scholarly journals A Bubble-Free Microfluidic Device for Easy-to-Operate Immobilization, Culturing and Monitoring of Zebrafish Embryos

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Zhu ◽  
Yangye Geng ◽  
Zhangyi Yuan ◽  
Siqi Ren ◽  
Meijing Liu ◽  
...  

The development of miniaturized devices for studying zebrafish embryos has been limited due to complicated fabrication and operation processes. Here, we reported on a microfluidic device that enabled the capture and culture of zebrafish embryos and real-time monitoring of dynamic embryonic development. The device was simply fabricated by bonding two layers of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) structures replicated from three-dimensional (3D) printed reusable molds onto a flat glass substrate. Embryos were easily loaded into the device with a pipette, docked in traps by gravity, and then retained in traps with hydrodynamic forces for long-term culturing. A degassing chamber bonded on top was used to remove air bubbles from the embryo-culturing channel and traps so that any embryo movement caused by air bubbles was eliminated during live imaging. Computational fluid dynamics simulations suggested this embryo-trapping and -retention regime to exert low shear stress on the immobilized embryos. Monitoring of the zebrafish embryogenesis over 20 h during the early stages successfully verified the performance of the microfluidic device for culturing the immobilized zebrafish embryos. Therefore, this rapid-prototyping, low-cost and easy-to-operate microfluidic device offers a promising platform for the long-term culturing of immobilized zebrafish embryos under continuous medium perfusion and the high-quality screening of the developmental dynamics.

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glennys Mensing ◽  
Thomas Pearce ◽  
David J. Beebe

We present a method of creating three dimensional microfluidic channel networks and freestanding microstructures using liquid phase photopolymerization techniques. The use of liquid phase microfabrication facilitates the creation of microstructured devices using low-cost materials and equipment. The ability to add multiple layers allows for complex geometries and increases the functional density of channeled devices. The multilayer technique provides a method of interconnecting layers or combining separate layers to form a truly integrated multilayered microfluidic device, as well as a means of forming multilayered freestanding structures. Because this method is based on the fundamentals of microfluidic tectonics (μFT), all components (valves, mixers, filters) compatible with μFT can be integrated into the multilayer channel networks.


Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Lepowsky ◽  
Reza Amin ◽  
Savas Tasoglu

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is emerging as a method for microfluidic device fabrication boasting facile and low-cost fabrication, as compared to conventional fabrication approaches, such as photolithography, for poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) counterparts. Additionally, there is an increasing trend in the development and implementation of miniaturized and automatized devices for health monitoring. While nonspecific protein adsorption by PDMS has been studied as a limitation for reusability, the protein adsorption characteristics of 3D-printed materials have not been well-studied or characterized. With these rationales in mind, we study the reusability of 3D-printed microfluidics chips. Herein, a 3D-printed cleaning chip, consisting of inlets for the sample, cleaning solution, and air, and a universal outlet, is presented to assess the reusability of a 3D-printed microfluidic device. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used a representative urinary protein and phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) was chosen as the cleaning agent. Using the 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (CBQCA) fluorescence detection method, the protein cross-contamination between samples and the protein uptake of the cleaning chip were assessed, demonstrating a feasible 3D-printed chip design and cleaning procedure to enable reusable microfluidic devices. The performance of the 3D-printed cleaning chip for real urine sample handling was then validated using a commercial dipstick assay.


Author(s):  
C.L. Woodcock

Despite the potential of the technique, electron tomography has yet to be widely used by biologists. This is in part related to the rather daunting list of equipment and expertise that are required. Thanks to continuing advances in theory and instrumentation, tomography is now more feasible for the non-specialist. One barrier that has essentially disappeared is the expense of computational resources. In view of this progress, it is time to give more attention to practical issues that need to be considered when embarking on a tomographic project. The following recommendations and comments are derived from experience gained during two long-term collaborative projects.Tomographic reconstruction results in a three dimensional description of an individual EM specimen, most commonly a section, and is therefore applicable to problems in which ultrastructural details within the thickness of the specimen are obscured in single micrographs. Information that can be recovered using tomography includes the 3D shape of particles, and the arrangement and dispostion of overlapping fibrous and membranous structures.


Author(s):  
Carl Malings ◽  
Rebecca Tanzer ◽  
Aliaksei Hauryliuk ◽  
Provat K. Saha ◽  
Allen L. Robinson ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (06) ◽  
pp. 696-702
Author(s):  
Nolan B. Seim ◽  
Enver Ozer ◽  
Sasha Valentin ◽  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Mead VanPutten ◽  
...  

AbstractResection and reconstruction of midface involve complex ablative and reconstructive tools in head and oncology and maxillofacial prosthodontics. This region is extraordinarily important for long-term aesthetic and functional performance. From a reconstructive standpoint, this region has always been known to present challenges to a reconstructive surgeon due to the complex three-dimensional anatomy, the variable defects created, combination of the medical and dental functionalities, and the distance from reliable donor vessels for free tissue transfer. Another challenge one faces is the unique features of each individual resection defect as well as individual patient factors making each preoperative planning session and reconstruction unique. Understanding the long-term effects on speech, swallowing, and vision, one should routinely utilize a multidisciplinary approach to resection and reconstruction, including head and neck reconstructive surgeons, prosthodontists, speech language pathologists, oculoplastic surgeons, dentists, and/or craniofacial teams as indicated and with each practice pattern. With this in mind, we present our planning and reconstructive algorithm in midface reconstruction, including a dedicated focus on dental rehabilitation via custom presurgical planning.


2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 50405-1-50405-5
Author(s):  
Young-Woo Park ◽  
Myounggyu Noh

Abstract Recently, the three-dimensional (3D) printing technique has attracted much attention for creating objects of arbitrary shape and manufacturing. For the first time, in this work, we present the fabrication of an inkjet printed low-cost 3D temperature sensor on a 3D-shaped thermoplastic substrate suitable for packaging, flexible electronics, and other printed applications. The design, fabrication, and testing of a 3D printed temperature sensor are presented. The sensor pattern is designed using a computer-aided design program and fabricated by drop-on-demand inkjet printing using a magnetostrictive inkjet printhead at room temperature. The sensor pattern is printed using commercially available conductive silver nanoparticle ink. A moving speed of 90 mm/min is chosen to print the sensor pattern. The inkjet printed temperature sensor is demonstrated, and it is characterized by good electrical properties, exhibiting good sensitivity and linearity. The results indicate that 3D inkjet printing technology may have great potential for applications in sensor fabrication.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Besnea ◽  
Alina Spanu ◽  
Iuliana Marlena Prodea ◽  
Gheorghita Tomescu ◽  
Iolanda Constanta Panait

The paper points out the advantages of rapid prototyping for improving the performances/constructive optimization of mixing devices used in process industries, here exemplified to propeller types ones. The multidisciplinary optimization of the propeller profile affords its design using parametric CAD methods. Starting from the mathematical curve equations proposed for the blade profile, it was determined its three-dimensional virtual model. The challenge has been focused on the variation of propeller pitch and external diameter. Three dimensional ranges were manufactured using the additive manufacturing process with Marker Boot 3D printer. The mixing performances were tested on the mixing equipment measuring the minimum rotational speed and the correspondent shaft torque for complete suspension achieved for each of the three models. The virtual and rapid prototyping method is newly proposed by the authors to obtain the basic data for scale up of the mixing systems, in the case of flexible production (of low quantities), in which both the nature and concentration of the constituents in the final product varies often. It is an efficient and low cost method for the rapid identification of the optimal mixing device configuration, which contributes to the costs reduction and to the growing of the output.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Prada ◽  
Christina Cordes ◽  
Carsten Harms ◽  
Walter Lang

This contribution outlines the design and manufacturing of a microfluidic device implemented as a biosensor for retrieval and detection of bacteria RNA. The device is fully made of Cyclo-Olefin Copolymer (COC), which features low auto-fluorescence, biocompatibility and manufacturability by hot-embossing. The RNA retrieval was carried on after bacteria heat-lysis by an on-chip micro-heater, whose function was characterized at different working parameters. Carbon resistive temperature sensors were tested, characterized and printed on the biochip sealing film to monitor the heating process. Off-chip and on-chip processed RNA were hybridized with capture probes on the reaction chamber surface and identification was achieved by detection of fluorescence tags. The application of the mentioned techniques and materials proved to allow the development of low-cost, disposable albeit multi-functional microfluidic system, performing heating, temperature sensing and chemical reaction processes in the same device. By proving its effectiveness, this device contributes a reference to show the integration potential of fully thermoplastic devices in biosensor systems.


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