Search results for "Microfluidic"

Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection I: theoretical basis of electrode design

2022

Abstract We model the dielectrophoretic response of E. coli bacterial cells and red blood cells, upon exposure to an electric field. We model the separation, capture, and release mechanisms under flow conditions in a microfluidic channel and show under which conditions efficient separation of different cell types occurs. The modelling work is aimed to guide the separation electrode architecture and design for experimental validation of the model. The dielectrophoretic force is affected both by the geometry of the electrodes (the gradient of the electric field), the Re{CM(ω)} factor, and the permittivity of the medium ϵm. Our modelling makes testable predictions and shows that designing the …

Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection II: experimental study

2023

Abstract In our previous paper we have modelled a dielectrophoretic force (DEP) and cell particle behavior in a microfluidic channel (Weber MU et al 2023 Chip for dielectrophoretic microbial capture, separation and detection I: theoretical basis of electrode design Nanotechnology this issue). Here we test and confirm the results of our modeling work by experimentally validating the theoretical design constraints of the ring electrode architecture. We have compared and tested the geometry and particle capture and separation performance of the two separate electrode designs (the ring and dot electrode structures) by investigating bacterial motion in response to the applied electric field. We …

M14_Microfluidics_for_CNT

2018

The CNT dispersion with low SDBS content allows stable droplet formation but leads to fast formation of CNT plugs in the hydrophobic channels. The selective channel surface treatment allows long-term stable functionality of the microfluidic system.

Engineered membranes for residual cell trapping on microfluidic blood plasma separation systems. A comparison between porous and nanofibrous membranes

2020

AbstractBlood-based clinical diagnostics require challenging limit-of-detection for low abundance, circulating molecules in plasma. Micro-scale blood plasma separation (BPS) has achieved remarkable results in terms of plasma yield or purity, but rarely achieving both at the same time. Here, we proposed the first use of electrospun polylactic-acid (PLA) membranes as filters to remove residual cell population from continuous hydrodynamic-BPS devices. The membranes hydrophilicity was improved by adopting a wet chemistry approach via surface aminolysis as demonstrated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Water Contact Angle analysis. The usability of PLA-membranes was assessed th…

M11_Microfluidics_for_CNT

2018

The subtle solubility of water in n-decane causes leaking of the droplet content. If the n-decane flows by static droplets, it carries the water slowly away up to the total disappearance of the droplets.

MICROFLUIDIC PROCEDURE FOR FABRICATION OF HYALURONIC ACID BASED BIOMATERIALS

2017

Microfibers of a Hyaluronic Acid Derivative to Mimic Blood Vessels

2016

DNA recovery from Droplet Digital™ PCR emulsions using liquid nitrogen

2020

Droplet microfluidics is a technology that enables the production and manipulation of small volumes. In biosciences, the most popular application of this technology is Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™), where parallel nanoliter-scale PCR assays are used to provide a high sensitivity and specificity for DNA detection. However, the recovery of PCR products for downstream applications such as sequencing can be challenging due to the droplets' stability. Here we compared five methods for disrupting the droplets to recover DNA. We found that rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen results in a clear phase separation and recovery of up to 70% of the DNA content. Liquid nitrogen freezing can thus offer a si…

Flow Behavior of Chain and Star Polymers and Their Mixtures

2018

Star-shaped polymers show a continuous change of properties from flexible linear chains to soft colloids, as the number of arms is increased. To investigate the effect of macromolecular architecture on the flow properties, we employ computer simulations of single chain and star polymers as well as of their mixtures under Poiseuille flow. Hydrodynamic interactions are incorporated through the multi-particle collision dynamics (MPCD) technique, while a bead-spring model is used to describe the polymers. For the ultradilute systems at rest, the polymers are distributed uniformly in the slit channel, with a weak dependence on their number of arms. Once flow is applied, however, we find that the…

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs): A Unique Model of Cancer Metastases and Non-invasive Biomarkers of Therapeutic Response

2021

Late-stage cancer metastasis remains incurable in the clinic and is the major cause death in patients. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are thought to be metastatic precursors shed from the primary tumor or metastatic deposits and circulate in the blood. The molecular network regulating CTC survival, extravasation, and colonization in distant metastatic sites is poorly defined, largely due to challenges in isolating rare CTCs. Recent advances in CTC isolation and ex vivo culture techniques facilitates single-cell omics and the development of related animal models to study CTC-mediated metastatic progression. With these powerful tools, CTCs can potentially be used as non-invasive biomarkers pr…