这项工作是由研究奖由美国加州理工学院定量生​​物科学（QB3），在缩小差距奖由罗杰斯家族基金会，加州大学旧金山分校/桑德勒基金会计划为突破生物医学研究，从巴斯夫赠款和美国国家科学基金会通过支持学院早期职业发展（CAREER）计划（DBI-1253293）。

1. SU8主制造<ol><li>设计微流体结构中使用AutoCAD软件两层制作，并与10微米的分辨率由印刷电路板上胶片供应商的设计。器件设计的细节在一个附加的基准11和通道几何形状示于图1中 。这些层应该包括对准标记，以帮助从每个制造层 12并置的特征。 </li><li>放置一个预净化3英寸直径的硅晶片上旋涂机和打开真空将其粘贴到卡盘。申请1 ml的SU8-3035在晶片和旋转的中心，持续20秒在500rpm，然后在30秒以2000rpm，提供50μm的层厚度。 </li><li>取出晶片并烘烤上的135℃热板上30分钟。允许晶片移动到下一步骤之前，冷却至室温。 </li><li>揭露涂晶圆到1层掩膜（ 图2A </strong&gt;的）下一个准直190毫瓦，365纳米LED 90秒。曝光后，放置在一个135℃热板上的晶片1分钟，然后冷却至RT在进行下一步骤之前。 </li><li>放置在晶片上旋涂机和打开真空将其粘贴到卡盘。申请1 ml的SU8-2050在晶片和旋转的中心，持续20秒在500rpm，然后在30秒在1375转，从而产生层，可提供135微米的附加厚度。 </li><li>移动到下一步骤之前，取出晶片并烘烤上的135℃热板上进行30分钟，然后冷却至室温。 </li><li> 第 2次层掩模（图2B）对齐到图案化在1.3的几何形状和涂布的晶片暴露于准直的190毫瓦，365纳米LED 3分钟。曝光后，放置在一个135℃热板上进行1分钟，然后冷却至RT在进行下一步骤之前。 </li><li>通过浸入丙二醇单甲基醚乙酸酯的搅拌浴中30分钟，开发口罩。洗片在异丙醇和烘烤在135℃热板上进行1分钟。将发达师傅在100毫米的培养皿的PDMS成型。 </li></ol> 2. PDMS设备制造<ol><li>通过组合50个克硅酮基料而言，用5克在塑料杯中的固化剂1的PDMS：准备10。混合内容物用装有搅拌棒的旋转工具。脱气30分钟，或直至所有的气泡除去的干燥器内的混合物。 </li><li>倒入PDMS，得到厚度为3毫米以上的主站和放置放回干燥器进行进一步脱气。一旦所有的气泡被除去，烘烤设备在60℃下2小时。 </li><li>从使用上清洁的表面与图案的一面了手术刀和地点的模切设备。切PDMS模具一半用刀片从硕士2人（ 图3a）单独的主1。在含有50微米流体处理几何大师1印片，冲流体入口和出口有0.75毫米活检穿孔。 </li><li>等离子治疗装置在1毫巴O 2等离子体60秒，一个300瓦等离子清洗。润湿未打孔片的PDMS的表面上一滴去离子水，以暂时延缓PDMS-PDMS键合，并作为润滑剂。同时通过立体显微镜，地点硕士1人观看的主2面相对滑动面，直至机械锁，实现当凹入框架和图 3A队友伸出帧。 </li><li>将设备放置在一个60℃的烘箱烤的组装的装置（图3B）两天，在60℃以蒸发水和完全粘结。 </li></ol> 3.制备试剂<ol><li>填充1ml注射器用蒸馏水内相。 </li><li>填写1毫升注射器与HFE 7500氟油与1重量。 ％生物相容性表面活性剂的表面活性剂13的中间阶段。 </li><li>填充10毫升注射器用10重量％polyethylenë乙二醇（PEG）在含有1重量水溶液。 ％吐温20和1重量％十二烷基硫酸钠为连续相。 </li></ol> 4.系统准备<ol><li>放置在微流体芯片上的倒置显微镜加上能够&lt;100微秒的快门速度的数字照相机的阶段。 </li><li>所有装入注射器上的注射泵和连接27G的针头。附加〜PE-2管30厘米长的针头插入有始有终到适当的打孔设备中的漏洞。 </li><li>插入PE-2的10cm长到设备的出口，并放置在一个垃圾收集容器的另一端。 </li><li>素的装置，通过运行速度的高速率的注射泵（2000微升/分钟），直到流体在管段到达装置的入口端口。 </li></ol> 5.乳液代<ol><li>聚焦显微镜对包含50微米×50微米孔和一个区域下游出口通道。 </li><li>设定注射器泵将流体输送到双乳剂发生器在250微升/小时的内相，加入100μl/小时为中间相，和700微升/小时的连续相的流速，并等待10分钟以达到平衡。 </li><li>保持内和中间相的流速，在250微升/小时和100微升/小时，分别。在1050微升/小时设定外相的流率。等待3-5分钟为双乳液一代在这组流状况稳定。 </li><li>采集5秒的视频图像时，透过手动图像分析30赫兹脱机处理。 </li><li>重复5.3和5.4 与表1中给出的流速，内和中间相的流速保持恒定和载波相位的流速是通过调节注射器泵的设置来改变。 </li></ol>

<ol>
	<li>Van Der Graaf, S., Schro&#235;n, C. G. P. H., Boom, R. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+double+emulsions+by+membrane+emulsification+-+A+review.">Preparation of double emulsions by membrane emulsification - A review.</a> J. Membrane Sci. 251 (1-2), 7-15 (2005).</li><li>Laugel, C., Baillet, A. P., Youenang Piemi, M., Marty, J., Ferrier, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Oil-water-oil+multiple+emulsions+for+prolonged+delivery+of+hydrocortisone+after+topical+application:+comparison+with+simple+emulsions.">Oil-water-oil multiple emulsions for prolonged delivery of hydrocortisone after topical application: comparison with simple emulsions.</a> Int. J. Pharm. 160 (1), 109-117 (1998).</li><li>Kim, S. H., Kim, J. W., Cho, J. C., Weitz, D. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

这里所描述的双乳液生成几何形状设计模仿的玻璃毛细管装置8的物理过程。在这些，对齐圆筒形玻璃毛细管用于创建被剪切成均匀的双乳液液滴三相同轴射流。我们的3D PDMS装置的功能是依赖于用50微米高的制造具有载波相位通道是320微米的总高度形成小的特征的中心对准。有一个显著潜力以错开的第二层掩模，在步骤1.7图案相对于50μm的高大几何的高功能，如果掩模不能准确地对...

<html>双乳液包括由一中间，不混溶流体层从载体相分离的液滴的，并且是特别令人感兴趣的，因为它们在工业，制药潜在用途，以及生物应用1。在某些情况下，以封装高价值的化合物在双乳剂的核心的能力使材料受到保护和释放以控制的方式。例如，药物可能不适合于外部载体流体 2的溶解度的条件下被封装。此外，中间层的油可以被用作用于药物，化妆品，和营养物质3的封装和递送的胶囊模板。在生物学中，双乳液，可以在高通量筛选有用的，因为它们允许进行子纳升实验数量庞大出来，然后检测和分选使用荧光激活细胞分选（FACS）仪器4,5。 ENT“&gt;双乳液具有所需的性能特性的设计需要的双乳液的尺寸，组合物和均匀性的精确控制。虽然散装乳化过程，如膜乳化，在工业中使用，所得到的乳液是高度多分散的，显示出各种各样的功能特性1。液滴的微流体的字段被自然地适合单分散乳剂的产生与仔细控制组合物6。微流体双乳液生成已经实现了两个主要策略，顺序降制作和玻璃毛细管流聚集。双乳剂可以在使用两步骤降决策过程的平面PDMS的设备来产生。首先，含水包油乳液用的是水包油滴制作具有疏水通道壁的装置的区域。接着创建的，该乳液可以是流入或重新注入与适用于水包油型亲水墙壁下降，使得区域落制作4。然而，PMDS的亲水性表面处理需要额外的制造步骤和通常是暂时的7。最可控和可重复的方法，以形成双乳液是通过共轴流聚焦，一种技术使用玻璃毛细管微流体，由此形成含有三个阶段的同心射流通过一个小孔剪切以产生单分散的液滴8首创。这种技术允许用于生产液滴比通道尺寸小得多的，与双乳液是各相的流速的函数的精确大小和组成。液滴和信道的大小和保护性外鞘流之间的大的差异防止液滴从接触通道壁，使表面处理不必要。然而，这种玻璃设备需要锥形毛细管提示定制加工，以及精心的组装和密封。以前的研究已经用3D软光刻造影生成使用流聚集物理双乳液，但这些设备生产的乳剂，直径&gt;150μm的9,10，要比一般分拣用FACS较大的物体大约一个数量级。一个有吸引力的替代方案将包括强大的功能的玻璃毛细管同轴流量和小液滴产生聚焦与易于制造的硅橡胶软光刻技术。 在本文中，我们描述了使用同轴流动聚焦以产生≤50μm的乳剂和完全使用三维软光刻11构成的双乳液生成器。我们的设备采用了翻盖的方法来制造的设备，其中包括一个小剪切通道（图1）来近似所述乳液形成过程中拉玻璃毛细管喷嘴。更重要的是，这些设备不需要特定的表面处理，并且所有的聚合物结构提供简单和可重复的制造SCalable到大量的重复装置。在这里，我们概述了设计，制造和测试的双乳液生成器。双乳液生成被证明是健壮的，可重复至14微米的微滴直径。功能轻松制作的耦合使得该器件一个有吸引力的选项，新的双乳液的应用开发。

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="691">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">Photomasks</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">CadArt Servcies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:271px;">3&#34; silicon wafers, P type, virgin test grade</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">University Wafers</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">447</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">SU-8 3035</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Microchem</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Y311074</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">SU-8 2050</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Microchem</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Y111072</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer kit</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Krayden</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4019862</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">1 ml syringes</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">309628</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">10 ml syringes</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">309604</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">27 gaugue needles</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">305109</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:271px;">PE 2 polyethylene tubing</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Scientific Commodities, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">B31695-PE/2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">Novec 7500</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">98-0212-2928-5</td>
			<td>Commonly knowns as HFE 7500</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:271px;">Biocompatable surfactant</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Ran Biotechnologies</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">008-FluoroSurfactant</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">35,000 MW PEG</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1546660</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">Tween 20</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P1369</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:271px;">Sodium dodecyl sulfate&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:135px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">L3771</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

double emulsion generation using a polydimethylsiloxane (pdms) co-axial flow focus device

Double emulsions are useful in a number of biological and industrial applications in which it is important to have an aqueous carrier fluid. This paper presents a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device capable of generating water/oil/water double emulsions using a coaxial flow focusing geometry that can be fabricated entirely using soft lithography. Similar to emulsion devices using glass capillaries, double emulsions can be formed in channels with uniform wettability and with dimensions much smaller than the channel sizes. Three dimensional flow focusing geometry is achieved by casting a pair of PDMS slabs using two layer soft lithography, then mating the slabs together in a clamshell configuration. Complementary locking features molded into the PDMS slabs enable the accurate registration of features on each of the slab surfaces. Device testing demonstrates formation of double emulsions from 14 &#181;m to 50 &#181;m in diameter while using large channels that are robust against fouling and clogging.

双乳剂发生器由使用三维PDMS制造（图1A）产生的共轴流聚焦装置的。几何图形，可允许形成一个三相同轴射流被剪切成一个正方形，50微米×50微米的孔，允许水/油/水双乳液（图1B， 图1C）的形成。的内水相和中间油相都汇集于连接处为10微米的通道尺寸x 50微米（图1D，点“1”）。由于PDMS的疏水性，氟化油拥抱通道壁和内...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device at JoVE.com

Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device

Microfluidic double emulsions generation typically involves devices with patterned wettability or custom-fabricated glass components. Here we describe the fabrication and testing of an all polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) double emulsion generator that does not require surface treatment or complicated fabrication processes, and is capable of producing double emulsions down to 14 &#181;m.

复乳代使用聚二甲基硅氧烷（PDMS）同轴流量聚焦设备

Double emulsions are useful in a number of biological and industrial applications in which it is important to have an aqueous carrier fluid. This paper ...

double-emulsion-generation-using-polydimethylsiloxane-pdms-co-axial

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Co-axial Flow Focus Device

15.9K 次观看.  University of California, San Francisco. Microfluidic double emulsions generation typically involves devices with patterned wettability or custom-fabricated glass components. Here we describe the fabrication and testing of an all polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) double emulsion generator that does not require surface treatment or complicated fabrication processes, and is capable of producing double emulsions down to 14 µm.

视频: Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device

A Novel Three-dimensional Flow Chamber Device to Study Chemokine-directed Extravasation of Cells Circulating under Physiological Flow Conditions

Extravasation of circulating cells from the bloodstream plays a central role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including stem cell homing and tumor metastasis. The three-dimensional flow chamber device (hereafter the 3D device) is a novel in vitro technology that recreates physiological shear stress and allows each step of the cell extravasation cascade to be quantified. The 3D device consists of an upper compartment in which the cells of interest circulate under shear stress, and a lower compartment of static wells that contain the chemoattractants of interest. The two compartments are separated by porous inserts coated with a monolayer of endothelial cells (EC). An optional second insert with microenvironmental cells of interest can be placed immediately beneath the EC layer. A gas exchange unit allows the optimal CO2 tension to be maintained and provides an access point to add or withdraw cells or compounds during the experiment. The test cells circulate in the upper compartment at the desired shear stress (flow rate) controlled by a peristaltic pump. At the end of the experiment, the circulating and migrated cells are collected for further analyses. The 3D device can be used to examine cell rolling on and adhesion to EC under shear stress, transmigration in response to chemokine gradients, resistance to shear stress, cluster formation, and cell survival. In addition, the optional second insert allows the effects of crosstalk between EC and microenvironmental cells to be examined. The translational applications of the 3D device include testing of drug candidates that target cell migration and predicting the in vivo behavior of cells after intravenous injection. Thus, the novel 3D device is a versatile and inexpensive tool to study the molecular mechanisms that mediate cellular extravasation.

The three-dimensional flow chamber device is a novel in vitro technology for the quantitative and step-wise evaluation of the extravasation cascade of cells circulating under conditions of physiological shear stress. The device therefore fills a critical need for basic, preclinical, and clinical studies of cell migration.

一种新型三维流室装置研究生理流量条件下的趋化因子的细胞循环外渗

Extravasation of circulating cells from the bloodstream plays a central role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including stem cell ...

科研

生物工程

PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biocompatible member of the aliphatic polyester family of biodegradable polymers. PLGA has long been a popular choice for drug delivery applications, particularly since it is already FDA-approved for use in humans in the form of resorbable sutures. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs are encapsulated in PLGA particles via single- or double-emulsion. Briefly, the drug is dissolved with polymer or emulsified with polymer in an organic phase that is then emulsified with the aqueous phase. After the solvent has evaporated, particles are washed and collected via centrifugation for lyophilization and long term storage. PLGA degrades slowly via hydrolysis in aqueous environments, and encapsulated agents are released over a period of weeks to months. Although PLGA is a material that possesses many advantages for drug delivery, reproducible formation of nanoparticles can be challenging; considerable variability is introduced by the use of different equipment, reagents batch, and precise method of emulsification. Here, we describe in great detail the formation and characterization of microparticles and nanoparticles formed by single- or double-emulsion using the emulsifying agent vitamin E-TPGS. Particle morphology and size are determined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We provide representative SEM images for nanoparticles produced with varying emulsifier concentration, as well as examples of imaging artifacts and failed emulsifications. This protocol can be readily adapted to use alternative emulsifiers (e.g. poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA) or solvents (e.g.&#160;dichloromethane, DCM).

We describe the production and characterization of nanoparticles and microparticles composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) using vitamin E-TPGS as an emulsifier. By varying formulation parameters such as the concentration of emulsifier, it is possible to produce nanoparticles with mean diameters ranging from 220 nm to&#160;1.98 &#181;m.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a biocompatible member of the aliphatic polyester family of biodegradable polymers. PLGA has long been a popular ...

Stretching Micropatterned Cells on a PDMS Membrane

Mechanical forces exerted on cells and/or tissues play a major role in numerous processes. We have developed a device to stretch cells plated on a PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) membrane, compatible with imaging. This technique is reproducible and versatile. The PDMS membrane can be micropatterned in order to confine cells or tissues to a specific geometry. The first step is to print micropatterns onto the PDMS membrane with a deep UV technique. The PDMS membrane is then mounted on a mechanical stretcher. A chamber is bound on top of the membrane with biocompatible grease to allow gliding during the stretch. The cells are seeded and allowed to spread for several hours on the micropatterns. The sample can be stretched and unstretched multiple times with the use of a micrometric screw. It takes less than a minute to apply the stretch to its full extent (around 30%). The technique presented here does not include a motorized device, which is necessary for applying repeated stretch cycles quickly and/or computer controlled stretching, but this can be implemented. Stretching of cells or tissue can be of interest for questions related to cell forces, cell response to mechanical stress or tissue morphogenesis. This video presentation will show how to avoid typical problems that might arise when doing this type of seemingly simple experiment.

This manuscript presents a technique to apply or release forces on adherent cells or tissues using unidirectional stretching.

在硅橡胶膜拉伸微图案细胞

Mechanical forces exerted on cells and/or tissues  play a major role in numerous processes. We have developed a device to stretch  cells plated on a ...

Lipid Bilayer Vesicle Generation Using Microfluidic Jetting

Bottom-up synthetic biology presents a novel approach for investigating and reconstituting biochemical systems and, potentially, minimal organisms. This emerging field engages engineers, chemists, biologists, and physicists to design and assemble basic biological components into complex, functioning systems from the bottom up. Such bottom-up systems could lead to the development of artificial cells for fundamental biological inquiries and innovative therapies1,2. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) can serve as a model platform for synthetic biology due to their cell-like membrane structure and size. Microfluidic jetting, or microjetting, is a technique that allows for the generation of GUVs with controlled size, membrane composition, transmembrane protein incorporation, and encapsulation3. The basic principle of this method is the use of multiple, high-frequency fluid pulses generated by a piezo-actuated inkjet device to deform a suspended lipid bilayer into a GUV. The process is akin to blowing soap bubbles from a soap film. By varying the composition of the jetted solution, the composition of the encompassing solution, and/or the components included in the bilayer, researchers can apply this technique to create customized vesicles. This paper describes the procedure to generate simple vesicles from a droplet interface bilayer by microjetting.

Microfluidic jetting against a droplet interface lipid bilayer provides a reliable way to generate vesicles with control over membrane asymmetry, incorporation of transmembrane proteins, and encapsulation of material. This technique can be applied to study a variety of biological systems where compartmentalized biomolecules are desired.

脂质双层囊泡代使用微流控喷射

Bottom-up synthetic biology presents a novel approach for investigating and reconstituting biochemical systems and, potentially, minimal organisms. This ...

Automated Lipid Bilayer Membrane Formation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane Thin Film

An artificial lipid bilayer, or black lipid membrane (BLM), is a powerful tool for studying ion channels and protein interactions, as well as for biosensor applications. However, conventional BLM formation techniques have several drawbacks and they often require specific expertise and laborious processes. In particular, conventional BLMs suffer from low formation success rates and inconsistent membrane formation time. Here, we demonstrate a storable and transportable BLM formation system with controlled thinning-out time and enhanced BLM formation rate by replacing conventionally used films (polytetrafluoroethylene, polyoxymethylene, polystyrene) to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In this experiment, a porous-structured polymer such as PDMS thin film is used. In addition, as opposed to conventionally used solvents with low viscosity, the use of squalene permitted a controlled thinning-out time via slow solvent absorption by PDMS, prolonging membrane lifetime. In addition, by using a mixture of squalene and hexadecane, the freezing point of the lipid solution was increased (~16 &#176;C), in addition, membrane precursors were produced that can be indefinitely stored and readily transported. These membrane precursors have reduced BLM formation time of &#60; 1 hr and achieved a BLM formation rate of ~80%. Moreover, ion channel experiments with gramicidin A demonstrated the feasibility of the membrane system.

We demonstrate a storable, transportable lipid bilayer formation system. A lipid bilayer membrane can be formed within 1 hr with over 80% success rate when a frozen membrane precursor is brought to ambient temperature. This system will reduce laborious processes and expertise associated with ion channels.

自动化脂双层膜的形成使用聚二甲基硅氧烷薄膜

An artificial lipid bilayer, or black lipid membrane (BLM), is a powerful tool for studying ion channels and protein interactions, as well as for ...

A Microcontroller Operated Device for the Generation of Liquid Extracts from Conventional Cigarette Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Aerosol

Electronic cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among middle and high schoolers and are the most popular alternative tobacco product among adults. High quality, reproducible research on the consequences of electronic cigarette use is essential for understanding emerging public health concerns and crafting evidence based regulatory policy. While a growing number of papers discuss electronic cigarettes, there is little consistency in methods across groups and very little consensus on results. Here, we describe a programmable laboratory device that can be used to create extracts of conventional cigarette smoke and electronic cigarette aerosol. This protocol details instructions for the assembly and operation of said device, and demonstrates the use of the generated extract in two sample applications: an in vitro cell viability assay and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. This method provides a tool for making direct comparisons between conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, and is an accessible entry point into electronic cigarette research.

Here, we describe a programmable laboratory device that can be used to create extracts of conventional cigarette smoke and electronic cigarette aerosol. This method provides a useful tool for making direct comparisons between conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes, and is an accessible entry point into electronic cigarette research.

一种单片机操作装置, 用于生成传统卷烟烟雾和电子烟气溶胶中的液体萃取物

Electronic cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among middle and high schoolers and are the most popular alternative tobacco product among ...

Immobilization of Live Caenorhabditis elegans Individuals Using an Ultra-thin Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Chip with Water Retention

Radiation is widely used for biological applications and for ion-beam breeding, and among these methods, microbeam irradiation represents a powerful means of identifying radiosensitive sites in living organisms. This paper describes a series of on-chip immobilization methods developed for the targeted microbeam irradiation of live individuals of Caenorhabditis elegans. Notably, the treatment of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic chips that we previously developed to immobilize C. elegans individuals without the need for anesthesia is explained in detail. This chip, referred to as a worm sheet, is resilient to allow the microfluidic channels to be expanded, and the elasticity allows animals to be enveloped gently. Also, owing to the self-adsorption capacity of the PDMS, animals can be sealed in the channels by covering the surface of the worm sheet with a thin cover film, in which animals are not pushed into the channels for enclosure. By turning the cover film over, we can easily collect the animals. Furthermore, the worm sheet shows water retention and allows C. elegans individuals to be subjected to microscopic observation for long periods under live conditions. In addition, the sheet is only 300 &#181;m thick, allowing heavy ions such as carbon ions to pass through the sheet enclosing the animals, thus allowing the ion particles to be detected and the applied radiation dose to be measured accurately. Because selection of the cover films used for enclosing the animals is very important for successful long-term immobilization, we conducted the selection of the suitable cover films and showed a recommended one among some films. As an application example of the chip, we introduced imaging observation of muscular activities of animals enclosing the microfluidic channel of the worm sheet, as well as the microbeam irradiation. These examples indicate that the worm sheets have greatly expanded the possibilities for biological experiments.

Immobilization of Live Caenorhabditis elegans Individuals Using an Ultra-thin Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Chip with Water Retention

A series of immobilization methods has been established to allow the targeted irradiation of live Caenorhabditis elegans individuals using a recently developed ultra-thin polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip with water retention. This novel on-chip immobilization is also adequate for imaging observations. The detailed treatment and application examples of the chip are explained.

超薄聚二甲基硅氧烷微氟化片在保水作用下固定化活线虫个体

Radiation is widely used for biological applications and for ion-beam breeding, and among these methods, microbeam irradiation represents a powerful means ...

Generation of Transgenic Rats using a Lentiviral Vector Approach

Transgenic animal models are fundamentally important for modern biomedical research. The incorporation of foreign genes into early mouse or rat embryos is an invaluable tool for gene function analysis in living organisms. The standard transgenesis method is based on microinjecting foreign DNA fragments into a pronucleus of a fertilized oocyte. This technique is widely used in mice but remains relatively inefficient and technically demanding in other animal species. The transgene can also be introduced into one-cell-stage embryos via lentiviral infection, providing an effective alternative to standard pronuclear injections, especially in species or strains with a more challenging embryo structure. In this approach, a suspension that contains lentiviral vectors is injected into the perivitelline space of a fertilized rat embryo, which is technically less demanding and has a higher success rate. Lentiviral vectors were shown to efficiently incorporate the transgene into the genome to determine the generation of stable transgenic lines. Despite some limitations (e.g., Biosafety Level 2 requirements, DNA fragment size limits), lentiviral transgenesis is a rapid and efficient transgenesis method. Additionally, using female rats that are mated with a fertile male strain with a different dominant fur color is presented as an alternative to generate pseudopregnant foster mothers.

This article aims to provide the methodology for lentiviral transgenesis in rat embryos using multiple injections of a virus suspension into the zygote perivitelline space. Female rats that are mated with a fertile male strain with a different dominant fur color is used to generate pseudopregnant foster mothers.

使用伦迪病毒载体方法生成转基因大鼠

Transgenic animal models are fundamentally important for modern biomedical research. The incorporation of foreign genes into early mouse or rat embryos is ...

Generation of Dynamical Environmental Conditions using a High-Throughput Microfluidic Device

Mimicking in vivo environmental conditions is crucial for in vitro studies on complex life machinery. However, current techniques targeting live cells and organs are either highly expensive, like robotics, or lack nanoliter volume and millisecond time accuracy in liquid manipulation. We herein present the design and fabrication of a microfluidic system, which consists of 1,500 culture units, an array of enhanced peristaltic pumps and an on-site mixing modulus. To demonstrate the capacities of the microfluidic device, neural stem cell (NSC) spheres are maintained in the proposed system. We observed that when the NSC sphere is exposed to CXCL in day 1 and EGF in day 2, the round-shaped conformation is well maintained. Variation in the input order of 6 drugs causes morphological changes to the NSC sphere and the expression level representative marker for NSC stemness (i.e., Hes5 and Dcx). These results indicate that dynamic and complex environmental conditions have great effects on NSC differentiation and self-renewal, and the proposed microfluidic device is a suitable platform for high throughput studies on the complex life machinery.

We present a microfluidic system for high throughput studies on complex life machinery, which consists of 1500 culture units, an array of enhanced peristaltic pumps and an on-site mixing modulus. The microfluidic chip allows for the analysis of the highly complex and dynamic micro-environmental conditions in vivo.

使用高通量微流体设备生成动态环境条件

Mimicking in vivo environmental conditions is crucial for in vitro studies on complex life machinery. However, current techniques targeting live cells and ...

Contrast-Enhanced Subharmonic Aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE) Using Ultrasound Imaging with a Focus on Identifying Portal Hypertension

Noninvasive, accurate measurement of pressures within the human body has long been an important but elusive clinical goal. Contrast agents for ultrasound imaging are gas-filled, encapsulated microbubbles (diameter &#60; 10 &#956;m) that traverse the entire vasculature and enhance signals by up to 30 dB. These microbubbles also produce nonlinear oscillations at frequencies ranging from the subharmonic (half of the transmit frequency) to higher harmonics. The subharmonic amplitude has an inverse linear relationship with the ambient hydrostatic pressure. Here an ultrasound system capable of performing real-time, subharmonic aided pressure estimation (SHAPE) is presented. During ultrasound contrast agent infusion, an algorithm for optimizing acoustic outputs is activated. Following this calibration, subharmonic microbubble signals (i.e., SHAPE) have the highest sensitivity to pressure changes and can be used to noninvasively quantify pressure. The utility of the SHAPE procedure for identifying portal hypertension in the liver is the emphasis here, but the technique has applicability across many clinical scenarios.

Contrast-Enhanced Subharmonic Aided Pressure Estimation SHAPE Using Ultrasound Imaging with a Focus on Identifying Portal Hypertension

A protocol for noninvasively estimating ambient pressures utilizing subharmonic ultrasound imaging of infused contrast microbubbles (following appropriate calibration) is described with examples from human patients with chronic liver disease.

使用超声成像的对比增强次谐波辅助压力估计 （SHAPE），重点是识别门静脉高压症

Noninvasive, accurate measurement of pressures within the human body has long been an important but elusive clinical goal. Contrast agents for ultrasound ...