Search Results (1,432)

Cell-based immuno-biosensors are novel platforms for studying immune responses of biological cells, with real-time insights more similar to physiological and pathological conditions. These systems utilize living immune cells as their main components, enabling them to detect disease-related biomarkers and cellular traits in a way that is often highly sensitive and label-free. Integration with microfluidics and organ-on-chip technologies has facilitated precise manipulational control over the cellular microenvironment. Not only has this resulted in high-throughput screening, but it also enabled smaller, more portable systems which can be used at the point of care. In this work, we review the recent advance in microfluidic cell-based immuno-biosensing associated with immune cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, T cell and dendrite cells. Some of the exciting developments include fusion with methods such as advanced imaging, electrical impedance sensing and application of machine learning to phenotyping. We will also elaborate on the issues related to the standardization of these systems, cell heterogeneity, and the challenges for translating these technologies for clinical application. Taken together, such integrated platforms have potential to fill the gap left in-between cellular immunology with biosensor engineering. Full article

Molecular point-of-care testing (POCT) for respiratory infections has undergone remarkable advancement over the past two decades, driven by technological innovation and urgent clinical needs highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This comprehensive systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesizing evidence from 254 peer-reviewed studies published between 2006 and 2026, with detailed analysis of the 30 most relevant papers selected through a rigorous four-stage screening process. The review examines the evolution of molecular POCT technologies, including reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), and CRISPR-based detection systems. Key findings demonstrate that modern molecular POCT platforms achieve diagnostic performance comparable to laboratory-based testing, with sensitivities ranging from 88% to 100% and specificities from 98% to 100%, while delivering results in 15 to 80 min. These technologies enable rapid, accurate detection of major respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and atypical bacteria. The integration of microfluidic systems, portable devices, and smartphone-based analysis has expanded access to testing in resource-limited settings, emergency departments, and wearable platforms. This review provides critical insights for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers regarding the current state, clinical applications, and future directions of molecular POCT for respiratory infections. Full article

Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Wearable Technologies (WT) have rapidly evolved over the past decade. AM offers highly customisable fabrication, while WT enables minimally invasive health monitoring. The intersection of these fields presents emerging opportunities in biomedical and engineering domains. This study aims to map the scientific landscape of AM–WT research between 2015 and 2025 through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. A total of 718 peer-reviewed publications were extracted from Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and PubMed, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Using RStudio and the Bibliometrix package, analyses included co-authorship, citation trends, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic mapping. Custom author disambiguation scripts enhanced data quality and reliability. An annual publication growth of 24.89% was observed, with notable increases after 2020. Core themes included 3D printing, biosensors, microfluidics, and organ-on-a-chip devices. A shift from manufacturing-oriented research to biomedical integration is evident. Research output is dominated by the US, China, and South Korea, with moderate but not yet highly internationalised collaboration. The field of AM–WT research is undergoing a decisive transition from fabrication-focused studies to interdisciplinary, application-driven innovations. This shift is marked by increasing integration in healthcare and bioelectronics, yet hindered by regional imbalances and thematic gaps. Addressing these will be critical to advancing global impact. This study offers a cross-database bibliometric overview of AM–WT research. By combining three major data sources, it provides enhanced coverage and introduces novel analytical dimensions to guide future interdisciplinary efforts in personalised healthcare and wearable device innovation. Full article

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) and microfluidic technologies are rapidly reshaping the development pipeline for nano drug delivery systems (DDSs) by enabling precise control of physicochemical properties, high-throughput screening, and integrated biological evaluation within miniaturized platforms. This review synthesizes recent advances in microfluidic principles, fabrication strategies, and sensing modalities that facilitate continuous flow synthesis, real-time characterization, and adaptive formulation of nanoparticles. We highlight how LoC-enabled systems improve monodispersity, reproducibility, and tunability of liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metallic nanocarriers, while providing powerful tools for assessing pharmacokinetics, drug release, and systemic responses using organ-on-chip (OoC) models. Emerging trends, including AI-driven autonomous optimization, stimuli-responsive materials, 3D-printed hybrid architectures, and self-powered portable devices, are discussed in the context of future integrated nano-pharmaceutics platforms. Despite existing challenges related to biocompatibility, standardization, data integration, and translation to industrial and clinical applications, the synergistic evolution of LoC engineering and nanomedicine holds transformative potential for personalized and next-generation therapeutic strategies. Full article

Bone is a dynamic and multifunctional tissue that provides mechanical support, regulates mineral homeostasis, supports hematopoiesis, and relies on complex interactions among multiple cell types. The increasing incidence of bone-related diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, fracture non-union, and bone cancer, highlights the need for in vitro models that better reflect human bone physiology. Bone-on-a-chip technology, developed through advances in microfluidics, biomaterials, and tissue engineering, offers a promising approach to recreate key features of the bone microenvironment in vitro. By incorporating bone-mimicking materials, relevant bone cells, vascular components, fluid perfusion, and mechanical stimulation, these platforms allow more realistic investigation of bone remodeling, regeneration, disease mechanisms, and drug responses. In parallel, bone organoids and their integration with microfluidic chips have further expanded the capabilities of in vitro bone models by enabling the formation of self-organized, human-relevant bone tissues with increased cellular complexity. This review summarizes recent progress in bone-on-a-chip systems, including models for osteogenesis and bone regeneration, vascularized bone, bone marrow and hematopoietic niches, cancer bone metastasis, and mechanobiological studies. Key design principles, materials, cellular components, and applications in disease modeling, drug screening, toxicity assessment, and personalized medicine are discussed. Current challenges and future directions are also discussed to support the continued development of more physiologically relevant in vitro bone models. Full article

Implantable artificial kidneys represent a promising alternative for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), aiming to overcome the limitations of conventional dialysis through the integration of microfluidic and electrokinetic technologies. In this study, we present a sawtooth electrode microfluidic chamber that achieves blood cell separation via negative dielectrophoresis at a record-low operating voltage of 1.4 V, representing a fivefold reduction compared with rectangular electrode designs and supporting potential integration into implantable artificial kidney systems. A microfluidic chip incorporating an asymmetric sawtooth electrode geometry was developed to enhance local electric field gradients while reducing power consumption. Device performance was investigated using COMSOL Multiphysics simulations. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the number of teeth per unit length (N), sawtooth height (H), and applied voltage (V), while excitation frequency was fixed at 1 MHz and flow velocity was maintained constant at 0.1 µL·min⁻¹. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) in Minitab (Version 27; Minitab, LLC, State College, PA, USA, 2024). The optimization model showed strong predictive capability (R² = 95.8%) and identified applied voltage (59.45% contribution) and sawtooth height (33%) as the dominant factors affecting separation efficiency, with a significant H × V interaction (p = 0.023). Comprehensive voltage-response mapping over the range of 0.8–4.0 V revealed four operational regimes, including a previously unreported high-voltage failure zone above 2.8 V, where electrothermal flow and electroporation degrade performance. Under physiological conductivity conditions, the optimized design maintained a separation efficiency of 78.3% at 1.4 V with a tip temperature rise of only 1.2 °C, while full recovery of performance was achieved at 2.2 V. Cell-specific separation efficiencies reached 97.3% for white blood cells, 95.8% for red blood cells, and 84.7% for platelets, reducing the downstream cellular load by 92.6%. These findings demonstrate that the proposed low-voltage, high-efficiency separation platform has strong potential as a cellular pre-filtration module in implantable artificial kidney systems and other lab-on-chip biomedical devices. Full article

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is a highly infectious Category A biothreat agent characterized by an exceptionally low infectious dose and diverse transmission routes. Due to the pathogen’s fastidious growth requirements and the high risk of laboratory-acquired infections, traditional cultivation methods are often protracted and hazardous. Consequently, the development of rapid and sensitive diagnostic tools is paramount. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of immunoassays, with a specific focus on the evolution from standard laboratory techniques to advanced biosensors. We detail the critical phases of antigen preparation, including high-pressure homogenization and sonication, and the generation of high-affinity polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, we evaluate the implementation of novel biosensor-like devices, such as electrochemiluminescence and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering platforms, designed for point-of-care and field-ready scenarios. By synthesizing recent advancements in nanomaterial-enhanced recognition and microfluidic integration, this review emphasizes the pivotal role of these technologies in achieving early detection and mitigating the impact of both natural outbreaks and potential deliberate misuse of F. tularensis. Full article

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies, also termed microphysiological systems (MPSs), integrate microfluidics, engineered biomaterials, human-derived cells, and on-chip biosensing to model human physiology in microscale devices that deliver quantitative, time-resolved readouts. This review surveys the 2010–2025 literature, emphasizing how sensing, standardized sampling, and analytics enable clinical concordance and fit-for-purpose regulatory use. We synthesize advances in (i) materials, fabrication, and microfluidic design; (ii) organ- and disease-focused case studies; and (iii) translational benchmarks that align chip outputs with clinical pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and biomarker datasets. Across organ systems, platforms increasingly incorporate vascularization, immune components, and organoid hybrids, paired with real-time measurements of barrier integrity, metabolism, electrophysiology, and secreted biomarkers using impedance (TEER), electrochemical, and optical modalities. Representative benchmarking studies report cardiac OoCs achieving AUROC ≥ 0.85 for torsadogenic risk classification, and renal chips improving prediction of transporter-mediated clearance relative to conventional in vitro assays. We summarize validation approaches and regulatory developments relevant to new approach methodologies, including the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, and discuss how AI and multi-omics can automate signal and image analysis, harmonize cross-platform datasets, and support digital-twin workflows that couple OoC measurements to in silico models. Overall, biosensor-enabled OoCs are progressing toward quantitatively benchmarked platforms for safety pharmacology, ADME/PK–PD, and precision medicine. Full article

Lipid-based delivery systems (LDS), including lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and liposomes, have become indispensable tools in modern biomedicine owing to their biocompatibility, capacity to encapsulate diverse therapeutic agents, and potential for targeted delivery. Despite their clinical success, conventional batch-based manufacturing methods are hindered by variability, limited scalability, and complex processing steps, slowing their broader translation. Microfluidic technologies offer a transformative solution by enabling precise fluid handling, rapid mixing, and reproducible production of LDS with tunable physicochemical attributes such as particle size, lamellarity, and drug-loading efficiency. This review highlights advances in microfluidic design strategies, including hydrodynamic flow focusing, staggered herringbone mixers, and toroidal micromixers, and evaluates how critical parameters such as flow rate, solvent composition, and lipid concentration influence LDS performance. Furthermore, we discuss the application of microfluidics in drug delivery, nucleic acid therapeutics, and vaccine platforms, underscoring its role in improving scalability, quality control, and clinical translation. Finally, we examine current challenges, including throughput limitations and solvent handling, while outlining future directions for integrating emerging materials and additive manufacturing to optimize LDS fabrication. Collectively, microfluidic platforms provide a promising pathway for next-generation lipid nanomedicines with enhanced precision, reproducibility, and therapeutic efficacy. Full article

Acoustofluidics has emerged as a transformative technology for contact-free manipulation of microparticles and fluids in microscale systems. Although bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) are known to displace inhomogeneous fluids through acoustic radiation force acting at fluid interfaces, the capability of surface acoustic waves (SAWs) to produce analogous relocation phenomena remains largely unexplored. This study addresses a critical gap in acoustofluidic theory by presenting the first comprehensive finite element method investigation of SAW-driven motion of inhomogeneous fluid confined within microchannels of widths equal to one full or one-half SAW wavelength. Unlike BAW-based system that generate uniform pressure fields across channel heights, SAW devices exhibit inherently nonuniform vertical pressure distributions and intense near-boundary streaming—features that fundamentally alter fluid relocation dynamics. Our simulations demonstrate that despite high-frequency operation (6.65 MHz) and strong ARF, standing SAW fields fail to achieve stable fluid relocation in both initially stable and unstable configurations due to vertical pressure stratification and rapid floor-level streaming. Nevertheless, these same characteristics generate vigorous transverse folding flows that enable exceptionally rapid homogenization, offering a distinct acoustofluidic mechanism for on-chip mixing. These findings not only elucidate fundamental physical differences between BAW and SAW actuation in multiphase microfluidic systems but also establish design principles for SAW-induced microfluidic mixers. The results provide crucial theoretical guidance for device optimization where rapid homogenization is desired over stable stratification. Full article

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent a powerful, minimally invasive window into tumor biology and disease evolution. Technological progress over the past decade has markedly improved the ability to isolate, preserve, and interrogate viable CTCs, transforming them from simple prognostic markers to functional tools for precision oncology. Advances in microfluidic platforms, immunomagnetic enrichment, aptamer-based capture, and nanostructured interfaces have expanded the efficiency and fidelity of CTC recovery, enabling comprehensive molecular profiling and ex vivo analysis. These innovations have paved the way for the development of CTC-derived preclinical models, including xenografts, organoids, and chorioallantoic membrane assays, which recapitulate patient-specific tumor heterogeneity and support individualized drug-sensitivity testing. In this review, we summarize current technologies for CTC isolation, outline recent achievements in functional and pharmacological characterization, and discuss the translational impact of CTC-derived models. We further identify persistent challenges and emerging opportunities, highlighting how integration of multi-omics platforms, artificial intelligence, and standardized workflows may accelerate the clinical implementation of CTC-guided personalized therapy. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) organoid and co-culture models have emerged as transformative tools for studying human endometrial function, implantation, and placental development, overcoming key limitations of animal and two-dimensional in vitro systems. This review synthesises available information of recent advances in endometrial epithelial organoids (EEOs), trophoblast organoids (TBOs), and increasingly complex co-culture platforms incorporating stromal, vascular, and trophoblast compartments to model epithelial–stromal crosstalk, decidualisation, angiogenesis, and embryo implantation. Emerging developments include assembloid systems, synthetic and semi-synthetic extracellular matrices, and microfluidic organ-on-a-chip technologies that enable long-term culture, hormonal responsiveness, and patient-specific modelling. These approaches have recapitulated key features of the mid-secretory endometrium, placental villous architecture, trophoblast differentiation, and early implantation events while revealing disease-associated dysfunctions in conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometrial cancer. Despite significant progress, current models remain limited by incomplete cellular diversity, polarity constraints, and challenges in fully modelling immune and vascular interactions. Collectively, emerging 3D organoid and co-culture systems provide physiologically relevant platforms to interrogate human reproductive biology, elucidate mechanisms underlying implantation failure and placental disease, and support the development of personalised therapeutic strategies to improve reproductive outcomes. Full article

Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness and is associated with dysfunction of the trabecular meshwork (TM), a three-dimensional (3D) structure that regulates aqueous humor outflow and, consequently, intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP is the only modifiable factor for glaucoma. Outflow facility is the inverse of aqueous humor outflow resistance caused by the presence of the TM and adjacent tissues, and reflects the TM’s central role in IOP control, representing the most physiologically relevant measure of human trabecular meshwork (HTM) function. Therefore, development of ex vivo systems to study outflow facility and IOP regulation is critical for advancing glaucoma research. We present a comprehensive review of bioengineering approaches to generation of 3D HTM models using synthetic, natural, and hybrid hydrogels, micro- and nanofabricated synthetic substrates or porous scaffolds, and microfluidic devices. These 3D HTM systems have been designed to capture key features such as topography, stiffness, and fluid flow in the conventional outflow pathway. In particular, we highlight HTM models that recapitulate IOP regulation and allow measurement of outflow facility, which directly reflect pressure-dependent outflow resistance in dynamic HTM physiology and glaucoma pathophysiology. By integrating these bioengineering approaches with emerging stem cell technologies, this review offers an evidence-based landscape overview and framework for designing next-generation 3D human-relevant TM models for outflow physiological studies and IOP-modulating drug discovery. Full article

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising tools for cancer diagnosis and therapy owing to their excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and ability to transport diverse bioactive molecules. This review summarizes recent advances in EVs research, focusing on isolation and detection technologies, their diagnostic and therapeutic applications in oncology, and the key challenges limiting clinical translation. Conventional EVs isolation methods, including ultracentrifugation, density-gradient centrifugation, and polymer-based precipitation, are discussed alongside emerging strategies such as immunoaffinity enrichment, microfluidic separation, lipid-mediated isolation, and thermophoretic enrichment, with comparative evaluation of their yield, purity, cost, and scalability. In cancer diagnosis, EV-associated biomolecules, such as miRNAs, mRNAs, proteins, and lncRNAs, show strong potential as liquid biopsy biomarkers for noninvasive early detection and dynamic disease monitoring. In therapeutic contexts, EVs serve as versatile carriers for gene molecules, chemotherapeutic agents, and small-molecule drugs, and can enhance immunotherapy and RNA-based treatments. Importantly, EVs released from metabolically active tissues, particularly skeletal muscle, contribute to systemic immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis, and their biogenesis and molecular cargo can be influenced by physical activity and exercise-related nutritional status. These insights highlight the need to integrate microengineering technologies, biomolecular profiling, standardized manufacturing systems, and lifestyle-related factors such as exercise and nutrition to accelerate the clinical translation of EV-based strategies in precision oncology and regenerative medicine. Full article

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) presents a major biomedical challenge due to its complex biomechanics and the heterogeneous cellular responses it elicits, including neuronal death, glial activation, and blood–brain barrier disruption. Traditional in vitro models, including 2D neuronal cultures, brain slices and transwell systems, have provided valuable insights into molecular and cellular biology but remain limited by their lack of human-specific architecture, vascularization, and neurovascular interactions. The purpose of this review is to systematically examine advances in in vitro TBI modeling, with particular attention to studies leveraging human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural and vascular tissues, organoids, hydrogel scaffolds, microfluidic platforms, and mechanical injury. We highlight how the integration of neurovascular unit (NVU) components has improved the physiological and functional relevance of these models. Finally, we identify key limitations, including variability in organoid maturation, incomplete vascularization, and lack of methodological standardization, and outline future directions for improving translational fidelity. Therefore, this review contributes to a critical evaluation of emerging technologies and their potential to advance neurotrauma research and therapeutic discovery. Full article