Quantum-dot-encapsulated core–shell barcode particles from droplet microfluidics

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (44) ◽  
pp. 7257-7262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feika Bian ◽  
Huan Wang ◽  
Lingyu Sun ◽  
Yuxiao Liu ◽  
Yuanjin Zhao

A new class of QD-encapsulated core–shell barcode particles for biomedical applications were generated using a capillary microfluidic device.

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (30) ◽  
pp. 5609-5624
Author(s):  
Dijana Saftić ◽  
Željka Ban ◽  
Josipa Matić ◽  
Lidija-Marija Tumirv ◽  
Ivo Piantanida

: Among the most intensively studied classes of small molecules (molecular weight < 650) in biomedical research are small molecules that non-covalently bind to DNA/RNA, and another intensively studied class is nucleobase derivatives. Both classes have been intensively elaborated in many books and reviews. However, conjugates consisting of DNA/RNA binder covalently linked to nucleobase are much less studied and have not been reviewed in the last two decades. Therefore, this review summarized reports on the design of classical DNA/RNA binder – nucleobase conjugates, as well as data about their interactions with various DNA or RNA targets, and even in some cases protein targets are involved. According to these data, the most important structural aspects of selective or even specific recognition between small molecule and target are proposed, and where possible related biochemical and biomedical aspects were discussed. The general conclusion is that this, rather new class of molecules showed an amazing set of recognition tools for numerous DNA or RNA targets in the last two decades, as well as few intriguing in vitro and in vivo selectivities. Several lead research lines show promising advancements toward either novel, highly selective markers or bioactive, potentially druggable molecules.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Doojin Lee ◽  
Amy Q. Shen

Droplet microfluidics provides a versatile tool for measuring interfacial tensions between two immiscible fluids owing to its abilities of fast response, enhanced throughput, portability and easy manipulations of fluid compositions, comparing to conventional techniques. Purely homogeneous extension in the microfluidic device is desirable to measure the interfacial tension because the flow field enables symmetric droplet deformation along the outflow direction. To do so, we designed a microfluidic device consisting of a droplet production region to first generate emulsion droplets at a flow-focusing area. The droplets are then trapped at a stagnation point in the cross junction area, subsequently being stretched along the outflow direction under the extensional flow. These droplets in the device are either confined or unconfined in the channel walls depending on the channel height, which yields different droplet deformations. To calculate the interfacial tension for confined and unconfined droplet cases, quasi-static 2D Darcy approximation model and quasi-static 3D small deformation model are used. For the confined droplet case under the extensional flow, an effective viscosity of the two immiscible fluids, accounting for the viscosity ratio of continuous and dispersed phases, captures the droplet deformation well. However, the 2D model is limited to the case where the droplet is confined in the channel walls and deforms two-dimensionally. For the unconfined droplet case, the 3D model provides more robust estimates than the 2D model. We demonstrate that both 2D and 3D models provide good interfacial tension measurements under quasi-static extensional flows in comparison with the conventional pendant drop method.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Andrzej Kuczumow ◽  
Renata Chałas ◽  
Jakub Nowak ◽  
Wojciech Smułek ◽  
Maciej Jarzębski

A series of linear profiles of the elements of the enamel in human molar teeth were made with the use of an electron microprobe and a Raman microscope. It is postulated that the enamel can be treated as the superposition of variable “overbuilt” enamel on the stable “core” enamel at the macro-, micro- and nanoscale level. The excessive values characterize the “overbuilt enamel”. All the profiles of excessive parameters along the enamel thickness from the enamel surface to the dentin enamel junction (DEJ) can be approximated very precisely with the use of exponential functions, where Ca, P, Cl and F spatial profiles are decaying while Mg, Na, K and CO32− ones are growing distributions. The “overbuilt” apatite formed on the boundary with DEJ, enriched in Na, Mg, OH and carbonates, reacts continuously with Ca, Cl and F, passing into an acid-resistant form of the “overbuilt” enamel. The apparent phases arriving in boundary regions of the “overbuilt enamel” were proposed. Microdiffraction measurements reveal relative variation of energy levels during enamel transformations. Our investigations are the milestones for a further new class of biomaterial and nanomaterial development for biomedical applications.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingxue Tu ◽  
Caifen Lei ◽  
Fei Deng ◽  
Yiang Chen ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
...  

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have the potential to boost the undervalued biomedical applications of metal ions. Such endeavor has been hindered by the challenge of how to avoid the (cyto)toxicity...


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 662
Author(s):  
Nikita A. Filatov ◽  
Anatoly A. Evstrapov ◽  
Anton S. Bukatin

Droplet microfluidics is an extremely useful and powerful tool for industrial, environmental, and biotechnological applications, due to advantages such as the small volume of reagents required, ultrahigh-throughput, precise control, and independent manipulations of each droplet. For the generation of monodisperse water-in-oil droplets, usually T-junction and flow-focusing microfluidic devices connected to syringe pumps or pressure controllers are used. Here, we investigated droplet-generation regimes in a flow-focusing microfluidic device induced by the negative pressure in the outlet reservoir, generated by a low-cost mini diaphragm vacuum pump. During the study, we compared two ways of adjusting the negative pressure using a compact electro-pneumatic regulator and a manual airflow control valve. The results showed that both types of regulators are suitable for the stable generation of monodisperse droplets for at least 4 h, with variations in diameter less than 1 µm. Droplet diameters at high levels of negative pressure were mainly determined by the hydrodynamic resistances of the inlet microchannels, although the absolute pressure value defined the generation frequency; however, the electro-pneumatic regulator is preferable and convenient for the accurate control of the pressure by an external electric signal, providing more stable pressure, and a wide range of droplet diameters and generation frequencies. The method of droplet generation suggested here is a simple, stable, reliable, and portable way of high-throughput production of relatively large volumes of monodisperse emulsions for biomedical applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1068
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dominika Kania ◽  
Waldemar Wagner ◽  
Łukasz Pułaski

Two immortalized brain microvascular endothelial cell lines (hCMEC/D3 and RBE4, of human and rat origin, respectively) were applied as an in vitro model of cellular elements of the blood–brain barrier in a nanotoxicological study. We evaluated the impact of CdSe/ZnS core-shell-type quantum dot nanoparticles on cellular homeostasis, using gold nanoparticles as a largely bioorthogonal control. While the investigated nanoparticles had surprisingly negligible acute cytotoxicity in the evaluated models, a multi-faceted study of barrier-related phenotypes and cell condition revealed a complex pattern of homeostasis disruption. Interestingly, some features of the paracellular barrier phenotype (transendothelial electrical resistance, tight junction protein gene expression) were improved by exposure to nanoparticles in a potential hormetic mechanism. However, mitochondrial potential and antioxidant defences largely collapsed under these conditions, paralleled by a strong pro-apoptotic shift in a significant proportion of cells (evidenced by apoptotic protein gene expression, chromosomal DNA fragmentation, and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure). Taken together, our results suggest a reactive oxygen species-mediated cellular mechanism of blood–brain barrier damage by quantum dots, which may be toxicologically significant in the face of increasing human exposure to this type of nanoparticles, both intended (in medical applications) and more often unintended (from consumer goods-derived environmental pollution).


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