Enhanced antibacterial efficacy: rapid analysis of silver-decorated azithromycin-infused Soluplus® nanoparticles against E. coli and S. epidermidis biofilms.

The escalating threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms necessitates innovative antimicrobial strategies. This study introduces silver-decorated azithromycin-infused Soluplus® nanoparticles (Ag-AZI-Sol NPs) synthesized via a controlled emulsion diffusion method to ensure sustained release of antimicrobial silver ions for over six hours-a critical factor for continuous antibacterial efficacy. The efficacy of these nanoparticles was evaluated against biofilms formed by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), pathogens that cause hospital-acquired infections. Concentrations of 5 and 10 µg mL-1 of Ag-AZI-Sol NPs induced significant morphological changes within the biofilms, disrupting the bacterial extracellular matrix as observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This disruption peaked between two and six hours, coinciding with damage to bacterial cells by the silver ions. Antibacterial assay measurements confirmed a significant reduction in the growth rate among the Ag-AZI-Sol NP-treated bacteria compared with controls. Electrochemical analysis using laser-induced graphene (LIG) and chronoamperometry revealed a decline in current, indicating an effective antibacterial effect. This innovative biosensing technique makes use of the high conductivity and surface area of LIG to detect changes in bacterial activity quickly and sensitively. Our findings highlight the potent microbicidal properties of Ag-AZI-Sol NPs and suggest diverse applications from food processing to medical device coatings.

Wearable electrochemical device based on butterfly-like paper-based microfluidics for pH and Na+ monitoring in sweat.

A wearable potentiometric device is reported based on an innovative butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic system, allowing for continuous monitoring of pH and Na+ levels in sweat during physical activity. Specifically, the use of the butterfly-like configuration avoids evaporation phenomena and memory effects, enabling precise and timely biomarker determination in sweat. Two ad hoc modified screen-printed electrodes were embedded in the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidics, and the sensing device was further integrated with a portable and miniaturized potentiostat, leveraging Bluetooth technology for efficient data transmission. First, the paper-based microfluidic configuration was tested for optimal fluidic management to obtain optimized performance of the device. Subsequently, the two electrodes were individually tested to detect the two biomarkers, namely pH and Na+. The results demonstrated highly promising near-Nernstian (0.056 ± 0.002 V/dec) and super-Nernstian (- 0.080 ± 0.003 V/pH) responses, for Na+ and pH detection, respectively. Additionally, several important parameters such as storage stability, interferents, and memory effect by hysteresis study were also investigated. Finally, the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic wearable device was tested for Na+ and pH monitoring during the physical activity of three volunteers engaged in different exercises, obtaining a good correlation between Na+ increase and dehydration phenomena. Furthermore, one volunteer was tested through a cardiopulmonary test, demonstrating a correlation between sodium Na+ increase and the energetic effort by the volunteer. Our wearable device highlights the high potential to enable early evaluation of dehydration and open up new opportunities in sports activity monitoring.

Flow of wormlike micellar solutions over concavities.

We present a comprehensive investigation combining numerical simulations with experimental validation, focusing on the creeping flow behavior of a shear-banding, viscoelastic wormlike micellar (WLM) solution over concavities with various depths (D) and lengths (L). The fluid is modeled using the diffusive Giesekus model, with model parameters set to quantitatively describe the shear rheology of a 100 : 60 mM cetylpyridinium chloride:sodium salicylate aqueous WLM solution used for the experimental validation. We observe a transition from "cavity flow" to "expansion-contraction flow" as the length L exceeds the sum of depth D and channel width W. This transition is manifested by a change of vortical structures within the concavity. For L ≤ D + W, "cavity flow" is characterized by large scale recirculations spanning the concavity length. For L > D + W, the recirculations observed in "expansion-contraction flow" are confined to the salient corners downstream of the expansion plane and upstream of the contraction plane. Using the numerical dataset, we construct phase diagrams in L-D at various fixed Weissenberg numbers Wi, characterizing the transitions and describing the evolution of vortical structures influenced by viscoelastic effects.

Maximizing blue energy: the role of ion partitioning in nanochannel systems.

This study describes a numerical analysis on blue energy generation using a charged nanochannel with an integrated pH-sensitive polyelectrolyte layer (PEL), considering ion partitioning effects due to permittivity differences. The mathematical model for ionic and fluidic transport is solved using the finite element method, and the model validation is performed against existing theoretical and experimental results. The study investigates the influence of electrolyte concentration, permittivity ratio, and salt types (KCl, BeCl2, AlCl3) on the energy conversion process. The findings illustrate the substantial role of ion partitioning in modulating ionic concentration and potential fields, thereby affecting current profiles and energy conversion efficiencies. Remarkably, overlooking ion partitioning leads to significant overestimations of power density, highlighting the necessity of this consideration for accurate device performance predictions. This work introduces a promising configuration that achieves higher power densities, paving the way for the next generation of efficient energy-harvesting devices. The findings offer valuable insights into the development of state-of-the-art blue energy harvesting nanofluidic devices, advancing sustainable energy production.

From yield stress to elastic instabilities: Tuning the extensional behavior of elastoviscoplastic fluids.

In this study, we delve into the intricacies of elastoviscoplastic (EVP) fluids, particularly focusing on how polymer additives influence their extensional behavior. Our findings reveal that polymer additives significantly alter the extensional properties of the EVP fluids, such as relaxation time and extensional stresses while having negligible impact on the shear rheology. Interestingly, the modified fluids exhibit a transition from yield stress-like behavior to viscoelastic-like behavior under high extensional rates, ultimately leading to destabilization under extreme deformation. This research enhances the fundamental understanding of EVP fluids and highlights potential advancements in applications, especially in precision-demanding fields like 3D printing.

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensing and its Interplay with Fluidics.

In this Feature Article, we discuss the interplay between fluidics and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing technique, primarily focusing on its applications in the realm of bio/chemical sensing within fluidic environments. Commencing with a foundational overview of LSPR principles from a sensing perspective, we subsequently showcase the development of a streamlined LSPR chip integrated with microfluidic structures. This integration opens the doors to advanced experiments involving fluid dynamics, greatly expanding the scope of LSPR-based research. Our discussions then turn to the practical implementation of LSPR and microfluidics in real-time biosensing, with a specific emphasis on monitoring DNA polymerase activity. Additionally, we illustrate the direct sensing of biological fluids, exemplified by the analysis of urine, while also shedding light on a unique particle assembly process that occurs on LSPR chips. We not only discuss the significance of LSPR sensing but also explore its potential to investigate a plethora of phenomena at liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces. This is particularly noteworthy, as existing transduction methods and sensors fall short in fully comprehending these interfacial phenomena. Concluding our discussion, we present a futuristic perspective that provides insights into potential opportunities emerging at the intersection of fluidics and LSPR sensing.

Understanding the Role of Loss Modulus of Viscoelastic Substrates in the Evaporation Dynamics of Sessile Drops.

Viscoelastic properties of soft substrates play a crucial role in the evaporation dynamics of sessile drops. Recent studies have revealed that the modification of the viscoelastic properties of substrates changes the dynamics of the three-phase contact line, consequently affecting the evaporation behavior of sessile drops. Notably, these modifications occur without any noticeable changes to the substrate's wetting characteristics or surface topography. However, the individual role of storage (G') and loss (G″) moduli of substrates on drop evaporation dynamics remains unexplored. In this study, we investigate the evaporation dynamics of water drops on two groups of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based viscoelastic substrates possessing either identical G' with varying G″ or identical G″ with varying G'. Our study reveals that on a substrate with constant shear modulus (G'), a reduction of an order of magnitude in loss modulus shifts the evaporation process from the constant contact radius mode to the constant contact angle mode. We hypothesize that this observed shift in behavior stems from the varying viscoelastic dissipation influenced by the plateau modulus and characteristic relaxation time of polymer gels. Our hypothesis is further supported from the observation that the evaporation process persists on the substrate with constant loss modulus (G″). Our study advances the current understanding of drop evaporation on soft substrates that may find potential applications involving soft composites, biological entities, tissue engineering, and wearable electronics.

Chemotactic Interactions Drive Migration of Membraneless Active Droplets.

In nature, chemotactic interactions are ubiquitous and play a critical role in driving the collective behavior of living organisms. Reproducing these interactions in vitro is still a paramount challenge due to the complexity of mimicking and controlling cellular features, such as tangled metabolic networks, cytosolic macromolecular crowding, and cellular migration, on a microorganism size scale. Here, we generate enzymatically active cell-sized droplets able to move freely, and by following a chemical gradient, able to interact with the surrounding droplets in a collective manner. The enzyme within the droplets generates a pH gradient that extends outside the edge of the droplets. We discovered that the external pH gradient triggers droplet migration and controls its directionality, which is selectively toward the neighboring droplets. Hence, by changing the enzyme activity inside the droplet, we tuned the droplet migration speed. Furthermore, we showed that these cellular-like features can facilitate the reconstitution of a simple and linear protometabolic pathway and increase the final reaction product generation. Our work suggests that simple and stable membraneless droplets can reproduce complex biological phenomena, opening new perspectives as bioinspired materials and synthetic biology tools.

Multiplexed Opto-Microfluidic Biosensing: Advanced Platform for Prostate Cancer Detection.

Cancer stands as a prominent global cause of mortality, necessitating early detection to augment survival rates and alleviate economic burdens on healthcare systems. In particular, prostate cancer (PCa), impacting 1.41 million men globally in 2020, accentuates the demand for sensitive and cost-effective detection methods beyond traditional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. While clinical techniques exhibit limitations, biosensors emerge as compact, user-friendly alternatives to traditional laboratory approaches. However, existing biosensors predominantly concentrate on PSA detection, prompting the necessity for advancing toward multiplex sensing platforms. This study introduces a compact opto-microfluidic sensor featuring a substrate of gold nanospikes, fabricated via electrodeposition, for enhanced sensitivity. Embedded within a microfluidic chip, this nanomaterial enables the precise and concurrent measurement of PSA, alongside two complementary PCa biomarkers, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and anti-α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (anti-AMACR) in diluted human plasma, offering a comprehensive approach to PSA analysis. Taking advantage of the localized surface plasmon resonance principle, this biosensor offers robustness and sensitivity in real sample analysis without the need for labeling agents. With the limit of detection at 0.22, 0.37, and 0.18 ng/mL for PSA, MMP-2, and anti-AMACR, respectively, this biosensing platform holds promise for point-of-care analysis, underscoring its potential impact on medical diagnostics.

Dilute polyelectrolyte solutions: recent progress and open questions.

Polyelectrolytes are a class of polymers possessing ionic groups on their repeating units. Since counterions can dissociate from the polymer backbone, polyelectrolyte chains are strongly influenced by electrostatic interactions. As a result, the physical properties of polyelectrolyte solutions are significantly different from those of electrically neutral polymers. The aim of this article is to highlight key results and some outstanding questions in the polyelectrolyte research from recent literature. We focus on the influence of electrostatics on conformational and hydrodynamic properties of polyelectrolyte chains. A compilation of experimental results from the literature reveals significant disparities with theoretical predictions. We also discuss a new class of polyelectrolytes called poly(ionic liquid)s that exhibit unique physical properties in comparison to ordinary polyelectrolytes. We conclude this review by listing some key research challenges in order to fully understand the conformation and dynamics of polyelectrolytes in solutions.

Twisted fiber microfluidics: a cutting-edge approach to 3D spiral devices.

The development of 3D spiral microfluidics has opened new avenues for leveraging inertial focusing to analyze small fluid volumes, thereby advancing research across chemical, physical, and biological disciplines. While traditional straight microchannels rely solely on inertial lift forces, the novel spiral geometry generates Dean drag forces, eliminating the necessity for external fields in fluid manipulation. Nevertheless, fabricating 3D spiral microfluidics remains a labor-intensive and costly endeavor, hindering its widespread adoption. Moreover, conventional lithographic methods primarily yield 2D planar devices, thereby limiting the selection of materials and geometrical configurations. To address these challenges, this work introduces a streamlined fabrication method for 3D spiral microfluidic devices, employing rotational force within a miniaturized thermal drawing process, termed as mini-rTDP. This innovation allows for rapid prototyping of twisted fiber-based microfluidics featuring versatility in material selection and heightened geometric intricacy. To validate the performance of these devices, we combined computational modeling with microtomographic particle image velocimetry (µTPIV) to comprehensively characterize the 3D flow dynamics. Our results corroborate the presence of a steady secondary flow, underscoring the effectiveness of our approach. Our 3D spiral microfluidics platform paves the way for exploring intricate microflow dynamics, with promising applications in areas such as drug delivery, diagnostics, and lab-on-a-chip systems.

Passive microfluidic devices for cell separation.

The separation of specific cell populations is instrumental in gaining insights into cellular processes, elucidating disease mechanisms, and advancing applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, and cell therapies. Microfluidic methods for cell separation have propelled the field forward, benefitting from miniaturization, advanced fabrication technologies, a profound understanding of fluid dynamics governing particle separation mechanisms, and a surge in interdisciplinary investigations focused on diverse applications. Cell separation methodologies can be categorized according to their underlying separation mechanisms. Passive microfluidic separation systems rely on channel structures and fluidic rheology, obviating the necessity for external force fields to facilitate label-free cell separation. These passive approaches offer a compelling combination of cost-effectiveness and scalability when compared to active methods that depend on external fields to manipulate cells. This review delves into the extensive utilization of passive microfluidic techniques for cell separation, encompassing various strategies such as filtration, sedimentation, adhesion-based techniques, pinched flow fractionation (PFF), deterministic lateral displacement (DLD), inertial microfluidics, hydrophoresis, viscoelastic microfluidics, and hybrid microfluidics. Besides, the review provides an in-depth discussion concerning cell types, separation markers, and the commercialization of these technologies. Subsequently, it outlines the current challenges faced in the field and presents a forward-looking perspective on potential future developments. This work hopes to aid in facilitating the dissemination of knowledge in cell separation, guiding future research, and informing practical applications across diverse scientific disciplines.

Rheological effects on purely-elastic flow asymmetries in the cross-slot geometry.

Viscoelastic flows in the cross-slot geometry can undergo a transition from a steady symmetric to a steady asymmetric flow state, ostensibly due to purely-elastic effects arising beyond a critical flow rate, or Weissenberg number Wi. However, some reports suggest that shear thinning of the fluid's viscosity may also play an important role in this transition. We employ a series of polymer solutions of varying rheological properties to investigate in detail how the interplay between fluid elasticity and shear thinning affects the onset and development of asymmetric flows in the cross-slot. Flow velocimetry is performed on each of the polymer solutions, and is used to assess the degree of flow asymmetry I in the cross-slot as a function of both Wi and a dimensionless parameter S quantifying the flow-rate-dependent extent of shear thinning. Typically, the flow field breaks symmetry as Wi is increased beyond a critical value, but the magnitude of I is found to also be dependent on S. For a few specific polymer solutions, the flow field recovers symmetry above a second, higher critical Wi as S becomes small. The experimental results are summarized in a flow state diagram in Wi-S space, showing the relationship between flow asymmetry and fluid rheology. Finally, to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of shear thinning, numerical simulations are performed using the linear simplified Phan-Thien-Tanner model. We demonstrate that the degree of both shear thinning and elasticity of the fluid, and their interplay, are important factors controlling elastic instabilities in the cross-slot geometry.

Alignment-Rheology Relationship of Biosourced Rod-Like Colloids and Polymers under Flow.

Fluids composed of biosourced rod-like colloids (RC) and rod-like polymers (RP) have been extensively studied due to various promising applications relying on their flow-induced orientation (e.g., fiber spinning). However, the relationship between RC and RP alignment and the resulting rheological properties is unclear due to experimental challenges. We investigate the alignment-rheology relationship for a variety of biosourced RC and RP, including cellulose-based particles, filamentous viruses, and xanthan gum, by simultaneous measurements of the shear viscosity and fluid anisotropy under rheometric shear flows. For each system, the RC and RP contribution to the fluid viscosity, captured by the specific viscosity ηsp, follows a universal trend with the extent of the RC and RP alignment independent of concentration. We further exploit this unique rheological-structural link to retrieve a dimensionless parameter (ß) directly proportional to ηsp at zero shear rate (η0,sp), a parameter often difficult to access from experimental rheometry for RC and RP with relatively long contour lengths. Our results highlight the unique link between the flow-induced structural and rheological changes occurring in RC and RP fluids. We envision that our findings will be relevant in building and testing microstructural constitutive models to predict the flow-induced structural and rheological evolution of fluids containing RC and RP.

Naturally derived colloidal rods in microfluidic flows.

Naturally derived colloidal rods (CR) are promising building blocks for developing sustainable soft materials. Engineering new materials based on naturally derived CR requires an in-depth understanding of the structural dynamics and self-assembly of CR in dispersion under processing conditions. With the advancement of microfabrication techniques, many microfluidic platforms have been employed to study the structural dynamics of CR under flow. However, each microfluidic design has its pros and cons which need careful evaluation in order to fully meet the experimental goal and correctly interpret the data. We analyze recent results obtained from naturally derived CR and relevant rod-like macromolecules under microfluidic flows, with emphasis on the dynamical behavior in shear- and extensional-dominated flows. We highlight the key concepts required in order to assess and evaluate the results obtained from different CR and microfluidic platforms as a whole and to aid interconnections with neighboring fields. Finally, we identify and discuss areas of interest for future research directions.

Duplex Electrochemical Microfluidic Sensor for COVID-19 Antibody Detection: Natural versus Vaccine-Induced Humoral Response.

The rapid transmission and resilience of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have led to urgent demands in monitoring humoral response for effective vaccine development, thus a multiplex co-detection platform to discriminate infection-induced from vaccine-induced antibodies is needed. Here a duplex electrochemical immunosensor for co-detection of anti-nucleocapsid IgG (N-IgG) and anti-spike IgG (S-IgG) is developed by using a two-working electrode system, via an indirect immunoassay, with antibody quantification obtained by differential pulse voltammetry. The screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are modified by carbon black and electrodeposited gold nanoflowers for maximized surface areas, enabling the construction of an immunological chain for S-IgG and N-IgG electrochemical detection with enhanced performance. Using an optimized immunoassay protocol, a wide linear range between 30-750 and 20-1000 ng mL-1 , and a limit of detection of 28 and 15 ng mL-1 are achieved to detect N-IgG and S-IgG simultaneously in serum samples. This duplex immunosensor is then integrated in a microfluidic device to obtain significantly reduced detection time (≤ 7 min) while maintaining its analytical performance. The duplex microfluidic immunosensor can be easily expanded into multiplex format to achieve high throughput screening for the sero-surveillance of COVID-19  and other infectious diseases.

Edge fracture of thixotropic elastoviscoplastic liquid bridges.

It has recently been shown that torsion can break liquid bridges of viscoelastic fluids, with potential application to their clean and rapid dispensing. However, many commonplace fluids (paints, adhesives, pastes, and foodstuffs like chocolate) have more complex thixotropic elastoviscoplastic (TEVP) properties that depend on the imposed stress and the timescale of deformation. Using a commercial thermal paste, we show that liquid bridges of TEVP fluids can also be broken by torsion, demonstrating the applicability of the technique for improved dispensing of real industrial fluids. The liquid bridge breaking mechanism is an elastic instability known as "edge fracture." Dimensional analysis predicts that the effects of thixotropy and plasticity can be neglected during edge fracture. Simulation using a nonlinear, phenomenological TEVP constitutive model confirms such a prediction. Our work yields new insight into the free-surface flows of TEVP fluids, which may be important to processes such as electronic packaging, additive manufacturing, and food engineering.

Flow-induced alignment of protein nanofibril dispersions.

HYPOTHESIS: Protein nanofibrils (PNF) resulting from the self-assembly of proteins or peptides can present structural ordering triggered by numerous factors, including the shear flow. We hypothesize that i) depending on the contour length of the PNF and the magnitude of the shear rate applied to the PNF dispersion, they exhibit specific orientation, and ii) it is possible to predict the alignment of PNF by establishing a flow-alignment relationship. Understanding such a relationship is pivotal to improving the fundamental knowledge and application of fibril systems. EXPERIMENTS: We use ß-lactoglobulin PNF aqueous dispersions with different average contour lengths but equal persistence lengths. We employ simple shear-dominated microfluidic devices with state-of-the-art imaging techniques: flow-induced birefringence (FIB) and micro-particle image velocimetry (µ-PIV), to probe the effect of shear flow on PNF alignment. FINDINGS: We provide an empirical relationship connecting the birefringence Δn (quantifying the extent of PNF alignment), and the Péclet number Pe (correlating the shear rate of the flow relative to the rotational diffusion of PNF) to understand the flow-alignment behavior of PNF under shear-dominated flows. Furthermore, we assess the alignment and flow profile of PNF at both high and low flow rates. The length of PNF emerges as a controlling parameter capable of modulating PNF alignment at specific shear rates. Our results shed new insights into the hydrodynamic behavior of PNF, which is highly relevant to various industrial processes involving the fibril systems.

Microstructural Dynamics and Rheology of Worm-like Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticle Dispersions under a Simple Shear and a Planar Extensional Flow.

We investigate the shear and extensional flow behavior of dispersions composed of two types of worm-like nanoparticles (WLNPs) with comparable cross-sectional diameters, similar persistence lengths but differing contour lengths, and thus differing flexibility. By measuring the flow-induced birefringence (FIB) of WLNP dispersions in two contrasting microfluidic devices, we obtain an experimental quantification of the role of shearing and planar extensional flows at aligning a short and stiff WLNP (S-WLNP) and a relatively long and flexible WLNP (L-WLNP). We show that shear and extensional flows induce the alignment of both types of WLNPs. However, extensional deformations are more effective than shear deformations at triggering the onset of alignment of the WLNP. The difference between shear and extensional deformations for WLNP alignment is explained based on the ratio of extensional and shear viscosity of the solvent fluid (Trouton ratio of the solvent) and a structural parameter related to the WLNP extensibility and flexibility. Under shear flow, these WLNP dispersions display shear-thinning behavior, with an exponential reduction in viscosity with increasing alignment. Under extensional flow, the WLNP alignment leads to extensional thinning, making WLNP ideal additives for industrial and biotechnology formulations exposed to extensional dominated flows (e.g., jetting, spraying, and printing processes).

Effect of blockage ratio on flow of a viscoelastic wormlike micellar solution past a cylinder in a microchannel.

We present experiments on the flow of a viscoelastic wormlike micellar solution around cylinders (radius R) confined in straight microchannels (width W). Thirteen flow geometries are tested where the blockage ratio is varied over a wide range 0.055 ≤ BR = 2R/W ≤ 0.63. Experiments are performed at negligible Reynolds number, and for Weissenberg numbers Wi = λU/R up to 1000, where U is the average flow speed and λ is the relaxation time of the fluid. Micro-particle image velocimetry is used to characterise the flow state at each BR and Wi. In all of the geometries, a first critical Weissenberg number marks a transition from symmetric flow to an asymmetric but time-steady flow state, while a second higher critical Weissenberg number marks the onset of time-dependent flows. However, we report a clear shift in behaviour over a narrow intermediate range of 0.33 ≲ BR ≲ 0.41. Channels with BR ≤ 0.33 fall in a 'low' BR regime, with instabilities that originate from the downstream stagnation point, while those with BR ≥ 0.44 fall in a 'high' BR regime, with instabilities developing at the upstream stagnation point. Behaviour within the newly-identified intermediate BR regime is complex due to the competing influence of the two stagnation points. We summarise all our results in a flow state diagram covering Wi-BR parameter space, clearly defining the different regimes of blockage ratio for the first time. Our results contribute to the understanding of the complexities of viscoelastic flow in this benchmark geometry.