外加场分离技术与微流控技术联用在微纳尺度物质分离中的研究进展

微纳尺度物质的分离和分选在精准医学、材料科学和单细胞分析等研究中至关重要。精准、高效和快速的分离微纳尺度物质能够为癌症的早期诊断、生物样品检测和细胞筛选提供重要帮助,其中基于外加场分离技术的分离微纳尺度物质因可以对微纳尺度物质高效在线分离和分选,被广泛应用于微纳米颗粒、外泌体以及生物细胞的分离工作中,而目前多数外加场分离技术存在装备繁琐和样品消耗大等问题。微流控技术是一种通过制作微通道和微流控芯片操纵微小流体对微纳尺度样品组分进行分离的技术,因具有快速检测、高通量、在线分离、集成性高、成本低等优势现被应用于微纳尺度物质分离分析中,是一种微纳尺度物质分离的有效方法,通过在微流控芯片上设计不同的通道及外部配件提高主动场对微纳尺度物质分离效率。外加场分离技术与微流控技术联用可以实现微纳尺度物质的无损、高效、在线分离。该综述主要概述了近年来在微流控芯片上依托流动场、电场、磁场及声场等外加场分离技术来提高对微纳尺度物质分离效率的研究现状,并将各个外力场对单细胞、微颗粒等微纳尺度物质的分离进行分类介绍,总结各自的优缺点及发展应用,最后展望了外加场分离技术与微流控技术联用在应用于癌细胞的早期筛查、精确分离微尺度物质领域的未来发展前景,并提出联用技术的优势和未来应用等。     

反渗透过程中双壁碳纳米管通水阻盐性能的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学模拟方法, 探究了非常规双壁碳纳米管(DWCNT)在反渗透过程中, 不同内外管间距对管道内水分子与盐离子运动行为的影响. 本文采用0.5 mol·L^-1氯化钠水溶液模拟海水, 内管始终采用CNT(8,8)型, 并对盐水层施加恒力模拟反渗透压. 重点考察盐离子数量分布与通水情况, 计算水分子平均力势, 并分析水分子氢键寿命与偶极矩分布. 结果表明, 管间距不仅影响上述各项性质, 还会改变盐离子与水分子在碳管中的渗透特性. 模拟结果显示, 小尺寸DWCNT可以有效实现盐水分离但水通量较小, 大尺寸DWCNT的水容量较大但阻盐效率不高, 而中尺寸DWCNT (即: 管间距为0.815 nm)则具有最佳的通水阻盐性能. 本文试图从分子层面揭示了DWCNT通水阻盐机理, 并为人们设计新型海水淡化渗透膜提供理论指导.     

微流控二维电泳芯片的电压控制优化

基于微流控二维电泳芯片(2D-EMC)的流路特点,建立等效电阻模型,以便给出各端电压的合理取值范围,成功实现微流控芯片二维电泳分离.经实验测定各微通道电阻,在各端电压合理取值范围内,通过电流测量调整(优化)电压,得到了一组优化的电压控制方案,在化学发光-2D-EMC系统中成功实现了精氨酸和甘氨酸衍生物的二维分离.本方法显著减小了实现微流控芯片二维电泳分离的实验次数.     

棉涤线微流控通道分离孔雀石绿和罗丹明B混合染料研究

以棉涤线作为分离载体,采用自制的微流控通道装置,研究并建立了一种新型棉涤线微流控通道分离方法。探讨了进样方式、微流控通道长度、微流控通道倾斜度以及展开剂对混合染料分离的影响。在优化条件下,方法应用于孔雀石绿和罗丹明B混合染料的分离,各组分色段清晰。表明棉涤线作为新的分离载体对混合物进行分离,操作简便,对分离环境要求低,具有一定的应用价值。     

微流控芯片中颗粒/细胞磁操控的研究进展

微流控芯片中颗粒/细胞的磁操控是当前的热点研究领域.本文详细介绍了微流控芯片中颗粒/细胞磁操控原理及几种主要操控方式,包括分离、集中、捕获与排列组装.其中,基于颗粒/细胞大小、形状以及有无磁性对分离方法展开详述.此外,本文还比较了通道几何结构、磁场强度及分布、磁性液体种类(顺磁盐溶液和磁流体)对操控性能的影响.最后,针对微流控芯片中颗粒/细胞磁操控的前景进行了展望.     

微流控芯片技术在生命科学研究中的应用

微流控芯片最初起源于分析化学领域,是一种采用精细加工技术,在数平方厘米的基片,制作出微通道网络结构及其它功能单元,以实现集微量样品制备、进样、反应、分离及检测于一体的快速、高效、低耗的微型分析实验装置.随着微电子及微机械制作技术的不断进步,近年来微流控芯片技术发展迅猛,并开始在化学、生命科学及医学器件等领域发挥重要作用.本文首先简单介绍了微流控芯片制作材料和工艺,然后主要阐述了其在蛋白质分离、免疫分析、DNA分析和测序、细胞培养及检测等方面的应用进展.     

一步法高通量可控制备生物相容水/水微囊及其响应释放

生物相容水/水微囊在药物递送、 医学治疗等领域具有重要应用. 本文通过设计同轴微流控器件, 结合数值模拟优化和流动阻力分析, 实现一步法高通量可控制备大小均匀、 尺寸可控、 壁厚可调、 生物相容的水/水微囊. 采用实验研究和数值模拟相结合的方式, 研究了微流控器件结构、 内相流速、 外相流速、 外相/空气界面张力、 内相/外相界面张力、 内相黏度和外相黏度等参数对水/水微囊直径和壁厚的调控规律. 通过微通道流动阻力分析, 设计多通道平行放大微流控器件, 实现尺寸均匀可控水/水微囊的高通量制备. 验证了生物相容水/水微囊作为活性物质的理想载体, 可以通过改变pH或溶解囊壁释放载体, 进而实现活性物质的pH响应释放, 为其实际应用奠定了基础.     

聚二甲基硅氧烷基质微流控芯片通道的氧气氛改性研究

通过将新制的PDMS微流控芯片置于氧气氛中对通道表面进行处理的简单方法,使电渗流大小及稳定性有了显著的改善。同时研究了氧气处理PDMS通道表面的时间对电渗流的影响,得到氧气处理的最佳时间为3d。讨论了氧气作用于PDMS芯片表面的机理。在氧气处理3d的PDMS微流控芯片上进行氨基酸分离实验,得到较好的分离效果。     

微流控芯片上的细胞分析研究进展

近年来,微流控分析系统(μTAS)在生物细胞分离领域的发展引起了广泛的关注。微流控芯片的微米级尺寸的通道适合于单细胞样品的引入、操控、反应、分离和检测,已经在微芯片上实现了上述功能,并将这些功能集成在具备毛细管电泳分离功能的微芯片上。     

微流控芯片上高电导率介质中聚苯乙烯微球的动电分离

采用三层夹心式、三平行微电极设计制作了聚二甲基硅氧烷(Polydimethylsiloxane,PDMS)/玻璃微流控芯片,通过交流电对在微流控芯片中的高电导率溶液施加电场,达到不同尺寸聚苯乙烯(Polystyrene,PS)微球分离的目的;探讨了微球定向运动的动电学原理。结果表明,在电压为14 V,频率为100 k Hz时,直径为10和25μm的PS微球分离效率最好;在电压为10 V,频率为2 MHz时,直径为5和25μm的PS微球分离效率最好;对于直径分别为5、10和25μm的3种PS微球分离,在电压为11 V,频率为1 MHz时,可以达到大球和另外两种尺寸较小微球的快速有效分离,分离效率均可达90%以上。结果表明,相邻电极中间位置层流区域的形成,对微球分离起到关键作用。     

海水淡化用碳基电极材料及电容去离子技术研究进展

电容去离子技术(Capacitive Deionization,CDI)可以通过断电或电极反接方式使盐离子脱附,达到电极再生的目的,实现电极的可循环利用,其在海水淡化处理技术中具有独特的优势,逐渐成为一种缓和淡水资源紧缺和水污染的极具前景的技术手段。近年来,CDI处理技术正在向电极高效、无二次污染方向转变,未来将进一步聚焦碳基电极材料功能化(碳材料,钛碳化物MXenes,掺杂改性石墨烯材料)、装置和工艺设计优化等重要方向。为深入研究CDI海水淡化技术机理,进一步探索CDI方法在实际应用中的潜力,分别对CDI的脱盐机理、电极材料、装置和工艺设计对电吸附效率和性能的研究进展进行了总结,回顾CDI脱盐效果与电极材料、CDI电池装置设计等因素之间的密切关系,并对CDI技术在海水淡化中的研究发展提出展望。     

From Extended Nanofluidics to an Autonomous Solar‐Light‐Driven Micro Fuel‐Cell Device

Autonomous micro/nano mechanical, chemical, and biomedical sensors require persistent power sources scaled to their size. Realization of autonomous micro‐power sources is a challenging task, as it requires combination of wireless energy supply, conversion, storage, and delivery to the sensor. Herein, we realized a solar‐light‐driven power source that consists of a micro fuel cell (μFC) and a photocatalytic micro fuel generator (μFG) integrated on a single microfluidic chip. The μFG produces hydrogen by photocatalytic water splitting under solar light. The hydrogen fuel is then consumed by the μFC to generate electricity. Importantly, the by‐product water returns back to the photocatalytic μFG via recirculation loop without losses. Both devices rely on novel phenomena in extended‐nano‐fluidic channels that ensure ultra‐fast proton transport. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that μFG/μFC source achieves remarkable energy density of ca. 17.2 mWh cm⁻² at room temperature.     

Laser-assisted synthesis of cobalt@N-doped carbon nanotubes decorated channels and pillars of wafer-sized silicon as highly efficient three-dimensional solar evaporator

The Co@NCNTs/Si pillars with channels is assemble to a suitable pure water gathering device, which is applied in seawater desalination and sewage purification to produce pure water by utilizing solar energy. High-efficiency utilization of solar energy to generate water vapor is popular, recyclable, and environmentally friendly for seawater desalination and sewage purification, helping to alleviate the global water shortage crisis. Here, we report an efficient and simple method to prepare a three-dimensional (3D) evaporator for steam generation by harnessing the power of the sun. This evaporation is composed of one-dimensional (1D) cobalt embedded and nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes (Co@NCNTs) and 3D silicon pillars array structure (Si pillars). The Co@NCNTs/Si pillars shows a wide light absorption range provided by carbon nanotubes and a long light absorption path because of the silicon pillars. The surface temperature of the sample rises rapidly in 1.5 min and exceed 80 °C under solar illumination of one sun. The water evaporation can be high as 1.21 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ under one sun irradiation (1 kW/m²) with the energy efficiency up to 82.4%. This scalable Co@NCNTs/Si pillars can prepare pure water from seawater and sewage, where the removal rate of ions in seawater and pollutants in sewage is similar to 100%. Based on our research, this multistage three-dimensional structure is a simple and efficient novel photothermal material for extensive seawater desalination and sewage purification.     

Boron reduction performance of reverse osmosis seawater desalination process

In recent years, seawater desalination systems using reverse osmosis (RO) membranes have been constructed to settle the lack of drinking water. RO desalination membranes have high rejection for most of solutes in seawater. Japanese drinking water standards for the water quality of the permeate can be achieved except for boron. Therefore, the boron rejection needs to be considered in the design of the RO process and during the operation of the plant. Luckily, there is a simple and easy method to estimate boron concentration.In this paper, we report measured boron permeabilities and their relation to salt permeabilities using cross-linked polyamide membranes. Chemical degradation of the membranes affected these permeabilities to different degrees. Boron concentrations in the permeate were then calculated using a computer program that was based on the boron permeabilities calculated from the measured salt permeabilities. Results obtained were compared with actual data taken at a RO plant of Toray Industries, Inc., Ehime. The model data fitted the experimental result, well. It was also found that a relationship existed in the permeate between salt and boron concentrations and that the boron concentration can be obtained from measurement of the salt concentration.     

Biofouling Potential Reductions Using a Membrane Hybrid System as a Pre-treatment to Seawater Reverse Osmosis

Biofouling on reverse osmosis (RO) membranes is the most serious problem which affects desalination process efficiency and increases operation cost. The biofouling cannot be effectively removed by the conventional pre-treatment traditionally used in desalination plants. Hybrid membrane systems coupling the adsorption and/or coagulation with low-pressure membranes can be a sustainable pre-treatment in reducing membrane fouling and at the same time improving the feed water quality to the seawater reverse osmosis. The addition of powder activated carbon (PAC) of 1.5 g/L into submerged membrane system could help to remove significant amount of both hydrophobic compounds (81.4%) and hydrophilic compounds (73.3%). When this submerged membrane adsorption hybrid system (SMAHS) was combined with FeCl(3) coagulation of 0.5 mg of Fe(3+)/L, dissolved organic carbon removal efficiency was excellent even with lower dose of PAC (0.5 g/L). Detailed microbial studies conducted with the SMAHS and the submerged membrane coagulation-adsorption hybrid system (SMCAHS) showed that these hybrid systems can significantly remove the total bacteria which contain also live cells. As a result, microbial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as well as total ATP concentrations in treated seawater and foulants was considerably decreased. The bacteria number in feed water prior to RO reduced from 5.10E(+06) cells/mL to 3.10E(+03) cells/mL and 9.30E(+03) cells/mL after SMAHS and SMCAHS were applied as pre-treatment, respectively. These led to a significant reduction of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) by 10.1 μg/L acetate-C when SMCAHS was used as a pre-treatment after 45-h RO operation. In this study, AOC method was modified to measure the growth of bacteria in seawater by using the Pseudomonas P.60 strain.     

From Extended Nanofluidics to an Autonomous Solar-Light-Driven Micro Fuel-Cell Device

Autonomous micro/nano mechanical, chemical, and biomedical sensors require persistent power sources scaled to their size. Realization of autonomous micro-power sources is a challenging task, as it requires combination of wireless energy supply, conversion, storage, and delivery to the sensor. Herein, we realized a solar-light-driven power source that consists of a micro fuel cell (μFC) and a photocatalytic micro fuel generator (μFG) integrated on a single microfluidic chip. The μFG produces hydrogen by photocatalytic water splitting under solar light. The hydrogen fuel is then consumed by the μFC to generate electricity. Importantly, the by-product water returns back to the photocatalytic μFG via recirculation loop without losses. Both devices rely on novel phenomena in extended-nano-fluidic channels that ensure ultra-fast proton transport. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that μFG/μFC source achieves remarkable energy density of ca. 17.2 mWh cm⁻² at room temperature.     

Interfacially synthesized thin film composite RO membranes for seawater desalination

A composite RO membrane with high salt rejection and high flux for the desalination of seawater was prepared by treating a porous polysulfone (PS) support sequentially with a di-amine and then with a polyfunctional acid chloride, thereby forming a thin film of polyamide (PA) on the PS support. In order to establish conditions for the development of suitable thin film composite (TFC) membranes on a coating machine, various parametric studies were carried out which included varying the concentration of reactants, reaction time, curing temperature and curing time for thin film formation by the interfacial polymerization technique. By suitable combination of these factors,a desired thin film of polyamide with improved performance for seawater desalination could be obtained. Moreover, the product water fluxes were considerably enhanced by post-treatment of the TFC membrane. Continuous sheets of TFCs were developed on the mechanical coating unit and tested for RO performance in a plate-and-frame configuration with synthetic seawater. The performance of these composite membranes was also determined for the separation of organics and compared with cellulose acetate (CA) membranes.     

Separation of lipids from blood utilizing ultrasonic standing waves in microfluidic channels

A method to continuously separate different particle types in a suspension is reported. Acoustic forces in a standing wave field were utilized to discriminate lipid particles from erythrocytes in whole blood. The presented technology proposes a new method of cleaning, i.e. removing lipid emboli from, shed blood recovered during cardiac surgery. Blood contaminated with lipid particles enter a laminar flow micro channel. Erythrocytes and lipid particles suspended in blood plasma are exposed to a half wavelength standing wave field orthogonal to the direction of flow as they pass through the channel. Because of differences in compressibility and density the two particle types move in different directions, the erythrocytes towards the centre of the channel and the lipid particles towards the side walls. The end of the channel is split into three outlet channels conducting the erythrocytes to the centre outlet and the lipid particles to the side outlets due to the laminar flow profile. The separation channel was evaluated in vitro using polyamide spheres suspended in water, showing separation efficiencies approaching 100%. The system was also evaluated on whole blood using tritium labelled lipid particles added to bovine blood. More than 80% of the lipid particles could be removed while approximately 70% of the erythrocytes were collected in one third of the original fluid volume. The study showed that the further reduced micro channel dimensions provided improved performance with respect to; (i) separation efficiency, (ii) actuation voltage, and (iii) volumetric throughput as compared to earlier work.     

A sol-gel immobilization of nano and micron size sorbents in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels for microscale solid phase extraction (SPE)

Sorbent particles consisting of nano and micro silica, and micron size octadecylsilica (ODS) were immobilized using sol-gel chemistry onto poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic channels to serve as μ-chip solid phase extraction (SPE) devices. Extraction, preconcentration and purification of biological and chemical analytes were carried out using these. Micro and nano scale silica-immobilized μ-SPE were used for the extraction/purification of DNA from recombinant Escherichia coli crude lysate. The average DNA recovery was 77 ± 9% (X ± R.S.D.) for the micron size silica particles and 70 ± 5% (X ± R.S.D.) for the nano silica particles. The extracted DNA could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) whereas the DNA from the crude lysate solution could not be. This was a testimony to the purification capability of the μ-SPE device. ODS immobilized μ-SPE were used to study the extraction efficiency (EE) and enhancement factor (EF) for three groups of organic compounds, aromatics, phenols and carboxylic acids. They showed poor recovery and low enrichment because the analytes sorbed into the PDMS and were not quantitatively extracted.