Louis D. Cohen, Eleonora Moratto, Claire Elizabeth Stanley
Understanding how plants respond to dynamic and spatially variable stimuli is a key goal in plant sciences. Traditional imaging methods often involve a trade-off between environmental control and spatial resolution, limiting their ability to capture real-time responses in high resolution. Microfluidic technology overcomes these limitations by facilitating precise control of environmental conditions and high-resolution live imaging. In the past two decades, microfluidic technology has increasingly been applied in plant sciences research. This review summarises current applications of microfluidic technology in plant sciences, including studies of root–rhizosphere interactions, tip-growing plant cells, plant protoplasts, and plant phenotyping. Emerging trends are explored, and key research gaps are highlighted.
{"title":"20 years of microfluidic technology for advancing plant sciences","authors":"Louis D. Cohen, Eleonora Moratto, Claire Elizabeth Stanley","doi":"10.1039/d5lc01036e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc01036e","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding how plants respond to dynamic and spatially variable stimuli is a key goal in plant sciences. Traditional imaging methods often involve a trade-off between environmental control and spatial resolution, limiting their ability to capture real-time responses in high resolution. Microfluidic technology overcomes these limitations by facilitating precise control of environmental conditions and high-resolution live imaging. In the past two decades, microfluidic technology has increasingly been applied in plant sciences research. This review summarises current applications of microfluidic technology in plant sciences, including studies of root–rhizosphere interactions, tip-growing plant cells, plant protoplasts, and plant phenotyping. Emerging trends are explored, and key research gaps are highlighted.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sylwia Joanna Barker, Bishnubrata Patra, Manvendra Sharma, Annamarija Raic, Ruby E. H Karsten, Elisabeth Verpoorte, Marcel Utz
Monitoring metabolism in living tissues with high temporal resolution and broad metabolite coverage remains a major challenge. We introduce the TISuMR platform, a microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip platform that enables continuous, non-invasive operando NMR spectroscopy of live tissue slices. The TISuMR platform replaces the conventional NMR sample tube with a fully integrated microfluidic culture system that maintains tissue viability through dynamic nutrient perifusion, gas exchange via a diffusion membrane, and precise temperature control. Coupled with a custom-designed micro-NMR probe, the platform allows detection of nearly two dozens of metabolites from just 2.5 µL of sample. In a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate the platform's unique ability to resolve dynamic metabolic fluxes and to monitor, in real time, the onset of chlorpromazine-induced cholestasis in murine liver tissue, with a time resolution of just over three minutes. This approach provides a powerful, minimally disruptive tool for studying tissue metabolism in real time.
{"title":"Microfluidic NMR for Operando Monitoring of Drug-Induced Metabolic Fluxes in Liver Tissue Slices","authors":"Sylwia Joanna Barker, Bishnubrata Patra, Manvendra Sharma, Annamarija Raic, Ruby E. H Karsten, Elisabeth Verpoorte, Marcel Utz","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00819k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00819k","url":null,"abstract":"Monitoring metabolism in living tissues with high temporal resolution and broad metabolite coverage remains a major challenge. We introduce the TISuMR platform, a microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip platform that enables continuous, non-invasive operando NMR spectroscopy of live tissue slices. The TISuMR platform replaces the conventional NMR sample tube with a fully integrated microfluidic culture system that maintains tissue viability through dynamic nutrient perifusion, gas exchange via a diffusion membrane, and precise temperature control. Coupled with a custom-designed micro-NMR probe, the platform allows detection of nearly two dozens of metabolites from just 2.5 µL of sample. In a proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate the platform's unique ability to resolve dynamic metabolic fluxes and to monitor, in real time, the onset of chlorpromazine-induced cholestasis in murine liver tissue, with a time resolution of just over three minutes. This approach provides a powerful, minimally disruptive tool for studying tissue metabolism in real time.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"272 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sisi Zhou, Fanshu Shan, Yue Zhang, Yu Cao, Junhui Cen, Noritada Kaji, Songqin Liu
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in women, primarily due to their metastasis and recurrence. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer metastasis and recurrence remains a major challenge. Herein, we developed a microfluidic chip-based 3D co-culture system that integrates tumor spheroids, vascular endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix to model metastasis dynamics. This system enables real-time monitoring of tumor invasion and angiogenesis through immunofluorescence staining of zinc finger transcription factor (ZEB1) and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31), coupled with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) quantification. Then we employed this platform to investigate the role of exosomal hot shock proteins (HSPs) in breast cancer metastasis, elucidating that breast cancer-derived exosomes significantly promoted tumor invasion and angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. At an exosomes concentration of 1012 particles/mL, ZEB1 expression increased by 2.06-fold and VEGF secretion elevated by 3.92-fold . Conversely, HSP-depleted exosomes (ExosomeHSP del) reversed these effects, confirming that exosomal HSPs serve as critical mediators of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. This microfluidic model provides a physiologically relevant tool for studying metastatic mechanisms and screening therapeutic targets, highlighting exosomal HSPs as a promising intervention point.
{"title":"A Smart 3D Microfluidic Tumor Spheroid-Vessel Co-Culture Model for Studying Exosomal HSP-Mediated Tumor Invasion and Angiogenesis","authors":"Sisi Zhou, Fanshu Shan, Yue Zhang, Yu Cao, Junhui Cen, Noritada Kaji, Songqin Liu","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00857c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00857c","url":null,"abstract":"Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in women, primarily due to their metastasis and recurrence. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer metastasis and recurrence remains a major challenge. Herein, we developed a microfluidic chip-based 3D co-culture system that integrates tumor spheroids, vascular endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix to model metastasis dynamics. This system enables real-time monitoring of tumor invasion and angiogenesis through immunofluorescence staining of zinc finger transcription factor (ZEB1) and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31), coupled with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) quantification. Then we employed this platform to investigate the role of exosomal hot shock proteins (HSPs) in breast cancer metastasis, elucidating that breast cancer-derived exosomes significantly promoted tumor invasion and angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. At an exosomes concentration of 1012 particles/mL, ZEB1 expression increased by 2.06-fold and VEGF secretion elevated by 3.92-fold . Conversely, HSP-depleted exosomes (ExosomeHSP del) reversed these effects, confirming that exosomal HSPs serve as critical mediators of tumor invasion and angiogenesis. This microfluidic model provides a physiologically relevant tool for studying metastatic mechanisms and screening therapeutic targets, highlighting exosomal HSPs as a promising intervention point.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"58 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marco Maria Paci, Nicola Di Trani, Paolo Bolla, Fabiana Del Bono, Takuma Yoshikawa, Isaac Tichy, Patrick Stayton, Alessandro Grattoni
Implantable drug delivery systems offer the promise of on-demand, tunable release profiles tailored to individual therapeutic needs. Here, we present a nanofluidic membrane-based electrochemical delivery system that leverages controlled in situ gas generation to achieve electrically modulated molecular transport. The device comprises a monolithically fabricated nanochannel membrane coated with a platinum layer, which enables cathodic water reduction upon application of a –2 VDC potential. This process generates bubbles that transiently increase local pressure, enhancing convective drug transport through the nanochannels. Electrochemical characterization revealed stable gas evolution dynamics with an average actuation current of 2.31 ± 0.36 mA and low power requirements (4.62 ± 0.43 mW), highlighting suitability for energy-constrained implantable settings. In vitro and simulated in vivo studies demonstrated reversible, voltage-dependent modulation of drug release across a range of compounds with diverse hydrodynamic radii and charges. Drug release rates ranged from 1 to 10 µg/h under electrical actuation—values within therapeutically relevant dosing windows for a wide array of clinical applications. Integration and in vitro validation with a miniaturized Bluetooth-enabled printed circuit board (PCB) controller powered by a 3 V coin cell battery further supports the platform’s feasibility for autonomous, wirelessly controlled therapeutic administration. Together, these findings demonstrate a scalable, low-power, and highly adaptable nanofluidic system capable of tunable drug delivery, suitable for integration within implantable closed-loop systems.
{"title":"Nanofluidic-based Electrochemical Pump for Remotely Controlled, On-Demand Drug Delivery","authors":"Marco Maria Paci, Nicola Di Trani, Paolo Bolla, Fabiana Del Bono, Takuma Yoshikawa, Isaac Tichy, Patrick Stayton, Alessandro Grattoni","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00708a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00708a","url":null,"abstract":"Implantable drug delivery systems offer the promise of on-demand, tunable release profiles tailored to individual therapeutic needs. Here, we present a nanofluidic membrane-based electrochemical delivery system that leverages controlled in situ gas generation to achieve electrically modulated molecular transport. The device comprises a monolithically fabricated nanochannel membrane coated with a platinum layer, which enables cathodic water reduction upon application of a –2 VDC potential. This process generates bubbles that transiently increase local pressure, enhancing convective drug transport through the nanochannels. Electrochemical characterization revealed stable gas evolution dynamics with an average actuation current of 2.31 ± 0.36 mA and low power requirements (4.62 ± 0.43 mW), highlighting suitability for energy-constrained implantable settings. In vitro and simulated in vivo studies demonstrated reversible, voltage-dependent modulation of drug release across a range of compounds with diverse hydrodynamic radii and charges. Drug release rates ranged from 1 to 10 µg/h under electrical actuation—values within therapeutically relevant dosing windows for a wide array of clinical applications. Integration and in vitro validation with a miniaturized Bluetooth-enabled printed circuit board (PCB) controller powered by a 3 V coin cell battery further supports the platform’s feasibility for autonomous, wirelessly controlled therapeutic administration. Together, these findings demonstrate a scalable, low-power, and highly adaptable nanofluidic system capable of tunable drug delivery, suitable for integration within implantable closed-loop systems.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yedam Lee, Sujin Kim, Hyeyeon Koh, Yeonwoo Park, Jung Y. Han, Jihoon Ko
Correction for ‘A tumor spheroid array chip for high-fidelity evaluation of liposomal drug delivery through the EPR effect’ by Yedam Lee et al., Lab Chip, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LC00893J.
{"title":"Correction: A tumor spheroid array chip for high-fidelity evaluation of liposomal drug delivery through the EPR effect","authors":"Yedam Lee, Sujin Kim, Hyeyeon Koh, Yeonwoo Park, Jung Y. Han, Jihoon Ko","doi":"10.1039/d6lc90011a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d6lc90011a","url":null,"abstract":"Correction for ‘A tumor spheroid array chip for high-fidelity evaluation of liposomal drug delivery through the EPR effect’ by Yedam Lee <em>et al.</em>, <em>Lab Chip</em>, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5LC00893J.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146101816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ultrasonically actuated sharp-tip capillary droplet generation offers a chip-free approach to produce microdroplets for applications such as micro/nanoparticle synthesis and biochemical analysis, eliminating the need for complex microfluidic fabrication and bulky pumping systems. This method exploits the synergy between acoustically driven centrifugal pumping and acoustic streaming for on-demand droplet formation. Despite its promise, a thorough understanding of how key parameters influence droplet dynamics has remained elusive, hindering further optimization and broader adoption. Here, we present the first systematic characterization of droplet generation dynamics in an ultrasonically actuated sharp-tip capillary system. We investigate the effects of driving voltage, amplitude modulation (AM) waveform, capillary tip diameter, and liquid viscosity (both dispersed and continuous phases) on droplet size, monodispersity, and generation stability. A theoretical model is developed to elucidate the three-stage droplet formation mechanism: centrifugal pumping, acoustic streaming-induced neck elongation, and Laplace pressure-driven pinch-off upon vibration cessation. Crucially, leveraging the precise control enabled by AM modulation, we demonstrate the novel programmable generation of multi-volume droplet sequences within a single stream. We further demonstrate the platform’s versatility through the synthesis of highly monodisperse calcium alginate (CV ~ 3.38%) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microspheres (CV ~ 2.94%). This study offers fundamental mechanistic insights and practical guidelines for optimizing vibrating sharp-tip capillary droplet generators, facilitating their potential use in point-of-care diagnostics, combinatorial screening, and advanced material synthesis.
{"title":"Systematic characterization and mechanistic insights into ultrasonically actuated sharp-tip capillary droplet generation","authors":"Qi Zhang, Li Ran, Gang Li","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00954e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00954e","url":null,"abstract":"Ultrasonically actuated sharp-tip capillary droplet generation offers a chip-free approach to produce microdroplets for applications such as micro/nanoparticle synthesis and biochemical analysis, eliminating the need for complex microfluidic fabrication and bulky pumping systems. This method exploits the synergy between acoustically driven centrifugal pumping and acoustic streaming for on-demand droplet formation. Despite its promise, a thorough understanding of how key parameters influence droplet dynamics has remained elusive, hindering further optimization and broader adoption. Here, we present the first systematic characterization of droplet generation dynamics in an ultrasonically actuated sharp-tip capillary system. We investigate the effects of driving voltage, amplitude modulation (AM) waveform, capillary tip diameter, and liquid viscosity (both dispersed and continuous phases) on droplet size, monodispersity, and generation stability. A theoretical model is developed to elucidate the three-stage droplet formation mechanism: centrifugal pumping, acoustic streaming-induced neck elongation, and Laplace pressure-driven pinch-off upon vibration cessation. Crucially, leveraging the precise control enabled by AM modulation, we demonstrate the novel programmable generation of multi-volume droplet sequences within a single stream. We further demonstrate the platform’s versatility through the synthesis of highly monodisperse calcium alginate (CV ~ 3.38%) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel microspheres (CV ~ 2.94%). This study offers fundamental mechanistic insights and practical guidelines for optimizing vibrating sharp-tip capillary droplet generators, facilitating their potential use in point-of-care diagnostics, combinatorial screening, and advanced material synthesis.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pathological angiogenesis, such as that observed in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is difficult to reproduce in vitro using human-relevant models. Although organ-on-chip (OoC) systems incorporating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and endothelial barriers have been reported, models integrating human retinal organoids with vascular networks remain limited. Here, we present a fully 3D-printed microfluidic platform for co-culture of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids containing intrinsic RPE regions with endothelial cells. The device, fabricated from flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) on a transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrate, supports three-dimensional co-culture within a fibrin-Matrigel matrix. In this system, endothelial cells formed organized vascular networks that localized around RPE-associated regions of retinal organoids without direct tissue invasion. Organoid-endothelial co-culture resulted in increased VEGF secretion, while exogenous VEGF further enhanced endothelial localization near RPE regions without affecting organoid growth. Functional assays using fluorescent dextran and rhodamine-labeled liposomal nanoparticles demonstrated spatially restricted and time-dependent transport along vascularized regions adjacent to the organoid interface. This retinal organoid-on-chip provides a simple and robust in vitro platform for studying retinal-vascular interactions and vascular-mediated transport processes.
{"title":"Development of a 3D-printed microfluidic chip for retinal organoid-endothelial co-culture.","authors":"Rodi Kado Abdalkader, Shigeru Kawakami, Yuuki Takashima, Takuya Fujita","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00939a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00939a","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pathological angiogenesis, such as that observed in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is difficult to reproduce <i>in vitro</i> using human-relevant models. Although organ-on-chip (OoC) systems incorporating retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and endothelial barriers have been reported, models integrating human retinal organoids with vascular networks remain limited. Here, we present a fully 3D-printed microfluidic platform for co-culture of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids containing intrinsic RPE regions with endothelial cells. The device, fabricated from flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) on a transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrate, supports three-dimensional co-culture within a fibrin-Matrigel matrix. In this system, endothelial cells formed organized vascular networks that localized around RPE-associated regions of retinal organoids without direct tissue invasion. Organoid-endothelial co-culture resulted in increased VEGF secretion, while exogenous VEGF further enhanced endothelial localization near RPE regions without affecting organoid growth. Functional assays using fluorescent dextran and rhodamine-labeled liposomal nanoparticles demonstrated spatially restricted and time-dependent transport along vascularized regions adjacent to the organoid interface. This retinal organoid-on-chip provides a simple and robust <i>in vitro</i> platform for studying retinal-vascular interactions and vascular-mediated transport processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146103124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We present a disposable lab-on-a-chip (LoC) for colorimetric enzyme activity monitoring in solid-state fermentation (SSF) processes. The microfluidic chip structures are fabricated via roll-to-roll (R2R) extrusion coating, which reduces costs and enhances efficiency. The LoC operates on capillary-driven flow microfluidics in which a droplet added at the inlet self-fills the chip by capillary action, reaching the reaction chamber. A capillary pump then removes excess liquid, isolating the detection area where the enzymatic reaction takes place. The selection of the target enzymes (α-amylase and cellulase) was made based on their relevance to the industrial biodetergent production processes. For LoC compatibility, enzymatic assays must deliver a strong signal and must be user-friendly. One-step colorimetric assays meet these criteria by releasing a dye from a substrate through enzymatic action. To make the chip easier to handle, the enzymatic substrates were integrated into its reaction chamber in dryed form. For this purpose, two strategies for integration were tested: drop-casting followed by freeze-drying, and piezoelectric deposition with air-drying. Additionally, storage conditions were optimized to enhance shelf-life and reagent stability. To measure enzymatic activity, a pocket-sized colorimetric reader was developed and adapted to the LoC geometry while an Android app was created to enable smartphone-based control of the reader. Furthermore, validation with commercial enzymes established the limit of detection (LoD), and subsequent tests with SSF samples from an industrial plant confirmed the functionality of the system. The enzymatic activity measurements are completed in under 10 minutes, revealing increasing enzymatic activity as fermentation progresses. In conclusion, the LoC provides a quick and cost-effective solution for detecting α-amylase and cellulase in samples derived from SSF processes.
{"title":"Lab-on-a-chip for enzyme activity monitoring in industrial solid-state fermentation processes compatible with R2R fabrication.","authors":"Verónica Mora-Sanz,Alvaro Conde,Elisabeth Hengge,Conor O'Sullivan,Andoni Rodriguez,Caroline Hennigs,Maciej Skolimowski,Nastasia Okulova,Jan Kafka,Bernd Nidetzky,Ana Ayerdi,Matija Strbac,Martin Smolka,Goran Bijelic,Nerea Briz","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00528k","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00528k","url":null,"abstract":"We present a disposable lab-on-a-chip (LoC) for colorimetric enzyme activity monitoring in solid-state fermentation (SSF) processes. The microfluidic chip structures are fabricated via roll-to-roll (R2R) extrusion coating, which reduces costs and enhances efficiency. The LoC operates on capillary-driven flow microfluidics in which a droplet added at the inlet self-fills the chip by capillary action, reaching the reaction chamber. A capillary pump then removes excess liquid, isolating the detection area where the enzymatic reaction takes place. The selection of the target enzymes (α-amylase and cellulase) was made based on their relevance to the industrial biodetergent production processes. For LoC compatibility, enzymatic assays must deliver a strong signal and must be user-friendly. One-step colorimetric assays meet these criteria by releasing a dye from a substrate through enzymatic action. To make the chip easier to handle, the enzymatic substrates were integrated into its reaction chamber in dryed form. For this purpose, two strategies for integration were tested: drop-casting followed by freeze-drying, and piezoelectric deposition with air-drying. Additionally, storage conditions were optimized to enhance shelf-life and reagent stability. To measure enzymatic activity, a pocket-sized colorimetric reader was developed and adapted to the LoC geometry while an Android app was created to enable smartphone-based control of the reader. Furthermore, validation with commercial enzymes established the limit of detection (LoD), and subsequent tests with SSF samples from an industrial plant confirmed the functionality of the system. The enzymatic activity measurements are completed in under 10 minutes, revealing increasing enzymatic activity as fermentation progresses. In conclusion, the LoC provides a quick and cost-effective solution for detecting α-amylase and cellulase in samples derived from SSF processes.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) technology has emerged as a transformative platform for biomarker detection, integrating multiple analytical processes within a single microfluidic device. Advances in microfabrication and fluid dynamics have enabled the development of miniaturized, automated assays characterized by high sensitivity, rapid analysis, and portability. These advances facilitate diverse applications, including nucleic acid and protein analysis, as well as multiplexed biomolecular detection. LoC systems are particularly impactful for early cancer screening, infectious disease diagnostics, and real-time health monitoring. Integration with multi-omics approaches further enhances their capacity to elucidate complex disease mechanisms, thereby advancing precision medicine. Continued innovation in materials science, device architecture, and system integration promises to enhance the diagnostic performance, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of LoC systems across clinical settings. This review summarizes recent progress in LoC-based biomarker detection, highlighting innovations in fabrication, assay integration, and practical applications. It also discusses prevailing challenges and future research directions, offering insights into how LoC technology is poised to shape the next generation of precision diagnostics.
{"title":"Lab-on-a-chip for biomarker detection: advances, practical applications, and future perspectives.","authors":"Tianfeng Xu,Hao Bai,Jie Hu,Limei Zhang,Weihua Zhuang,Chang Zou,Yongchao Yao,Wenchuang Walter Hu,Jin Huang","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00986c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00986c","url":null,"abstract":"Lab-on-a-chip (LoC) technology has emerged as a transformative platform for biomarker detection, integrating multiple analytical processes within a single microfluidic device. Advances in microfabrication and fluid dynamics have enabled the development of miniaturized, automated assays characterized by high sensitivity, rapid analysis, and portability. These advances facilitate diverse applications, including nucleic acid and protein analysis, as well as multiplexed biomolecular detection. LoC systems are particularly impactful for early cancer screening, infectious disease diagnostics, and real-time health monitoring. Integration with multi-omics approaches further enhances their capacity to elucidate complex disease mechanisms, thereby advancing precision medicine. Continued innovation in materials science, device architecture, and system integration promises to enhance the diagnostic performance, cost-effectiveness, and reliability of LoC systems across clinical settings. This review summarizes recent progress in LoC-based biomarker detection, highlighting innovations in fabrication, assay integration, and practical applications. It also discusses prevailing challenges and future research directions, offering insights into how LoC technology is poised to shape the next generation of precision diagnostics.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Devin Veerman, Carlos Cuartas-Vélez, Tarek Gensheimer, Tomas Van Dorp, Andries D. van der Meer, Nienke Bosschaart
Vision-impairing diseases negatively affect the quality of life of patients and many originate or manifest in the retina and the underlying vascular bed, the choroidal microvasculature. Optical coherence tomography is a widely used clinical technology to detect, monitor and diagnose disorders of the retina and choroid. Currently, there are limited experimental platforms that correlate observed changes in clinical metrics with underlying mechanisms of disease progression. Organ-on-chips have the potential to offer a platform for correlative studies. Previous studies have demonstrated that the three-dimensional complexity of the choroidal microvasculature can also be captured in a vesselon-chip. Yet, current vessel-on-chip imaging analysis is based on end-point read-outs that provide limited dynamic information and do not have direct correlation with imaging techniques used in the clinic. Therefore, there is a need for clinically relevant, label-free, real-time imaging technologies. In this work, we show that optical coherence tomography can fulfill this need by providing non-invasive, label-free imaging of vascular networks-on-chip. We show that optical coherence tomography can detect and can be used to quantify changes in vascular network structures over multiple days, both during vascular network development and in response to disease-associated conditions. Our results indicate that optical coherence tomography has the potential to become a standard read-out for monitoring dynamic processes in organ-on-chips. In the future, this may enable the correlation of clinical metrics with those obtained in retina-on-chips which could provide deeper insights in the pathophysiology of retinal diseases.
{"title":"Label-free assessment of a microfluidic vessel-on-chip model with visible-light optical tomography reveals structural changes in vascular networks","authors":"Devin Veerman, Carlos Cuartas-Vélez, Tarek Gensheimer, Tomas Van Dorp, Andries D. van der Meer, Nienke Bosschaart","doi":"10.1039/d5lc00927h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5lc00927h","url":null,"abstract":"Vision-impairing diseases negatively affect the quality of life of patients and many originate or manifest in the retina and the underlying vascular bed, the choroidal microvasculature. Optical coherence tomography is a widely used clinical technology to detect, monitor and diagnose disorders of the retina and choroid. Currently, there are limited experimental platforms that correlate observed changes in clinical metrics with underlying mechanisms of disease progression. Organ-on-chips have the potential to offer a platform for correlative studies. Previous studies have demonstrated that the three-dimensional complexity of the choroidal microvasculature can also be captured in a vesselon-chip. Yet, current vessel-on-chip imaging analysis is based on end-point read-outs that provide limited dynamic information and do not have direct correlation with imaging techniques used in the clinic. Therefore, there is a need for clinically relevant, label-free, real-time imaging technologies. In this work, we show that optical coherence tomography can fulfill this need by providing non-invasive, label-free imaging of vascular networks-on-chip. We show that optical coherence tomography can detect and can be used to quantify changes in vascular network structures over multiple days, both during vascular network development and in response to disease-associated conditions. Our results indicate that optical coherence tomography has the potential to become a standard read-out for monitoring dynamic processes in organ-on-chips. In the future, this may enable the correlation of clinical metrics with those obtained in retina-on-chips which could provide deeper insights in the pathophysiology of retinal diseases.","PeriodicalId":85,"journal":{"name":"Lab on a Chip","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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