Multiplexed spectral signature detection for microfluidic color-coded bioparticle flow

Here, we report a high-speed photospectral detection technique capable of discriminating subtle variations of spectral signature among fluorescently labeled cells and microspheres flowing in a microfluidic channel. The key component used in our study is a strain-tunable nanoimprinted grating microdevice coupled with a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The microdevice permits acquisition of the continuous spectral profiles of multiple fluorescent emission sources at 1 kHz. Optically connected to a microfluidic flow chamber via a multimode optical fiber, our multiwavelength detection platform allows for cytometric measurement of cell groups emitting nearly identical fluorescence signals with a maximum emission wavelength difference as small as 5 nm. The same platform also allows us to demonstrate microfluidic flow cytometry of four different microsphere types in a wavelength bandwidth as narrow as 40 nm at a high (>85%) confidence level. Our study shows that detection of fluorescent spectral signatures at high speed and high resolution can expand specificity of multicolor flow cytometry. The enhanced capability enables multiplexed analysis of color-coded bioparticles based on single-laser excitation and single-detector spectroscopy in a microfluidic setting. The fluorescence signal discrimination power achieved by the optofluidic technology holds great promise to enable quantification of cellular parameters with higher accuracy as well as enumeration of a larger number of cell types than conventional flow cytometric methods.     

Integration of dialysis membranes into a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chip for isoelectric focusing of proteins using whole-channel imaging detection

A poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chip-based cartridge is developed and reported here for protein analysis using isoelectic focusing (IEF)-whole-channel imaging detection (WCID) technology. In this design, commercial dialysis membranes are integrated to separate electrolytes and samples and to reduce undesired pressure-driven flow. Fused-silica capillaries are also incorporated in this design for sample injection and channel surface preconditioning. This structure is equivalent to that of a commercial fused-silica capillary-based cartridge for adapting to an IEF analyzer (iCE280 analyzer) to perform IEF-WCID. The successful integration of dialysis membranes into a microfluidic chip significantly improves IEF repeatability by eliminating undesired pressure-driven hydrodynamics and also makes sample injection much easier than that using the first-generation chip as reported recently. In this study, two microfluidic chips with a 100-microm-high, 100-microm-wide and a 200-microm-high, 50-microm-wide microchannel, respectively, were applied for qualitative and quantitative analysis of proteins. The mixture containing six pI markers with a pH range of 3-10 was successfully separated using IEF-WCID. The pH gradient exhibited a good linearity by plotting the pI value versus peak position, and the correlation coefficient reached 0.9994 and 0.9995 separately for the two chips. The separation of more complicated human hemoglobin control sample containing HbA, HbF, HbS, and HbC was also achieved. Additionally, for the quantitative analysis, a good linearity of IEF peak value versus myoglobin concentration in the range of 20-100 microg/mL was obtained.     

Fluidic preconcentrator device for capillary electrophoresis of proteins

A new preconcentration device was developed for analysis of proteins by capillary electrophoresis (CE). The microfluidic device uses an electric field to capture proteins that pass through the system. The capture zone is maintained in the flow stream by the interaction between hydrodynamic and electrical forces. The device consists of a flow channel made of PEEK tubing with two electrical junctions, each of which is covered with a conductive membrane. A syringe pump provides the flow stream and also allows the injection of up to 13.5 microL of a dilute sample. The system can be easily connected to a CE device postcapture for off-line preconcentration of proteins. For the proteins used in this study, preconcentration factors up to 40-fold can be achieved. CE detection limits for bovine carbonic anhydrase, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulins A and B were in the nanomolar range using UV detection at 200 nm. Preconcentration is dependent on both time and initial protein concentration. We show the possibility of using an off-line fluidic preconcentrator device employing counterflow capillary electrophoresis with minimum sample manipulation, achieving detection limits similar to on-line approaches.     

Self-regulated, droplet-based sample chopper for microfluidic absorbance detection

Akin to optical beam chopping, we demonstrate that formation and routing of aqueous droplets in oil can chop a fluidic sample to permit phase sensitive detection. This hand-operated microfluidic sample chopper (μChopper) greatly reduces the detection limit of molecular absorbance in a 27 μm optical path. With direct dependence on path length, absorbance is fundamentally incompatible with microfluidics. While other microfluidic absorbance approaches use complex additions to fabrication, such as fiber coupling and increased optical paths, this self-regulated μChopper uses opposing droplet generators to passively alternate sample and reference droplets at ~10 Hz each. Each droplet's identity is automatically locked-in to its generator, allowing downstream lock-in analysis to nearly eliminate large signal drift or 1/f noise. With a lock-in time constant of 1.9 s and total interrogated volume of 59 nL (122 droplets), a detection limit of 3.0 × 10(-4) absorbance units or 500 nM bromophenol blue (BPB) (29 fmol) was achieved using only an optical microscope and a standard, single-depth (27 μm) microfluidic device. The system was further applied to nanoliter pH sensing and validated with a spectrophotometer. The μChopper represents a fluidic analog to an optical beam chopper, and the self-regulated sample/reference droplet alternation promotes ease of use.     

Development of a microfluidic platform with an optical imaging microarray capable of attomolar target DNA detection

In this paper, DNA hybridization in a microfluidic manifold is performed using fluorescence detection on a fiber-optic microarray. The microfluidic device integrates optics, sample transport, and fluidic interconnects on a single platform. A high-density optical imaging fiber array containing oligonucleotide-labeled microspheres was developed. DNA hybridization was observed at concentrations as low as 10 aM with response times of less than 15 min at a flow rate of 1 microL/min using 50 microL of target DNA samples. The fast response times coupled with the low sample volumes and the use of a high-density, fiber-optic microarray format make this method highly advantageous. This paper describes the initial development, optimization, and integration of the microfluidic platform with imaging fiber arrays.     

Miniaturized cavity ring-down detection in a liquid flow cell

A novel method for applying cavity ring-down spectroscopy in the liquid phase, compatible with LC analyses, is presented. The core of the setup is a home-built cavity ring-down flow cell (cell volume 12 microL) that is constructed using a silicon rubber spacer, which is clamped leak-tight between two high-reflectivity mirrors. The mirrors are in direct contact with the liquid flow, which provides for a small path length and short ring-down times. Inside the cavity there are no windows, reflection losses, or Brewster angles to be considered. Due to the small size of the presented cavity geometry, the setup can be implemented in conventional-size LC apparatuses. With a flow injection setup, a detection limit of 2.5 nM was obtained for Crystal Violet in ethanol, and the linear dynamic range of the system is at least 2 orders of magnitude. The method has the potential to become a powerful alternative for commercial LC UV/visible absorbance detectors.     

Combining Whispering‐Gallery Mode Optical Biosensors with Microfluidics for Real‐Time Detection of Protein Secretion from Living Cells in Complex Media

The noninvasive monitoring of protein secretion of cells responding to drug treatment is an effective and essential tool in latest drug development and for cytotoxicity assays. In this work, a surface functionalization method is demonstrated for specific detection of protein released from cells and a platform that integrates highly sensitive optical devices, called whispering‐gallery mode biosensors, with precise microfluidics control to achieve label‐free and real‐time detection. Cell biomarker release is measured in real time and with nanomolar sensitivity. The surface functionalization method allows for antibodies to be immobilized on the surface for specific detection, while the microfluidics system enables detection in a continuous flow with a negligible compromise between sensitivity and flow control over stabilization and mixing. Cytochrome c detection is used to illustrate the merits of the system. Jurkat cells are treated with the toxin staurosporine to trigger cell apoptosis and cytochrome c released into the cell culture medium is monitored via the newly invented optical microfluidic platform.     

Design of a compact disk-like microfluidic platform for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

This paper presents an integrated microfluidic device on a compact disk (CD) that performs an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for rat IgG from a hybridoma cell culture. Centrifugal and capillary forces were used to control the flow sequence of different solutions involved in the ELISA process. The microfluidic device was fabricated on a plastic CD. Each step of the ELISA process was carried out automatically by controlling the rotation speed of the CD. The work on analysis of rat IgG from hybridoma culture showed that the microchip-based ELISA has the same detection range as the conventional method on the 96-well microtiter plate but has advantages such as less reagent consumption and shorter assay time over the conventional method.     

Simultaneous flame ionization and absorbance detection of volatile and nonvolatile compounds by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with a water mobile phase

A flame ionization detector (FID) is used to detect volatile organic compounds that have been separated by water-only reversed-phase liquid chromatography (WRP-LC). The mobile phase is 100% water at room temperature, without use of organic solvent modifiers. An interface between the LC and detector is presented, whereby a helium stream samples the vapor of volatile components from individual drops of the LC eluent, and the vapor-enriched gas stream is sent to the FID. The design of the drop headspace cell is simple because the water-only nature of the LC separation obviates the need to do any organic solvent removal prior to gas phase detection. Despite the absence of organic modifier, hydrophobic compounds can be separated in a reasonable time due to the low phase volume ratio of the WRP-LC columns. The drop headspace interface easily handles LC flows of 1 mL/min, and, in fact, compound detection limits are improved at faster liquid flow rates. The transfer efficiency of the headspace interface was estimated at 10% for toluene in water at 1 mL/min but varies depending on the volatility of each analyte. The detection system is linear over more than 5 orders of 1-butanol concentration in water and is able to detect sub-ppb amounts of o-xylene and other aromatic compounds in water. In order to analyze volatile and nonvolatile analytes simultaneously, the FID is coupled in series to a WRP-LC system with UV absorbance detection. WRP-LC improves UV absorbance detection limits because the absence of organic modifier allows the detector to be operated in the short-wavelength UV region, where analytes generally have significantly larger molar absorptivities. The selectivity the headspace interface provides for flame ionization detection of volatiles is demonstrated with a separation of 1-butanol, 1,1,2-trichloroethane (TCE), and chlorobenzene in a mixture of benzoic acid in water. Despite coelution of butanol and TCE with the benzoate anion, the nonvolatile benzoate anion does not appear in the FID signal, allowing the analytes of interest to be readily detected. The complementary selectivity of UV-visible absorbance detection and this implementation of flame ionization detection allows for the analysis of volatile and nonvolatile components of complex samples using WRP-LC without the requirement that all the components of interest be fully resolved, thus simplifying the sample preparation and chromatographic requirements. This instrument should be applicable to routine automated water monitoring, in which repetitive injection of water samples onto a gas chromatograph is not recommended.     

High-throughput nanoliter sample introduction microfluidic chip-based flow injection analysis system with gravity-driven flows

In this work, a simple, robust, and automated microfluidic chip-based FIA system with gravity-driven flows and liquid-core waveguide (LCW) spectrometric detection was developed. The high-throughput sample introduction system was composed of a capillary sampling probe and an array of horizontally positioned microsample vials with a slot fabricated on the bottom of each vial. FI sample loading and injection were performed by linearly moving the array of vials filled alternately with 50-microL samples and carrier, allowing the probe inlet to enter the solutions in the vials through the slots sequentially and the sample and carrier solution to be introduced into the chip driven by gravity. The performance of the system was demonstrated using the complexation of o-phenanthroline with Fe(II) as a model reaction. A 20-mm-long Teflon AF 2400 capillary (50-microm i.d., 375-microm o.d.) was connected to the chip to function as a LCW detection flow cell with a cell volume of 40 nL and effective path length of 1.7 cm. Linear absorbance response was obtained in the range of 1.0-100 microM Fe(II) (r2=0.9967), and a good reproducibility of 0.6% RSD (n=18) was achieved. The sensitivity was comparable with that obtained using conventional FIA systems, which typically consume 10,000-fold more sample. The highest sampling throughput of 1000 h-1 was obtained by using injection times of 0.08 and 3.4 s for sample and carrier solution, respectively, with a sample consumption of only 0.6 nL for each cycle.     

Formation of stable stacking zones in a flow stream for sample immobilization in microfluidic systems

Electrocapture is a multifunctional microfluidic tool that can be used for concentration, sample cleanup, multistep reactions, and separation of biomolecules. Herein, we investigate the mechanisms underlying the electrocapture principle. A microfluidic electrocapture device was found to be capable of generating regions of different electric field, which are maintained in the flow by electric and hydrodynamic forces, with the zones of lower electric field strength upstream of those with higher strength. In addition to detection of the local electric fields by direct measurements, the existence of the zones was observed by the capture of a solution containing Coomassie and myoglobin. The two molecules were captured at different spots in a steady-state manner and were released (separated) at different electric fields. Considering these observations and the experimental values for the electric field strengths, flow velocities, and electrophoretic mobilities of DNA, proteins, and peptides, it is concluded that the macromolecules are captured between the field zones by a stacking mechanism.     

Optofluidic fluorescent imaging cytometry on a cell phone

Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry are widely used tools in biomedical sciences. Cost-effective translation of these technologies to remote and resource-limited environments could create new opportunities especially for telemedicine applications. Toward this direction, here we demonstrate the integration of imaging cytometry and fluorescent microscopy on a cell phone using a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective optofluidic attachment. In this cell-phone-based optofluidic imaging cytometry platform, fluorescently labeled particles or cells of interest are continuously delivered to our imaging volume through a disposable microfluidic channel that is positioned above the existing camera unit of the cell phone. The same microfluidic device also acts as a multilayered optofluidic waveguide and efficiently guides our excitation light, which is butt-coupled from the side facets of our microfluidic channel using inexpensive light-emitting diodes. Since the excitation of the sample volume occurs through guided waves that propagate perpendicular to the detection path, our cell-phone camera can record fluorescent movies of the specimens as they are flowing through the microchannel. The digital frames of these fluorescent movies are then rapidly processed to quantify the count and the density of the labeled particles/cells within the target solution of interest. We tested the performance of our cell-phone-based imaging cytometer by measuring the density of white blood cells in human blood samples, which provided a decent match to a commercially available hematology analyzer. We further characterized the imaging quality of the same platform to demonstrate a spatial resolution of ~2 μm. This cell-phone-enabled optofluidic imaging flow cytometer could especially be useful for rapid and sensitive imaging of bodily fluids for conducting various cell counts (e.g., toward monitoring of HIV+ patients) or rare cell analysis as well as for screening of water quality in remote and resource-poor settings.     

Generation of chemical movies: FT-IR spectroscopic imaging of segmented flows

We have previously demonstrated that FT-IR spectroscopic imaging can be used as a powerful, label-free detection method for studying laminar flows. However, to date, the speed of image acquisition has been too slow for the efficient detection of moving droplets within segmented flow systems. In this paper, we demonstrate the extraction of fast FT-IR images with acquisition times of 50 ms. This approach allows efficient interrogation of segmented flow systems where aqueous droplets move at a speed of 2.5 mm/s. Consecutive FT-IR images separated by 120 ms intervals allow the generation of chemical movies at eight frames per second. The technique has been applied to the study of microfluidic systems containing moving droplets of water in oil and droplets of protein solution in oil. The presented work demonstrates the feasibility of the use of FT-IR imaging to study dynamic systems with subsecond temporal resolution.     

Droplet‐Based Microfluidic Synthesis of Anisotropic Metal Nanocrystals

A droplet‐based microfluidic method for the preparation of anisotropic gold nanocrystal dispersions is presented. Gold nanoparticle seeds and growth reagents are dispensed into monodisperse picoliter droplets within a microchannel. Confinement within small droplets prevents contact between the growing nanocrystals and the microchannel walls. The critical factors in translating macroscale flask‐based methods to a flow‐based microfluidic method are highlighted and approaches are demonstrated to flexibly fine tune nanoparticle shapes into three broad classes: spheres/spheroids, rods, and extended sharp‐edged structures, thus varying the optical resonances in the visible–near‐infrared (NIR) spectral range.     

UV Raman imaging--a promising tool for astrobiology: comparative Raman studies with different excitation wavelengths on SNC Martian meteorites

The great capabilities of UV Raman imaging have been demonstrated on the three Martian meteorites: Sayh al Uhaymir, Dar al Gani, and Zagami. Raman spectra without disturbing fluorescence and with high signal-to-noise-ratios and full of spectral features were derived. This result is of utmost importance for the development of powerful instruments for space missions. By point scanning the surfaces of the meteorite samples, it was possible for the first time to construct UV-Raman images out of the array of Raman spectra. Deep-UV Raman images are to the best of our knowledge presented for the first time. The images were used for a discussion of the chemical-mineralogical composition and texture of the meteorite surfaces. Comparative Raman studies applying visible and NIR Raman excitation wavelengths demonstrate a much better performance for UV Raman excitation. This comparative study of different Raman excitation wavelengths at the same sample spots was done by constructing a versatile, robust sample holder with a fixed micro-raster. The overall advantages of UV resonance Raman spectroscopy in terms of sensitivity and selectivity are demonstrated and discussed. Finally the application of this new technique for a UV Raman instrument for envisaged astrobiological focused space missions is suggested.     

Cell design for picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy in high-pressure liquids and supercritical fluids

The design of a new high-pressure infrared (IR) cell for carrying out picosecond time-resolved infrared (ps-TRIR) spectroscopy in supercritical fluids is described. We have employed thin (2 mm) MgF(2) windows in order to overcome possible undesirable nonlinear optical effects caused by the extremely high peak powers of ultrashort ultraviolet (UV)/visible pulses. The design of our cell allows for the study of systems at pressures of up to 5500 psi at temperatures of up to approximately 50 degrees C. The MgF(2) windows enable the excitation of samples with both UV and visible light pulses and these windows are transparent across much of the mid-infrared region. We have demonstrated the use of this cell by examining the photochemistry of Fe(CO)(5) in supercritical Kr (sc Kr).     

Ultrafast microfluidic mixer and freeze-quenching device

The freeze-quenching technique is extremely useful for trapping meta-stable intermediates populated during fast chemical or biochemical reactions. The application of this technique, however, is limited by the long mixing time of conventional solution mixers and the slow freezing time of cryogenic fluids. To overcome these problems, we have designed and tested a novel microfluidic silicon mixer equipped with a new freeze-quenching device, with which reactions can be followed down to 50 micros. In the microfluidic silicon mixer, seven 10-microm-diameter vertical pillars are arranged perpendicular to the flow direction and in a staggered fashion in the 450-pL mixing chamber to enhance turbulent mixing. The mixed-solution jet, with a cross section of 10 microm x 100 microm, exits from the microfluidic silicon mixer with a linear flow velocity of 20 m/s. It instantaneously freezes on one of two rotating copper wheels maintained at 77 K and is subsequently ground into an ultrafine powder. The ultrafine frozen powder exhibits excellent spectral quality and high packing factor and can be readily transferred between spectroscopic observation cells. The microfluidic mixer was tested by the reaction between azide and myoglobin at pH 5.0. It was found that complete mixing was achieved within the mixing dead time of the mixer (20 micros), and the first observable point for this coupled device was determined to be 50 micros, which is approximately 2 orders of magnitude faster than commercially available instruments.     

Delayed onset of photochromism in molybdenum oxide films caused by photoinduced defect formation

We report the photochromic properties of amorphous MoO₃ films deposited by dc sputtering with different O₂ flow rates. The kinetics of film coloration under UV light irradiation is determined using optical transmission spectroscopy. Changes in the absorbance and refractive index were derived from the analysis of transmittance spectra. The absorbance spectra exhibited a growing broad peak centered around 830 nm, which was induced by the UV irradiation. In the early stages of irradiation, the absorbance of the films did not change but their refractive indices did change. This induction time was correlated with the O₂ partial pressure during the film deposition, which was controlled by the O₂ flow rate. The origins of this observation are discussed.     

Improvements in mixing time and mixing uniformity in devices designed for studies of protein folding kinetics

Using a microfluidic laminar flow mixer designed for studies of protein folding kinetics, we demonstrate a mixing time of 1 +/- 1 micros with sample consumption on the order of femtomoles. We recognize two limitations of previously proposed designs: (1) size and shape of the mixing region, which limits mixing uniformity and (2) the formation of Dean vortices at high flow rates, which limits the mixing time. We address these limitations by using a narrow shape-optimized nozzle and by reducing the bend of the side channel streamlines. The final design, which combines both of these features, achieves the best performance. We quantified the mixing performance of the different designs by numerical simulation of coupled Navier-Stokes and convection-diffusion equations and experiments using fluorescence resonance energy-transfer (FRET)-labeled DNA.