Concentrating viable airborne pathogens using a virtual impactor with a compact water-based condensation air sampler.

Pathogens can be collected from air and detected in samples by many methods. However, merely detecting pathogens does not answer whether they can spread disease. To fully assess health risks from exposure to airborne pathogens, the infectivity of those agents must be assessed.

Sample preparation and detection methods in point-of-care devices towards future at-home testing.

Timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for effective healthcare, yet nearly half the global population lacks access to basic diagnostics. Point-of-care (POC) testing offers partial solutions by enabling low-cost, rapid diagnosis at the patient's location. At-home POC devices have the potential to advance preventive care and early disease detection.

A Capillary-Force-Driven, Single-Cell Transfer Method for Studying Rare Cells.

The characterization of individual cells within heterogeneous populations (e.g., rare tumor cells in healthy blood cells) has a great impact on biomedical research.

Investigating surface proteins and antibody combinations for detecting circulating tumor cells of various sarcomas.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have gathered attention as a biomarker for carcinomas. However, CTCs in sarcomas have received little attention. In this work, we investigated cell surface proteins and antibody combinations for immunofluorescence detection of sarcoma CTCs.

Air Change Rate and SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Hospitals and Residences: A Meta-Analysis.

As SARS-CoV-2 swept across the globe, increased ventilation and implementation of air cleaning were emphasized by the US CDC and WHO as important strategies to reduce the risk of inhalation exposure to the virus. To assess whether higher ventilation and air cleaning rates lead to lower exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2, 1274 manuscripts published between April 2020 and September 2022 were screened using key words "airborne SARS-CoV-2 or "SARS-CoV-2 aerosol". Ninety-three studies involved air sampling at locations with known sources (hospitals and residences) were selected and associated data were compiled.

Detection and isolation of infectious SARS-CoV-2 omicron subvariants collected from residential settings.

Airborne transmission of infectious (viable) SARS-CoV-2 is increasingly accepted as the primary manner by which the virus is spread from person to person. Risk of exposure to airborne virus is higher in enclosed and poorly ventilated spaces. We present a study focused on air sampling within residences occupied by individuals with COVID-19.

Gold Nanoparticle-Based Microfluidic Chips for Capture and Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Liquid biopsy has progressed to its current use to diagnose and monitor cancer. Despite the recent advances in investigating cancer detection and diagnosis strategies, there is still a room for improvements in capturing CTCs. We developed an efficient CTC detection system by integrating gold nanoparticles with a microfluidic platform, which can achieve CTC capture within 120 min.

Mayaro virus detection by integrating sample preparation with isothermal amplification in portable devices.

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging mosquito-borne alphavirus that causes clinical symptoms similar to those caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV). To differentiate MAYV from these viruses diagnostically, we have developed a portable device that integrates sample preparation with real-time, reverse-transcription, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (rRT-LAMP). First, we designed a rRT-LAMP assay targeting MAYV's non-structural protein (NS1) gene and determined the limit of detection of at least 10 viral genome equivalents per reaction.

Microfluidics-Enabled Isolation and Single-Cell Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells.

Microfluidic platforms enable the enrichment and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and theragnosis. Combined with immunocytochemistry/immunofluorescence (ICC/IF) assays for CTCs, microfluidics-enabled detection presents a unique opportunity to study tumor heterogeneity and predict treatment response, both of which can help cancer drug development. In this chapter, we detail the protocols and methods employed to fabricate and use a microfluidic device for the enrichment, detection, and analysis of single CTCs from the blood samples of sarcoma patients.

Lack of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples collected from September 2020-February 2021 in a university that followed CDC reopening guidance.

This study aimed to provide environmental surveillance data for evaluating the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 in public areas with high foot traffic in a university. Air and surface samples were collected at a university that had the second highest number of COVID-19 cases among public higher education institutions in the U.S.

Lateral Filter Array Microfluidic Devices for Detecting Circulating Tumor Cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an important liquid biopsy biomarker for next-generation cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, their clinical usage is hindered by the rarity of CTCs in patient's peripheral blood. Microfluidics has shown unique advantages in CTC isolation and detection.

Molecular testing devices for on-site detection of E. coli in water samples.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells are present in fecal materials that can be the main source for disease-causing agents in water. As a result, E.

Comparison of sample preparation methods for rare cell isolation in microfluidic devices.

The analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is important for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Microfluidics has been employed for CTC analysis due to its scaling advantages and high performance. However, pre-analytical methods for CTC sample preparation are often combined with microfluidic platforms because a large sample volume is required to detect extremely rare CTCs.

Viable SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant detected in aerosols in a residential setting with a self-isolating college student with COVID-19.

The B.1.617.

Longitudinal Study of Circulating Biomarkers in Patients with Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

While patients with resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) show improved survival compared to their non-resectable counterparts, survival remains low owing to occult metastatic disease and treatment resistance. Liquid biopsy based on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been shown to predict recurrence and treatment resistance in various types of cancers, but their utility has not been fully demonstrated in resectable PDAC. We have simultaneously tracked three circulating biomarkers, including CTCs, cfDNA, and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), over a period of cancer treatment using a microfluidic device and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).

Environmental Surveillance and Transmission Risk Assessments for SARS-CoV-2 in a Fitness Center.

Fitness centers are considered high risk for SARS-CoV-2 transmission due to their high human occupancy and the type of activity taking place in them, especially when individuals pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic for COVID-19 exercise in the facilities. In this study, air (N=21) and surface (N=8) samples were collected at a fitness center through five sampling events from August to November 2020 after the reopening restrictions were lifted in Florida. The total attendance was ~2500 patrons during our air and environmental sampling work.

Environmental Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Two Restaurants from a Mid-scale City that Followed U.S. CDC Reopening Guidance.

Since mask use and physical distancing are difficult to maintain when people dine indoors, restaurants are perceived as high risk for acquiring COVID-19. The air and environmental surfaces in two restaurants in a mid-scale city located in north central Florida that followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reopening guidance were sampled three times from July 2020 to February 2021. Sixteen air samples were collected for 2 hours using air samplers, and 20 surface samples by using moistened swabs.

A Valve-Enabled Sample Preparation Device with Isothermal Amplification for Multiplexed Virus Detection at the Point-of-Care.

Early and accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses at the point-of-care is crucial for reducing disease transmission during the current pandemic and future flu seasons. To prepare for potential cocirculation of these two viruses, we report a valve-enabled, paper-based sample preparation device integrated with isothermal amplification for their simultaneous detection. The device incorporates (1) virus lysis and RNA enrichment, enabled by ball-based valves for sequential delivery of reagents with no pipet requirement, (2) reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, carried out in a coffee mug, and (3) colorimetric detection.

SARS-CoV-2 in residential rooms of two self-isolating persons with COVID-19.

Individuals with COVID-19 are advised to self-isolate at their residences unless they require hospitalization. Persons sharing a dwelling with someone who has COVID-19 have a substantial risk of being exposed to the virus. However, environmental monitoring for the detection of virus in such settings is limited.

Phase II Study of 5-Fluorouracil, Oxaliplatin plus Dasatinib (FOLFOX-D) in First-Line Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Lessons Learned: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that Src inhibition through dasatinib synergistically enhances the antitumor effects of oxaliplatin. In this phase II, single-arm study, FOLFOX with dasatinib in previously untreated patients with mPC only showed only modest clinical activity, with a progressive-free survival of 4 months and overall survival of 10.6 months.

Integration of sample preparation with RNA-Amplification in a hand-held device for airborne virus detection.

Aerosol transmission is one of the three major transmission routes of respiratory viruses. However, the dynamics and significance of the aerosol transmission route are not well understood, partially due to the lack of rapid and efficient tools for on-the-spot detection of airborne viruses. We report a hand-held device that integrates a 3D-printed sample preparation unit with a laminated paper-based RNA amplification unit.

Using a combination of gangliosides and cell surface vimentin as surface biomarkers for isolating osteosarcoma cells in microfluidic devices.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor and the third leading cause of pediatric cancer deaths. Liquid biopsies are an alternative to current diagnostic imaging modalities that can be used to monitor treatment efficacy and the development of metastases. This study addresses the use of novel biomarkers to detect circulating osteosarcoma cells.

Exosome isolation using nanostructures and microfluidic devices.

Exosomes contain cargoes of proteins, lipids, micro-ribonucleic acids, and functional messenger RNAs, and they play a key role in cell-to-cell communication and hold valuable information about biological processes such as disease pathology. To harvest their potentials in disease diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics, exosome isolation is a crucial first step in providing pure and intact samples for both research and clinical purposes. Unfortunately, conventional methods for exosome separation suffer from low purity, low capture efficiency, long processing time, large sample volume requirement, the need for dedicated equipment and trained personnel, and high cost.