Microfluidics-Based Analysis in Biology
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As the technology for precisely controlling and manipulating micro-scale fluidics, microfluidics is mainly characterized by manipulating fluids in micro-nano-scale spaces. And it can shrink functions of sample preparation, reaction, separation and detection in biological and chemical laboratories to a chip of a few square centimeters, which has gradually made the technology an ideal tool in biological research. Creative Biolabs has experts from many fields such as engineering, physics, chemistry, micromachining and bioengineering. Our top microfluidic technology platform will provide customers with chip design and customization services covering all aspects of biological research.
Progress in Microfluidics and Its Advantages in Biology Analysis
Microfluidic technology has made great contributions to promoting powerful tools in many fields of biology. With the development of new devices and processes for the injection, mixing, pumping and storage of fluids in microchannels, the application of microfluidic technology in chemistry and biology is becoming more and more widespread. Sample introduction and processing of a certain volume range of fluids have been challenges for microfluidic technology, but with the latest development of nanotechnology, microfluidic technology has also been greatly improved. Microfluidic technology has now revolutionized the development of highly sensitive bioanalytical systems that can be used to analyze complex samples.
Microfluidic technology has the advantages of low sample requirements, large test surface area, and small system footprint. It is an ideal platform for biology research and has been used to study cells and entire organisms. And some micro devices have been successfully used to study the parameters of neuron activity in response to spatial or temporal stimuli. In addition, studies are showing that the expression of β-galactosidase in a single E. coli can be successfully measured by a microfluidic system. One of the key uses of microfluidic technology is cell patterning, single cell separation, and exosome separation.
Fig. 1 Microfluidics-Based Analysis in Biology. (Creative Biolabs Authorized)
More and more evidence shows the role of single cells or different cell types in the social context. Conventional cell culture methods can only culture a certain type of cells. Even if multiple types of cells can be cultured at the same time, these cells are organized in a random manner. These circumstances have led to in vitro studies unable to simulate and reflect the real situation in the body, hindering researchers to study the interaction and communication between cells. The microfluidic chip makes it possible to co-culture multiple types of cells on the same matrix and simulate the state and biological behavior of different types of cells in vivo. This simulation model is very helpful for solving basic biological problems such as cell-cell interaction, cell signaling, cell secretion, cell migration and so on.
Fig. 2 Microfluidics-Based Analysis in Biology. (Creative Biolabs Authorized)
Exosomes are widely present in various body fluids, and are extracellular vesicles secreted by most cells, which contain abundant nucleic acids and proteins derived from cells. They are stable carriers derived from the genetic material and proteins of cancer cells, can reflect the development status of tumors in real time, and have great potential in early cancer diagnosis. In addition, exosomes also play an important role in pathophysiological processes such as antigen presentation in immune response, tumor cell growth and migration, and tissue damage repair. Existing methods such as ultracentrifugation and immunomagnetic beads for exosome separation have limitations such as long time-consuming, complicated operation steps, expensive equipment, and low purity. The microfluidic system has the advantages of rapid separation of biological particles, high purity of separated samples, saving samples, and high integration, and is gradually applied to the isolation of exosomes.
Published Data
The findings discussed in the articles related to microfluidics-based analysis in biology are presented.
1. Microfluidic chip mimic human blood–brain barrier for studying nanoparticle transport mechanisms.
Fig. 3 Human blood–brain barrier (BBB) model on microfluidic chip.1
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is crucial for the development of drugs for the nervous system, especially the study of the interaction mechanism with drugs at the molecular and cellular levels. Scientists have developed a microfluidic platform that simulates the human BBB using brain endothelial cells, pericytes, and a three-dimensional astrocyte network. The chip has two microfluidic channel layers separated by a porous membrane. The upper layer simulates the vascular space of brain microvessels, and the lower layer consists of three parallel channels separated by a series of microcolumns in the middle, simulating the three-dimensional structure of the brain. Human brain vascular pericytes (HBVPs) are cultured in the middle channel of the lower layer of the chip, and astrocytes (HA) are cultured on both sides. This BBB model maintains a morphologically and physiologically relevant HA 3D network beneath the endothelial monolayer and between the lower channel layer, allowing paracrine and juxtacrine signaling between cells to be achieved through the perfusable structure of the chip. In addition, the BBB chip was able to clearly show that HA in the 3D network extended its end feet, and higher AQP4 and α-syntrophin (α-syn) expressions were found just below the porous membrane on the basal side of the endothelium.
Creative Biolabs has established a microfluidic technology team composed of experts in the fields of chemistry, fluid physics, microelectronics, new materials, biology and biomedical engineering. After years of research and accumulation, we have possessed world-class microfluidic chip design and customization capabilities that can be applied to various studies. If you are interested in our microfluidics technology, please directly contact us and consult our technical supports for more details.
Reference
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Ahn, Song Ih, et al. "Microengineered human blood–brain barrier platform for understanding nanoparticle transport mechanisms." Nature communications 11.1 (2020): 175. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
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