This paper describes a procedure that makes it possible to design and fabricate (including sealing) microfluidic systems in an elastomeric materialpoly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)in less than 24 h. A network of microfluidic channels (with width >20 μm) is designed in a CAD program. This design is converted into a transparency by a high-resolution printer; this transparency is used as a mask in photolithography to create a master in positive relief photoresist. PDMS cast against the master yields a polymeric replica containing a network of channels. The surface of this replica, and that of a flat slab of PDMS, are oxidized in an oxygen plasma. These oxidized surfaces seal tightly and irreversibly when brought into conformal contact. Oxidized PDMS also seals irreversibly to other materials used in microfluidic systems, such as glass, silicon, silicon oxide, and oxidized polystyrene; a number of substrates for devices are, therefore, practical options. Oxidation of the PDMS has the additional advantage that it ...

Rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane)

Hydrophilic polymers are the center of research emphasis in nanotechnology because of their perceived “intelligence”. They can be used as thin films, scaffolds, or nanoparticles in a wide range of biomedical and biological applications. Here we highlight recent developments in engineering uncrosslinked and crosslinked hydrophilic polymers for these applications. Natural, biohybrid, and synthetic hydrophilic polymers and hydrogels are analyzed and their thermodynamic responses are discussed. In addition, examples of the use of hydrogels for various therapeutic applications are given. We show how such systems’ intelligent behavior can be used in sensors, microarrays, and imaging. Finally, we outline challenges for the future in integrating hydrogels into biomedical applications.

/pdf/hydrogels-in-biology-and-medicine-from-molecular-principles-3lowrzjjsl.pdf

Hydrogels in Biology and Medicine: From Molecular Principles to Bionanotechnology†

When considering new sensory technologies one should look to nature for guidance. Indeed, living organisms have developed the ultimate chemical sensors. Many insects can detect chemical signals with perfect specificity and incredible sensitivity. Mammalian olfaction is based on an array of less discriminating sensors and a memorized response pattern to identify a unique odor. It is important to recognize that the extraordinary sensory performance of biological systems does not originate from a single element. In actuality, their performance is derived from a completely interactive system wherein the receptor is served by analyte delivery and removal mechanisms, selectivity is derived from receptors, and sensitivity is the result of analyte-triggered biochemical cascades. Clearly, optimal artificial sensory sys-

Conjugated polymer-based chemical sensors.

Wearable sensor technologies are essential to the realization of personalized medicine through continuously monitoring an individual's state of health. Sampling human sweat, which is rich in physiological information, could enable non-invasive monitoring. Previously reported sweat-based and other non-invasive biosensors either can only monitor a single analyte at a time or lack on-site signal processing circuitry and sensor calibration mechanisms for accurate analysis of the physiological state. Given the complexity of sweat secretion, simultaneous and multiplexed screening of target biomarkers is critical and requires full system integration to ensure the accuracy of measurements. Here we present a mechanically flexible and fully integrated (that is, no external analysis is needed) sensor array for multiplexed in situ perspiration analysis, which simultaneously and selectively measures sweat metabolites (such as glucose and lactate) and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium ions), as well as the skin temperature (to calibrate the response of the sensors). Our work bridges the technological gap between signal transduction, conditioning (amplification and filtering), processing and wireless transmission in wearable biosensors by merging plastic-based sensors that interface with the skin with silicon integrated circuits consolidated on a flexible circuit board for complex signal processing. This application could not have been realized using either of these technologies alone owing to their respective inherent limitations. The wearable system is used to measure the detailed sweat profile of human subjects engaged in prolonged indoor and outdoor physical activities, and to make a real-time assessment of the physiological state of the subjects. This platform enables a wide range of personalized diagnostic and physiological monitoring applications.

/pdf/fully-integrated-wearable-sensor-arrays-for-multiplexed-in-4nphg673vl.pdf

Fully integrated wearable sensor arrays for multiplexed in situ perspiration analysis

AACR Centennial Conference: Translational Cancer Medicine-- Nov 4-8, 2007; Singapore

PL02-05 

All cancers are due to abnormalities in DNA. The availability of the human genome sequence has led to the proposal that resequencing of cancer genomes will reveal the full complement of somatic mutations and hence all the cancer genes. To explore the nature of the information that will be derived from cancer genome sequencing we have sequenced the coding exons of the family of 518 protein kinases, ~1.3Mb DNA per cancer sample, in 210 cancers of diverse histological types. Despite the screen being directed toward the coding regions of a gene family that has previously been strongly implicated in oncogenesis, the results indicate that the majority of somatic mutations detected are “passengers”. There is considerable variation in the number and pattern of these mutations between individual cancers, indicating substantial diversity of processes of molecular evolution between cancers. The imprints of exogenous mutagenic exposures, mutagenic treatment regimes and DNA repair defects can all be seen in the distinctive mutational signatures of individual cancers. This systematic mutation screen and others have previously yielded a number of cancer genes that are frequently mutated in one or more cancer types and which are now anticancer drug targets (for example BRAF , PIK3CA , and EGFR ). However, detailed analyses of the data from our screen additionally suggest that there exist a large number of additional “driver” mutations which are distributed across a substantial number of genes. It therefore appears that cells may be able to utilise mutations in a large repertoire of potential cancer genes to acquire the neoplastic phenotype. However, many of these genes are employed only infrequently. These findings may have implications for future anticancer drug development.

Patterns of Somatic Mutation in Human Cancer Genomes

We present a new, multiparametric microsensor for metabolic monitoring in vivo. In contrast to silicon or ceramic based systems, the flexible, implantable, polymer sensor strip is manufactured in a cost-effective hybrid of thin-film and laminate technology in a wafer-level process. Flexibility allows easy handling and placement in soft tissue. It comprises electrochemical, amperometric micro-(bio)sensors for the energy metabolism parameters lactate and oxygen, the neurotransmitter glutamate as well as an integrated reference electrode. This allows dynamic, highly sensitive, localized, long-term online measurement of multiple metabolic parameters with a single device. The reliable analytical performance of the sensors has been proven. The sensor can be inserted directly into the tissue in clinical applications.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel7/6679330/6688115/06688341.pdf

A novel, multiparametric, flexible microsensor for metabolic monitoring in vivo

Miniaturized thin-film biosensors integrated on a flexible substrate were developed for in vivo applications and for use in clinical analyzers. A glucose, a lactate sensor and a pH-sensor was integrated. Both enzyme sensors are based on the measurements of H 2 O 2 produced by the enzymes glucoseoxidase and lactateoxidase respectively. The solid state pH-sensor uses a neutral carrier membrane. The Intended use of this device is the monitoring of metabolic parameters in the intensive care unit and the operation theatre and the application in clinical analyzers. The glucose-, lactate-and pH-sensor were tested in buffer solutions, serum and whole blood showing excellent performance.

Integrated miniaturized biosensors for clinical analyzers and in vivo applications

Lactate dehydrogenase catalyzes the final step in glycolysis, the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate. The tetrameric enzyme is composed of one or two subunits (H and/or M) resulting in five isoenzyme forms: LDH-H4, -H3M1, -H2M2, -H1M3, and -M4. The relative distribution of the LDH isoenzymes is tissue dependent and a significant marker for the diagnosis of hepatoma of the liver, myocardial infarction, muscular dystrophy, and a wide variety of other acute and chronic diseases to be detected by alterations of the LDH isoenzyme pattern in serum. Immunochemical approaches to the routine determination of LDH depend on isoenzyme specific antibodies. Since the H- and M-subunits for human LDH are highly homologous, LDH isoenzyme specific antibodies for immunochemical monitoring are hard to generate. Here we present data on the generation and characterization of LDH isoenzyme-specific mono- and polyclonal antibodies in different species in the presence of lipopeptide adjuvants. Western-Blot and ELISA analysis showed that antisera and monoclonal antibodies recognize their homologous antigens with high specificity and are therefore suitable for immunochemical monitoring of the LDH isoenzymes H4 and M4. In addition, they can be used for the determination of LDH isoenzyme specific activity which is an essential prerequisite for online amperometric immunosensor monitoring.

Lipopeptide adjuvants: generation of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-specific antibodies for immunochemical diagnosis.

Polypyrrole and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on silicon cantilever: Role of formation potential in bending displacement

We present an electrochemical microsensor for the monitoring of hydrogen peroxide direct synthesis in a membrane microreactor environment by measuring the hydrogen peroxide and oxygen concentrations. In prior work, for the first time, we performed in situ measurements with electrochemical microsensors in a microreactor setup. However, the sensors used were only able to measure at the bottom of the microchannel. Therefore, only a limited assessment of the gas distribution and concentration change over the reaction channel dimensions was possible because the dissolved gases entered the reactor through a membrane at the top of the channel. In this work, we developed a new fabrication process to allow the sensor wires, with electrodes at the tip, to protrude from the sensor housing into the reactor channel. This enables measurements not only at the channel bottom, but also along the vertical axis within the channel, between the channel wall and membrane. The new sensor design was integrated into a multiphase microreactor and calibrated for oxygen and hydrogen peroxide measurements. The importance of measurements in three dimensions was demonstrated by the detection of strongly increased gas concentrations towards the membrane, in contrast to measurements at the channel bottom. These findings allow a better understanding of the analyte distribution and diffusion processes in the microreactor channel as the basis for process control of the synthesis reaction.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/17/4876/pdf

Gerald Urban

Papers

A novel, multiparametric, flexible microsensor for metabolic monitoring in vivo

Integrated miniaturized biosensors for clinical analyzers and in vivo applications

Lipopeptide adjuvants: generation of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-specific antibodies for immunochemical diagnosis.

Polypyrrole and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on silicon cantilever: Role of formation potential in bending displacement

Microsensor electrodes for 3d inline process monitoring in multiphase microreactors