Articles tagged with Microfluidics
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Researchers developed a low-cost, portable microscopy system using transparent microspheres and affordable objective lenses to detect pathogens in water sources. The assembly can be customized for various applications, including on-site antibiotic testing.
Researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University, Harvard University, and Guangzhou University investigated viscoelastic flow mixing in microfluidics. They found that viscoelastic fluids exhibit transiently unstable flow patterns compared to Newtonian fluids, resulting in increased mixing.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a high-throughput cell separation method using droplet microfluidics to study host-pathogen interactions. The system successfully isolates pathogens attached to host cells from those that are unattached, simplifying the study of novel pathogens and environmental microbiology applications.
Researchers used microfluidic devices to study the interaction between viruses and cell membranes, revealing high-resolution understanding of electric shifts happening at the surface. The technique showed that glycine can interrupt capsid formation for replicated viruses within the cell.
Scientists at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute create miniature polymeric reaction containers, mimicking cellular compartments to study enzymatic reactions. The 'cell on a chip' technology provides precise control over enzyme combinations and transport, facilitating research into metabolic diseases and drug reactions.
The study demonstrates the creation of microfluidic channels at the micron scale using 3D printing, which could automate production of diagnostics, sensors, and assays. The researchers also integrated these devices with electronic sensors for lab-on-a-chip sensing capabilities.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, miniaturized biochip that uses machine learning and microfluidics technology to analyze cancer cells at the single-cell level. The device enables precise characterization of various cancer types and study cellular heterogeneity, potentially improving cancer treatment drugs.
The October issue of SLAS Technology features a cover article on the role of digital microfluidics in enabling access to laboratory automation and making biology programmable. The article discusses the challenges faced by scientists, including costs and late-stage risk, and explores how digital microfluidics can overcome these challenges.
Researchers develop 'PhenoChip' to select and propagate single photosynthetically active cells, enabling fundamental industry applications and improved ecosystem understanding. The technology helps identify resilient cells in natural environments, such as coral reef health, and can aid in mitigating climate change impacts.
A research team at Toyohashi University of Technology developed a multiplex genetic diagnostic device for early detection and prevention of crop diseases. The device uses loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to diagnose multiple plant viral diseases simultaneously within 1 hour.
A new surfactant-free method produces up to 100 microcapsules per second, ideal for pharmaceutical or skin care applications. The technique involves creating tiny channels and injecting immiscible liquids, which are then polymerized and solidified to trap the liquid core.
Researchers created a fast, precise and scalable method for individual nano- and submicron scale manipulation in acoustic fields using megahertz frequencies. The technology isolates submicron particles, enabling sorting, patterning and size-selective capture of nanoscale objects.
Red blood cells deform and recover when passing through tiny channels, revealing a possible new method to diagnose diseases such as malaria. The researchers found that the shape recovery behavior depends on flow speed, viscosity, and elastic properties of the cell's outer membrane.
The research team developed an intelligent microsystem employing machine learning and automation to reduce chemical waste by two orders of magnitude and catalytic discovery from weeks to hours. By screening catalysts and polymers faster, the method could lead to more efficient design and environmentally benign plastics.
A new microfluidic chip developed by researchers can quickly identify small differences in sperm chemotactic behavior, providing a more complete picture of male fertility. The device uses a concentration gradient of progesterone to guide sperm towards the egg, offering a pump-free alternative to existing tests.
Researchers from SUTD develop a modularization approach to print microfluidic channels with greater intricacy and smaller channel dimensions. They demonstrate the efficacy of their approach by showing a substantial improvement in channel dimensions compared to conventional methods.
A SUTD research team developed a novel N-shaped electrode design for measuring single cells' lateral positions and biophysical properties in a microdevice. This approach uses differential current to encode particles' trajectories, eliminating expensive imaging setups.
Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed a way to program built-in controls in microfluidic networks, enabling the creation of miniaturized chemical laboratories on a chip. This technology has potential applications in point-of-care diagnostics, field research, and even space exploration.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a novel tool called the Micro-Electro-Fluidic Probe (MeFP) that can selectively separate and pattern mammalian cells in an open microfluidic system. The device demonstrates high isolation efficiency, separation purity, and fast pattern deposition rates.
The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) has chosen 53 life sciences students from 12 countries to receive the SLAS Tony B. Academic Travel Award. The award winners will present their research at the SLAS 2020 International Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, CA, USA.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new way to pre-program microfluidic devices, allowing for smart, autonomous behavior without external components. This breakthrough could enable the creation of portable, wearable technologies for applications in medicine, energy, and space exploration.
Chinese scientists developed a new material that enables the creation of flexible, wearable supercapacitors with high energy density. The electrodes are made from a hybrid material synthesized from two carbon nanomaterials and a metal-organic framework, which provides a balance of porosity, conductivity, and electrochemical activity.
A rapid microfluidic test can diagnose Lyme disease with similar performance to the standard 2-tiered approach in a much shorter time. The test uses a combination of three proteins to identify antibodies specific to the B. burgdorferi bacterium in the serum.
Researchers developed a two-layer microchip that enables long-term tracking of stem cell development, overcoming technical challenges. The device allows for high-resolution imaging and manipulation of stem cells, enabling better control and understanding of differentiation processes.
Researchers used microchips to test titanium dioxide, a common sunscreen ingredient, which is found nontoxic but offers protection against UV damage to skin cells. Microfluidic devices simplify nanoparticle analysis, reducing cost and time.
A tiny lab-on-a-chip can screen hundreds of drug compounds in just a few hours, revealing their effect on blood and quickly identifying those with potential clinical use. The technology accelerates the discovery and development of new anti-clotting therapies, potentially improving heart attack and stroke prevention.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a simple pressure pump made from balloons and nylon stockings that can be used to test water contaminants and blood samples. The low-cost device has been tested in various experiments, including detecting aquatic parasites and cancer cells.
Tiny devices based on microfluidics can analyze bodily fluids to detect early signs of cancer, enabling widespread screening. They also help develop personalized treatments by predicting patient responses to drug candidates.
A research team devised a novel mechanism to transport droplets at record-high velocity and distance without extra energy input. The new strategy uses surface charge density manipulation to achieve unidirectional and self-propelled liquid droplet transportation on diverse substrates.
A team of researchers from the American Institute of Physics recommends improving microfluidics education and outreach efforts. They provide methods and suggestions for teachers and scientists to better communicate significant advances within the field to students and public audiences.
Researchers at Harvard University have invented a soft ring oscillator that enables soft robots to roll, undulate, sort and swallow. The invention uses pressurized air to create movement, allowing the robots to perform complex movements without electronic components.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device to capture circulating cancer cell clusters, providing a new tool for studying metastasis and developing anti-metastatic drug therapies. The device's design enables the collection of viable human cancer cell clusters from patient blood samples, offering a novel approach to combatting cancer.
Under confined conditions, bubbles can form spheres as perfectly matched as droplets. The new findings have implications for biomedical research and understanding natural gas interactions with petroleum.
Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design have discovered a method to achieve self-assembly of low-density droplets in microfluidic flows using three-dimensional microchannels. The study shows that by introducing a gradual increase in height, droplets can accumulate and assemble into ordered structures.
Researchers at IBS report discovering spontaneous oscillations in microfluidic droplet networks, similar to our blood capillaries. Adding irregularities to the network relieves blood traffic cloggings, suggesting cell collisions or diameter variations help avoid dangerous oscillations.
Researchers at Polytechnique Montréal developed an open-space microfluidics technology that eliminates channels, reducing stress on cells and increasing compatibility with cell-culture standards. The system uses microfluidic multipoles to create patterns that can be used for disease detection and diagnosis.
A team of NJIT researchers has created a novel electrochemical biosensing device that can identify tiny signals of biomarkers emitted by diseases, such as cancer and malaria. The device uses gold nanoparticles to enhance signal response and separates plasma from blood to achieve high accuracy.
Researchers have created a soft computer using only rubber and air, emulating the thought process of an electronic computer. The soft computer mimics digital logic gates and achieves complex operations with pneumatic signals, enabling faster and more energy-efficient robots.
Brown University researchers create modular hydrogel components that can bend, twist, or stick together in response to treatment with certain chemicals. The components are designed for various
Researchers developed a laser-driven photoacoustic microfluidic pump that moves fluids in any direction without mechanical parts or electrical contacts. The device uses a plasmonic quartz plate implanted with gold atoms to generate an ultrasonic wave, driving the fluid via acoustic streaming.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device that can isolate individual cancer cells from patient blood samples using size separation. The device has high efficiency and reliability, with recovery rates of up to 93% for small-cell-lung cancer cells.
Scientists at KIT integrate a microfluidic chamber into a 3D laser lithography device to produce multi-colored, fluorescent security features from seven different materials. The system enables precise production of three-dimensional microstructured security features for applications such as banknote and document counterfeiting.
SUTD researchers have developed a novel method to fabricate microfluidic channels using fluoropolymers, offering chemical and solvent compatibility. This approach enables rapid fabrication of microchannels in under an hour, opening up new possibilities for various applications.
SUTD researchers developed a modular approach to fabricate microfluidic axisymmetric droplet generators with distinct modules of 3D printed fittings, needles, and tubes. The devices can produce custom-made emulsions of varying size and complexity by switching needles or adding new modules.
Researchers at UMD create the smallest-known 3D microfluidic circuit element, overcoming cost and complexity barriers in personalized medicine and drug delivery. The new strategy allows for faster, cheaper, and more efficient 3D printing of complex fluidic systems.
A team of researchers from Illinois Institute of Technology has developed a novel microfluidic device for measuring cholesterol secreted from human hepatocytes in real-time. The device uses bead-based enzymatic assay for cholesterol measurement, which can quantify cholesterol secreted by human hepatocytes in real-time on-chip.
Researchers Max Mikel-Stites and Anne Staples investigated Ant-Man's microscale respiration, finding that superhero suits contain a combination of air pumps, compressors, and molecular filters to breathe while insect-sized. Their study could lead to new microfluidic technologies with potential consumer benefits.
Researchers found that Ant-Man and the Wasp's bug-sized state would lead to serious oxygen deprivation issues due to reduced atmospheric density. Microfluidic technologies could help alleviate these issues by providing controlled flow rates and directions of air, similar to insect respiratory systems.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to process larger volumes of fluid using individual fibers, overcoming limitations in traditional microfluidic devices. This innovation enables the detection of rare substances, such as cancerous cells among millions of normal cells.
Researchers at the University of Exeter have created miniature magnetic swimming devices that can swim to specific locations in the body, potentially improving disease treatment. The devices, measuring as small as one millimeter long, can be used to deliver drugs directly to affected areas, reducing treatment time and success rates.
A microfluidic device created by Cornell University scientists can corral viable sperm in minutes, improving IVF chances. The device uses rheotaxis to separate highly motile sperm from weaker ones, reducing the time-consuming and tedious process of conventional methods.
Researchers developed an integrated fabrication process to design soft robots on the millimeter scale with micrometer-scale features, enabling changes in structure, motion, and color. The new technology paves the way for a new generation of flexible microrobots for medical and environmental tasks.
A new microfluidics technique has been developed to construct microchannels with efficient gas exchange, potentially delivering nearly a third of the oxygen needed by preterm newborns. The design uses both sides of the membrane for gas exchange and is more effective than previous single-sided counterparts.
Researchers developed a novel inertial cell focusing and sorting microfluidic device with a wavy channel structure, achieving size-based separation of target cells. The device offers high-throughput, low-energy consumption, and simplified setup, making it suitable for practical biomedical applications.
Researchers at Penn University developed a microfluidic system to produce over 10,000 drug particles per hour, making it ten times faster than existing methods. The innovative technology uses high-aspect-ratio flow resistors to decouple individual droplet design from the system-level design.
Researchers at NUS have developed a tiny microfluidic chip that can detect minute amounts of biomolecules without complex equipment. The chip uses standard lab microscopes to spot nano-biomolecules, making it attractive for point-of-care diagnostics.
A new USC study uses nature-inspired 3D printing to create a material that can separate oil and water, potentially leading to safer and more efficient oil spill clean-up methods. The material also enables "microdroplet manipulation," which has applications in various fields such as cell cultures, chemical synthesis, and DNA sequencing.
A new liquid biopsy platform uses centrifugal microfluidics to isolate and enrich circulating disease biomarkers from patient blood, promising a less invasive diagnostic procedure. The technique, called μCENSE, separates vesicles containing biomarkers using centrifugal force, reducing extraction time from hours to minutes.
MIT researchers have developed a new approach to microfluidics using LEGO bricks, enabling the creation of modular devices that can perform various biological operations. The team has designed fluidic bricks with specific patterns of channels to perform tasks such as mixing and sorting fluids.
Researchers have developed a microfluidic device that emulates the human blood-retinal barrier, allowing for the study of its structure and physiological conditions. The device enables cells to communicate and interact with each other like in a living organ, making it an essential tool for boosting in vitro experimentation.