Perspective
Personalised organs-on-chips: functional testing for precision medicine
Organs-on-chips can be ‘personalised’ so they can be used as functional tests to inform clinical decision-making for specific patients.
Energy conversion in microsystems: is there a role for micro/nanofluidics?
Sumita Pennathur, Jan C. T. Eijkel and Albert van den Berg discuss recent developments in energy conversion in microsystems—part of a series of mini-reviews covering new trends in fundamental and applied research, and potential applications of miniaturised technologies
Nanowire electrochemical sensors: can we live without labels?
Edwin Carlen and Albert van den Berg evaluate the potential of silicon nanowires as a label-free detection method for biomolecules—part of a series of mini-reviews covering new trends in fundamental and applied research, and potential applications of miniaturised technologies.
Microfabrication and microfluidics for tissue engineering: state of the art and future opportunities
Critical Review
Microfluidics and catalyst particles
In this review article, we discuss the latest advances and future perspectives of microfluidics for micro/nanoscale catalyst particle synthesis and analysis.
A MALDI-chip integrated system with a monitoring window
The innovative concept of a “monitoring window” is presented enabling on-chip mass spectrometric studies of reactions by MALDI-TOF. In contrast with conventional procedures, the reaction mixture is directly ionized from a microchannel where the reaction takes place, in a continuous manner.
Paper
In situ spatiotemporal characterization and analysis of chemical reactions using an ATR-integrated microfluidic reactor
An ATR-integrated microreactor with the ability to spatiotemporally characterize an in situ monitored chemical reaction to obtain chemical and kinetic information.
Paper
Fluidic circuit board with modular sensor and valves enables stand-alone, tubeless microfluidic flow control in organs-on-chips
Translational Organ-on-Chip Platform (TOP) is a multi-institutional effort to develop an open platform for automated organ-on-chip culture that actively facilitates the integration of components from various developers.
Paper
Non-invasive sensing of transepithelial barrier function and tissue differentiation in organs-on-chips using impedance spectroscopy
Combining impedance spectroscopy with electrical simulation to reveal transepithelial barrier function and tissue structure of human intestinal epithelium cultured in an organ-on-chip.
Measuring direct current trans-epithelial electrical resistance in organ-on-a-chip microsystems
TEER measurements are ideal for characterizing tissue barrier function in organs-on-chip studies for drug testing and investigation of human disease models; however, published reports indicate highly conflicting results even with identical cell lines and setups.
Three-dimensional co-cultures of human endothelial cells and embryonic stem cell-derived pericytes inside a microfluidic device
We describe a microfluidic, three-dimensional model of a blood vessel. We analyze the structural organization and the three-dimensional interaction between human primary endothelial cells and human pluripotent stem cell-derived pericytes.
High-yield cell ordering and deterministic cell-in-droplet encapsulation using Dean flow in a curved microchannel
This paper describes high-yield and high-speed single cell droplet encapsulation using Dean coupled cell ordering in a microfluidic device using a simple continuous curved microchannel.
A prefilled, ready-to-use electrophoresis based lab-on-a-chip device for monitoring lithium in blood
The first self-test device based on capillary electrophoresis is presented. It employs a handheld reader and disposable glass chip. The chip contains a number of innovations, amongst others sealed electrode reservoirs. Accurate and precise measurement of lithium in blood by untrained operators is demonstrated.
On-chip determination of spermatozoa concentration using electrical impedance measurements
In this paper we describe a microfluidic chip that is able to calculate the concentration of spermatozoa using electrical impedance measurements without knowing the actual flow speed.
A microfluidic chip for electrochemical conversions in drug metabolism studies
A novel microfluidic microreactor chip for electrochemical conversion of analytes is developed. This chip with integrated three-electrode setup is aimed at high conversion rates for use in drug metabolism studies.
Gene transfer and protein dynamics in stem cells using single cell electroporation in a microfluidic device
Highly efficient (>75%) electroporation of single human MSC with vector DNA encoding EGFP-ERK1 (MAPK3) in a microfluidic device with integrated trapping sites and thin-film electrodes.
Sonoporation of suspension cells with a single cavitation bubble in a microfluidic confinement
Combining microfluidics and cavitation bubbles provides a powerful tool for cellular poration. Cells in a microfluidic chamber are exposed to a strong shear flow caused by a cavitation bubble and become thereby porated in a distance-dependent manner.
Apoptotic cell death dynamics of HL60 cells studied using a microfluidic cell trap device
This paper presents the first results to analyse programmed cell death dynamics using an apoptosis chip and a first step towards an integrated apoptosis chip for high throughput drug screening on a single cellular level.
Measuring reaction kinetics in a lab-on-a-chip by microcoil NMR
The feasibility of real-time monitoring by NMR of a chemical reaction, viz. imine formation from benzaldehyde and aniline, in a microfluidic chip with an integrated microcoil is demonstrated, for reaction times ranging from ca. 2 s to 30 min.
About this collection
Lab on a Chip is very pleased to celebrate Albert van den Berg on his recent retirement. Curated by Jan Eijkel, Wouter Olthuis, and colleagues from the BIOS Lab-on-a-chip group at the University of Twente, the Netherlands, this dedicated collection highlights key contributions made by Albert and his collaborators, published in Lab on a Chip throughout his pioneering and illustrious career.
Albert received his MSc in applied physics in 1983 and his PhD in 1988, both at the University of Twente. From 1988 to 1993, he worked in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, at the CSEM and the University (IMT) on miniaturised chemical sensors. In 1994, he returned to the University of Twente to join the MESA Institute for Nanotechnology. There, in 1994, he initiated together with Piet Bergveld the microTAS conference series. In 2000, Albert was appointed full professor of Miniaturised Systems for (Bio)Chemical Analysis in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Twente.
Albert faithfully served on the Lab on a Chip Editorial Board and more recently the Advisory Board for many years. He has played an important role in establishing the journal as the leading venue for work on devices and applications at the micro- and nanoscale. Please join us in paying tribute to Albert for his innovative spirit and leadership in the lab-on-a-chip field!