An integrated high-throughput microfluidic circulatory fluorescence-activated cell sorting system (µ-CFACS) for the enrichment of rare cells.

There is an increasing need for the enrichment of rare cells in the clinical environments of precision medicine, personalized medicine, and regenerative medicine. With the possibility of becoming the next-generation cell sorters, microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorting (µ-FACS) devices have been developed to avoid cross-contamination, minimize device footprint, and eliminate bio-aerosols. However, due to highly precise flow control, the achievable throughput of the µ-FACS system is generally lower than the throughput of conventional FACS devices. Here, we report a fully integrated high-throughput microfluidic circulatory fluorescence-activated cell sorting (µ-CFACS) system for the enrichment of clinical rare cells. A microfluidic sorting cartridge has been developed for enriching samples through a sequential sorting process, which was further realized by the integration of both fast amplified piezoelectrically actuated on-chip valves and compact pneumatic cylinders actuated on-chip valves. At an equivalent throughput of ∼8000 events per second (eps), the purity of rare fluorescent microparticles has been significantly increased from ∼0.01% to ∼27.97%. An enrichment of ∼9400-fold from 0.009% to 81.86% has also been demonstrated for isolating fluorescently labelled MCF-7 breast cancer cells from Jurkat cells at an equivalent sorting throughput of ∼6400 eps. With the advantages of high throughput and contamination-free design, the proposed integrated µ-CFACS system provides a new option for the enrichment of clinical rare cells.

Amplified piezoelectrically actuated on-chip flow switching for a rapid and stable microfluidic fluorescence activated cell sorter.

With the potential to avoid cross-contamination, eliminate bio-aerosols, and minimize device footprints, microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorting (µ-FACS) devices could become the platform for the next generation cell sorter. Here, we report an on-chip flow switching based µ-FACS mechanism with piezoelectric actuation as a fast and robust sorting solution. A microfluidic chip with bifurcate configuration and displacement amplified piezoelectric microvalves has been developed to build the µ-FACS system. Rare fluorescent microparticles of different sizes have been significantly enriched from a purity of ∼0.5% to more than 90%. An enrichment of 150-fold from ∼0.6% to ∼91% has also been confirmed for fluorescently labeled MCF-7 breast cancer cells from Jurkat cells, while viability after sorting was maintained. Taking advantage of its simple structure, low cost, fast response, and reliable flow regulation, the proposed µ-FACS system delivers a new option that can meet the requirements of sorting performance, target selectivity, device lifetime, and cost-effectiveness of implementation.

[Ion-beam irradiated ePTFE for the therapy of intracranial aneurysms].

Intracranial aneurysms are frequently treated with either microsurgical clipping or endovascular coiling. However, as so called broad-neck aneurysms are not suitable for these treatment options, a wrapping technique using muslin gauze, muscle piece, ePTFE is applied for such cases. The material for aneurysmal wrapping demands both stable adherence and no reactive inflammatory response such as inert artificial wall. Authors have developed a new improved ePTFE by ion-beam irradiation technique that is biologically inert and able to adhere firmly to surrounding tissue. Based on the last studies, Ar+ ion at an energy of 150 keV with a fluence of 5 x 10(14) ions/cm2 was chosen to irradiate ePTFE. A cell adhesion test and direct implantation of ion-beam irradiated ePTFE as wrapping material to rabbit common carotid arteries (CCA) were examined. It was demonstrated that the surface of ion-beam irradiated ePTFE exhibits remarkably greater adhesion and promotes cell proliferation on the surface more effectively than that of non-irradiated ePTFE. The carotid artery well-wrapped by ion-beam irradiated ePTFE strongly adhered to the mural wall and induced little inflammatory reaction. The results of this investigation indicate that application of this technology would offer the best means for aneurysm wrapping.

Point-of-care testing system enabling 30 min detection of influenza genes.

We developed a portable and easy-to-use nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) system for use in point-of-care testing (POCT). The system shows sensitivity that is sufficiently higher than that of the currently available rapid diagnostic kit and is comparable to that of real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for influenza testing.