Lab on a Chip最新文献

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.

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.

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.

The study of human intestinal diseases, particularly those involving oxidative stress-induced barrier dysfunction, has attracted increasing attention. Traditional studies have relied heavily on animal models and static 2D cell cultures, and recently, intestinal organ-on-a-chip models have emerged as a promising alternative for modeling intestinal pathophysiology in a human-relevant context. In this study, a high-throughput intestinal chip model was developed using double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and commercial polycarbonate materials. The model was employed to culture the Caco-2 barrier under continuous fluid flow and cyclic mechanical strain which are crucial for mature barrier formation and function. Bright-field and dark-field microscopy showed that the cells formed a tight, continuous barrier layer within the system. Sodium fluorescein permeation experiments demonstrated good permeability, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments and laser confocal microscopy imaging further confirmed a high degree of epithelial polarization. Additionally, an oxidative damage model was constructed using hydrogen peroxide. Immunofluorescence staining and metabolomics analysis verified that the model exhibited characteristics consistent with oxidative damage in intestinal cells, indicating the successful construction of the oxidative damage model.

The SlipChip is a versatile microfluidic platform that enables precise control of fluidic connections through the relative sliding of two microstructured plates, without requiring external pumps or valves. SlipChip facilitates fluid aliquoting, mixing, and partitioning via a simple sliding operation induced microfluidic reconfiguration. Various designs have been developed and applied to nucleic acid assays, protein crystallization, protein analysis, single-cell analysis, and materials synthesis. Compared with conventional microfluidics, SlipChip offers advantages such as simple fluidic manipulation, on-chip reagent preloading, portability, and cost-effective fabrication in diverse materials (glass, PDMS, plastic, paper). This review summarizes the fluidic principles, device fabrication, and applications of SlipChip, highlighting representative architectures, driving mechanisms, and material considerations. We also address current limitations of SlipChip technology, particularly in terms of assembly precision and dependence on manual operation. Looking forward, advances in materials engineering, device automation, and artificial intelligence are anticipated to enhance assembly reliability and support increasingly autonomous workflows. These developments are poised to significantly broaden the role of SlipChip in systems biology, clinical diagnostics, and personalized medicine. Overall, SlipChip represents a simple, robust, and accessible microfluidic platform suitable for diverse research applications as well as clinical diagnostics.

Nanopore sensing provides an ideal strategy for the label-free detection of single molecules in a variety of application scenarios. Working under the principle of resistive pulse sensing (RPS), nanopores consist of constrictions with sub-100 nm dimensions to enable single-molecule resolution by matching pore size to target dimensions (scaling); the optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) results when the electrically biased pore is comparable in size to the molecule to be analyzed. When single molecules are electrokinetically transported through such remarkably small pores, they temporarily disturb the flux of ions moving through them, generating unique signals. These signals vary based upon the molecules' shape, size, orientation, and other physicochemical properties. Nanopores are generally divided into two main categories owing to their fabrication approach and material: biological and solid state. While biological nanopores have been the dominant sensor format due to their exceptionally small size, solid-state nanopores can demonstrate high performance characteristics attributed to their rigidity, stability, and high versatility in shape, material, and configuration. This review will explore the state-of-the-art in biological and solid-state nanopores and their abilities to detect and identify single biomolecules in a label-free manner. We will also review two topographical configurations of nanopore sensors; in-plane and out-of-plane sensors. The evolution of nanopore sensing will be reviewed, starting with out-of-plane biological sensors and progressing to in-plane sensors fabricated in plastics via replication technologies.