Articles tagged with Microfluidics
A recent study found that sperm clustering in viscoelastic fluid offers three biological benefits: reduced direction changes, improved alignment, and increased safety from strong flows. This research may inform studies on infertility and provide better selection of sperm for assisted-reproduction technologies.
A team of scientists developed a chip that simulates the human lung's breathing pattern, allowing them to visualize and analyze the flow of air and particulates through the alveoli. They found distinct flow patterns for different generations of the bronchial network, shedding light on respiratory diseases such as emphysema and COPD.
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University have created a technique to precisely control the concentration of chemicals in droplets using electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD). This allows for accurate drug screening and cell-based analysis, enabling the efficient handling of substances on a smaller scale than traditional pipettes.
Researchers at Terasaki Institute create micro-organospheres for direct viral infection, immune cell penetration, and high-throughput therapeutic drug screening. The technology holds promise for personalized medicine, tumor therapy and rapid drug testing.
A research team led by Dr Chen Ting-Hsuan developed a new rapid antibody test that shows the level of antibodies readable by the naked eye, displaying results as a length of a visual bar like a mercury thermometer.
New research by UMass Amherst professor Jinglei Ping demonstrates the use of graphene for electrokinetic biosample processing and analysis, allowing for faster and more efficient detection of biomolecules. This breakthrough enables the creation of smaller lab-on-a-chip devices with improved time and size efficiencies.
Researchers have developed a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee. The prosthesis uses integrated pneumatic actuators to control fit, reducing volume changes and pressure ulcers.
Scientists at Chung-Ang University have pioneered a novel method for controlling microdroplet motion on solid surfaces using near-infrared light. This approach allows for more precise control than traditional thermal techniques and opens up new possibilities for applications in microfluidics, drug delivery, and self-cleaning surfaces.
Researchers have developed a unique 3D printed system to harvest mesenchymal stem cells from bioreactors, which can be used for various treatments. The system combines microfluidics and 3D printing to process adult stem cells, potentially making stem cell therapies more widely available.
The research team developed an origami microfluidic device that responds to temperature, humidity, and light, following the preset origami folds. This innovation has significant implications for precision medicine and biomedical applications.
Researchers at Nara Institute of Science and Technology create a lab-on-a-chip that separates spherical from elongated bacteria, enabling standardized biological research and improved medical testing. The device can sort samples into sub-populations based on shape to diagnose patient health or assess environmental contamination.
Engineers at Stanford University have developed a microfluidic system that isolates allergen-reactive basophils from blood samples using magnetic nanoparticles. The device achieves purities and recovery over 95% in just 10 minutes, making it accessible to clinics and diagnostic labs.
Researchers at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences developed a novel photolithography technique to create self-enclosed, porous channels in microfluidic devices. This process enables the creation of high-resolution channels capable of carrying aqueous solutions and separating small biomolecules.
A wireless pacifier developed by researchers at Washington State University can monitor infants' electrolyte levels without the need for invasive blood draws. This non-invasive method provides real-time monitoring of sodium and potassium ion concentrations in saliva.
A new study reveals that droplets can unexpectedly form complex linear structures when carried by an external flow, buckling and folding onto themselves to create 'folds' and 'strings'. This phenomenon could provide insight into how ordered structures emerge from sequentially generated building blocks.
Researchers developed a soft robotic sleeve controlled with a microfluidic chip that reduces treatment cost, weight, and power consumption for lymphedema treatment. The device promotes fluid flow in the lymphatic system by sequentially inflating balloons and pushing fluid upwards.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created a new microfluidic chip that can diagnose diseases wirelessly using a smartphone. The innovation makes at-home diagnosis faster and more affordable, with potential applications for detecting viruses, pathogens, bacteria, and other biomarkers in liquid samples.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology are pushing through technical barriers in organ printing by leveraging decades-old technique and computational modeling. The team aims to create any type of organ at any time, including skin on an open wound, using microfluidic bio-printing.
Researchers have developed a new 3D printing technique to fabricate microfluidic devices with precise channels at the microscale. This breakthrough allows for accurate creation of channels in clear resin, enabling applications such as COVID-19 detection and cancer research.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes create mini-livers on a chip to study the immune system's response to hepatitis C infection. The platform enables precise control over cellular interactions, allowing for detailed insights into how the liver interacts with the virus and T cells.
A new test, RHEOLEX, can quickly detect breeding bull fertility levels using a simple, home pregnancy test-like device. The test mimics the biological process of rheotaxis, in which sperm swim upstream in the reproductive tract, to quantify the sperm's ability.
Researchers found that prior infection with common human coronaviruses does not provide immunity against SARS-CoV-2 due to limited cross-reactive antibodies. This suggests no significant adverse effects from antibody-dependent enhancement, reducing the risk of COVID-19 complications.
The new laboratory will use microfluidics, AI, and machine learning to conduct thousands of parallel experiments on single-cell eukaryotic yeast and other microbes. This will simplify the study of biology and provide a pathbreaking 'robot scientist' for fundamental research.
A Japanese research team developed a new microfluidic chip that uses dielectrophoresis to sort living cells in just 30 minutes. This technology eliminates the need for labor-intensive sample pretreatment and chemical tagging techniques, preserving cell structure and enabling faster separation of differently sized cells.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory discovered how microparticles can change direction when an electric stimulus is interrupted and reapplied with the same orientation. This emergent behavior has potential applications in microfluidic pumps for biomedical, chemical, and electronics applications.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have developed a novel droplet manipulation method called WRAP, which can transport micro-sized droplets using electromagnets or programmable electromagnetic fields. The method overcomes challenges in traditional magnetic actuation, such as contamination from added magnetic particles.
Researchers at Peking University developed a microsensor that leverages whispering gallery modes to detect single DNA molecules with improved sensitivity. The interface mode outperforms traditional evanescent field-based sensors, offering ultra-small sample consumption and automatic analysis capabilities.
Scientists from Japan and USA develop a microfluidic device for purification of tuberculosis genomic DNA fragments, enabling accurate diagnosis of diseases. The device uses transient ITP and electrokinetic trapping to detect and purify small cfDNA fragments.
Researchers at Harvard SEAS developed a new way to simulate tens of thousands of bubbles in foamy flows. This allows for predictive simulations in scales ranging from microfluidics to crashing waves, opening up possibilities for industrial applications such as food production and drug development.
Rice University researchers developed a microfluidic platform to analyze how infectious bacteria evolve resistance to antibiotics. The platform allows for controlled environments and fine-tuning of conditions, revealing previously unknown pathways to resistance.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are exploring microfluidics with the help of grant money from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. The project aims to develop 3D-printed microfluidic devices that can simulate biological environments and test treatments for medical issues.
Researchers developed a microfluidic chip for rapid and simultaneous diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza diseases, achieving results within 30 minutes. The device uses the LAMP method for genetic amplification and has potential applications in various fields beyond human infectious diseases.
Researchers from SUTD developed a highly-customisable, 3D-printed peristaltic pump kit for microfluidics, which can be downloaded and assembled by users. The pump kit is powered by Arduino and offers precise control of flow rates, with an estimated cost of $50 per unit.
Scientists have developed a pioneering new technique to barcode individual cells more accurately and efficiently. The method combines artificial intelligence with microfluidics, allowing for real-time analysis of single cells and enabling the efficient sorting and counting of cells.
A new microfluidic photoreactor treatment approach has shown promising results in reducing bilirubin levels in newborns with severe jaundice. The treatment uses high-intensity light to target and remove excess bilirubin from the blood without causing damage to red blood cells.
Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed a microfluidic Organ Chip device that accurately models cystic fibrosis lung airway pathology. The model replicates key pathological hallmarks, including mucus layer changes and inflammatory responses, providing a comprehensive preclinical human model for investigating new therapies.
A new study reveals how sperm change their swimming patterns to navigate to the egg, shifting from symmetrical to asymmetrical motion. This change in behavior, called hyperactivation, enables the sperm to sweep the area once in the egg's proximity.
Researchers at University of Toronto develop polymer coating that enables low surface tension liquids to be transported over distances up to 15 times longer than currently possible. This technology has important implications for microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices and point-of-care diagnostics.
Concordia researchers develop a new liquid biopsy method that uses lab-on-a-chip technology to identify biomarkers of concern before a tumor even forms. The technique attracts and captures particles containing cancer-causing biomarkers, allowing for early diagnosis and targeted treatment.
A novel hybrid acoustophoresis and dielectrophoresis technology has been developed for precise sorting of submicron bioparticles, including extracellular vesicles. The technology uses simultaneous acoustic and electric force fields to separate EVs with high purity and efficiency.
Researchers from FAU and MIT develop a microfluidic assay to study the mechanical performance of red blood cells under hypoxic conditions. The study reveals that cyclic hypoxia can lead to mechanical degradation of the red blood cell membrane, contributing to aging.
A multidisciplinary team of Lehigh University researchers will conduct experiments on thermophoresis in complex fluids for bioseparations at the International Space Station. The team hopes to understand how temperature gradients affect particles and improve virus separation techniques with potential societal impact.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong discovered a way to steer the spreading direction of liquids on a surface inspired by the Araucaria leaf. By adjusting the surface tension, they can control the liquid flow direction, with implications for fluidics design and heat transfer enhancement.
Researchers designed a tubular phononic crystal to sense biochemical and physical properties of liquids. The device demonstrates sensitivity to liquid density and speed of sound, making it suitable for sensing applications.
A team of scientists from Incheon National University developed a programmable DNA-based microfluidic chip that can perform complex mathematical calculations, such as Boolean logic operations. The chip uses a motor-operated valve system to execute a series of reactions in rapid and convenient manner.
A mechanical engineering faculty-researcher at RIT is developing a microfluidic device to improve the detection of drug-resistant bacteria in blood, which can cause severe infection and death. The goal is to detect these strains early, allowing for prompt treatment and recovery.
SUTD researchers developed a liquid metal antenna that can conform to soft biological tissues, addressing the mechanical mismatch at the tissue-device interface. The antenna demonstrated high wireless powering efficiency and stability under extreme deformations, making it suitable for implantable devices in hard-to-reach lesions.
Engineers at MIT and the University of Twente study water jet impacts on droplets to inform needle-free injection systems. They developed a model predicting fluid jet behavior in human skin, aiming to minimize damage.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new approach to using sound waves to manipulate tiny particles suspended in liquid in complex ways. The 'shadow waveguide' technique creates a tightly confined, spatially complex acoustic field inside a chamber without requiring any interior structure.
Researchers at MIT have quantified the phenomenon for the first time, finding that boiling droplets on hot oily surfaces move rapidly due to a thin oil cloak coating the outside of each water droplet. This cloak acts as a kind of balloon skin, holding vapor bubbles in place and imparting momentum.
Scientists have developed a paramagnetic ring that encapsulates water droplets under a magnetic field, enabling precise manipulation. The ring, made of an oil-based ferrofluid, forms spontaneously around the droplet and can be moved remotely by changing the magnetic field.
Flinders University researchers have successfully manipulated Beta-lactoglobulin, a major whey protein in cow's, sheep's, and other mammal's milk, using an Australian-made thin film microfluidic device. The device combines with a new form of biosensor to control and monitor protein denaturation and renaturation.
Engineers at UC Riverside developed an air-powered computer memory that can be used to control soft robots. This innovation eliminates the need for electronic valves and computers, reducing size, cost, and power demands.
The researchers developed a filter that can freely switch between modes such as selective filtering and passing, expanding the usefulness of microfluidic devices. The magnetic material was used with a precise 3D printing technique to create the tiny turning filter, which can be remotely manipulated on demand.
Researchers at UIC have developed a novel continuous-flow microfluidic device that enables parallel-connected micromixers to screen polymorphs, morphology, and growth rates of L-histidine in eight different conditions. The device significantly reduces screening time by about 80% compared to conventional methods.
Scientists have developed a more efficient way to perform biological and chemical experiments using microfluidic chips, reducing collisions by 300% with strategically placed obstacles
The co-planar optoelectrowetting device allows for individualized and parallel droplet actuation, increasing microfluidic input/output system integration configurations while achieving faster droplet speeds. The open-top design enables easier access to droplets from above, improving the performance of the device.
A new microfluidics system automates the loading of cryoprotectants in IVF embryos before freezing them, reducing molecular damage caused by cryopreservation. This approach enables faster and more efficient embryo cryopreservation with lower concentrations of toxic chemicals.
The Herringbone Microfluidic Probe (HB-MFP) effectively isolates Circulating Tumor Cells from blood samples, providing insights into cancer metastasis. Researchers believe this technology has great promise for diagnosing and prognosticating prostate cancer using liquid biopsies.
Researchers developed a low-cost 3D-printed microfluidic bioreactor for real-time observation of growing organoids. The device reduced cell death and improved tissue development, enabling seven-day observations of brain organoids.