Articles tagged with Microfluidics
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.
Xiaocheng Jiang will use the $450,000 grant to develop innovative method of observing fundamental cellular and molecular processes using atomic-resolution electron microscopic methods. The platform could enable new insights about biologically significant processes such as bioelectrical signaling and cancer metastasis.
North Carolina State University researchers have developed a novel microfluidic platform called NanoRobo, which can collect up to 30,000 spectrographic information points per day. This technology enables the rapid discovery and screening of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, such as perovskite quantum dots, used in LEDs.
The newly established Department of Bioengineering at Lehigh University is presenting its research at the annual meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) in Phoenix, Arizona. The department's faculty includes 17 members with academic appointments in bioengineering and an additional 17 affiliated members. Their research is s...
Researchers at Duke University have created a prototype device that uses sound waves and microfluidic technologies to sort out biological nanoparticles, known as exosomes, from blood samples. The device can isolate more than 80% of exosomes with a purity of 98%, offering a potential breakthrough for diagnostic or therapeutic devices.
Researchers create biocompatible degradable structures using stereolithography with sodium alginate precursor solutions, allowing for transient structures to dissolve away on demand. This technique is useful for making lab-on-a-chip devices and dynamic environments for live cells experiments.
Scientists from the University of Melbourne and Huazhong University of Science and Technology have successfully trapped individual quantum dots using an all-silicon nanoantenna. This innovation has the potential to improve the efficiency of nanosensors in detecting biomarkers at low concentrations.
North Carolina State University engineers have developed a hands-free method for filling complex microchannels with liquid metal using vacuum, eliminating the need for outlets and reducing defects. This approach enables broader use of liquid metals in electronic and microfluidic applications.
Researchers at Brigham Young University have successfully 3D printed microfluidic devices with flow channel cross sections as small as 18 micrometers by 20 micrometers. This breakthrough enables mass-producing medical diagnostic devices cheaply, using a custom printer and low-cost resin.
Researchers at Nagoya University have created a high-speed cell sorting method that can sort large cells with high viability, purity and success rates. The technique uses microfluidic chip-based dual on-chip pumps to control flow, enabling rapid sorting of both small and large cells.
Droplets can spontaneously climb a staircase with the help of wettability, a measure of how well a surface adheres to a liquid. The researchers found that a higher wettability gradient is needed for steeper steps and larger droplets.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using real-time monitoring to quantify cooperativity in hydrophobic interactions, demonstrating its critical role in stabilizing macromolecular assembly. The study's innovative microfluidic device enables precise tracking of solute molecule aggregation at sub-microsecond timescales.
Researchers at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University developed a new printing method to create effective disease detection tools using microfluidic bioassay devices. The device is about the size of a postage stamp and can detect multiple biomarkers for complex diseases like cancer.
Researchers have developed a fully integrated microfluidic device that produces hydrogen fuel and converts it into electrical energy based on photocatalysis. The device is designed to be self-sustaining and can provide enough power to transmit data from a microsensor for 24 hours.
Using microfluidics, researchers can stretch and shear polymers at will, allowing them to study behavior at the microscopic scale. This enables the creation of a catalogue of diverse polymeric fluids with known relaxation times, facilitating the alignment and separation of molecules in biological fluids.
Biomedical engineers at North Carolina State University have created affordable paper pumps using capillary action that power portable microfluidic devices. These devices hold promise for use in applications ranging from diagnostics to drug testing, offering advantages such as portability, low cost, and disposability.
Scientists developed a microfluidics-based technique called SMiLE-seq to characterize DNA-binding proteins, increasing speed, accuracy and efficiency. The technique can analyze over 60 transcription factors, including nine new ones, and has the potential to be extended to other molecules.
Scientists at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of Poland have developed a new method to monitor oxygen consumption by bacteria in microdroplets, enabling efficient testing of new drugs. The system uses polymer nanoparticles with phosphorescent dyes to measure oxygen levels without interfering with bacterial growth.
Researchers at OIST have created a novel sensor that detects biomolecules more accurately than ever before, using the additional function of measuring mass. This allows for more confident encapsulation of disease-detecting biomolecules within microfluidic platforms.
Researchers developed a cost-effective system to detect biomolecules in real-time using spectrally encoded microgels, enabling accurate measurements of microRNAs in blood samples. The system achieved a detection limit of 202 femtoMolars and demonstrated specificity for multiplex measurement conditions.
Researchers have developed a lab device that enables early assessment of drug effects against cancer tumors, speeding up the adoption of therapeutically effective treatments. The microfluidic system allows for real-time monitoring of cell responses to drugs in a more accurate 3D model than traditional 2D cells.
A wearable device measures key biomarkers in sweat to monitor health during exercise and detect diseases like cystic fibrosis. The low-cost, flexible device analyzes biomarker concentrations using colorimetric analysis and provides real-time results.
Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill create method for sculpting chemical spread, with implications in medicine, chemistry and environmental management. By adjusting pipe width and height, solutes can be delivered fast or slow to reach target.
Researchers have created a new culture model of the human intestine where living tissue from a patient biopsy can be preserved and studied for days. The model enables studies of complex interactions between host cells, mucus production, and gut microbes.
Researchers have developed a new platform using whole animal models that can speed up scientific research and accurately assess the effectiveness of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. The platform, which uses roundworms, can analyze thousands of live animals simultaneously and at high speeds.
A team of researchers from Tufts University has successfully integrated sensors, electronics, and microfluidics into threads to create a 'smart' thread that can collect diagnostic data wirelessly in real-time. The thread-based platform shows promise for implantable diagnostic devices and smart wearable systems.
Researchers developed a method that uses lasers to carve out paths inside biocompatible gels, locally influencing cell function and promoting tissue formation. This enables growing cells in custom-built yet biologically active 3D spaces, addressing limitations of previous approaches.
Researchers have developed a high-throughput method for creating stable vesicles of controlled size using microfluidics. The approach works for both liposomes and polymersomes, enabling applications in synthetic biology such as encapsulation of biological agents and creation of artificial cell membranes.
Using miniature EPMs, researchers achieved forces up to 70 nN and displacement velocities up to 300 μm/s on water droplets. The study has potential applications in single cell manipulation and analysis using droplet microfluidics.
Researchers aim to develop easy-to-use and inexpensive sperm sorting devices using microfluidic technology to improve fertility treatments. The technology sorts healthy sperm from damaged or dead ones, reducing DNA damage and improving sperm recovery.
A new device developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences produces droplets of virtually identical volume, revolutionizing microfluidic systems. The device eliminates cumbersome infrastructure, enabling researchers to carry out complex chemical and biological experiments with increased accuracy.
Researchers developed an integrated inertial microfluidic vortex sorter for simultaneous double sorting of rare target cells and removal of background cells. The device achieved highly purified target cell products, even in complex samples containing orders of magnitude larger number of background cells.
A team of researchers has developed an all-on-chip method for testing neutrophil chemotaxis directly from whole blood using a microfluidic system. The method enables rapid and accurate analysis of neutrophil migration in under 25 minutes, overcoming labor-intensive traditional cell preparation methods.
Researchers in China created a portable and high-performance device to detect glucose levels using fiber optic biosensors integrated with microfluidic chips. The device can detect glucose concentrations as low as 1 nM, making it an appealing technology for early diagnosis of diabetes via monitoring glucose content within sweat.
Using a simple circuit pattern with three electrodes, researchers assign unique digital identification numbers to each cell passing through the channels on the microfluidic chip. This technique captures information about cell sizes and movement speeds, allowing for automated counting and analysis of cells sorted on the chip.
Researchers developed a novel method to store microfluidic devices for CD4 T cell testing in extreme weather conditions without refrigeration. The device can be stored for up to six months at room temperature with 90% specificity, making it suitable for point-of-care settings.
Researchers developed a low-cost micromilling technique to fabricate microfluidic devices capable of performing partial separation of red blood cells from plasma. The device successfully visualized and measured blood flow, showcasing its potential for cellular-scale flow studies.
Lab-on-a-chip devices require precise fluid manipulation to operate various functions. Researchers have developed a control algorithm that improves accuracy and stability of flow regulation without requiring tuning process.
Researchers developed a differential immuno-capture technology that can detect sub-populations of white blood cells, including CD4+ T cells, for AIDS diagnosis. The microfluidic biosensor achieved over 90% correlation with flow cytometers in clinical trials.
Researchers developed a microfluidic platform to assess dynamic deformability and adhesion of red blood cells in controlled microphysiological flow. The study found that non-deformable RBCs have increased adhesion at high flow shear stresses, suggesting an interplay between deformability and adhesion.
EPFL researchers have developed a low-cost, portable microfluidic diagnostic device that can detect various diseases with high accuracy. The device operates on battery power, uses inexpensive microscopes, and requires no pre-treatment of blood samples.
Researchers develop a new way to encapsulate fragrance molecules, slowing down their release and creating longer-lasting scents. The technique uses microfluidic and bulk emulsification, resulting in uniform microcapsules that control shell size and structure.
Researchers at EPFL have developed a highly innovative research tool: a 2cm by 2cm 'chip' with 32 independent compartments, each holding a nematode. This device enables the monitoring of individual worms and allows for precise control over nutrient concentrations and temperature.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed reconfigurable origami tubes that can change cross sections to operate at different frequencies for antennas or switch liquids in microfluidic devices. The tubes employ the Miura-ori pattern and can be designed with exact properties needed for various users.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique for trapping hard-to-detect molecules using forests of carbon nanotubes. The team created a three-dimensional array of permeable nanotubes within a microfluidic device, which they coated with polymers to capture specific bioparticles.
Researchers at Penn State have created a reusable microfluidic device that can sort and manipulate cells for cheap and convenient biomedical diagnosis. The device, called acoustic tweezers, uses gentle vibrations to manipulate cells and has the potential to be used in diagnostics, therapeutics, and biology labs.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a liquid-cooling system that can be integrated directly onto chips, enabling the creation of denser and more powerful electronic systems. The system has been demonstrated to operate at temperatures significantly below those of air-cooled devices.
A Lab-on-a-Disc platform developed by German and Irish researchers detects bacterial species causing urinary tract infections in 70 minutes, significantly reducing wait times compared to traditional methods.
A team of researchers has created an organic electronic micropump that enables localised inhibition of epileptic seizure in brain tissue in vitro. The device attracts small positively charged molecules, projecting them toward the target area using electrical current.
Researchers developed a lab-on-a-chip device that can diagnose Cryptosporidium infections in as little as 10 minutes, offering potential improvements in treatment outcomes for rural areas in China. The device is easy to use and has diagnostic capabilities comparable to current standards, with the potential to reduce costs and timeframe.
Researchers are developing microfluidic solutions for easy-to-use, disposable, inexpensive, and high-throughput sperm selection. These methods offer promising results for single-sperm genomics, in-home male fertility testing, and wildlife conservation efforts.
A microfluidic system enables serial formation of cell membranes and measurement of processes taking place on them. The system allows for the creation of stable and functional membranes, opening the road to high-throughput studies of cell membrane mechanisms.
Nadine Aubry recognized for innovative research in fluid mechanics, pioneering work on low dimensional modeling of turbulent flow, and invention of micromixers enabling efficient fluid combination at low cost
Researchers at Oregon State University have identified a method to rapidly prepare frozen red blood cells for transfusions, reducing the time-consuming process of thawing and removing glycerol from the blood. This breakthrough could make it feasible to use frozen blood in emergency situations, solving inefficiencies in the current system.
Researchers at UT Arlington demonstrate direct fluid flow influences neuron growth, challenging the long-held idea that chemical cues are primarily responsible for axonal pathfinding. The study found that 35% of growth cones responded to microfluidic flow from a microtube, turning towards the direction of the flow.
Researchers developed modular components that can be snapped together to build 3-D microfluidic systems, simplifying the construction process and reducing costs. The components are inspired by electronics industry technology and use 3D printing to create standardized modules with various functions.
A research team led by Alberto Fernandez-Nieves has figured out how to convert the standard chaotic waveform to a stable helical form. By controlling the viscosity and speed of the secondary liquid surrounding the jets, they were able to stabilize the structure associated with the whipping behavior.