Themed collection Lab on a Chip HOT Articles 2023
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Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots
A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 996-1029
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00860F
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Towards skin-on-a-chip for screening the dermal absorption of cosmetics
We explore how artificial cells and tissues could be designed, manufactured on-chip and 3D printed for use in place of ex vivo animal tissues when screening cosmetics for dermal absorption.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 5068-5080
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00691C
Lab on a chip for a low-carbon future
We describe how lab-on-a-chip systems can help address challenges in: (I) carbon sequestration, (II) hydrogen storage, (III) geothermal energy extraction, (IV) bioenergy, (V) recovering critical materials, and (VI) water filtration and remediation.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1358-1375
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00020B
Conformational-switch biosensors as novel tools to support continuous, real-time molecular monitoring in lab-on-a-chip devices
We argue that the introduction of high-frequency, real-time biosensors into LoCs could be used to establish high-value feed-back control functionalities.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1339-1348
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00716A
Will the next generation of chemical plants be in miniaturized flow reactors?
Will miniaturised flow reactors initiate a new paradigm for a more localized, safe and reliable chemical production to overcome current crises?
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1349-1357
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00796G
Emerging integrated SERS-microfluidic devices for analysis of cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles
This tutorial review has comprehensively discussed the design of microfluidic device to integrate SERS with it, and addressed the key features and challenges of the integrated platform in the study of cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs).
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2899-2921
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00156C
The 2D microfluidics cookbook – modeling convection and diffusion in plane flow devices
A step-by-step guide for the design and analysis of 2D microfluidic technologies.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1967-1980
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01033J
Digital detection of proteins
We review innovations in digital protein detection that has greatly improved the sensitivity of immunoassays and their impact on biomedicine.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 818-847
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00783E
Understanding organotropism in cancer metastasis using microphysiological systems
Organotropism is an important concept to explain the process of cancer metastasis. In this paper, we introduce microphysiological systems with simultaneous physiological relevance and high throughput to recapitulate the series of cancer progression.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 1542-1556
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00889D
Twenty years of islet-on-a-chip: microfluidic tools for dissecting islet metabolism and function
Islet-on-a-chip devices have the power to measure pancreatic islet metabolism from donor and engineered islets. These measurements could be used to determine healthy islets for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 1327-1350
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00696D
Development and future of droplet microfluidics
This review introduces the development of droplet microfluidics by explaining the physical mechanisms of droplet generation, discussing various approaches in manipulating droplets, and summarizing key applications in material science and biological analyses.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 1135-1153
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00729D
Advances in miniaturized nanosensing platforms for analysis of pathogenic bacteria and viruses
Integration of smart miniaturized nanosensors with artificial intelligence results in precise detection of pathogenic bacteria or viruses in biological samples.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4160-4172
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00674C
Micro-/nanoscale robotics for chemical and biological sensing
Micro-/nanorobotics has attracted extensive interest from a variety of research communities, witnessing enormous progress in applications ranging from basic research to global healthcare and even environmental remediation and protection.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3741-3767
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00404J
Hydraulic–electric analogy for design and operation of microfluidic systems
Hydraulic–electric analogy enables the design and operation of microfluidic circuits with minimal requirement of external control equipment.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3311-3327
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00265A
Integrated “lab-on-a-chip” microfluidic systems for isolation, enrichment, and analysis of cancer biomarkers
This critical review addresses recent developments in integrated microfluidic technologies for cancer detection with an emphasis on three common subtypes of cancer biomarkers: circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA and exosomes.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2942-2958
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01076C
Functions and applications of artificial intelligence in droplet microfluidics
This review summarizes the implementations of droplet microfluidics based on AI, including droplet generation, biological analysis, and material synthesis.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2497-2513
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00224A
The emerging landscape of microfluidic applications in DNA data storage
Microfluidics offers great potential as an enabling technological platform for the burgeoning field of DNA data storage, making critical contributions to improving the performance in data processing, as well as system integration and automation.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1981-2004
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00972B
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Nanoparticle protein corona: from structure and function to therapeutic targeting
Representation of the influence of biological and nanoscale factors on protein corona conformation and function in a healthy versus a pathogenic biological environment.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1432-1466
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00799A
Promise and perils of paper-based point-of-care nucleic acid detection for endemic and pandemic pathogens
Review work on the challenges of paper-based NAATs covering sample-to-answer procedures along with the three main types of clinical samples as well as broader operational, scale up, and regulatory aspects of device development and implementation.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 888-912
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00554A
Human mini-brains for reconstituting central nervous system disorders
In this review, we overview designs and applications of microfluidics-based human mini-brains for reconstituting CNS disorders and expanded model systems ranging from the CNS to CNS-connecting organ axes with future perspectives.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 964-981
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00897A
A review on microrobots driven by optical and magnetic fields
This review covers the working mechanisms, recent progress and state-of-the-art applications of microrobots driven by optical and magnetic fields.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 848-868
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00573E
Optofluidic imaging meets deep learning: from merging to emerging
We discuss the recent trends in integrating deep-learning (DL) and optofluidic imaging. A holistic understanding of them could incentivize DL-powered optofluidic imaging for advancing a wide range of novel applications in science and biomedicine.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1011-1033
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00813K
A critical review of microfluidic systems for CRISPR assays
We review recent advances in CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection using microfluidic devices and discuss the capabilities, limitations, and potential of this emerging technology.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 938-963
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00852A
Recent microfluidic advances in submicron to nanoparticle manipulation and separation
This paper comprehensively studies the latest progress in microfluidic technology for submicron and nanoparticle manipulation by elaborating on the physics, device design, working mechanism and applications of microfluidic technologies.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 982-1010
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00793B
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Microfluidics for multiscale studies of biomolecular condensates
Combining microfluidics with existing techniques allows for novel and more high-throughput measurements of the thermodynamics, kinetics and characteristics of biomolecular condensates.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 9-24
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00622G
Portable all-in-one microfluidic system for CRISPR–Cas13a-based fully integrated multiplexed nucleic acid detection
A portable centrifugal microfluidic device was developed that integrates nucleic acid purification, amplification and CRISPR detection for one-step rapid multiplex diagnosis of infectious diseases in resource-limited settings.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 3367-3376
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00326H
Analytical validation of the DropXpert S6 system for diagnosis of chronic myelocytic leukemia
With high system integration, the process of droplet generation, PCR amplification, and detection of the DropXpert S6 system is completed on one chip, showing high precision and sensitivity in CML patients.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 3080-3092
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00175C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Operando scanning electron microscopy platform for in situ imaging of fluid evolution in nanoporous shale
Dynamic fluid–solid interactions in nanoporous materials underlie processes fundamental to natural and engineered processes, the resolution of which has remained elusive until now.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 2920-2926
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC01066J
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Microfluidic particle counter visualizing mucosal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract for rapid evaluation of immune protection
A microfluidic particle counter for visualizing mucosal antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract for rapid evaluation of immune protection.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 2658-2668
https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00118D
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High-throughput viscoelastic characterization of cells in hyperbolic microchannels
We use hyperbolic microchannels to create a flow field with linearly increasing velocity, leading to a constant tensile stress to probe the viscoelastic properties of cells. We verify our approach on oil droplets and polyacrylamide beads.
Lab Chip, 2024,24, 2440-2453
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC01061A
Proof-of-concept optimization of a copper-mediated 18F-radiosynthesis of a novel MAGL PET tracer on a high-throughput microdroplet platform and its macroscale translation
Arrays of parallel droplet reactions enable high-speed optimization, and discovered conditions can be immediately scaled for use on conventional instruments.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4652-4663
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00735A
Acoustic quasi-periodic bioassembly based diverse stem cell arrangements for differentiation guidance
Cellular arrangements with diverse patterns and positional relationships are obtained simultaneously and contactlessly by quasi-periodic acoustic tweezers for differentiation guidance.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4413-4421
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00448A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
LoCKAmp: lab-on-PCB technology for <3 minute virus genetic detection
LoCKAmp: integrated LAMP genetic amplification device demonstrating reliable detection and ultrafast sample-to-answer time.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4400-4412
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00441D
Magnetofluid-integrated biosensors based on DNase-dead Cas12a for visual point-of-care testing of HIV-1 by an up and down chip
Magnetofluid-integrated biosensors based on DNase-dead Cas12a termed “up and down chip” was established for visual point-of-care testing of HIV-1.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4265-4275
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00558E
Distal renal tubular system-on-a-chip for studying the pathogenesis of influenza A virus-induced kidney injury
The intelligence of viruses is unveiled in this study utilizing a distal renal tubular system-on-a-chip, demonstrating their ability to rapidly spread through tissues.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 4255-4264
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00616F
Micro X-ray fluorescence reveals pore space details and spatially-resolved porosity of rock-based microfluidic devices
Micro X-ray fluorescence produces elemental images at μm resolution and offers insight into rock properties such as mineral composition and structure. This study presents a porosity mapping method using microfluidic devices and real-rock models.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3978-3988
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00394A
Controlling amorphous silicon in scratching for fabricating high-performance micromixers
By controlling scratching with phase differences and post-selective etching, a misaligned sine micromixer was achieved with higher mixing efficiency.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3794-3801
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00320E
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Protruding cantilever microelectrode array to monitor the inner electrical activity of cerebral organoids
An array of protruding cantilever microelectrodes has been developed to measure the inner electrical activity of a cerebral organoid grown from human embryonic stem cells.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3603-3614
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00294B
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Microfluidic device combining hydrodynamic and dielectrophoretic trapping for the controlled contact between single micro-sized objects and application to adhesion assays
A novel microfluidic device capable of controlling the contact between single beads or cells is presented and its capabilities are demonstrated with an adhesion assays and specific interactions between T-cells and tumor cells.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3593-3602
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00400G
SpectIR-fluidics: completely customizable microfluidic cartridges for high sensitivity on-chip infrared spectroscopy with point-of-application studies on bacterial biofilms
SpectIR-fluidics merges any microfluidic design with sensitive ATR-FTIR. The sensor integration within the larger device enables complete freedom for fluidic connections, opening the way for high throughput point of application assays and more.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3561-3570
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00388D
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A microphysiological system for studying human bone biology under simultaneous control of oxygen tension and mechanical loading
We present a microphysiological system with the unique ability to combine perfusion, regulation of oxygen tension, and mechanical loading to culture bone tissue constructs under physiological conditions.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3405-3423
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00154G
The contribution of initial concussive forces and resulting acrolein surge to β-amyloid accumulation and functional alterations in neuronal networks using a TBI-on-a-chip model
TBI-on-a-chip incorporates simultaneous morphological and electrophysiological monitoring of neuronal networks subjected to clinically-relevant impact injuries to investigate primary and secondary injuries, including trauma induced neurodegeneration.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3388-3404
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00248A
Modular droplet injector for sample conservation providing new structural insight for the conformational heterogeneity in the disease-associated NQO1 enzyme
A 3D-printed modular droplet injector successfully delivered microcrystals of human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and phycocyanin with electrical stimulation in a serial crystallography experiment at 120 Hz repetition rate.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3016-3033
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00176H
Bioengineering of a human physiologically relevant microfluidic blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier model
We demonstrate a bioengineered humanized BCSFB model on a microfluidic device. This model recapitulates structural and functional features of BCSFB in both physiological and neuroinflammatory situations, and may be a potential tool for BCSFB study.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 3002-3015
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00131H
Highly parallel, wash-free, and ultrasensitive centrifugal droplet digital protein detection in sub-microliter blood
A centrifugal droplet digital protein detection technology that combines miniaturized centrifugal droplet generation devices with digital immuno-PCR assays, achieving a femtomolar limit of detection of target proteins in sub-microliters of plasma.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2758-2765
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00205E
CeLab, a microfluidic platform for the study of life history traits, reveals metformin and SGK-1 regulation of longevity and reproductive span
CeLab enables high-throughput C. elegans lifespans, reproductive spans, progeny count assays and body size measurements. Adult treatment of metformin at low dose increases RS, and the nutrient-sensing mTOR pathway mutant sgk-1 reproduces until death.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2738-2757
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00028A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Microfluidic in-line dynamic light scattering with a commercial fibre optic system
We report the coupling of dynamic light scattering (DLS) in microfluidics, using a contact-free fibre-optic system, enabling the under-flow characterisation of a range of solutions, dispersions, and structured fluids.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2540-2552
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00062A
Flow cytometric printing of double emulsions into open droplet arrays
We describe a microfluidic approach to print double emulsions on demand in air, allowing each double emulsion droplet to be printed with the desired inner cores.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2371-2377
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00151B
Facilitation of axonal transcriptome analysis with quantitative microfluidic devices
Two newly developed quantitative chambers, multi-compartmental quantitative bipartite chamber (MQBC) and long quantitative tripartite chamber (LQTC), could dramatically increase the efficiency in collecting axonal RNA.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2217-2227
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01183B
Heterogeneous tissue construction by on-demand bubble-assisted acoustic patterning
It offers a new strategy for the fabrication of functionalized structures for a variety of bionic tissue models.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 2206-2216
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3LC00122A
A fully integrated nucleic acid analysis system for multiplex detection of genetic polymorphisms related to folic acid metabolism
A fully integrated microfluidic system to automatically detect blood samples and determine the genetic polymorphisms associated with folic acid metabolism in a “sample in-answer out” style.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1794-1803
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01169G
Highly efficient mRNA delivery with nonlinear microfluidic cell stretching for cellular engineering
We present a novel nonlinear microfluidic cell stretching (μ-cell stretcher) platform that leverages viscoelastic fluids, i.e., methylcellulose (MC) solutions, and cell mechanoporation for highly efficient and robust intracellular mRNA delivery.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1758-1767
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC01115H
Convenient tumor 3D spheroid arrays manufacturing via acoustic excited bubbles for in situ drug screening
Rapid construction of size-controllable 3D tumor spheroid arrays based on acoustic bubbles in microfluidic chips for in situ drug response testing.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 1593-1602
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00973K
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Cells function as a ternary logic gate to decide migration direction under integrated chemical and fluidic cues
A reverse-engineered systems biology framework of directed cell migration in which cells function as a ternary logic gate to decode entangled chemical and fluidic cues to determine migration direction.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 631-644
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00807F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Combining a hybrid chip and tube microfluidic system with fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) core–shell particles for the derivatisation, extraction, and detection of peptides with N-terminating phosphorylated tyrosine
A microfluidic ratiometric detection scheme using silica nanoparticles coated with a “light-up” fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer allows selective rapid assaying of pY-terminating peptides after in-tube/on-chip derivatisation and extraction.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 466-474
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00955B
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.148/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A low-cost, paper-based hybrid capture assay to detect high-risk HPV DNA for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings
A low-cost, user friendly 2DPN for cervical cancer screening was developed and validated for detection of high-risk HPV DNA in clinical samples.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 451-465
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00885H
Studying the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs on atherosclerosis by optofluidic imaging on a chip
Optofluidic imaging on a chip is developed for studying the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs on atherosclerosis.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 410-420
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00895E
Paper-based multi-well depletion ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is widely employed for detecting target molecules in bioassays including the serological assays that measure specific antibody titers.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 251-260
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00960A
A photonic biosensor-integrated tissue chip platform for real-time sensing of lung epithelial inflammatory markers
Integration of photonic sensors with tissue chips (TCs; also known as microphysiological systems or organ chips) enables real time monitoring of analytes produced by the TC or passed through a model tissue barrier.
Lab Chip, 2023,23, 239-250
https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00864E
About this collection
This themed collection features articles published in Lab on a Chip marked as HOT by the handling editor or as recommended by referees. Congratulations to all the authors whose articles are featured.