scholarly journals A low-cost, rapidly integrated debubbler (RID) module for microfluidic cell culture applications

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Williams ◽  
Nicholas K. Lee ◽  
Joseph A. Mylott ◽  
Nicole Mazzola ◽  
Adeel Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Air Bubbles ◽  
Experimental Systems ◽  
Physiological Fluid ◽  
Microfluidic Cell Culture

AbstractMicrofluidic platforms use controlled fluid flow to provide physiologically relevant biochemical and biophysical cues to cultured cells in a well-defined and reproducible manner. In these systems, undisturbed flows are critical and air bubbles entering microfluidic channels can result in device delamination or cell damage. To prevent bubble entry, we report a low-cost, Rapidly Integrated Debubbler (RID) module that is simple to fabricate, inexpensive, and easily combined with existing experimental systems. We demonstrate successful removal of air bubbles spanning three orders of magnitude with a maximum removal rate (dV/dt)max = 1.5 mL min−1, at flow rates corresponding to physiological fluid-induced wall shear stresses (WSS) needed for biophysical stimulation studies on cultured mammalian cell populations.

scholarly journals A Low-Cost, Rapidly Integrated Debubbler (RID) Module for Microfluidic Cell Culture Applications

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Williams ◽  
Nicholas K. Lee ◽  
Joseph A. Mylott ◽  
Nicole Mazzola ◽  
Adeel Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fluid Flows ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Air Bubbles ◽  
Experimental Systems ◽  
Microfluidic Cell Culture

Microfluidic platforms use controlled fluid flows to provide physiologically relevant biochemical and biophysical cues to cultured cells in a well-defined and reproducible manner. Undisturbed flows are critical in these systems, and air bubbles entering microfluidic channels can lead to device delamination or cell damage. To prevent bubble entry into microfluidic channels, we report a low-cost, Rapidly Integrated Debubbler (RID) module that is simple to fabricate, inexpensive, and easily combined with existing experimental systems. We demonstrate successful removal of air bubbles spanning three orders of magnitude with a maximum removal rate (dV/dt)max = 1.5 mL min−1, at flow rates required to apply physiological wall shear stress (1–200 dyne cm−2) to mammalian cells cultured in microfluidic channels.

A Novel Perfusion Bioreactor for 3D Cell Culture in Microgravity Conditions

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Isu ◽  
Diana Massai ◽  
Giulia Cerino ◽  
Diego Gallo ◽  
Cristina Bignardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Cell Culture ◽  
Cell Interaction ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Culture Process

Cell suspension culture methods based on the generation of microgravity environment are widely used in regenerative medicine for (1) the production of native-like three-dimensional (3D) cell aggregates and engineered tissues [1,2,3], for (2) low cost scalable cell expansion and long-term cell viability maintenance [4,5], and for (3) guiding differentiation of stem cells (SCs) [6]. The generation of a microgravity environment for 3D cell cultures, mimicking the native environment, promotes spatial freedom, cell growth, cell-cell interaction and improves mass transfer and cell exposure to nutrients. Nowadays, microgravity cell cultures are obtained by using stirred or rotating bioreactors, but both devices suffer from limitations: stirring bioreactors generate non-physiological shear stresses, which could damage cultured cells, interfere with SC pluripotency, and limit reproducibility of the culture process; rotating bioreactors are expensive devices due to the complex technological solutions adopted for obtaining rotation [5].

scholarly journals Studying dynamic stress effects on the behaviour of THP-1 cells by microfluidic channels

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Semra Zuhal Birol ◽  
Rana Fucucuoglu ◽  
Sertac Cadirci ◽  
Ayca Sayi-Yazgan ◽  
Levent Trabzon
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Vascular System ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Stress Effects ◽  
Adhesion Behavior ◽  
Cycling System

AbstractAtherosclerosis is a long-term disease process of the vascular system that is characterized by the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which are inflammatory regions on medium and large-sized arteries. There are many factors contributing to plaque formation, such as changes in shear stress levels, rupture of endothelial cells, accumulation of lipids, and recruitment of leukocytes. Shear stress is one of the main factors that regulates the homeostasis of the circulatory system; therefore, sudden and chronic changes in shear stress may cause severe pathological conditions. In this study, microfluidic channels with cavitations were designed to mimic the shape of the atherosclerotic blood vessel, where the shear stress and pressure difference depend on design of the microchannels. Changes in the inflammatory-related molecules ICAM-1 and IL-8 were investigated in THP-1 cells in response to applied shear stresses in an continuous cycling system through microfluidic channels with periodic cavitations. ICAM-1 mRNA expression and IL-8 release were analyzed by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Additionally, the adhesion behavior of sheared THP-1 cells to endothelial cells was examined by fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that 15 Pa shear stress significantly increases expression of ICAM-1 gene and IL-8 release in THP-1 cells, whereas it decreases the adhesion between THP-1 cells and endothelial cells.

scholarly journals Preparation and Characterization of High-Efficiency Magnetic Heavy Metal Capture Flocculants

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1732
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Yu ◽  
Yongjun Sun ◽  
Jun Zhou ◽  
Aowen Chen ◽  
Kinjal J. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Monomer Concentration ◽  
Synthesis Process ◽  
Response Surface Optimization ◽  
Metal Capture ◽  
Total Monomer Concentration

In this study, a high-efficiency magnetic heavy metal flocculant MF@AA was prepared based on carboxymethyl chitosan and magnetic Fe3O4. It was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XPS, XRD and VSM, and the Cu(II) removal rate was used as the evaluation basis for the preparation process. The effects of AMPS content, total monomer concentration, photoinitiator concentration and reaction time on the performance of MF@AA flocculation to remove Cu(II) were studied. The characterization results show that MF@AA has been successfully prepared and exhibits good magnetic induction characteristics. The synthesis results show that under the conditions of 10% AMPS content, 35% total monomer concentration, 0.04% photoinitiator concentration, and 1.5 h reaction time, the best yield of MF@AA is 77.69%. The best removal rate is 87.65%. In addition, the response surface optimization of the synthesis process of MF@AA was performed. The optimal synthesis ratio was finally determined as iron content 6.5%, CMFS: 29.5%, AM: 53.9%, AMPS: 10.1%. High-efficiency magnetic heavy metal flocculant MF@AA shows excellent flocculation performance in removing Cu(II). This research provides guidance and ideas for the development of efficient and low-cost flocculation technology to remove Cu(II) in wastewater.

scholarly journals Visualization of Surface Acoustic Waves in Thin Liquid Films

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Rambach ◽  
J. Taiber ◽  
C. M. L. Scheck ◽  
C. Meyer ◽  
J. Reboud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Film ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Thin Liquid Film ◽  
Surface Acoustic Waves ◽  
Liquid Films ◽  
Theoretical Description ◽  
Propagation Path ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Potential Applications

Abstract We demonstrate that the propagation path of a surface acoustic wave (SAW), excited with an interdigitated transducer (IDT), can be visualized using a thin liquid film dispensed onto a lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate. The practical advantages of this visualization method are its rapid and simple implementation, with many potential applications including in characterising acoustic pumping within microfluidic channels. It also enables low-cost characterisation of IDT designs thereby allowing the determination of anisotropy and orientation of the piezoelectric substrate without the requirement for sophisticated and expensive equipment. Here, we show that the optical visibility of the sound path critically depends on the physical properties of the liquid film and identify heptane and methanol as most contrast rich solvents for visualization of SAW. We also provide a detailed theoretical description of this effect.

scholarly journals Adsorption of copper ions on Magnolia officinalis residues after solid-phase fermentation with Phanerochaete chrysosporium

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1173-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengyun Tao ◽  
Yangping Liu ◽  
Junliang Chen ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Qing Huo
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Phanerochaete Chrysosporium ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Copper Ions ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Adsorption Enthalpy ◽  
Pseudo Second Order ◽  
Magnolia Officinalis

AbstractThe disposal of residues while manufacturing Chinese medicine has always been an issue that concerns pharmaceutical factories. Phanerochaete chrysosporium was inoculated into the residues of Magnolia officinalis for solid-phase fermentation to enzymatically hydrolyze the lignin in the residues and thus to improve the efficiency of removal of the copper ions from residues for the utilization of residues from Chinese medicine. With the increase in activities of lignin-degrading enzymes, especially during the fermentation days 6 to 9, the removal rate of copper ions using M. officinalis residues increased dramatically. The rate of removal reached the maximum on the 14th day and was 3.15 times higher than the initial value. The rate of adsorption of copper ions on the fermentation-modified M. officinalis residues followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption isotherms were consistent with the Freundlich models. The adsorption enthalpy was positive, indicating that it was endothermic and elevation in temperature was favorable to this adsorption process. The adsorption free energy was negative, implying the spontaneity of the process. The copper ions adsorbed could be effectively recovered using 0.2 M hydrochloric acid solution. After five successive cycles of adsorption-regeneration, the fermentation-modified M. officinalis residues exhibited a stable adsorption capacity and greater reusability. The M. officinalis residues fermented with P. chrysosporium are low-cost and environmentally friendly copper ions adsorbent, and this preparation technique realizes the optimum utilization of Chinese medicine residues.

Integrated Process for Textile Cotton Waste (TCW) Valorization: Waste-to-Energy and Wastewater Decontamination

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ribeiro ◽  
C. Vilarinho ◽  
J. Araújo ◽  
J. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Calorific Value ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
World Population ◽  
Cotton Waste ◽  
Textile Industries

The increasing of world population, industrialization and global consuming, existing market products existed in the along with diversification of raw materials, are responsible for an exponential increase of wastes. This scenario represents loss of resources and ultimately causes air, soils and water pollution. Therefore, proper waste management is currently one of the major challenges faced by modern societies. Textile industries represents, in Portugal, almost 10% of total productive transforming sector and 19% of total employments in the sector composed by almost 7.000 companies. One of the main environmental problems of textile industries is the production of significant quantities of wastes from its different processing steps. According to the Portuguese Institute of Statistics (INE) these industries produce almost 500.000 tons of wastes each year, with the textile cotton waste (TCW) being the most expressive. It was estimated that 4.000 tons of TCW are produced each year in Portugal. In this work an integrated TCW valorisation procedure was evaluated, firstly by its thermal and energetic valorisation with slow pyrolysis followed by the utilization of biochar by-product, in lead and chromium synthetic wastewater decontamination. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a small scale rotating pyrolysis reactor with 0.1 m3 of total capacity. Results of pyrolysis experiments showed the formation of 0,241 m3 of biogas for each kilogram of TCW. Results also demonstrated that the biogas is mostly composed by hydrogen (22%), methane (14 %), carbon monoxide (20%) and carbon dioxide (12%), which represents a total high calorific value of 12.3 MJ/Nm3. Regarding biochar, results of elemental analysis demonstrated a high percentage of carbon driving its use as low cost adsorbent. Adsorption experiments were conducted with lead and chromium synthetic wastewaters (25, 50 and 100 mg L−1) in batch vessels with controlled pH. It was evaluated the behaviour of adsorption capacity and removal rate of each metal during 120 minutes of contact time using 5, 10 and 50 g L−1 of adsorbent dosage. Results indicated high affinity of adsorbent with each tested metal with 78% of removal rate in chromium and 95% in lead experiments. This suggests that biochar from TCW pyrolysis may be appropriated to wastewaters treatment, with high contents of heavy metals and it can be an effective alternative to activated carbon.

scholarly journals Acoustic trapping in bubble-bounded micro-cavities

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. O’Mahoney ◽  
C. McDougall ◽  
P. Glynne-Jones ◽  
M. P. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Lower Order ◽  
Cavity Mode ◽  
Microfluidic Channels ◽  
Air Bubbles ◽  
Longitudinal Acoustic ◽  
Lateral Mode ◽  
Micro Cavity ◽  
Trapping Sites

AbstractWe present a method for controllably producing longitudinal acoustic trapping sites inside microfluidic channels. Air bubbles are injected into a micro-capillary to create bubble-bounded ‘micro-cavities’. A cavity mode is formed that shows controlled longitudinal acoustic trapping between the two air/water interfaces along with the levitation to the centre of the channel that one would expect from a lower order lateral mode. 7 μm and 10 μm microspheres are trapped at the discrete acoustic trapping sites in these micro-cavities.We show this for several lengths of micro-cavity.

scholarly journals Computational Analysis of Fluid Flow Within a Device for Applying Biaxial Strain to Cultured Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Lee ◽  
Aaron B. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Shear Stress ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Fluid Velocity ◽  
Mechanical Strain ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Biaxial Strain ◽  
Maximal Strain

In vitro systems for applying mechanical strain to cultured cells are commonly used to investigate cellular mechanotransduction pathways in a variety of cell types. These systems often apply mechanical forces to a flexible membrane on which cells are cultured. A consequence of the motion of the membrane in these systems is the generation of flow and the unintended application of shear stress to the cells. We recently described a flexible system for applying mechanical strain to cultured cells, which uses a linear motor to drive a piston array to create biaxial strain within multiwell culture plates. To better understand the fluidic stresses generated by this system and other systems of this type, we created a computational fluid dynamics model to simulate the flow during the mechanical loading cycle. Alterations in the frequency or maximal strain magnitude led to a linear increase in the average fluid velocity within the well and a nonlinear increase in the shear stress at the culture surface over the ranges tested (0.5–2.0 Hz and 1–10% maximal strain). For all cases, the applied shear stresses were relatively low and on the order of millipascal with a dynamic waveform having a primary and secondary peak in the shear stress over a single mechanical strain cycle. These findings should be considered when interpreting experimental results using these devices, particularly in the case when the cell type used is sensitive to low magnitude, oscillatory shear stresses.

Preparation of Nanosized TiO2-Photocatalyst From-Sludge (TFS) and the Characteristics of Concrete Sidewalk Blocks Using TFS

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 3882-3886
Author(s):  
Yong-Wook Jung ◽  
Jong Kyu Kim
Keyword(s):  
Methylene Blue ◽  
Photocatalytic Degradation ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Mixing Ratio ◽  
Tio2 Photocatalyst ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Nanosized Tio2

In this study, nano-sized low cost titanium dioxide (TFS) was prepared using sludge from sewage treatment and performance was verified. To remove air pollutants, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and efflorescence characteristics is assessed according to the mixing ratio of the nano-sized TFS by applying them to concrete sidewalk blocks. The photocatalytic degradation performance of concrete sidewalk blocks shows that the methylene blue removal rate of specimens containing 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of nano-sized TFS is 29%, 27%, and 38%, respectively. When the nano-sized TFS is mingled on the surface of the sidewalk block, the performance of anti-corrosion and antifouling showed excellency mainly due to the moisture blocking derived by the antifouling function of photocatalysts.

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