scholarly journals Microfluidic Bioreactor Made of Cyclo-Olefin Polymer for Observing On-Chip Platelet Production

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1253
Author(s):  
Hiroki Kumon ◽  
Shinya Sakuma ◽  
Sou Nakamura ◽  
Hisataka Maruyama ◽  
Koji Eto ◽  
...  

We previously proposed a microfluidic bioreactor with glass–Si–glass layers to evaluate the effect of the fluid force on platelet (PLT) production and fabricated a three-dimensional (3D) microchannel by combining grayscale photolithography and deep reactive ion etching. However, a challenge remains in observing the detailed process of PLT production owing to the low visibility of the microfluidic bioreactor. In this paper, we present a transparent microfluidic bioreactor made of cyclo-olefin polymer (COP) with which to observe the process of platelet-like particle (PLP) production under a bright-field, which allows us to obtain image data at a high sampling rate. We succeeded in fabricating the COP microfluidic bioreactor with a 3D microchannel. We investigated the bonding strength of COP-COP layers and confirmed the effectiveness of the microfluidic bioreactor. Results of on-chip PLP production using immortalized megakaryocyte cell lines (imMKCLs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells show that the average total number of produced PLPs per imMKCL was 17.6 PLPs/imMKCL, which is comparable to that of our previous glass–Si–glass microfluidic bioreactor (17.4 PLPs/imMKCL). We succeeded in observing PLP production under a bright-field using the presented microfluidic bioreactor and confirmed that PLP fragmented in a narrow area of proplatelet-like protrusions.

Author(s):  
D.W. Andrews ◽  
F.P. Ottensmeyer

Shadowing with heavy metals has been used for many years to enhance the topological features of biological macromolecular complexes. The three dimensional features present in directionaly shadowed specimens often simplifies interpretation of projection images provided by other techniques. One difficulty with the method is the relatively large amount of metal used to achieve sufficient contrast in bright field images. Thick shadow films are undesirable because they decrease resolution due to an increased tendency for microcrystalline aggregates to form, because decoration artefacts become more severe and increased cap thickness makes estimation of dimensions more uncertain.The large increase in contrast provided by the dark field mode of imaging allows the use of shadow replicas with a much lower average mass thickness. To form the images in Fig. 1, latex spheres of 0.087 μ average diameter were unidirectionally shadowed with platinum carbon (Pt-C) and a thin film of carbon was indirectly evaporated on the specimen as a support.


Author(s):  
Joachim Frank

Cryo-electron microscopy combined with single-particle reconstruction techniques has allowed us to form a three-dimensional image of the Escherichia coli ribosome.In the interior, we observe strong density variations which may be attributed to the difference in scattering density between ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein. This identification can only be tentative, and lacks quantitation at this stage, because of the nature of image formation by bright field phase contrast. Apart from limiting the resolution, the contrast transfer function acts as a high-pass filter which produces edge enhancement effects that can explain at least part of the observed variations. As a step toward a more quantitative analysis, it is necessary to correct the transfer function in the low-spatial-frequency range. Unfortunately, it is in that range where Fourier components unrelated to elastic bright-field imaging are found, and a Wiener-filter type restoration would lead to incorrect results. Depending upon the thickness of the ice layer, a varying contribution to the Fourier components in the low-spatial-frequency range originates from an “inelastic dark field” image. The only prospect to obtain quantitatively interpretable images (i.e., which would allow discrimination between rRNA and protein by application of a density threshold set to the average RNA scattering density may therefore lie in the use of energy-filtering microscopes.


Author(s):  
Robert W. Mackin

This paper presents two advances towards the automated three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of thick and heavily-overlapped regions in cytological preparations such as cervical/vaginal smears. First, a high speed 3-D brightfield microscope has been developed, allowing the acquisition of image data at speeds approaching 30 optical slices per second. Second, algorithms have been developed to detect and segment nuclei in spite of the extremely high image variability and low contrast typical of such regions. The analysis of such regions is inherently a 3-D problem that cannot be solved reliably with conventional 2-D imaging and image analysis methods.High-Speed 3-D imaging of the specimen is accomplished by moving the specimen axially relative to the objective lens of a standard microscope (Zeiss) at a speed of 30 steps per second, where the stepsize is adjustable from 0.2 - 5μm. The specimen is mounted on a computer-controlled, piezoelectric microstage (Burleigh PZS-100, 68/μm displacement). At each step, an optical slice is acquired using a CCD camera (SONY XC-11/71 IP, Dalsa CA-D1-0256, and CA-D2-0512 have been used) connected to a 4-node array processor system based on the Intel i860 chip.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanshan Chen ◽  
Zhiguang Liu ◽  
Huifeng Du ◽  
Chengchun Tang ◽  
Chang-Yin Ji ◽  
...  

AbstractKirigami, with facile and automated fashion of three-dimensional (3D) transformations, offers an unconventional approach for realizing cutting-edge optical nano-electromechanical systems. Here, we demonstrate an on-chip and electromechanically reconfigurable nano-kirigami with optical functionalities. The nano-electromechanical system is built on an Au/SiO2/Si substrate and operated via attractive electrostatic forces between the top gold nanostructure and bottom silicon substrate. Large-range nano-kirigami like 3D deformations are clearly observed and reversibly engineered, with scalable pitch size down to 0.975 μm. Broadband nonresonant and narrowband resonant optical reconfigurations are achieved at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, respectively, with a high modulation contrast up to 494%. On-chip modulation of optical helicity is further demonstrated in submicron nano-kirigami at near-infrared wavelengths. Such small-size and high-contrast reconfigurable optical nano-kirigami provides advanced methodologies and platforms for versatile on-chip manipulation of light at nanoscale.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 5931
Author(s):  
Ji’an You ◽  
Zhaozheng Hu ◽  
Chao Peng ◽  
Zhiqiang Wang

Large amounts of high-quality image data are the basis and premise of the high accuracy detection of objects in the field of convolutional neural networks (CNN). It is challenging to collect various high-quality ship image data based on the marine environment. A novel method based on CNN is proposed to generate a large number of high-quality ship images to address this. We obtained ship images with different perspectives and different sizes by adjusting the ships’ postures and sizes in three-dimensional (3D) simulation software, then 3D ship data were transformed into 2D ship image according to the principle of pinhole imaging. We selected specific experimental scenes as background images, and the target ships of the 2D ship images were superimposed onto the background images to generate “Simulation–Real” ship images (named SRS images hereafter). Additionally, an image annotation method based on SRS images was designed. Finally, the target detection algorithm based on CNN was used to train and test the generated SRS images. The proposed method is suitable for generating a large number of high-quality ship image samples and annotation data of corresponding ship images quickly to significantly improve the accuracy of ship detection. The annotation method proposed is superior to the annotation methods that label images with the image annotation software of Label-me and Label-img in terms of labeling the SRS images.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Marta García-López ◽  
Joaquín Arenas ◽  
M. Esther Gallardo

Inherited optic neuropathies share visual impairment due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as the hallmark of the disease. This group of genetic disorders are caused by mutations in nuclear genes or in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). An impaired mitochondrial function is the underlying mechanism of these diseases. Currently, optic neuropathies lack an effective treatment, and the implementation of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology would entail a huge step forward. The generation of iPSC-derived RGCs would allow faithfully modeling these disorders, and these RGCs would represent an appealing platform for drug screening as well, paving the way for a proper therapy. Here, we review the ongoing two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) approaches based on iPSCs and their applications, taking into account the more innovative technologies, which include tissue engineering or microfluidics.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1304
Author(s):  
Raquel Fernández de Cabo ◽  
David González-Andrade ◽  
Pavel Cheben ◽  
Aitor V. Velasco

Efficient power splitting is a fundamental functionality in silicon photonic integrated circuits, but state-of-the-art power-division architectures are hampered by limited operational bandwidth, high sensitivity to fabrication errors or large footprints. In particular, traditional Y-junction power splitters suffer from fundamental mode losses due to limited fabrication resolution near the junction tip. In order to circumvent this limitation, we propose a new type of high-performance Y-junction power splitter that incorporates subwavelength metamaterials. Full three-dimensional simulations show a fundamental mode excess loss below 0.1 dB in an ultra-broad bandwidth of 300 nm (1400–1700 nm) when optimized for a fabrication resolution of 50 nm, and under 0.3 dB in a 350 nm extended bandwidth (1350–1700 nm) for a 100 nm resolution. Moreover, analysis of fabrication tolerances shows robust operation for the fundamental mode to etching errors up to ± 20 nm. A proof-of-concept device provides an initial validation of its operation principle, showing experimental excess losses lower than 0.2 dB in a 195 nm bandwidth for the best-case resolution scenario (i.e., 50 nm).


Author(s):  
Khadidja Gaffour ◽  
Mohammed Kamel Benhaoua ◽  
Abou El Hassan Benyamina ◽  
Amit Kumar Singh

2011 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 583-586
Author(s):  
Feng Ling Li ◽  
Jian Hua Rong ◽  
Yu Ping Zhang

Measuring rock stratum displacement in dam grouting process is very important. A new displacement system is designed, comprising a programmable microcontroller Atmega16, a new grating capacitive displacement sensor(GCDS), DS1302 real time clock chip and announciator etc. The system has high sampling rate of 9600 baud rate and can trap the displacement equal to 0.001 millimeter in one second. Equipped with mechanical conveyance system, the system can be applied to the civil engineer. The experiment results show the instrument can measure accurately the displacement value and alarm geologic disaster in time, which can conduct continuous and accurate monitoring and provide operation decisions for dam engineers.


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