Highly transparent and flexible circuits through patterning silver nanowires into microfluidic channels.

The development of flexible and transparent devices requires completely transparent and flexible circuits (TFCs). To overcome the disadvantages of the previously reported TFCs that are partially transparent, lacking pattern control, or labor consuming, we achieve true TFCs via a facile process with precise pattern control, exhibiting concurrent high transparency, conductivity, flexibility, stretchability, and robustness. A highly transparent and flexible conductive film is first made through spin coating silver nanowires (AgNWs) onto polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and demonstrates simultaneous high transparency (90.86%) and low sheet resistance (3.22 Ω sq-1). Taking advantage of microfluidic technology, circuits with ultraprecise and complex patterns from the microscale to milliscale are obtained through spin coating of AgNWs into microfluidic channels on PDMS. Without elaborate processing, this method may be suitable for mass production, which would contribute enormously to potential applications in wearable medical equipment and transparent electronic devices.

Plug-and-play modules for flexible radiosynthesis.

We present a plug-and-play radiosynthesis platform and accompanying computer software based on modular subunits that can easily and flexibly be configured to implement a diverse range of radiosynthesis protocols. Modules were developed that perform: (i) reagent storage and delivery, (ii) evaporations and sealed reactions, and (iii) cartridge-based purifications. The reaction module incorporates a simple robotic mechanism that removes tubing from the vessel and replaces it with a stopper prior to sealed reactions, enabling the system to withstand high pressures and thus provide tremendous flexibility in choice of solvents and temperatures. Any number of modules can rapidly be connected together using only a few fluidic connections to implement a particular synthesis, and the resulting system is controlled in a semi-automated fashion by a single software interface. Radiosyntheses of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose ([(18)F]FDG), 1-[(18)F]fluoro-4-nitrobenzene ([(18)F]FNB), and 2'-deoxy-2'-[(18)F]fluoro-1-ß-d-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (d-[(18)F]FAC) were performed to validate the system and demonstrate its versatility.

A microfluidic platform for systems pathology: multiparameter single-cell signaling measurements of clinical brain tumor specimens.

The clinical practice of oncology is being transformed by molecular diagnostics that will enable predictive and personalized medicine. Current technologies for quantitation of the cancer proteome are either qualitative (e.g., immunohistochemistry) or require large sample sizes (e.g., flow cytometry). Here, we report a microfluidic platform-microfluidic image cytometry (MIC)-capable of quantitative, single-cell proteomic analysis of multiple signaling molecules using only 1,000 to 2,800 cells. Using cultured cell lines, we show simultaneous measurement of four critical signaling proteins (EGFR, PTEN, phospho-Akt, and phospho-S6) within the oncogenic phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. To show the clinical application of the MIC platform to solid tumors, we analyzed a panel of 19 human brain tumor biopsies, including glioblastomas. Our MIC measurements were validated by clinical immunohistochemistry and confirmed the striking intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity characteristic of glioblastoma. To interpret the multiparameter, single-cell MIC measurements, we adapted bioinformatic methods including self-organizing maps that stratify patients into clusters that predict tumor progression and patient survival. Together with bioinformatic analysis, the MIC platform represents a robust, enabling in vitro molecular diagnostic technology for systems pathology analysis and personalized medicine.