Ultrafast and Ultrasensitive Bacterial Detection in Biofluids: Leveraging Resazurin as a Visible and Fluorescent Spectroscopic Marker.

Here we report the application of chemometric analysis for modeling absorbance spectroscopy and fluorescence emission data from a resazurin-based assay targeting low-level bacterial detection in biofluids. Bacteria spiked samples were incubated with resazurin and absorbance and fluorescence data were collected at 30 min intervals. The absorbance data was subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and compared with the univariate fluorescence spectroscopy approach.

A Finger-Actuated Sample-Dosing Capillary-Driven Microfluidic Device for Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has attracted significant attention for rapid and accurate point-of-care diagnostics. However, integrating sample introduction, lysis, amplification, and detection steps into an easy-to-use, disposable system has so far been challenging. This has limited the uptake of the technique in practical applications.

Oscillating high aspect ratio micro-channels can effectively atomize liquids into uniform aerosol droplets and dial their size on-demand.

Ultrasonic atomization of liquids into micrometer-diameter droplets is crucial across multiple fields, ranging from drug delivery, to spectrometry and printing. Controlling the size and uniformity of the generated droplets on-demand is crucial in all these applications. However, existing systems lack the required precision to tune the droplet properties, and the underlying droplet formation mechanism under high-frequency ultrasonic actuation remains poorly understood due to experimental constraints.

The effect of clinical face shields on aerosolized particle exposure.

Background: Face shields protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from fluid and large droplet contamination. Their effect on smaller aerosolized particles is unknown.

Materials & Methods: An ultrasonic atomizer was used to simulate particle sizes equivalent to human breathing and forceful cough.

Provision of family planning services by community health workers in urban slums of Cameroon.

Over 50% of pregnancies in slums are unintended, signifying unmet family planning (FP) needs. In Cameroon, about 60% of city dwellers live in slums where basic health services including FP is lacking. With an acute shortage of health personnel in Africa, community health workers (CHWs) can play a vital role in administering basic FP services.

Electroactive nanoinjection platform for intracellular delivery and gene silencing.

Background: Nanoinjection-the process of intracellular delivery using vertically configured nanostructures-is a physical route that efficiently negotiates the plasma membrane, with minimal perturbation and toxicity to the cells. Nanoinjection, as a physical membrane-disruption-mediated approach, overcomes challenges associated with conventional carrier-mediated approaches such as safety issues (with viral carriers), genotoxicity, limited packaging capacity, low levels of endosomal escape, and poor versatility for cell and cargo types. Yet, despite the implementation of nanoinjection tools and their assisted analogues in diverse cellular manipulations, there are still substantial challenges in harnessing these platforms to gain access into cell interiors with much greater precision without damaging the cell's intricate structure.

Correction: synthesis of silver nanowire gel and its super-elastic composite foams.

Correction for ' synthesis of silver nanowire gel and its super-elastic composite foams' by Shu Huang , , 2020, , 19861-19869, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NR03958F.

Engineering Efficient CAR-T Cells via Electroactive Nanoinjection.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has emerged as a promising cell-based immunotherapy approach for treating blood disorders and cancers, but genetically engineering CAR-T cells is challenging due to primary T cells' sensitivity to conventional gene delivery approaches. The current viral-based method can typically involve significant operating costs and biosafety hurdles, while bulk electroporation (BEP) can lead to poor cell viability and functionality. Here, a non-viral electroactive nanoinjection (ENI) platform is developed to efficiently negotiate the plasma membrane of primary human T cells via vertically configured electroactive nanotubes, enabling efficient delivery (68.

Microfluidics Based Generation of Curcumin Loaded Microfibrous Mat against Biofilm by Photodynamic Therapy.

The rapid increase in multidrug resistant biofilm infections is a major concern for global health. A highly effective therapy is required for the treatment of biofilm related infections. In this study, curcumin loaded alginate microfibers were generated by using the microfluidic technique.

A star shaped acoustofluidic mixer enhances rapid malaria diagnostics cell lysis and whole blood homogenisation in 2 seconds.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by a parasite, which can be transmitted to humans through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. This disease plagues a significant population of the world, necessitating the need for better diagnostic platforms to enhance the detection sensitivity, whilst reducing processing times, sample volumes and cost. A critical step in achieving improved detection is the effective lysis of blood samples.

Haemoprocessor: A Portable Platform Using Rapid Acoustically Driven Plasma Separation Validated by Infrared Spectroscopy for Point-of-Care Diagnostics.

The identification of biomarkers from blood plasma is at the heart of many diagnostic tests. These tests often need to be conducted frequently and quickly, but the logistics of sample collection and processing not only delays the test result, but also puts a strain on the healthcare system due to the sheer volume of tests that need to be performed. The advent of microfluidics has made the processing of samples quick and reliable, with little or no skill required on the user's part.

X-ray compatible microfluidics for studies of chemical state, transport and reaction of light elements in an aqueous environment using synchrotron radiation.

This paper presents an X-ray compatible microfluidic platform for characterization of chemical reactions at synchrotron light sources. We demonstrate easy to implement techniques to probe reacting solutions as they first come into contact, and study the very first milliseconds of their reaction in real-time through X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The devices use polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels sandwiched between ultrathin, X-ray transparent silicon nitride observation windows and rigid substrates.

A Lotus shaped acoustofluidic mixer: High throughput homogenisation of liquids in 2 ms using hydrodynamically coupled resonators.

This paper presents an acoustically actuated microfluidic mixer that uses an array of hydrodynamically coupled resonators to rapidly homogenise liquid solutions and synthesise nanoparticles. The system relies on 8 identical oscillating cantilevers that are equally spaced on the perimeter of a circular well, through which the liquid solutions are introduced. When an oscillatory electrical signal is applied to a piezoelectric transducer attached to the device, the cantilevers start resonating.

An ultra-portable, self-contained point-of-care nucleic acid amplification test for diagnosis of active COVID-19 infection.

There is currently a high level of demand for rapid COVID-19 tests, that can detect the onset of the disease at point of care settings. We have developed an ultra-portable, self-contained, point-of-care nucleic acid amplification test for diagnosis of active COVID-19 infection, based on the principle of loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The LAMP assay is 100% sensitive and specific to detect a minimum of 300 RNA copies/reaction of SARS-CoV-2.

What is important for people with nontuberculous mycobacterial disease? An EMBARC-ELF patient survey.

https://bit.ly/3mjrlwh.

Case of a chronic ectopic pregnancy misdiagnosed as pelvic inflammatory disease.

The definition of a chronic ectopic pregnancy (CEP) is poorly defined in the literature and making a timely diagnosis can be incredibly challenging. This is primarily due to its broad range of clinical presentations and conflicting biochemical and sonographic results. Often, CEPs are mistaken for ovarian malignancies, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), uterine fibroids or endometriosis, therefore, leading to a delayed diagnosis.

High throughput acoustic microfluidic mixer controls self-assembly of protein nanoparticles with tuneable sizes.

Hypothesis: Protein nanoparticles have attracted increased interest due to their broad applications ranging from drug delivery and vaccines to biocatalysts and biosensors. The morphology and the size of the nanoparticles play a crucial role in determining their suitability for different applications. Yet, effectively controlling the size of the nanoparticles is still a significant challenge in their manufacture.

In situ synthesis of silver nanowire gel and its super-elastic composite foams.

Noble-metal aerogels (NMAs) including silver aerogels have drawn increasing attention because of their highly conductive networks, large surface areas, and abundant optically/catalytically active sites. However, the current approaches of fabricating silver aerogels are tedious and time-consuming. In this regard, it is highly desirable to develop a simple and effective method for preparing silver aerogels.

Ultrafast star-shaped acoustic micromixer for high throughput nanoparticle synthesis.

We present an acoustically actuated microfluidic mixer, which can operate at flowrates reaching 8 ml min, providing a 50-fold improvement in throughput compared to previously demonstrated acoustofluidic approaches. The device consists of a robust silicon based micro-mechanical oscillator, sandwiched between two polymeric channels which guide the fluids in and out of the system. The chip is actuated by application of an oscillatory electrical signal onto a piezoelectric disk coupled to the substrate by adhesive.

On-demand sample injection: combining acoustic actuation with a tear-drop shaped nozzle to generate droplets with precise spatial and temporal control.

An on-demand droplet injection method for controlled delivery of nanolitre-volume liquid samples to scientific instruments for subsequent analysis is presented. We employ pulsed focussed surface acoustic waves (SAW) to eject droplets from an enclosed microfluidic channel into an open environment. The 3D position of individual droplets and their time of arrival can be precisely controlled to within 61 μs in a 500 μm square target region 40 μm wide.

Nanofluidic and monolithic environmental cells for cryogenic microscopy.

We present a device capable of combining nanofluidics and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to allow inspection of water-soluble samples under near-native conditions. The devices can be produced in a multitude of designs, but as a general rule, they consist of channels or chambers enclosed between two electron-transparent silicon nitride windows. With the appropriate design, those devices can allow screening of multiple samples in parallel and remove the interaction between the sample and the environment (no air-water interface).

Acoustically enhanced microfluidic mixer to synthesize highly uniform nanodrugs without the addition of stabilizers.

Background: This article presents an acoustically enhanced microfluidic mixer to generate highly uniform and ultra-fine nanoparticles, offering significant advantages over conventional liquid antisolvent techniques.

Methods: The method employed a 3D microfluidic geometry whereby two different phases - solvent and antisolvent - were introduced at either side of a 1 μm thick resonating membrane, which contained a through-hole. The vibration of the membrane rapidly and efficiently mixed the two phases, at the location of the hole, leading to the formation of nanoparticles.

Isolated insulin-derived amyloidoma of the breast.

Isolated amyloidomas derived from insulin are extremely rare, and there is only one reported case to date of insulin-derived amyloidoma in the breast.We present the case of a 36-year-old woman reporting a lump in the right breast. It was clinically assessed as a probable fibroadenoma but was removed surgically given the size of the lesion.

Droplet control technologies for microfluidic high throughput screening (μHTS).

The transition from micro well plate and robotics based high throughput screening (HTS) to chip based screening has already started. This transition promises reduced droplet volumes thereby decreasing the amount of fluids used in these studies. Moreover, it significantly boosts throughput allowing screening to keep pace with the overwhelming number of molecular targets being discovered.