Design considerations for a CMOS Lab-on-Chip microheater array to facilitate the in vitro thermal stimulation of neurons

Author(s):  
F. Reverter ◽  
T. Prodromakis ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
P. Georgiou ◽  
K. Nikolic ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (05) ◽  
pp. 622-636
Author(s):  
Crispin Szydzik ◽  
Rose J. Brazilek ◽  
Warwick S. Nesbitt

AbstractThe manipulation of blood within in vitro environments presents a persistent challenge, due to the highly reactive nature of blood, and its multifaceted response to material contact, changes in environmental conditions, and stimulation during handling. Microfluidic Lab-on-Chip systems offer the promise of robust point-of-care diagnostic tools and sophisticated research platforms. The capacity for precise control of environmental and experimental conditions afforded by microfluidic technologies presents unique opportunities that are particularly relevant to research and clinical applications requiring the controlled manipulation of blood. A critical bottleneck impeding the translation of existing Lab-on-Chip technology from laboratory bench to the clinic is the ability to reliably handle relatively small blood samples without negatively impacting blood composition or function. This review explores design considerations critical to the development of microfluidic systems intended for use with whole blood from an engineering perspective. Material hemocompatibility is briefly explored, encompassing common microfluidic device materials, as well as surface modification strategies intended to improve hemocompatibility. Operational hemocompatibility, including shear-induced effects, temperature dependence, and gas interactions are explored, microfluidic sample preparation methodologies are introduced, as well as current techniques for on-chip manipulation of the whole blood. Finally, methods of assessing hemocompatibility are briefly introduced, with an emphasis on primary hemostasis and platelet function.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bartosz Kempisty ◽  
Rafał Walczak ◽  
Paweł Antosik ◽  
Patrycja Sniadek ◽  
Marta Rybska ◽  
...  

Since microfollicular environment and the size of the follicle are important markers influencing oocyte quality, the aim of this study is to present the spectral characterization of oocytes isolated from follicles of various sizes using lab-on-chip (LOC) technology and to demonstrate how follicle size may affect oocyte quality. Porcine oocytes (each,n=100) recovered from follicles of different sizes, for example, from large (>5 mm), medium (3–5 mm), and small (<3 mm), were analyzed after precedingin vitromaturation (IVM). The LOC analysis was performed using a silicon-glass sandwich with two glass optical fibers positioned “face-to-face.” Oocytes collected from follicles of different size classes revealed specific and distinguishable spectral characteristics. The absorbance spectra (microspectrometric specificity) for oocytes isolated from large, medium, and small follicles differ significantly (P<0.05) and the absorbance wavelengths were between 626 and 628 nm, between 618 and 620 nm, and less than 618 nm, respectively. The present study offers a parametric and objective method of porcine oocyte assessment. However, up to now this study has been used to evidence spectral markers associated with follicular size in pigs, only. Further investigations with functional-biological assays and comparing LOC analyses with fertilization and pregnancy success and the outcome of healthy offspring must be performed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedicte Charrier ◽  
Samuel Boscq ◽  
Bradley J. Nelson ◽  
Nino F Laubli

PDMS chips have proven to be suitable environments for the growth of several filamentous organisms. However, depending on the specimen, the pattern of growth and cell differentiation has been rarely investigated. We monitored the developmental pattern of the brown alga Ectocarpus inside a PDMS lab-on-chip. Two main methods of inoculation of the lab-on-chip were tested, i.e. by injection of spores or by insertion of sporophyte filaments into the chamber. Growth rate, growth trajectory, cell differentiation, and branching were the main development steps that were monitored for 20 days inside 25 um or 40 um parallel channels under standard light and temperature conditions. They were shown to be similar to those observed in non-constrained in-vitro conditions. Labelling of Ectocarpus cell wall polysaccharides, both with calcofluor for cellulose, and by immunolocalisation for alginates with monoclonal antibodies, showed expected patterns when compared to open space growth using either epifluorescence or confocal microscopy. Overall this article describes the experimental conditions for observing and studying the basic unaltered processes of brown algal growth using microfluidic technology, which provides the basis for future biochemical and biological research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Aloisi ◽  
E. Tarentini ◽  
A. Ferramosca ◽  
V. Zara ◽  
R. Rinaldi

Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is a significant parameter helpful to determinein vitrorespiratory efficiency of living cells. Oxygen is an excellent oxidant and its electrocatalytic reduction on a noble metal allows accurately detecting it. By means of microfabrication technologies, handy, low-cost, and disposable chip can be attained, minimizing working volumes and improving sensitivity and response time. In this respect, here is presented a microoxygraph device (MOD), based on Clark’s electrode principle, displaying many advantageous features in comparison to other systems. This lab-on-chip platform is composed of a three-microelectrode detector equipped with a microgrooved electrochemical cell, sealed with a polymeric reaction chamber. Au working/counter electrodes and Ag/AgCl reference electrode were fabricated on a glass slide. A microchannel was realized by photoresist lift-off technique and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanoporous film was integrated as oxygen permeable membrane (OPM) between the probe and the microreaction chamber. Electrochemical measurements showed good reproducibility and average response time, assessed by periodic injection and suction of a reducing agent. OCR measurements on 3T3 cells, subjected, in real time, to chemical stress on the respiratory chain, were able to show that this chip allows performing consistent metabolic analysis.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Csaba Forro ◽  
Davide Caron ◽  
Gian Angotzi ◽  
Vincenzo Gallo ◽  
Luca Berdondini ◽  
...  

Brain-on-Chip (BoC) biotechnology is emerging as a promising tool for biomedical and pharmaceutical research applied to the neurosciences. At the convergence between lab-on-chip and cell biology, BoC couples in vitro three-dimensional brain-like systems to an engineered microfluidics platform designed to provide an in vivo-like extrinsic microenvironment with the aim of replicating tissue- or organ-level physiological functions. BoC therefore offers the advantage of an in vitro reproduction of brain structures that is more faithful to the native correlate than what is obtained with conventional cell culture techniques. As brain function ultimately results in the generation of electrical signals, electrophysiology techniques are paramount for studying brain activity in health and disease. However, as BoC is still in its infancy, the availability of combined BoC–electrophysiology platforms is still limited. Here, we summarize the available biological substrates for BoC, starting with a historical perspective. We then describe the available tools enabling BoC electrophysiology studies, detailing their fabrication process and technical features, along with their advantages and limitations. We discuss the current and future applications of BoC electrophysiology, also expanding to complementary approaches. We conclude with an evaluation of the potential translational applications and prospective technology developments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Villata ◽  
Lucia Napione ◽  
Désirée Baruffaldi ◽  
Christine Nardini ◽  
Francesca Frascella ◽  
...  

The aim of the work is to propose a methodology for the stimulation of a 3D in vitro skin model to activate wound healing. The presented work is in the frame of the national research project, CronXCov, “Checking the CHRONIC to prevent COVID-19”, devoted to understand how physiologic and inflamed skin on chip 3D models evolve upon a range of physical (e.g., electrical, mechanical, optical) stimulations, over time. Thanks to the 3D modelling, using Next Generation Sequencing and the network medicine frame of analysis to process the data, we will systematically characterize the effects of the applied stimuli, offering new insight for the exploitation of wound healing.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (48) ◽  
pp. 8380-8394 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. González-Guerrero ◽  
J. Maldonado ◽  
S. Herranz ◽  
L. M. Lechuga

Portable point-of care (POC) devices forin vitrodiagnostics will be a milestone for the achievement of universal healthcare and environmental protection.


2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Bukowska ◽  
B. Kempisty ◽  
H. Piotrowska ◽  
R. Walczak ◽  
P. Sniadek ◽  
...  

&nbsp;The quality of oocytes-embryos can be determined by several techniques, including morphological, molecular, cellular and biochemical ones. The morphological methods of female gamete or embryo quality assessment often use thе following in vitro manipulation procedures such as: in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro embryo production (IVP). However, these methods are highly subjective and the morphological classification of oocytes or embryos is not always compatible with their ability to grow and develop. Additionally, molecular biology methods are objective and present parametric results, which are more or less comparable to the real oocyte-embryo &ldquo;health&rdquo;. Although these techniques enable us to determine markers of oocyte-embryo developmental potential, when applied they lead to destruction of the analysed cells. Therefore, the need still exists to search for new methods that will be highly objective (parametric) and, which is most important, non-invasive. In this review, the morphological and molecular methods of oocyte-embryo quality assessment are presented. Moreover, we described a new system based on microfluidic technology (Lab-on-Chip) which allows the creation of a new device for mammalian oocyte as well as embryo quality evaluation: by using their spectral characterisation following embryo transfer (ET) procedures in the cattle and the pig. &nbsp; &nbsp;


2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 (1) ◽  
pp. 000036-000041
Author(s):  
M. Palmieri ◽  
T. Barbuzzi ◽  
A. Maierna ◽  
M. Marchi ◽  
G. Montalbano ◽  
...  

STMicroelectronics has teamed up with Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH to develop the In-Check™ Lab-on-Chip microfluidic disposable cartridge. In-Check™ is a ST proprietary platform dedicated to the in-vitro molecular diagnostics, e.g. biological analysis based on nucleic acid targets such as DNA, RNA. Its first generation has been released to commercial applications such as virus or bacteria borne infectious diseases. The second generation described herein will further enhance the platform customer experience by means of an innovative design of its disposable component. Indeed the new format represents a substantial step forward in the system integration and easy-of-use. This advanced microfluidics package enables fully automated application protocols such as analyte and reagents input, management and disposal. In-Check™ cartridge is a plastic-based self-contained embodiment which integrates a variety of design elements and components, including liquid loading and waste reservoirs, connecting micro-channels, two sets of valves one set to tight-seal biochemical reactors and the other set for fluid routing, hydrophobic membranes, fluorescent read-out window. Such microfluidic platform married with integrated Micro Electo Mechanical System (MEMS) device and software algoritms provides a highly flexible system to run complex biological assays as RNA Reverse Transcription (RT), DNA Polimerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Probe Hybridization and Detection. This paper will present the disposable product concept, key components and functionality together with the design and manufacturing challenge.


1985 ◽  
Vol 54 (04) ◽  
pp. 799-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Luís Pérez-Requejo ◽  
Justo Aznar ◽  
M Teresa Santos ◽  
Juana Vallés

SummaryIt is shown that the supernatant of unstirred whole blood at 37° C, stimulated by 1 μg/ml of collagen for 10 sec, produces a rapid generation of pro and antiaggregatory compounds with a final proaggregatory activity which can be detected for more than 60 min on a platelet rich plasma (PRP) by turbidometric aggregometry. A reversible aggregation wave that we have called BASIC wave (for Blood Aggregation Stimulatory and Inhibitory Compounds) is recorded. The collagen stimulation of unstirred PRP produces a similar but smaller BASIC wave. BASIC’s intensity increases if erythrocytes are added to PRP but decreases if white blood cells are added instead. Aspirin abolishes “ex vivo” the ability of whole blood and PRP to generate BASIC waves and dipyridamole “in vitro” significantly reduces BASIC’s intensity in whole blood in every tested sample, but shows little effect in PRP.


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