its operational capabilities, and wide-ranging applications. We emphasize its role in enhancing single-cell sequencing technologies, particularly genome and RNA sequencing, transforming our understanding of microbial diversity, gene expression, and community dynamics. We explore its critical function in isolating and cultivating traditionally unculturable microbes and investigating microbial activity and interactions, facilitating deeper insight into community behavior and metabolic functions. Lastly, we highlight its broader applications in microbial analysis and its potential to revolutionize human health research by driving innovations in diagnostics, therapeutic development, and personalized medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of droplet microfluidics' impact on microbiome research, underscoring its potential to transform our understanding of microbial dynamics and their relevance to health and disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating microfluidic and bioprinting technologies: advanced strategies for tissue vascularization.","authors":"Xuan Mei, Ziyi Yang, Xiran Wang, Alan Shi, Joel Blanchard, Fanny Elahi, Heemin Kang, Gorka Orive, Yu Shrike Zhang","doi":"10.1039/d4lc00280f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4lc00280f","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Tissue engineering offers immense potential for addressing the unmet needs in repairing tissue damage and organ failure. Vascularization, the development of intricate blood vessel networks, is crucial for the survival and functions of engineered tissues. Nevertheless, the persistent challenge of ensuring an ample nutrient supply within implanted tissues remains, primarily due to the inadequate formation of blood vessels. This issue underscores the vital role of the human vascular system in sustaining cellular functions, facilitating nutrient exchange, and removing metabolic waste products. In response to this challenge, new approaches have been explored. Microfluidic devices, emulating natural blood vessels, serve as valuable tools for investigating angiogenesis and allowing the formation of microvascular networks. In parallel, bioprinting technologies enable precise placement of cells and biomaterials, culminating in vascular structures that closely resemble the native vessels. To this end, the synergy of microfluidics and bioprinting has further opened up exciting possibilities in vascularization, encompassing innovations such as microfluidic bioprinting. These advancements hold great promise in regenerative medicine, facilitating the creation of functional tissues for applications ranging from transplantation to disease modeling and drug testing. This review explores the potentially transformative impact of microfluidic and bioprinting technologies on vascularization strategies within the scope of tissue engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142941521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A simple three-dimensional microfluidic platform for studying chemotaxis and cell sorting†","authors":"Xiaobo Li, Yanqing Song, Andrew Glidle, Cindy Smith, William Sloan, Maggie Cusack and Huabing Yin","doi":"10.1039/D4LC00892H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4LC00892H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Microbial chemotaxis plays a key role in a diversity of biological and ecological processes. Although microfluidics-based assays have been applied to investigate bacterial chemotaxis, retrieving chemotactic cells off-chip based on their dynamic chemotactic responses remains limited. Here, we present a simple three-dimensional microfluidic platform capable of programmable delivery of solutions, maintaining static, stable gradients for over 20 hours, followed by active sorting and retrieval of bacteria based on their chemotactic phenotypes. Using this platform, we revealed the swimming features of individual <em>E. coli</em> cells in response to chemoattractant and observed rapid bacterial adaptation to the gradients. Furthermore, the robust performance of the platform allowed us to investigate complex natural microbial communities. Exemplified by sorting bacteria towards soluble cellulose and lignin compounds, we found only a small percentage (&lt;20%) of chemotactic bacteria from a leaf mould microbiota exhibited cellulolytic or lignin-degradation abilities. These findings highlight that chemotaxis does not always align with degradation abilities. Interestingly, a new <em>Erwinia aphidicola</em> strain was discovered with substantial cellulose degradation capabilities. These results illustrate the strong potential of this microfluidic platform for investigating broad processes involving bacterial chemotaxis and for discovering functional microbes.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" 3","pages":" 343-353"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/lc/d4lc00892h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142929908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}