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Micromachines
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Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024
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Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "B：Biology and Biomedicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 6732

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Nam-Trung Nguyen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, West Creek Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
Interests: microfluidics; nanofluidics; micro/nanomachining technologies; micro/nanoscale science; instrumentation for biomedical applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a new Special Issue entitled “Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024”. In recent years, we have cooperated with some excellent scholars/scientific groups and published several very important high-level works, which have already been cited according to Web of Science data. We aim to introduce new insights into the development of science or cutting-edge technology related to micromachines in the fields of biology and biomedicine, which will make a great contribution to the community.

This Special Issue will be a collection of high-quality papers from excellent scholars from around the world. Both original research articles and comprehensive review papers are welcome. The papers will be published, free of charge, with full open access after peer review to benefit both authors and readers.

You are welcome to send short proposals for submissions of feature papers to our Editorial Office (micromachines@mdpi.com) before submission. They will be evaluated by editors first. Please note that selected full papers will still be subjected to a thorough and rigorous peer review.

We look forward to receiving your excellent work.

Prof. Dr. Nam-Trung Nguyen
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3094 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Glucose Dehydrogenase Immobilization Strategies in a 3D-Printed Millireactor
by Vilim Marijan Boroša, Kristian Koštan, Renata Vičević, Ivan Karlo Cingesar, Domagoj Vrsaljko, Bruno Zelić, Ana Jurinjak Tušek and Anita Šalić
Micromachines 2024, 15(12), 1514; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15121514 - 20 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Enzymatic reactions play an important role in numerous industrial processes, e.g., in food production, pharmaceuticals and the production of biofuels. However, a major challenge when using enzymes in industrial applications is maintaining their stability and activity, especially under harsh operating conditions. To solve [...] Read more.
Enzymatic reactions play an important role in numerous industrial processes, e.g., in food production, pharmaceuticals and the production of biofuels. However, a major challenge when using enzymes in industrial applications is maintaining their stability and activity, especially under harsh operating conditions. To solve this problem, enzyme immobilization techniques have been developed. Immobilization involves fixing the enzymes on solid supports, which increases their stability, enables their reusability and facilitates the easy separation of reaction mixtures. In addition, immobilized enzymes are ideal for continuous flow systems such as millireactors, where they allow better control of reaction conditions, improving efficiency and product consistency. Glucose dehydrogenase is an important enzyme in biotechnology, particularly in biosensors and the production of biofuels, as it catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to gluconolactone, reducing NAD+ to NADH. However, like many other enzymes, it tends to lose activity over time. The immobilization of glucose dehydrogenase in a millireactor provides a controlled environment that increases the stability and activity of the enzyme. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different immobilization strategies on the performance of glucose dehydrogenase in a 3D printed millireactor. The enzyme was immobilized in alginate gel in three immobilization strategies: as beads, on the bottom surface, and on both the top and bottom surfaces of the millireactor. The results showed that the application of the enzyme on both surfaces improved the glucose conversion two-fold compared to immobilization in beads and four-fold compared to immobilization only on the bottom surface. The dual-surface enzyme immobilization strategy showed the highest efficiency, achieving the highest conversion of 95.76 ± 1.01% (τ = 131 min) and NADH productivity of 0.166 ± 0.01 mmol/(L·min) (τ = 7.11 min) combined with operational stability over five days. Effective diffusion rates comparable to those of aqueous solutions confirmed the suitability of alginate gels for biocatalysis. These advancements highlight the potential of this modular and scalable platform for various biotechnological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024)
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14 pages, 4290 KiB  
Article
A Thermal Cycler Based on Magnetic Induction Heating and Anti-Freezing Water Cooling for Rapid PCR
by Yaping Xie, Qin Jiang, Chang Chang, Xin Zhao, Haochen Yong, Xingxing Ke and Zhigang Wu
Micromachines 2024, 15(12), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15121462 - 30 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Distinguished by its exceptional sensitivity and specificity, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a pivotal technology for pathogen detection. However, traditional PCR instruments that employ thermoelectric cooling (TEC) are often constrained by cost, efficiency, and performance variability resulting from the fluctuations in ambient temperature. [...] Read more.
Distinguished by its exceptional sensitivity and specificity, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a pivotal technology for pathogen detection. However, traditional PCR instruments that employ thermoelectric cooling (TEC) are often constrained by cost, efficiency, and performance variability resulting from the fluctuations in ambient temperature. Here, we present a thermal cycler that utilizes electromagnetic induction heating at 50 kHz and anti-freezing water cooling with a velocity of 0.06 m/s to facilitate rapid heating and cooling of the PCR reaction chamber, significantly enhancing heat transfer efficiency. A multi-physics theoretical heat transfer model, developed using the digital twin approach, enables precise temperature control through advanced algorithms. Experimental results reveal average heating and cooling rates of 14.92 °C/s and 13.39 °C/s, respectively, significantly exceeding those of conventional methods. Compared to commercial PCR instruments, the proposed system further optimizes cost, efficiency, and practicality. Finally, PCR experiments were successfully performed using cDNA (Hepatitis B virus) at various concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024)
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11 pages, 1223 KiB  
Article
Open-End Control of Neurite Outgrowth Lengths with Steep Bending Confinement Microchannel Patterns for Miswiring-Free Neuronal Network Formation
by Naoya Takada, Soya Hagiwara, Nanami Abe, Ryohei Yamazaki, Kazuhiro Tsuneishi and Kenji Yasuda
Micromachines 2024, 15(11), 1374; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15111374 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 888
Abstract
Wiring technology to control the length and direction of neurite outgrowth and to connect them is one of the most crucial development issues for forming single-cell-based neuronal networks. However, with current neurite wiring technology, it has been difficult to stop neurite extension at [...] Read more.
Wiring technology to control the length and direction of neurite outgrowth and to connect them is one of the most crucial development issues for forming single-cell-based neuronal networks. However, with current neurite wiring technology, it has been difficult to stop neurite extension at a specific length and connect it to other neurites without causing miswiring due to over-extension. Here, we examined a novel method of wiring neurites without miswiring by controlling the length of neurites in open-ended bending microchannel arrays connected beyond the maximum bending angle of neurite outgrowth. First, we determined the maximum bending angle of neurite elongation to pass through the bending point of a bending microfluidic channel; the maximum angle (the critical angle) was 90°. Next, we confirmed the control of neurite outgrowth length in open-ended microchannels connected at 120°, an angle beyond the maximum bending angle. The neurites stopped when elongated to the bend point, and no further elongation was observed. Finally, we observed that in bending microchannel arrays connected at an angle of 120°, two neurite outgrowths stopped and contacted each other without crossing over the bend point. The results show that the steep bending connection pattern is a robust open-end neurite wiring technique that prevents over-extension and miswiring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024)
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18 pages, 4465 KiB  
Article
Development of a Microbioreactor for Bacillus subtilis Biofilm Cultivation
by Mojca Seručnik, Iztok Dogsa, Lan Julij Zadravec, Ines Mandic-Mulec and Polona Žnidaršič-Plazl
Micromachines 2024, 15(8), 1037; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15081037 - 15 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1571
Abstract
To improve our understanding of Bacillus subtilis growth and biofilm formation under different environmental conditions, two versions of a microfluidic reactor with two channels separated by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane were developed. The gas phase was introduced into the channel above the membrane, [...] Read more.
To improve our understanding of Bacillus subtilis growth and biofilm formation under different environmental conditions, two versions of a microfluidic reactor with two channels separated by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane were developed. The gas phase was introduced into the channel above the membrane, and oxygen transfer from the gas phase through the membrane was assessed by measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid phase using a miniaturized optical sensor and oxygen-sensitive nanoparticles. B. subtilis biofilm formation was monitored in the growth channels of the microbioreactors, which were designed in two shapes: one with circular extensions and one without. The volumes of these microbioreactors were (17 ± 4) μL for the reactors without extensions and (28 ± 4) μL for those with extensions. The effect of microbioreactor geometry and aeration on B. subtilis biofilm growth was evaluated by digital image analysis. In both microbioreactor geometries, stable B. subtilis biofilm formation was achieved after 72 h of incubation at a growth medium flow rate of 1 μL/min. The amount of oxygen significantly influenced biofilm formation. When the culture was cultivated with a continuous air supply, biofilm surface coverage and biomass concentration were higher than in cultivations without aeration or with a 100% oxygen supply. The channel geometry with circular extensions did not lead to a higher total biomass in the microbioreactor compared to the geometry without extensions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024)
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Review

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25 pages, 1618 KiB  
Review
Mechanical Stimulation of Red Blood Cells Aging: Focusing on the Microfluidics Application
by Alexander Gural, Ivana Pajić-Lijaković and Gregory Barshtein
Micromachines 2025, 16(3), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16030259 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 941
Abstract
Human red blood cells (RBCs) are highly differentiated cells, essential in almost all physiological processes. During their circulation in the bloodstream, RBCs are exposed to varying levels of shear stress ranging from 0.1–10 Pa under physiological conditions to 50 Pa in arterial stenotic [...] Read more.
Human red blood cells (RBCs) are highly differentiated cells, essential in almost all physiological processes. During their circulation in the bloodstream, RBCs are exposed to varying levels of shear stress ranging from 0.1–10 Pa under physiological conditions to 50 Pa in arterial stenotic lesions. Moreover, the flow of blood through splenic red pulp and through artificial organs is associated with brief exposure to even higher levels of shear stress, reaching up to hundreds of Pa. As a result of this exposure, some properties of the cytosol, the cytoskeleton, and the cell membrane may be significantly affected. In this review, we aim to systematize the available information on RBC response to shear stress by focusing on reported changes in various red cell properties. We pay special attention to the results obtained using microfluidics, since these devices allow the researcher to accurately simulate blood flow conditions in the capillaries and spleen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers of Micromachines in Biology and Biomedicine 2024)
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