Themed collection Lab on a Chip HOT Articles 2021
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Use of some cost-effective technologies for a routine clinical pathology laboratory
Cost-effective technologies allow >85% economical savings, making clinical pathology more accessible worldwide.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4330-4351
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00658D
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Bifurcations in flows of complex fluids around microfluidic cylinders
We review recent work examining flow asymmetries observed for viscoelastic shear-thinning fluids around obstacles in microchannels, and provide a mechanism for the instability.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4041-4059
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00128K
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Standardisation needs for organ on chip devices
Standards can demonstrate technological and biological relevance, increase industry implementation and support regulatory acceptance. This article will give you an overview on the state of play and future needs in standardisation for OoC.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2857-2868
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00241D
Recent progress on wearable point-of-care devices for ocular systems
Eyes have remarkable potential as biological sensing sites for various physical factors and biomarkers, which makes contact lens sensors a promising platform for a wearable point-of-care device for monitoring and diagnosis of diseases.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1269-1286
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01317J
Bridging the gap between development of point-of-care nucleic acid testing and patient care for sexually transmitted infections
Toward tackling the ongoing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections, this review aims to bridge the gap between researchers who develop nucleic acid amplification-based point-of-care tests and end-users who need such tests.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 476-511
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00665G
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
On-chip miRNA extraction platforms: recent technological advances and implications for next generation point-of-care nucleic acid tests
Circulating microRNAs (or miRNAs) can be extracted from bodily fluids using off-chip or on-chip sample processing platforms that hold the key to the next generation of diagnostic and predictive nucleic acid tests.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 463-475
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00868D
Point-of-care diagnostics: recent developments in a pandemic age
This article reviews the rapid and unprecedented development, scaleup and deployment of POC devices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for the future of diagnostics and digital health.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4517-4548
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00627D
Microfluidic single-cell transcriptomics: moving towards multimodal and spatiotemporal omics
This review summarizes typical microfluidic platforms for isolation and transcriptomic analysis of single cells and highlights recent advances in microfluidic single-cell transcriptomics including multimodal omics and spatiotemporal transcriptomics.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3829-3849
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00607J
Miniaturized single-cell technologies for monoclonal antibody discovery
To discover Ag-specific mAbs using miniaturized single-cell technologies, cells are: (i) confined, (ii) identified, (iii) retrieved, and (iv) sequenced.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3627-3654
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00243K
Advances in microfluidic extracellular vesicle analysis for cancer diagnostics
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by cells into the bloodstream and other bodily fluids, including exosomes, have been demonstrated to be a class of significant messengers that mediate intercellular communications.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3219-3243
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00443C
A technology of a different sort: microraft arrays
Microraft arrays an analysis and isolation platform enable a wide range of strategies to be used when separating biological entities.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3204-3218
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00506E
Unconventional acoustic approaches for localized and designed micromanipulation
We highlight recent acoustofluidic advances that demonstrate versatility for activities beyond periodic patterning in pressure nodes.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2837-2856
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00378J
Recent innovations in cost-effective polymer and paper hybrid microfluidic devices
This article reviews recent innovations in cost-effective polymer and paper hybrid microfluidic devices and their biological and biomedical applications.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2658-2683
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00414J
Microfluidic enhancement of self-assembly systems
A review of the advances in supramolecular chemistry achieved by the application of continuous and dispersed microfluidic approaches.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1661-1675
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00038A
Bubbles in microfluidics: an all-purpose tool for micromanipulation
We critically review the extensive applications and the frontline advances of bubbles in microfluidics for manipulation.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1016-1035
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01173H
Optofluidic ptychography on a chip
We demonstrate high-resolution ptychographic imaging in a flow cytometer configuration. The device complements the miniaturization provided by microfluidics and allows the integration of ptychographic microscopy into various lab-on-a-chip systems.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4549-4556
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00719J
Microfluidic generation of ATPS droplets by transient double emulsion technique
The transient double emulsion technique can produce highly uniform ATPS droplets with tunable stability by introducing a middle oil phase. The middle oil phase promotes the generation of ATPS droplets and controls their generation frequency and size.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2684-2690
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00351H
Analysis of the effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression on cancer cell invasion via three-dimensional microfluidic invasion assays
We studied the effect of AHR expression on metastasis using cell invasion in digital microfluidic microgel systems (CIMMS), which provided a unique combination of functional discrimination with transcriptome profiling of sub-populations of cells.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 313-325
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00854D
Volumeless reagent delivery: a liquid handling method for adding reagents to microscale droplets without increasing volume
We report a versatile method for delivering reagents into microscale droplets without increasing volume.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 286-295
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00906K
Aptamer selection against alpha-defensin human neutrophil peptide 1 on an integrated microfluidic system for diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infections
An automated process was carried out on an integrated microfluidic system that featured SELEX 1) a positive + negative + competitive selection on a single chip and 2) aptamer-based ELISA-like assay for detection of PJI positive and negative samples.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 250-261
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00969A
Electronic measurement of cell antigen expression in whole blood
A magnetophoretic cytometry chip with integrated purification and multiplexed readout for membrane antigen expression in hematological samples.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 296-312
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00889G
Neural network-enhanced real-time impedance flow cytometry for single-cell intrinsic characterization
We propose to employ NN-enhanced IFC to achieve both real-time single-cell intrinsic characterization and intrinsic metric-based cell classification at high throughput.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 240-249
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00755F
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
A sample-to-answer electrochemical biosensor system for biomarker detection
We interfaced with a painless blood collection device and integrated on-chip blood-to-plasma separation with an electronic bead-based biomarker detection assay to enable true sample-to-answer detection of biomarkers.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 100-107
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00910A
Microfluidic acoustic sawtooth metasurfaces for patterning and separation using traveling surface acoustic waves
We demonstrate microfluidic acoustic sawtooth-like metasurfaces that create steerable acoustofluidic fields for microscale patterning and separation.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 90-99
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00711D
Small intestinal sampling capsule for inflammatory bowel disease type detection and management
A non-invasive sampling capsule is introduced to site-selectively collect calprotectin biomarker from the small intestine. This approach can be accompanied with the fecal calprotectin assay to diagnose IBD and differentiate its types (CD and UC).
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 57-70
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00451D
Manipulation of cancer cells in a sessile droplet via travelling surface acoustic waves
TSAWs quickly form a tumor spheroid for a drug screening platform.
Lab Chip, 2022,22, 47-56
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00801C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Amplification factor in DC insulator-based electrokinetic devices: a theoretical, numerical, and experimental approach to operation voltage reduction for particle trapping
Trapping voltage in 2D DC-iEK systems was significantly reduced (∼80 V) via a design optimization process primarily focused on E-field amplification.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4596-4607
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00614B
A microfluidic chip with a serpentine channel enabling high-throughput cell separation using surface acoustic waves
We demonstrate a label-free, high-throughput cell separation method via a SSAW-based acoustofluidic device with a serpentine channel for clinical diagnosis and point-of-care analysis.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4608-4617
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00840D
Cortical spheroids display oscillatory network dynamics
3-D spheroid cultures contain networks that develop by 9 days and develop increasingly complex network activity patterns as they mature. We demonstrate, for the first time, that spheroids exhibit network activity similar to in vivo network events.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4586-4595
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00737H
A handy reversible bonding technology and its application on fabrication of an on-chip liquid metal micro-thermocouple
An on-chip liquid metal based micro-thermocouple based on a reversible bonding technology.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4566-4573
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00726B
Programmed assembly of bespoke prototissues on a microfluidic platform
A microfluidic platform to build bespoke prototissues with collective behaviours that depend on the chemical composition of the biomaterial.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4574-4585
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00602A
Personalized gel-droplet monocyte vaccines for cancer immunotherapy
Personalized gel-droplet-encapsulated monocyte vaccines were prepared using an integrated chip and injected back into the hosts to induce CTL for the treatment of cancer.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4414-4426
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00646K
Inside the ensemble: unlocking the potential of one-at-a-time experiments with lab-on-a-chip automation
Automated microfluidics, laser tweezers, particle detection for pairwise particle stickiness measurements.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 4401-4413
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00601K
Simulating drug concentrations in PDMS microfluidic organ chips
A simulation method for predicting drug responses is described that overcomes challenges relating to absorption of hydrophobic drug molecules by Organ Chips made from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3509-3519
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00348H
Scaffold-free generation of heterotypic cell spheroids using acoustofluidics
A scaffold-free and versatile acoustofluidic device to fabricate heterotypic cell spheroids with complexity over cell architecture and components.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3498-3508
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00496D
Microfluidic recapitulation of circulating tumor cell–neutrophil clusters via double spiral channel-induced deterministic encapsulation
A novel droplet microfluidic device called double-spiral chip enables the recapitulation of circulating tumor cell (CTC)–neutrophil clusters.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3483-3497
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00433F
Biomarker barcodes: multiplexed microfluidic immunohistochemistry enables high-throughput analysis of tissue microarray
The biomarker barcode concept has been demonstrated by performing multiplexed microfluidic immunohistochemistry on tissue microarray samples.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3471-3482
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00375E
In-flow electrochemical detection of chemicals in droplets with pyrolysed photoresist electrodes: application as a module for quantification of microsampled dopamine
Electrochemical detection in droplets with pyrolysed photoresist electrodes was characterized and then performed to quantify dopamine in biological concentration range and to reliably identify steps of concentration in in vitro microsampled droplets.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3328-3337
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00116G
Exceeding ohmic scaling by more than one order of magnitude with a 3D ion concentration polarization system
Concentration polarization (CP) with upright 3D reservoir.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3094-3104
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00470K
Inducing AC-electroosmotic flow using electric field manipulation with insulators
We demonstrate a new method to induce vortices with AC-EOF by shaping insulator materials near parallel electrodes, giving control of vortex organization. Interestingly, non-orthogonality of insulator walls is a requirement to induce AC-EOF.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3105-3111
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00393C
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Microfluidic chip grafted with integrin tension sensors for evaluating the effects of flowing shear stress and ROCK inhibitor on platelets
Integrins are key players in platelet adhesion and aggregation.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 3128-3136
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00259G
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
High-throughput optofluidic screening for improved microbial cell factories via real-time micron-scale productivity monitoring
We describe high-throughput (>103 strains per week) methods for discovery of engineered microbial strains with improved secretion phenotype. These novel approaches use real-time monitoring of colony productivity under steady-state or batch culture.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2901-2912
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00389E
“One-to-three” droplet generation in digital microfluidics for parallel chemiluminescence immunoassays
A “one-to-three” splitting method is able to generate sub-microlitre droplets beyond the “well-known” geometry limit in EWOD digital microfluidics. It helps to realise parallel on-chip CLIA with enhanced magnetic beads washing efficiency.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2892-2900
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00421B
Disposable photonics for cost-effective clinical bioassays: application to COVID-19 antibody testing
Rice-sized (1 × 4 mm) silicon nitride ring resonator photonic sensor chips paired with plastic micropillar fluidic cards for sample handling and optical detection yield a “disposable photonics” assay platform.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2913-2921
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00369K
Autonomous lab-on-paper for multiplexed, CRISPR-based diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2
Autonomous lab-on-paper platform for simple, rapid, low-cost, and multiplex gene diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2730-2737
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00293G
Direct isolation of circulating extracellular vesicles from blood for vascular risk profiling in type 2 diabetes mellitus
A simple, economical and scalable microfluidic separation technology (ExoDFF) for label-free isolation of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) from whole blood.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 2511-2523
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00333J
An electricity- and instrument-free infectious disease sensor based on a 3D origami paper-based analytical device
A three-dimensional origami-paper-based analytical device with electricity-free “timer” function for HIV type 1 p24 antigen detection.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1908-1915
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00079A
Closed-loop feedback control of microfluidic cell manipulation via deep-learning integrated sensor networks
An adaptive microfluidic system changing its operational state in real-time based on cell measurements through an on-chip electrical sensor network.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1916-1928
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00076D
Direct laser writing for cardiac tissue engineering: a microfluidic heart on a chip with integrated transducers
We developed an organ-on-a-chip platform with integrated stimulators and sensors. The platform is fabricated using direct laser writing (DLW) and allows for generation and study of functional 3D cardiac microtissues in controlled microenvironments.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1724-1737
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01078B
Fundamentals of integrated ferrohydrodynamic cell separation in circulating tumor cell isolation
We present the fundamental theory and experimental validations of an integrated ferrohydrodynamic cell separation (iFCS) method that can isolate circulating tumor cells with a high recovery rate.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1706-1723
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00119A
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
High-throughput organ-on-chip platform with integrated programmable fluid flow and real-time sensing for complex tissue models in drug development workflows
96 microfluidic devices with independent electrical readouts are coupled with 192 micropumps to make a high-throughput organ-on-chip platform.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1454-1474
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00067E
Coexistence of fluorescent Escherichia coli strains in millifluidic droplet reactors
We use a millifluidic system to study the multi-species bacterial growth to unveil the details of cooperation between two Escherichia coli strains inside droplet reactors. This system also has the potential for studies of drug resistance transfer.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1492-1502
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01204A
Microfluidic ultrafine particle dosimeter using an electrical detection method with a machine-learning-aided algorithm for real-time monitoring of particle density and size distribution
A compact, cost-efficient airborne ultrafine particle (UFP) dosimeter that can monitor essential parameters required for accurate UFP dosimetry.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 1503-1516
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01240H
![Open Access](https://www.rsc-cdn.org/pubs-core/2022.0.147/content/NewImages/open-access-icon-orange.png)
Cryopreservable arrays of paper-based 3D tumor models for high throughput drug screening
Schematic representation of the methodology developed for creating cryopreservable high throughput paper-based arrays of 3D tumor models for drug screening applications.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 844-854
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01300E
Self-aligned sequential lateral field non-uniformities over channel depth for high throughput dielectrophoretic cell deflection
Self-aligned sequential lateral field non-uniformities extending uniformly over the sample channel depth are fabricated using a single lithography step for enabling phenotype-specific dielectrophoretic separation of cells.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 835-843
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01211D
Origami paper-based sample preconcentration using sequentially driven ion concentration polarization
To overcome the hurdles of the ICP-based preconcentrator (i.e., instability and low efficiency) under physiological conditions, we proposed a novel approach by using a sequentially driven ICP process, showing a 13-fold preconcentration factor (PF) in human serum.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 867-874
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01032D
Ultraviolet-induced in situ gold nanoparticles for point-of-care testing of infectious diseases in loop-mediated isothermal amplification
The present study investigated ultraviolet-induced in situ gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coupled with LAMP for the point-of-care testing (POCT) of two major infectious pathogens, namely, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium spp.).
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 700-709
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1LC00019E
Programmable multilayer printing of a mechanically-tunable 3D hydrogel co-culture system for high-throughput investigation of complex cellular behavior
Programmable multilayer printing is utilized to develop a 3D hydrogel co-culture system, consisting of a microgel array and hydrogel overlay with independently controlled mechanical properties and concurrent generation of mechanical gradients.
Lab Chip, 2021,21, 710-718
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0LC01230K
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.