Automating life science labs at the single-cell level through precise ultrasonic liquid sample ejection: PULSE.

Laboratory automation technologies have revolutionized biomedical research. However, the availability of automation solutions at the single-cell level remains scarce, primarily owing to the inherent challenges of handling cells with such small dimensions in a precise, biocompatible manner. Here, we present a single-cell-level laboratory automation solution that configures various experiments onto standardized, microscale test-tube matrices via our precise ultrasonic liquid sample ejection technology, known as PULSE.

Sound innovations for biofabrication and tissue engineering.

Advanced biofabrication techniques can create tissue-like constructs that can be applied for reconstructive surgery or as in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models for disease modeling and drug screening. While various biofabrication techniques have recently been widely reviewed in the literature, acoustics-based technologies still need to be explored. The rapidly increasing number of publications in the past two decades exploring the application of acoustic technologies highlights the tremendous potential of these technologies.

Dynamic Kidney Organoid Microphysiological Analysis Platform.

Kidney organoids, replicating human development, pathology, and drug responses, are a promising model for advancing bioscience and pharmaceutical innovation. However, reproducibility, accuracy, and quantification challenges hinder their broader utility for advanced biological and pharmaceutical applications. Herein, we present a dynamic kidney organoid microphysiological analysis platform (MAP), designed to enhance organoid modeling and assays within physiologically relevant environments, thereby expanding their utility in advancing kidney physiology and pathology research.

Biological Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics via Self-Aligned Nanoring Doublets: QED-SANDs.

Quantum mechanics is applied to create numerous electronic devices, including lasers, electron microscopes, magnetic resonance imaging, and quantum information technology. However, the practical realization of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) in various applications is limited due to the demanding conditions required for achieving strong coupling between an optical cavity and excitonic matter. Here, we present biological cavity QED with self-aligned nanoring doublets: QED-SANDs, which exhibit robust room-temperature strong coupling with a biomolecular emitter, chlorophyll-.

Highly sensitive multiplexed colorimetric lateral flow immunoassay by plasmon-controlled metal-silica isoform nanocomposites: PINs.

Lateral flow assay (LFA) systems use metal nanoparticles for rapid and convenient target detection and are extensively studied for the diagnostics of various diseases. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are often used as probes in LFAs, displaying a single red color. However, there is a high demand for colorimetric LFAs to detect multiple biomarkers, requiring the use of multicolored NPs.

Acoustography by Beam Engineering and Acoustic Control Node: BEACON.

Acoustic manipulation has emerged as a valuable tool for precision controls and dynamic programming of cells and particles. However, conventional acoustic manipulation approaches lack the finesse necessary to form intricate, configurable, continuous, and 3D patterning of particles. Here, this study reports acoustography by Beam Engineering and Acoustic Control Node (BEACON), which delivers intricate, configurable patterns by guiding particles along custom paths with independent phase modulation.

Understanding the role of soluble proteins and exosomes in non-invasive urine-based diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that can lead to stillbirth and preterm birth if not treated promptly. Currently, the diagnosis of preeclampsia relies on clinical symptoms such as hypertension and proteinuria, along with invasive blood tests. Here, we investigate the role of soluble proteins and exosomes in noninvasive diagnosing preeclampsia non-invasively using maternal urine and urine-derived exosomes.

A noninvasive method of diagnosing membranous nephropathy using exosomes derived from urine.

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a specific autoimmune disease affecting kidneys. It is characterized by the accumulation of immune complexes in the glomerular basement membrane. Renal biopsy is currently the standard procedure to confirm the diagnosis, although the presence of autoantibodies against the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) can also help diagnose.

Activity and phosphatidylcholine transfer protein interactions of skeletal muscle thioesterase Them2 enable hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance.

Thioesterase superfamily member 2 (Them2), a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA thioesterase that is highly expressed in oxidative tissues, interacts with phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP) to regulate hepatic lipid and glucose metabolism and to suppress insulin signaling. High-fat diet-fed mice lacking Them2 globally or specifically in skeletal muscle, but not liver, exhibit reduced hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. Here, we report that the capacity of Them2 in skeletal muscle to promote hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance depends on both its catalytic activity and interaction with PC-TP.

Nanoplasmonic Rapid Antimicrobial-Resistance Point-of-Care Identification Device: RAPIDx.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance has become a global health crisis, and everyone must arm themselves with wisdom to effectively combat the "silent tsunami" of infections that are no longer treatable with antibiotics. However, the overuse or inappropriate use of unnecessary antibiotics is still routine for administering them due to the unavailability of rapid, precise, and point-of-care assays. Here, a rapid antimicrobial-resistance point-of-care identification device (RAPIDx) is reported for the accurate and simultaneous identification of bacterial species (genotype) and target enzyme activity (phenotype).

Nanoplasmonic biosensors for environmental sustainability and human health.

Monitoring the health conditions of the environment and humans is essential for ensuring human well-being, promoting global health, and achieving sustainability. Innovative biosensors are crucial in accurately monitoring health conditions, uncovering the hidden connections between the environment and human well-being, and understanding how environmental factors trigger autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and infectious diseases. This review evaluates the use of nanoplasmonic biosensors that can monitor environmental health and human diseases according to target analytes of different sizes and scales, providing valuable insights for preventive medicine.

Acoustofluidic Virus Isolation via Bessel Beam Excitation Separation Technology.

The isolation of viruses from complex biological samples is essential for creating sensitive bioassays that assess the efficacy and safety of viral therapeutics and vaccines, which have played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, existing methods of viral isolation are time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the multiple processing steps required, resulting in low yields. Here, we introduce the rapid, efficient, and high-resolution acoustofluidic isolation of viruses from complex biological samples via Bessel beam excitation separation technology (BEST).

Acoustofluidic-based therapeutic apheresis system.

Therapeutic apheresis aims to selectively remove pathogenic substances, such as antibodies that trigger various symptoms and diseases. Unfortunately, current apheresis devices cannot handle small blood volumes in infants or small animals, hindering the testing of animal model advancements. This limitation restricts our ability to provide treatment options for particularly susceptible infants and children with limited therapeutic alternatives.

Ultrafast Metaphotonic PCR Chip with Near-Perfect Absorber.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for nucleic acid amplification and quantification in diverse fields such as life sciences, global health, medicine, agricultural science, forensic science, and environmental science for global sustainability. However, implementing a cost-effective PCR remains challenging for rapid preventive medical action to the widespread pandemic diseases due to the absence of highly efficient and low-cost PCR chip-based POC molecular diagnostics. Here, this work reports an ultrafast metaphotonic PCR chip as a solution of a cost-effective and low-power-consumption POC device for the emerging global challenge of sustainable healthcare.

Nanoplasmonic sensors for extracellular vesicles and bacterial membrane vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising tools for the early diagnosis of diseases, and bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) are especially important in health and environment monitoring. However, detecting EVs or bacterial MVs presents significant challenges for the clinical translation of EV-based diagnostics. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive discussion on the basics of nanoplasmonic sensing and emphasize recent developments in nanoplasmonics-based optical sensors to effectively identify EVs or bacterial MVs.

Spontaneous Particle Ordering, Sorting, and Assembly on Soap Films.

Soap bubbles exhibit abundant fascinating phenomena throughout the entire life of evolution with different fundamental physics governing them. Nevertheless, the complicated dynamics of small objects in soap films are still unrevealed. Here, we report the first observation of spontaneous particle ordering in a complicated galaxy of soap films without any external energy.

Capillarity-Driven Enrichment and Hydrodynamic Trapping of Trace Nucleic Acids by Plasmonic Cavity Membrane for Rapid and Sensitive Detections.

Small-reactor-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has attracted considerable attention. A significant number of tiny reactors must be prepared in parallel to capture, amplify, and accurately quantify few target genes in clinically relevant large volume, which, however, requires sophisticated microfabrication and longer sample-to-answer time. Here, single plasmonic cavity membrane is reported that not only enriches and captures few nucleic acids by taking advantage of both capillarity and hydrodynamic trapping but also quickly amplifies them for sensitive plasmonic detection.

Extracellular vesicles-based point-of-care testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One promising strategy for detecting and monitoring AD early on is using extracellular vesicles (EVs)-based point-of-care testing; however, diagnosing AD using EVs poses a challenge due to the low abundance of EV-biomarkers. Here, we present a fully integrated organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) that enables high accuracy, speed, and convenience in the detection of EVs from AD patients.

Electron-Transport-Chain-Mediated Selective Growth of Gold Nanocrystals in the Intermembrane Space of Live Microbial Cells.

Hybridization of microbial cells with inorganic nanoparticles that could dramatically improve cellular functions such as electron transfer has been realized by the random attachment or stochastic entry of the nanoparticles. Clearly, the selective growth of inorganic nanoparticles on target functional organelles is ideal for such hybridization. Here, we report the selective growth of gold nanocrystals in the intermembrane space (IMS) of by exploiting the electron transport chain (ETC).

Neuropathogenesis-on-chips for neurodegenerative diseases.

Developing diagnostics and treatments for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is challenging due to multifactorial pathogenesis that progresses gradually. Advanced in vitro systems that recapitulate patient-like pathophysiology are emerging as alternatives to conventional animal-based models. In this review, we explore the interconnected pathogenic features of different types of ND, discuss the general strategy to modelling NDs using a microfluidic chip, and introduce the organoid-on-a-chip as the next advanced relevant model.

Rapid mutation detection in extracellular vesicle-DNA.

A PCR- and sequencing-free mutation detection assay facilitates cancer diagnosis and reduces over-reliance on specialized equipment. This benefit was highlighted during the pandemic when high demand for viral nucleic acid testing often sidelined mutation analysis. This shift led to substantial challenges for patients on targeted therapy in tracking mutations.

Acoustic separation and concentration of exosomes for nucleotide detection: ASCENDx.

Efficient isolation and analysis of exosomal biomarkers hold transformative potential in biomedical applications. However, current methods are prone to contamination and require costly consumables, expensive equipment, and skilled personnel. Here, we introduce an innovative spaceship-like disc that allows Acoustic Separation and Concentration of Exosomes and Nucleotide Detection: ASCENDx.

Chimeric nanobody-decorated liposomes by self-assembly.

Liposomes as drug vehicles have advantages, such as payload protection, tunable carrying capacity and improved biodistribution. However, due to the dysfunction of targeting moieties and payload loss during preparation, immunoliposomes have yet to be favoured in commercial manufacturing. Here we report a chemical modification-free biophysical approach for producing immunoliposomes in one step through the self-assembly of a chimeric nanobody (cNB) into liposome bilayers.