Microfluidic Devices for Biomedical Applications

XiuJun (James) Li, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor with early tenure in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Border Biomedical Research Center at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), USA. After he obtained his Ph.D. degree in microfluidic lab-on-a-chip bioanalysis from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Canada in 2008, he pursued his postdoctoral research with Prof. Richard Mathies at University of California Berkeley and Prof. George Whitesides at Harvard University, while holding a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. He has gained extensive experience in bioanalysis using microfluidic systems, such as single-cell analysis, genetic analysis, low-cost diagnosis, pathogen detection, 3D cell culture, and so on. Dr. Li’s current research interest is centered on the development of innovative microfluidic lab-on-a-chip and nanotechnology for bioanalysis, biomaterial, biomedical engineering, and environmental applications, including but not limited to low-cost diagnosis, nano-biosensing, tissue engineering, and single-cell analysis. He has coauthored about 100 publications in high-impact journals (such as Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev, Appl. Catal. B-Environ, Anal. Chem., Lab Chip, Biosens. Bioelectron.) and 22 patents, including two books from Elsevier on microfluidic devices for biomedical applications. He is an Advisory Board member of Lab on a Chip and Analyst, the Founder of microBioChip Diagnostics LLC, and an editor of 6 journals including Scientific Reports from the Nature publishing group, Micromachines, etc. He is the recipient of the “Bioanalysis New Investigator Award” in 2014, UT STARS Award in 2012, NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow Award in 2009, and so on. For more information, please visit http://li.utep.edu. Yu Zhou, PhD, is a Research Scientist in the Department of Research and Development at ABS Global Inc., USA. Dr Zhou received his Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2010. After graduation, he joined ABS Global, the world-leading genetics provider company as a key researcher and has been working on the development of a high-throughput microfluidic cytometry for biological cell detection and manipulation. He obtained extensive experience in design and fabrication of silicon-based microsystems and disposal plastic microfluidic chips, precision fluid delivery, and microfluidics-based single cell separation and analysis. He is a member of ASME and serves on the advisory editorial board for several technical journals including Microsystem Technologies, and Journal of Mechanical Engineering Research (Canada) since 2011.

Contributor contact details

Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials

About the editors

Preface

Part I: Fundamentals of microfluidic technologies for biomedical applications

Chapter 1: Materials and methods for the microfabrication of microfluidic biomedical devices

Abstract:

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Microfabrication methods

1.3 Materials for biomedical devices

1.4 Polymers

1.5 Conclusion and future trends

1.7 Appendix: acronyms

Chapter 2: Surface coatings for microfluidic-based biomedical devices

Abstract:

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Covalent immobilization strategies: polymer devices

2.3 Covalent immobilization strategies: glass devices

2.4 Adsorption strategies

2.5 Other strategies utilizing surface treatments

2.6 Examples of applications

2.7 Conclusion and future trends

2.8 Sources of further information and advice

Chapter 3: Actuation mechanisms for microfluidic biomedical devices

Abstract:

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Electrokinetics

3.3 Acoustics

3.4 Limitations and future trends

Chapter 4: Digital microfluidics technologies for biomedical devices

Abstract:

4.1 Introduction

4.2 On-chip microdrop motion techniques

4.3 Sensing techniques

4.4 Future trends

4.5 Conclusion

Part II: Applications of microfluidic devices for drug delivery and discovery

Chapter 5: Controlled drug delivery using microfluidic devices

Abstract:

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Microreservoir-based drug delivery systems

5.3 Micro/nanofluidics-based drug delivery systems

5.4 Conclusion

5.5 Future trends

Chapter 6: Microneedles for drug delivery and monitoring

Abstract:

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Fabrication of microneedles (MNs)

6.3 MN design parameters and structure

6.4 Strategies for MN-based drug delivery

6.5 MN-mediated monitoring using skin interstitial fluid (ISF) and blood samples

6.6 Future trends

6.7 Conclusion

Chapter 7: Microfluidic devices for drug discovery and analysis

Abstract:

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Microfluidics for drug discovery

7.3 Microfluidics for drug analysis and diagnostic applications

7.4 Conclusion and future trends

7.5 Sources of further information and advice

Part III: Applications of microfluidic devices for cellular analysis and tissue engineering

Chapter 8: Microfluidic devices for cell manipulation

Abstract:

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Microenvironment on cell integrity

8.3 Microscale fluid dynamics

8.4 Manipulation technologies

8.5 Manipulation of cancer cells in microfluidic systems

8.6 Conclusion and future trends

8.7 Sources of further information and advice

Chapter 9: Microfluidic devices for single-cell trapping and automated micro-robotic injection

Abstract:

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Device design and microfabrication

9.3 Experimental results and discussion

9.4 Conclusion

9.5 Acknowledgements

Chapter 10: Microfluidic devices for developing tissue scaffolds

Abstract:

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Key issues and technical challenges for successful tissue engineering

10.3 Microfluidic device platforms

10.4 Conclusion and future trends

Chapter 11: Microfluidic devices for stem cell analysis

Abstract:

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Technologies used in stem cell analysis

11.3 Examples of microfluidic platform for stem cell analysis: stem cell culture platform – mimicking in vivo culture conditions in vitro

11.4 Examples of microfluidic platform for stem cell analysis: single stem cell analysis

11.5 Microdevices for label-free and non-invasive monitoring of stem cell differentiation

11.6 Microfluidics stem cell separation technology

11.7 Conclusion and future trends

Part IV: Applications of microfluidic devices in diagnostic sensing

Chapter 12: Development of immunoassays for protein analysis on nanobioarray chips

Abstract:

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Technologies

12.3 Immobilization chemistry

12.4 Detection methods

12.5 Applications

12.6 Conclusion and future trends

Chapter 13: Integrated microfluidic systems for genetic analysis

Abstract:

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Integrated microfluidic systems

13.3 Development of integrated microdevices

13.4 Applications of fully integrated systems in genetic analysis

13.5 Conclusion and future trends

Chapter 14: Low-cost assays in paper-based microfluidic biomedical devices

Abstract:

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Fabrication techniques for paper-based microfluidic devices

14.3 Detection and read-out technologies

14.4 Application of paper-based microfluidic devices

14.5 Conclusion and future trends

Chapter 15: Microfluidic devices for viral detection

Abstract:

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Microfluidic technologies used for viral detection

15.3 Examples of applications

15.4 Conclusion and future trends

15.5 Acknowledgements

Chapter 16: Microfluidics for monitoring and imaging pancreatic islet and β-cells for human transplant

Abstract:

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Insulin secretory pathway: how glucose sensing and metabolic coupling translates to insulin kinetics

16.3 Technologies: the emergence of microfluidics applied to islet and β-cell study

16.4 Design and fabrication of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) microfluidic device

16.5 Protocol: materials

16.6 Protocol: procedures

16.7 Anticipated results

16.8 Acknowledgements

Chapter 17: Microfluidic devices for radio chemical synthesis

Abstract:

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Medical applications of microfluidic radiochemistry: positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

17.3 Advantages and disadvantages of microfluidic devices

17.4 Realization of promises: the superiority of microfluidic systems

17.5 Current problems for microfluidic technology

17.6 Recent developments with potential impact

17.7 Conclusion

Index