A Scalable Microfluidic Platform for Nanoparticle Formulation: For Exploratory- and Industrial-Level Scales.

Nanoparticle synthesis on microfluidic platforms provides excellent reproducibility and control over bulk synthesis. While there have been plenty of platforms for producing nanoparticles (NPs) with controlled physicochemical properties, such platforms often operate in a narrow range of predefined flow rates. The flow rate limitation restricts either up-scalability for industrial production or down-scalability for exploratory research use.

Fully integrated sample-in-answer-out platform for viral detection using digital reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (dRT-RPA).

Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is one of the most promising diagnostic methods for pathogen detection, owing to the simplified isothermal amplification technique. Using one-step digital reverse transcription RPA (dRT-RPA) to detect viral RNA provides a fast diagnosis and absolute quantification. Here, we present a chip that purifies, digitalizes, and detects viral RNA of SARS-CoV-2 in a fully automated and sensitive manner.

Mechanical Timer-Actuated Fluidic Dispensing System: Applications to an Automated Multistep Lateral Flow Immunoassay with High Sensitivity.

In this study, we present a fluidic dispensing system that can automate the sequential fluidic delivery of multiple reagents for lateral flow assays. Highly sensitive assays typically require multiple solution-based sequences, including washing steps and signal amplification. However, implementation of these types of sequences on an automated and highly sensitive point-of-care testing (POCT) platform remains challenging.

Size-selective filtration of extracellular vesicles with a movable-layer device.

This paper presents a microfluidic device that can isolate extracellular vesicles (EVs) with multiple size intervals in a simple, effective, and automated manner. We accomplish this size-selective separation using a vertically movable plunger and a rotationally movable chip. The chip has open chambers with nanoporous filters that are sequentially connected by check valves.

Movable Layer Device for Rapid Detection of Influenza a H1N1 Virus Using Highly Bright Multi-Quantum Dot-Embedded Particles and Magnetic Beads.

Preventing the rapid spread of viral infectious diseases has become a major concern for global health. In this study, we present a microfluidic platform that performs an immunoassay of viral antigens in a simple, automated, yet highly sensitive manner. The device uses silica particles embedded with highly bright quantum dots (QD) and performs the immunoassay with a vertically movable top layer and a rotating bottom layer.

Influence of surface tension-driven network parameters on backflow strength.

Surface tension-driven flow is widely used, owing to its spontaneous motion, in microfluidic devices with single channel structures. However, when multiple channels are used, unwanted backflow often occurs. This prevents precise and sophisticated solution flow, but has been rarely characterized.

Microfluidic chip with movable layers for the manipulation of biochemicals.

A simple and effective platform that can conglomerate various microfluidic functions in a single chip is essential for many bioassays, especially for point-of-care testing applications. Here, a chip that exploits surface tension in solutions with movable top and bottom layers is presented, for use in fluid transport, mixing, maintaining metered volumes, and biomolecule capture and release. The chip has open chambers in vertically mobile top layers and rotationally mobile bottom layers to exploit surface tension in biochemical solutions, and implements control over fluid motion.