The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for ways to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus quickly, accurately and on a massive scale in order to control its spread.Now, scientists from three Swiss institutions have developed a new microfluidic device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 with a high degree of accuracy. The device can distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses such as the <a href="http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-(mers-cov)" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus</a> (MERS-CoV), making it a potential game-changer in the fight against coronaviruses. The project was led by Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire at EPFL, Igor Stefanini at SUPSI, and Francesco Bertoni at USI.The device uses a DNA biosensor to detect RNA from SARS-CoV-2 in human saliva. When viral RNA binds to the DNA biosensor, it forms a DNA/RNA duplex. This is then detected by the sensor, which can pick up as little as 10 attomolar of the virus RNA. For perspective, one attomolar is equivalent to a drop of water in an Olympic-size swimming pool.The device is based on microfluidics, a technology that controls the flow of very small amounts of liquids through tiny channels. With microfluidics, the new device controls the flow of saliva to allow the DNA biosensor to detect viral RNA. The DNA/RNA duplex is then detected with fluorescence measurements.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1675687753585-9cdecd18.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">How the new virus-detecting device works. Credit: Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire.&nbsp;The virus detector can be deployed in non-medical environments, and can provide results in less than ten minutes, which makes it superb for point-of-care diagnostics in airports, schools, workplaces etc. And since it is highly selective for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it does not produce false positives for other coronaviruses.The device can play a significant role in population monitoring and mitigation efforts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It can also be adapted to detect other viruses with simple modifications to the sensor&rsquo;s probe. &ldquo;This device is highly versatile,&rdquo; says Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire. &ldquo;The biosensor unit can be easily adapted to the detection of other viruses by the selection and immobilization of other DNA probe sequences.&rdquo;<hr>ReferencesPerrine Robin, Laura Barnabei, Stefano Marocco, Jacopo Pagnoncelli, Daniele Nicolis, Chiara Tarantelli, Agatino Christian Tavilla, Roberto Robortella, Luciano Cascione, Lucas Mayoraz, C&eacute;line M.A. Journot, Mounir Mensi, Francesco Bertoni, Igor Stefanini, Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire. A DNA biosensors-based microfluidic platform for attomolar real-time detection of unamplified SARS-CoV-2 virus. Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X, 27 December 2022. DOI:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590137022001959" rel="noopener" target="_blank">10.1016/j.biosx.2022.100302</a>

The virus-detecting device. Credit: Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire.

A new microfluidic device developed by scientists in Switzerland can detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus with high accuracy and speed, using a unique DNA/RNA duplex technology. The device can prove to be a game-changer in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A microfluidic device for detecting SARS-CoV-2

We are all familiar with robots equipped with moving arms. They stand in factory halls, perform mechanical work and can be programmed. A single robot can be used to carry out a variety of tasks.Until today, miniature systems that transport miniscule amounts of liquid through fine capillaries have had little association with such robots. Developed by researchers as an aid for laboratory analysis, such systems are known as microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip and generally make use of external pumps to move the liquid through the chips. To date, such systems have been difficult to automate, and the chips have had to be custom-designed and manufactured for each specific application.<h2>Ultrasound needle oscillations</h2>Scientists led by ETH Professor Daniel Ahmed are now combining conventional robotics and microfluidics. They have developed a device that uses ultrasound and can be attached to a robotic arm. It is suitable for performing a wide range of tasks in microrobotic and microfluidic applications and can also be used to automate such applications. The scientists have reported on this development in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y" target="_blank">external pageNature Communicationscall_made</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1673655246612-image.imageformat.lightbox.910456838.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">(Visualisations: ETH Zurich)&nbsp;The device comprises a thin, pointed glass needle and a piezoelectric transducer that causes the needle to oscillate. Similar transducers are used in loudspeakers, ultrasound imaging and professional dental cleaning equipment. The ETH researchers can vary the oscillation frequency of their glass needle. By dipping the needle into a liquid they create a three-dimensional pattern composed of multiple vortices. Since this pattern depends on the oscillation frequency, it can be controlled accordingly.&nbsp;<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1673655273747-image.imageformat.fullwidthwidepage.718567062.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Various vortex patterns in liquids viewed from above and made visible by particles. The dot in the middle of each picture is the glass needle. (Photograph: ETH Zurich)&nbsp;The researchers were able to use this to demonstrate several applications. First, they were able to mix tiny droplets of highly viscous liquids. &ldquo;The more viscous liquids are, the more difficult it is to mix them,&rdquo; Professor Ahmed explains. &ldquo;However, our method succeeds in doing this because it allows us to not only create a single vortex, but to also efficiently mix the liquids using a complex three-dimensional pattern composed of multiple strong vortices.&rdquo;Second, the scientists were able to pump fluids through a mini-channel system by creating a specific pattern of vortices and placing the oscillating glass needle close to the channel wall.Third, they succeeded in using their robot-assisted acoustic device to trap fine particles present in the fluid. This works because a particle&rsquo;s size determines its reaction to the sound waves. Relatively large particles move towards the oscillating glass needle, where they accumulate. The researchers demonstrated how this method can capture not only inanimate particles but also fish embryos. They believe it should also be capable of capturing biological cells in the fluid. &ldquo;In the past, manipulating microscopic particles in three dimensions was always challenging. Our microrobotic arm makes it easy,&rdquo; Ahmed says.<blockquote>&#39;Mixing and pumping liquids and trapping particles &ndash; we can do it all with one device.&quot;- Daniel Ahmed</blockquote>&ldquo;Until now, advancements in large, conventional robotics and microfluidic applications have been made separately,&rdquo; Ahmed says. &ldquo;Our work helps to bring the two approaches together.&rdquo; As a result, future microfluidic systems could be designed similarly to today&rsquo;s robotic systems. An appropriately programmed single device would be able to handle a variety of tasks. &ldquo;Mixing and pumping liquids and trapping particles &ndash; we can do it all with one device,&rdquo; Ahmed says. This means tomorrow&rsquo;s microfluidic chips will no longer have to be custom-developed for each specific application. The researchers would next like to combine several glass needles to create even more complex vortex patterns in liquids.In addition to laboratory analysis, Ahmed can envisage other applications for microrobotic arms, such as sorting tiny objects. The arms could conceivably also be used in biotechnology as a way of introducing DNA into individual cells. It should ultimately be possible to employ them in additive manufacturing and 3D printing.<hr><h2 id="isPasted">Reference&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>Durrer J, Agrawal P, Ozgul A, Neuhauss SCF, Nama N, Ahmed D: A robot-assisted acoustofluidic end effector. Nature Communications, 26. Oktober 2022, doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-34167-y" target="_blank">external page10.1038/s41467-022-34167-ycall_made</a>

Using a glass needle made to oscillate with the assistance of ultrasound, liquids can be manipulated and particles can be trapped. (Photograph: ETH Zurich)

Until now, microscopic robotic systems have had to make do without arms. Now researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an ultrasonically actuated glass needle that can be attached to a robotic arm. This lets them pump and mix minuscule amounts of liquid and trap particles.

A precision arm for miniature robots

Robots are regularly used to move an object from one place to another. This might be moving a heavy extrusion from one area of a factory floor to another, or it might be delicately performing surgery on a human eye.A manipulator robot or robotic manipulator is a critical device in tasks like these. Used to manipulate materials and objects without direct human touch, manipulators can be faster and more accurate than human operators, and can sometimes lift much heavier weights. Because of these important advantages, manipulators have a wide variety of types and applications.This article explains the basics of manipulator robots: what they are, how they work, their different variants, and some of their most useful applications in the real world.<h1 dir="ltr">What are manipulators?</h1>In the field of robotics, manipulators are electronic devices designed to interact with their environment by moving objects from one place to another.Manipulators can generally be considered synonymous with robotic arms; &ldquo;manipulation&rdquo; describes the task these devices perform, while &ldquo;robotic arm&rdquo; describes their structure, which can (though not always) resemble a human arm. A robotic arm contains different segments that interact with one another via slides or joints, giving the arm multiple degrees of freedom (DoF). At the extreme end of the arm (the hand, as it is sometimes known) is an end effector such as a gripper, which is responsible for the direct manipulation of the object.Manipulators can be automated &mdash; as is the case with many factory floor tasks &mdash; or controlled by an operator, such as during keyhole surgery in a hospital or for lift-assist purposes in a warehouse. Recognizable robotic arms such as those made by Kuka and ABB can be considered types of manipulators.Because manipulators consist of several sections, each capable of moving in a different way, complex algorithms are used to control the overall motion of the arm.<h1 dir="ltr">Types of manipulator arms</h1>Before we begin to look at the application of manipulators, we will classify them by their mode of kinematic operation.Robotic manipulator arms typically have between three and six degrees of freedom, afforded by a series of joints (analogous to a shoulder, elbow, or wrist) which connect the various links of the device (analogous to an upper arm, forearm, or palm). The joints of a manipulator are usually either revolute joints or prismatic joints.[1]<ul><li dir="ltr">Revolute joint (rotary joint): rotation about one axis, i.e. twisting movement</li><li dir="ltr">Prismatic joint (linear joint): translation about one axis, i.e. extension movement</li><li dir="ltr">Cylindrical joint: rotation and translation about one axis</li><li dir="ltr">Spherical joint (ball and socket joint): three degrees of rotation</li></ul>The type of arm determines its number of degrees of freedom, as well as its workspace (how far it can reach).<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1671777687462-robotic_arms.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="arm configurations">Various robotic manipulator arm configurations<h2 dir="ltr">Jointed-arm (articulated) robot</h2>Articulated robots with jointed arms offer the most possible degrees of freedom and typically have between three and six revolute joints. The biggest advantage of a jointed-arm robot is its wide range of movement; however, it can be less accurate than other types. Common uses include arc welding and spraypainting.<h2 dir="ltr">SCARA robot</h2>Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) manipulators have one prismatic joint for Z-axis movement and two parallel revolute joints. SCARA robots are widely used in assembly. They can often lift heavier payloads than other types of robot as the two revolute joints do no lifting.<h2 dir="ltr">Cartesian (gantry) robot</h2>Cartesian or gantry manipulators can move along three axes via a system of rails, like the printhead of a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer. They are very easy to program and can lift heavy payloads. Common uses include pick-and-place and sealant application.<h2 dir="ltr">Spherical (polar) robot</h2>Spherical or polar robot manipulators have two revolute joints, including one at the base, with a third prismatic joint to allow for extension of the arm. These manipulators require less complex algorithms and are useful for welding and pick and place operations.<h2 dir="ltr">Cylindrical robot</h2>Cylindrical robot manipulators have a revolute joint at the base and two prismatic joints: one for z-axis movement and one for movement along the horizontal plane. This robotic system is rigid and accurate but is less common than other types.<h2 dir="ltr">Delta (parallel) robot</h2>Delta robots are typically attached to the ceiling of the work area and have three or six arms each with its own revolute or prismatic joint. Rigid and fast-operating, delta robot manipulators are used for tasks like pick and place, assembly, and sealant application.<h1 dir="ltr">Types of manipulator end effectors</h1>We can also classify manipulators by their end effectors, the tools at the end of the arms that ultimately determine what kind of operation the manipulator can perform. Manipulator end effectors are typically some form of gripper, with the number and material of the &ldquo;fingers&rdquo; dependent on the device&rsquo;s end use.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1671777731922-manipulator_arm.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="suction cups">A manipulator robot with suction cup end effectors<h2 dir="ltr">Electric gripper</h2>Electric grippers have fingers powered by individual motors, allowing for a firm grasp of the objects being manipulated and a high level of control over speed and placement.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Pneumatic gripper</h2>Pneumatic grippers used compressed air for movement rather than an electrical system, providing a greater level of gripping force than electric grippers.<h2 dir="ltr">Magnetic gripper</h2>Magnetic grippers are used to handle ferrous materials. The magnetism minimizes risk of droppage and does not require electricity or air.<h2 dir="ltr">Mechanical gripper</h2>Mechanical grippers are not powered but feature prongs or other design features that allow them to connect with the objects being manipulated.<h2 dir="ltr">Suction cup</h2>Suction cup grippers use a vacuum to pick up and manipulate objects. They are a useful low-cost option but have a more limited use than other end effector types.<h1 dir="ltr">Applications of manipulators</h1>Manipulator robots are most commonly found in factories for industrial work. In this context, their uses are many and varied. However, manipulators can also be found outside of manufacturing, in areas like healthcare.<h2 dir="ltr">Industry</h2>Robot manipulators are widely used in industrial settings due to their accuracy, repeatability, capacity for automation, ability to lift heavy payloads, and versatility in terms of the different end effectors that can be used. Such industrial robots are sometimes called serial manipulators.Industrial uses for robotic manipulators include:<ul><li dir="ltr">Assembly: when a manipulator is used to add different components to a complex part by affixing each component in its correct location</li><li dir="ltr">Pick and place: when a manipulator is used to move an object from one area to another, e.g. from a worktable onto a pallet</li><li dir="ltr">Packaging: when a manipulator is used to place an object within a box, pallet, or other form of packaging before, in some cases, sealing the packaging</li><li dir="ltr">Quality control: manipulators can be used to stress test certain parts, by pulling or twisting them, for example</li></ul>Recommended reading: <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/bin-picking-from-two-different-storage-containers" target="_blank">Bin picking from two different storage containers</a><h2 dir="ltr">Healthcare</h2><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1671777773224-surgery_robot.jpg" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="telemanipulator">Human-operated telemanipulators play an important role in healthcareMany types of surgery can be assisted by robot control. Robotic surgery can be more accurate and therefore lead to better patient outcomes than manual surgery.Most robotic surgeries involve the use of telemanipulators, robotic manipulators that allow the human surgeon to control the arm and end effector of the manipulator using their own hand movements. Other robot-assisted surgeries are fully computer-controlled, without the use of a telemanipulator system.One of the most notable examples of robot manipulators in healthcare is the Da Vinci Surgical System, which is used for surgical procedures like prostatectomies, hysterectomies, and cardiac valve repairs. Controlled using a console, the system has end effectors that can function as scalpels, scissors, electrosurgical devices, or grippers. One limitation of the design is a lack of haptic feedback for the operator.[2]<h2 dir="ltr">Space</h2>Some of the most notable (and high-cost) applications of manipulator robots can be found in space, where there are a limited number of human operators available to carry out maintenance and other potentially dangerous tasks.One example of a space-based manipulator system is the Canadarm. Weighing 450 kilograms, the huge Canadarm manipulator was developed to manipulate payloads on the NASA Space Shuttle. Rather than use a claw-like end effector, the space robot used a three-wire system inspired by elastic bands.Recommended reading: <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/lunar-rover-arm-brings-increased-functionality-to-space-missions" target="_blank">Lunar Rover Arm brings increased functionality to space missions</a><h1 dir="ltr">Key takeaways</h1>Robotic manipulators are some of the most important devices in modern manufacturing, and their use enables efficient automated assembly lines in fields like automotive, shipbuilding, and consumer goods. However, they are also used in other fields, and their use will only increase in the future due to their accuracy, efficiency, and ability to reach otherwise inaccessible places.The most important distinguishing feature of a manipulator is the kinematic movement of its arm &mdash; the design of its various links and joints, in other words. The arm type largely determines the suitability of a manipulator for a certain task (as end effectors are more versatile and interchangeable). For example, SCARA robot manipulators are widely used for pick and place applications, while gantry robot manipulators excel at lifting heavy loads.<h1 dir="ltr">References</h1>[1] Lewis FL, Dawson DM, Abdallah CT. Robot manipulator control: theory and practice. CRC Press; 2003 Dec 12.[2] Freschi C, Ferrari V, Melfi F, Ferrari M, Mosca F, Cuschieri A. Technical review of the da Vinci surgical telemanipulator. The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery. 2013 Dec;9(4):396-406.

Manipulators play a key role in manufacturing

Manipulator robots can be found anywhere from automotive factories to hospitals. Used to grab and move items of various sizes, manipulators comprise a multi-jointed arm and an end effector.

What are manipulator robots? Overview of types and applications

This article was first published on <a href="https://news.mit.edu/2022/computational-tool-fluidic-devices-1209" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT News</a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;<hr>Combustion engines, propellors, and hydraulic pumps are examples of fluidic devices &mdash; instruments that utilize fluids to perform certain functions, such as generating power or transporting water.Because fluidic devices are so complex, they are typically developed by experienced engineers who manually design, prototype, and test each apparatus through an iterative process that is expensive, time consuming, and labor-intensive. But with a new system, user only need to specify the locations and speeds at which fluid enters and exits the device &mdash; the computational pipeline then automatically generates an optimal design that achieves those objectives.The system could make it faster and cheaper to design fluidic devices for all sorts of applications, such as microfluidic labs-on-a-chip that can diagnose disease from a few drops of blood or artificial hearts that could save the lives of transplant patients.Recently, computational tools have been developed to simplify the manual design process, but these techniques have had limitations. Some required a designer to specify the device&rsquo;s shape in advance, while others represented shapes using 3D cubes, known as voxels, that result in boxy, ineffective designs.The computational technique developed by researchers from MIT and elsewhere overcomes these pitfalls. Their design optimization framework doesn&rsquo;t require a user to make assumptions about what a device should look like. And, the device&rsquo;s shape automatically evolves during the optimization with smooth, rather than blocky, inexact boundaries. This enables their system to create more complex shapes than other methods.&ldquo;Now you can do all these steps seamlessly in a computational pipeline. And with our system, you could potentially create better devices because you can explore new designs that have never been investigated using manual methods. Maybe there are some shapes that haven&rsquo;t been explored by experts yet,&rdquo; says Yifei Li, an electrical engineering and computer science graduate student who is lead author of a <a data-lf-fd-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" href="https://people.csail.mit.edu/liyifei/uploads/topostokes.pdf" target="_blank">paper</a> detailing this system.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1671501686200-ezgif-2-bbe1e5118d.gif" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The researchers&#39; system uses 3D blocks that can vary their shape to smoothly generate a design for a fluidic diffuser that channels liquid from one large opening to 16 smaller openings. Credit: Yifei Li/MIT CSAILCo-authors include Tao Du, a former postdoc in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) who is now an assistant professor at Tsinghua University; and senior author Wojciech Matusik, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, who leads the Computational Design and Fabrication Group within CSAIL; as well as others at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, LightSpeed Studios, and Dartmouth College. The research will be presented at ACM SIGGRAPH Asia 2022.<h2>Shaping a fluidic device</h2>The researchers&rsquo; optimization pipeline begins with a blank, three-dimensional region that has been divided into a grid of tiny cubes. Each of these 3D cubes, or voxels, can be used to form part of the shape of a fluidic device.One thing that separates their system from other optimization methods is how it represents, or &ldquo;parameterizes,&rdquo; these tiny voxels. The voxels are parameterized as anisotropic materials, which are materials that give different responses depending on the direction in which force is applied to them. For instance, wood is much weaker to forces that are applied perpendicular to the grain.They use this anisotropic material model to parameterize voxels as entirely solid (like one would find on the outside of the device), entirely liquid (the fluid within the device), and voxels that exist at the solid-fluid interface, which have properties of both solid and liquid material.&ldquo;When you are going in the solid direction, you want to model the material properties of solids. But when you are going in the fluid direction, you want to model the behavior of fluids. This is what inspired us to use anisotropic materials to represent the solid-fluid interface. And it allows us to model the behavior of this region very accurately,&rdquo; Li explains.Their computational pipeline also thinks about voxels differently. Instead of only using voxels as 3D building blocks, the system can angle the surface of each voxel and change its shape in very precise ways. Voxels can then be formed into smooth curves that enable intricate designs.Once their system has formed a shape using voxels, it simulates how fluid flows through that design and compares it to the user-defined objectives. Then it adjusts the design to better meet the objectives, repeating this pattern until it finds the optimal shape.With this design in hand, the user could utilize 3D printing technology to manufacture the device.<h2>Demonstrating designs</h2>Once the researchers created this design pipeline, they tested it against state-of-the-art methods known as parametric optimization frameworks. These frameworks require designers to specify in advance what they think the device&rsquo;s shape should be.&ldquo;Once you make that assumption, all you are going to get are variations of the shape within a shape family,&rdquo; Li says. &ldquo;But our framework doesn&rsquo;t need you to make assumptions like that because we have such a high design degrees-of-freedom by representing this domain with many, tiny voxels, each of which can vary its shape.&rdquo;In each test, their framework outperformed the baselines by creating smooth shapes with intricate structures that would likely have been too complex for an expert to specify in advance. For example, it automatically created a tree-shaped fluidic diffuser that transports liquid from one large inlet into 16 smaller outlets while bypassing an obstacle in the middle of the device.The pipeline also generated a propeller-shaped device to create a twisting flow of liquid. To achieve this complex shape, their system automatically optimized nearly 4 million variables.&ldquo;I was really pleased to see that our pipeline was able to automatically grow a propellor-shaped device for this fluid twister. That shape would drive a high-performing device. If you are modeling that objective with a parametric shape framework, because it cannot grow such an intricate shape, the final device would not perform as well,&rdquo; she says.While she was impressed by the variety of shapes it could automatically generate, Li plans to enhance the system by utilizing a more complex fluid simulation model. This would enable the pipeline to be used in more complex flow environments, which would allow it to be used in more complicated applications.&ldquo;This work contributes to the important problem of automating and optimizing the design of fluidic devices, which are found almost everywhere,&rdquo; says Karl Willis, a senior research manager at Autodesk Research, who was not involved with this study. &ldquo;It takes us a step closer to generative design tools that can both reduce the number of human design cycles needed and generate novel designs that are optimized and more efficient.&rdquo;This research was supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.<hr>&quot;Reprinted with permission of&nbsp;<a href="https://news.mit.edu/2022/computational-tool-fluidic-devices-1209" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MIT News</a>&quot; &nbsp;

Researchers created a computational optimization pipeline that can automatically generate smooth designs for complex fluidic devices. Here, the pipeline uses 3D blocks which can vary their shape to produce a fluidic diffuser that channels liquid from one large opening to 16 smaller ones. Credit: Yifei Li/MIT CSAIL

This computational tool can generate an optimal design for a complex fluidic device such as a combustion engine or a hydraulic pump.

Computational system streamlines the design of fluidic devices

Nowadays, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are actively studied and used for cleaning and detection purposes, as well as for recording and storage of data. For the most part, they&rsquo;re synthesized using conventional methods, which require lots of resources. As an alternative, scientists from ITMO&rsquo;s School of Physics and Engineering suggest a quicker and more efficient method &ndash; microfluidic synthesis of metal-organic frameworks using chips. Potentially, it can be used for targeted drug delivery.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">The future of controlled synthesis</h2>Microfluidics is a chemical synthesis method based on the control of fluid flows at micro- and nano-scale. Instead of conventional flasks, scientists use chips several square centimeters in size, on the substrate of which there are communicating channels and chambers. By changing the fluid flow, one can control reactions that occur during synthesis.Due to the fact that the synthesis occurs at micro- and nano-scale, the ratio of the contact area of the reagents to the reaction mixture increases and the reaction takes place faster. In addition, it&rsquo;s easier to control the process on a small chip: for example, when scientists need to raise the temperature, it&rsquo;s easier to heat the substrate than a large vessel. Plus, if you arrange the channels correctly, the mixture will separate or mix at the right time by itself. It&rsquo;s also convenient to store: once the chamber in which the reaction takes place is created, one can add branches and then the product will fill compartments, inside of which it won&rsquo;t interact with the reagents and the reaction mixture.In addition to this, the channels and chambers on the microfluidic chip are sealed &ndash; that is, the reaction mixture doesn&rsquo;t interact with the external environment. This not only makes it possible to obtain a clean product but also guarantees the safety of the researcher.Detectors of physical and optical parameters can also be embedded in a microfluidic chip. For example, one can focus the laser beam on a channel located next to the reaction chamber and measure the luminescence activity of the product or the size of the resulting particles.<blockquote>&ldquo;The microfluidic synthesis method is very promising. Its advantages help us overcome the obstacles found in the conventional approach. For example, the process becomes quicker by several times. And that&rsquo;s just what we&rsquo;ve already shown, but there&rsquo;s much more to study and prove,&rdquo; says Irina Koryakina, the paper&rsquo;s first author and a PhD student and junior researcher at the School of Physics and Engineering.</blockquote><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjY3NzI2MDcwNDU4LTEyODY3MDAuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Preparation for solvothermal analysis conducted at the chemistry lab of ITMO&rsquo;s School of Physics and Engineering. Photo courtesy of Irina Koryakina&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Benefits of defects</h2>Metal-organic frameworks have been studied at ITMO&rsquo;s School of Physics and Engineering for a long time. These materials are popular among scientists due to their porous nature. They are used in water purification &ndash; thanks to the increased activity, particles interact with dirt molecules faster and thus are more efficient.The most common method by which MOFs are studied consists of adjusting the diameter of the pores and the size of the active surface area. This helps find the optimal parameters at which the particles can carry various substances, such as fluorescent proteins, on their surface.Usually, when talking about the functionality of MOFs, specialists mention their defects &ndash; the absence of certain bonds on the surface of the material. There are more and more studies on this topic nowadays; ITMO scientists, too, are looking into it.<blockquote>&ldquo;At the School of Physics and Engineering, MOFs are usually synthesized using conventional methods, so we thought that it would be interesting to improve this approach and decided to go for microfluidics. We went with one of the most popular and easy approaches &ndash; continuous flow synthesis,&rdquo; says Irina Koryakina.</blockquote><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjY3NzI2MTgwMjE0LTEyODY3MDQuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A microfluid chip for continuous flow analysis. Photo courtesy of Irina Koryakina&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Synthesis without extremes</h2>The scientists compared two methods for MOF synthesis: microfluidic and solvothermal, a conventional one. The latter involves mixing the reagents and heating the mixture in a sealed vessel. Typically, the synthesis of MOFs using this method takes 72 hours, while the synthesis on a microfluidic chip takes about one minute. Also, the microfluidic method made it possible to obtain more defective nanoparticles of the material.The researchers conducted experiments at 0, 22, 50, 70, 90 and 110&deg;C. X-ray diffraction analysis (used to study the internal structure of particles), scanning electron microscopy (particle shape), and BET analysis (particle porosity) showed that nanoparticles with the most optimal properties are formed at room temperature: they have high porosity and more neatly-shaped icosahedrons. The formation of particles begins with the appearance of &ldquo;seeds&rdquo;; if the temperature is raised, they don&rsquo;t have time to ripen and thus stick together, forming large agglomerates. There is no need for extreme conditions for the synthesis of nanoparticles obtained by the scientists, which makes it easier to scale up the production.<blockquote>&ldquo;We wanted to accelerate the synthesis, apply the new method, and see how it would go, but after analyzing the resulting product, we realized the particles are more prone to defects. Then, we decided to see if these defects can somehow be made useful. Research showed that they can &ndash; for example, they might work for remotely controlled delivery of substances to a cell,&rdquo; says Irina Koryakina.</blockquote><h2 dir="ltr">Potential application</h2>To test their hypothesis, the authors of the paper conducted experiments on the toxicity of the obtained MOFs. To do this, they adsorbed fluorescent labels (cyanine 5 and rhodamine B) onto the surface of the particles and then placed the material inside melanoma cells of mice to see if a living organism could withstand the presence of MOFs inside it. The cells were resistant to the new material while its concentration remained at less than 25 particles per organism. This means that the synthesized nanoparticles could potentially be used for targeted drug delivery.But how do you remotely control the release of the drug? For this, the particles in the cell are irradiated with a green laser (wavelength &ndash; 532 nm), which destroys the bonds that attach the chemical compound to the icosahedrons&rsquo; surface and releases the fluorescent labels.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjY3NzI2MjMwMTkyLTEyODY3MDYuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">A schematic illustration of MOFs synthesis and analysis. First, the researchers loaded the chip with reagents: metal salts and ligands. Then, by varying the temperature, the researchers acquired nanoparticles of different shapes and sizes. After that, the researchers described the acquired material and loaded fluorescent tags on its surface before trying to release them with a laser. Finally, the reseachers analyzed the toxicity of nanoparticles in murine melanoma cells. Image courtesy of Irina Koryakina&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjY3NzI2MjU0MDc4LTEyODY3MDUuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Analysis of the toxicity of MOF nanoparticles, conjugated with a fluorescent colorant (marked green) in murine melanoma cells (marked red). Images were acquired using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Image courtesy of Irina Koryakina&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Variety of use</h2>Among the advantages of MOFs is their diversity. Any such particle is a transition metal atom surrounded by ligands &ndash; organic chain molecules. One can use different reagents when synthesizing, thus obtaining various physical and chemical properties of the product.The researchers used three types of metal-organic compounds with the same ligands (trimesic acid) and different metal frameworks: in the first case, it was copper sulfate, in the second &ndash; copper nitrate, and in the third &ndash; nickel nitrate. These MOFs are well-researched and the abundance of data provided scientists with a better chance of understanding what changes occur when applying the new method.Additional experiments showed that the microfluidic method isn&rsquo;t limited to specific chemical reagents and can be used for the synthesis of different MOFs.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjY3NzI2MzM2MDM2LTEyODY3MDEuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">MOF synthesis. Product release. Photo courtesy of Irina Koryakina&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Collaboration</h2>Most research took place at the School of Physics and Engineering, but such a large-scale project requires a big research team, so ITMO&rsquo;s specialists were joined by experts from other universities. Staff of Alferov University of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS helped design and assemble microfluidic chips; specialists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University performed experiments on cells; and St. Petersburg State University&rsquo;s researchers did the porosity analysis.Valentin Milichko, PhD, a senior research associate at the School of Physics and Engineering and one of the paper&rsquo;s authors, who also works at University of Lorraine, France, joined the team to analyze the structure of nanoparticles.<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s next</h2>The authors plan to improve the synthesis method, make it more controllable, and achieve &nbsp;more uniform results when producing the material.&nbsp;In the case of a continuous flow, the reagents are supplied unevenly and a concentration gradient occurs, which leads to the formation of nanoparticles with different shapes and sizes. The scientists want to reduce the concentration gradient to the minimum and thereby improve the quality of the product. To do this, they plan to use drip microfluidics &ndash; two streams of reagents are mixed into one, and then two more streams run perpendicularly into it, dividing the initial one into drops. Each drop is a microreactor in which two reagents are mixed at a certain ratio and the desired concentration is achieved, which means that nanoparticles are identical. One can use thousands of such drops, which makes it possible to scale up the work.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1667726404220-1286702.jpg" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Irina Koryakina Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan. Photo courtesy of the subject&nbsp;<blockquote id="isPasted">&ldquo;Right now I&rsquo;m at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan. It&rsquo;s a modern cutting-edge university with top-level equipment and prominent scientists. In its 11 years of existence, it has become a center for scientific collaborations where experts from various fields, including microfluidics, gather together. To conduct further research, we decided to cooperate with this institution and we hope our project will be a breakthrough in metal-organic framework synthesis,&rdquo; says Irina Koryakina.</blockquote><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385894722049294?via%3Dihub" target="_blank">Reference</a>: Irina G. Koryakina, Semyon V. Banchinin, Elena N. Gerasimova, Maria V. Timofeeva, etc, Microfluidic synthesis of metal-organic framework crystals with surface defects for enhanced molecular loading (Chem Engineering Journal, 2022)<hr>Translated by <a href="https://news.itmo.ru/en/profile/54/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kseniia Tereshchenko</a> and originally published by <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://news.itmo.ru/en/&source=gmail&ust=1667640335236000&usg=AOvVaw0QhEd8Cw6OEdK7TxTQLn_5" href="https://news.itmo.ru/en/" target="_blank">ITMO.NEWS</a>

Experimental installation for MOF synthesis in a heated microfluid chip. Photo courtesy of Irina Koryakina

Scientists from ITMO’s School of Physics and Engineering suggest a quicker and more efficient method – microfluidic synthesis of metal-organic frameworks using chips. Potentially, it can be used for targeted drug delivery.

Scientists Suggest Efficient Microfluidic Synthesis for Metal-Organic Frameworks

This article is a part of our <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">University Technology Exposure Program</a>. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe.In this article, we present a summary of the&nbsp;5&nbsp;submissions we published in&nbsp;May 2022&nbsp;as a part of the event.<h2 dir="ltr">Submissions from May 2022</h2>#1. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-3d-printing-technology-be-used-to-fabricate-low-cost-microfluids-on-mm-scale" target="_blank">How 3D-printing technology be used to fabricate low-cost microfluids on mm-scale?</a> By <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/harry.felton" target="_blank">Harry Felton</a>The submission relates to innovation in microfluidics. It&rsquo;s a branch of technology that deals with the control and manipulation of fluid in the order of microLitres or nanoLitres with the help of thin channels. The author explains how additive manufacturing can make experimenting with microfluidics accessible for education and scientific research.&nbsp;To ensure that the proposed technique is fully democratized, an open-source Autodesk Fusion add-in has also been developed, allowing any user to design and export interconnecting microfluidic channel scaffolds for 3D printing. By making the technology more accessible, the approach inspires the next generation of research in microfluidics.Read the complete article by visiting <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/how-3d-printing-technology-be-used-to-fabricate-low-cost-microfluids-on-mm-scale" target="_blank">this link</a>.#2. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/phormica-a-functional-and-cost-effective-system-for-stigmergic-coordination-in-swarm-robots" target="_blank">Phormica, a functional and cost-effective system for stigmergic coordination in swarm robots&nbsp;</a>by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/garzon.ramos.david" target="_blank">Garzon Ramos David</a>Swarm robots are a group of robots that operate in a distributed (but collective) way to accomplish a task they individually can not. Their operation is often reminiscent of how social insects like ants work. To coordinate among the other members of the same species, insects change their environment by leaving chemicals (known as pheromone) to pass on some message.The author of this article presents the concept of phormica, a system that enables swarm robots to leave artificial pheromones to achieve stigmergic coordination and perform significantly better than the swarms that rely on other collective behaviors to carry out their tasks.Find out more about the idea <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/phormica-a-functional-and-cost-effective-system-for-stigmergic-coordination-in-swarm-robots" target="_blank">here</a>.#3. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/bio-inspired-tissue-transportation-system-an-alternative-to-aspiration-based-devices-in-mis" target="_blank">Bio-inspired tissue transportation system, an alternative to aspiration-based devices in MIS</a> by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/aimee.sakes" target="_blank">Aimee Sakes</a>Minimally invasive surgeries provide surgeons with a means to carry out the operation with small cuts. The key benefits of minimally invasive surgeries are: they cause less pain to the patient; patients can recover quicker, reducing the burden on the hospitals; they are also considered safer.The article presents a concept of a tissue transportation system inspired by the egg-laying needle, also known as the ovipositor, of some species of parasitic wasp. As the adoption of minimally invasive surgeries increases, the proposed prototype might fill the need for longer and thinner transportation instruments in the future.Continue reading by following <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/bio-inspired-tissue-transportation-system-an-alternative-to-aspiration-based-devices-in-mis" target="_blank">this link</a>.#4. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/reducing-the-noise-emission-from-an-aircraft-engine-at-its-source/" target="_blank">Reducing the noise emission from an aircraft engine at its source</a> by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/christopher.teruna" target="_blank">Christopher Teruna</a>Even though modern aircraft have become much quieter than before, the number of flights have significantly increased over the last two decades. This has given rise to a widespread problem of airplane-induced noise pollution, which is most dominant in areas near airports.This article presents a detailed review of the sources of noise within the aircraft and proposes some solutions that can fix the problem. Christopher, the author of the article, writes about using porous material for building the tips of aircraft wings to bring down the overall sound power level. The idea seems promising, and hence, more investigations are required to identify the relationship between the physical aspects of a porous material and their impact on sound generation. Once the characteristics of the application are better understood, it would be possible to manufacture tailor-made porous parts for different aircraft components.For more details, check out the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/reducing-the-noise-emission-from-an-aircraft-engine-at-its-source/" target="_blank">complete article</a>.#5. <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/project-march-improving-the-quality-of-life-for-people-with-spinal-cord-injuries/" target="_blank">Project MARCH: Improving the Quality of Life for People with Spinal Cord Injuries</a> by <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/ianthe.rijpkema" target="_blank">Ianthe Rijpkema</a>Spinal cord injuries are considered very serious due to the presence of multiple nerves that carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Injuries to the spine can cause paralysis or loss of sensation below the site of injury. Suffering from a spinal cord injury significantly reduces the satisfaction with life.To help patients stand up on their feet again, Project MARCH aims to build an exoskeleton that can be used in day-to-day life. The use of an exoskeleton comes with medical benefits and increased user satisfaction. Each year, as a part of Project MARCH, students strive to solve new challenges and improve on the existing state of the technology. The team behind the project, has made the software open-source and is striving to make hardware open-source as well for the greater good.&nbsp;To read the article, visit <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/article/project-march-improving-the-quality-of-life-for-people-with-spinal-cord-injuries/" target="_blank">this link</a>.<h2 dir="ltr">About the University Technology Exposure Program 2022</h2>Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://mouser.com/" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> and <a href="https://www.ansys.com/academic" target="_blank">Ansys</a>, is excited to announce the launch of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe. Learn more about the program <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">here</a>.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1655204331399-1655204331399.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

With articles related to Microfluidics, Swarm Robotics, Biomedical Instruments, Aviation, and more, University Technology Exposure Program saw another fantastic month of project showcases by student researchers.

University Technology Exposure Program 2022: May Update

A team from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&amp;M University, led by associate professor Dr. Zachary Gagnon and graduate student Md Nazibul Islam, has developed a novel way to fabricate diagnostic devices using paper-based microfluidics that can be rapidly prototyped and scaled for manufacturing.<a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/an/d1an01676h" target="_blank">Their research was recently featured on the cover of Analyst</a>.&nbsp;The field of microfluidics details the movement of liquids through minuscule channels and how this movement can be controlled for use in technological applications. Examples of these microfluidic systems include diagnostic devices, such as tests for pregnancy and COVID-19.These systems contain both a pump and a chip, where the pump moves liquid into tiny channels on the chip where liquid flows, eventually encountering the diagnostic reagent &mdash; a substance that chemically reacts with antibodies or agents that initiate an identifiable chemical reaction.For example, a saliva or mucus sample is provided when taking a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. The liquid is carried through channels on the chip to microwells, where viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) is first converted to DNA, then amplified. In the presence of the SARS-COVID-2 virus, PCR reagents initiate the above steps to detect COVID-19. &nbsp;Despite being used for various applications, research and development for microfluidic devices, combined with their use of plastics, makes prototyping and scaling these devices extremely costly.&nbsp;&ldquo;A single run of a prototype pregnancy test on a small scale can be a six-figure investment, making it nearly impossible for consumer-based microfluidics products to enter the market,&rdquo; said Gagnon. &ldquo;Academic labs and researchers are publishing papers but cannot commercialize. Our motivation is finding a way to democratize rapid prototyping platforms so that researchers can commercialize their microfluidic product.&rdquo;To address this problem, the researchers turned to paper-based microfluidics. Paper-based microfluidics is not a new idea. Its previous uses in diagnostic devices are powered by liquid wicking &mdash; a process where a liquid can flow due to specific geometries of the chambers without external forces. Common examples of wicking-based paper devices are pregnancy tests and at-home COVID antibody/antigen tests.&nbsp;While passive fluid handling has helped develop several diagnostic tests, the lack of active fluid control and the resulting variability in capillary transport due to surface evaporation is a major technical limitation for paper-based microfluidic devices.&nbsp;In contrast, the researchers&rsquo; paper microfluidic devices function similarly to traditional plastic microfluidic devices. Their method allows the researchers to fabricate diagnostic devices using laminated paper to guide porous microfluidic continuous flows using external pressure sources such as pumps. In other words, laminated paper can direct fluid through porous paper structures with high accuracy and precision and can be used in complex fluid handling systems such as PCR and DNA sequencing machines.&ldquo;Our study showed that we could create diagnostic devices that would normally require precise cleanroom fabrication out of paper that we laminated in our lab and essentially see the same type of flow behavior,&rdquo; said Gagnon.Their paper-based diagnostic devices require minimal equipment, can be quickly prototyped and are scaled for manufacturing purposes at a fraction of the cost of traditional microfluidic devices, making an accessible and inexpensive pathway for microfluidic operations.&nbsp;The porous nature of paper offers several advantages because it allows for continuous fluid flow, broadening the span of applications for paper microfluidic devices. For example, Islam used this fabrication technique to investigate different applications of paper microfluidics, such as studying the elasticity of red blood cells or concentrating DNA. Another graduate student from the chemical engineering department, Jarad Yost, has used this technology to perform DNA amplification using a paper microfluidic device, eliminating the need for large and bulky lab equipment.&ldquo;The research offers a potential substitute for traditional microfluidic devices,&rdquo; said Gagnon. &ldquo;We have shown there&rsquo;s enough overlap between paper-based microfluidic designs and traditional designs, providing the opportunity for others in microfluidics to commercialize their products.&rdquo;

Laminated paper can direct fluid through porous paper structures with high accuracy and precision and can be used in complex fluid handling systems such as polymerase chain reaction COVID-19 tests and DNA sequencing machines. | Image: Texas A&M Engineering

A team from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University has developed a novel way to fabricate diagnostic devices using paper-based microfluidics that can be rapidly prototyped and scaled for manufacturing.

Paper-based microfluidics offer pathway to rapid and low-cost prototyping

This article is a part of our <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">University Technology Exposure Program</a>. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe.Community voting is now live. Vote for your favorite submission by visiting: <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/utep-community-vote/" target="_blank">University Technology Exposure Program Community Vote</a>.The integration of microfluids and nanotechnology for developing miniaturized devices called Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) has been widely adopted into several applications such as PCR on a chip to accelerate DNA amplification by more than ten times. The field of microfluids has laid a solid foundation for lab-on-a-chip devices that enable the manufacturing of millions of microchannels measuring micrometers. One of the most common methodologies for microfluid channel design and fabrication is the photolithography masking of a channel negative on a crystalline silicon wafer. This is then used as a mould for the biocompatible polymer such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). However, these advanced fabrication methods are expensive and time-consuming for which the research for low-cost microfluidic and LOC technology has attracted attention in recent times. Some of these solutions include the use of 3D-printed structures, milled glass and acrylic, and xurography.&nbsp;The study carried out by N. Bhattacharjee et al. [1] discussed the limitations of 3D printing for microfluid channels, and these challenges for Material Extrusion (MEX) (commonly referred to as Fused Deposition Modelling and Fused Filament Fabrication) printed microfluid channels were&ndash; the printed parts could not be joined at channel intersections, weak seals occur between layers, and size of the extruded material is larger than channel sizes used in microfluids. Several research works focused on mitigating these issues and improving the technology to bring in accuracy and affordability. In the paper presented. we developed a low-cost, highly accessible fabrication technique for manufacturing cheap microfluidic channel moulds using MEX 3D printing and interconnecting module design [2]. With the development of the new methodology, the team believes to have made progress toward overcoming the challenges mentioned by N. Bhattacharjee et al.<h2 dir="ltr">Using open-source tools for microfluidic channel design</h2>In the research paper titled, &ldquo;Negligible-cost microfluidic device fabrication using 3D-printed interconnecting channel scaffolds,&rdquo; the work carried out demonstrates how 3D printing can be used to fabricate microfluidic devices on a micrometer scale down to approximately 100&micro;m. The following image describes the whole process of leveraging the technology through open-source materials while reducing the cost associated with the designing methodology. The technique also aims to reduce entry barriers for microfluidic device design, enabling faster prototyping for a wide range of applications.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjUyNjg0MTM2NTYzLVByb2Nlc3Mgb2YgdXNpbmcgM0QtcHJpbnRpbmcgdGVjaG5vbG9neSB0byBmYWJyaWNhdGUgbG93LWNvc3QgbWljcm9mbHVpZGljIGNoYW5uZWwgZGVzaWduLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 800px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Process of using 3D-printing technology to fabricate low-cost microfluidic channel design">Process of using 3D-printing technology to fabricate low-cost microfluidic channel design [Image Credit: Research Paper]<div style='pointer-events: none; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; z-index: auto; position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 517.575px; height: 39px; width: 766px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: 100%; font-size: 14px; font-family: "PT Serif", serif; text-align: center; text-transform: none; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; tab-size: 8;'> </div>The fabrication process is divided into two stages&ndash; the first involves 3D printing and interconnecting microchannel scaffolds onto a build place, and after the removal from the printer, the second stage involves thermal bonding of these microchannel modules to a glass substrate in the desired configuration. This master mould can then be used and reused to produce microfluidic devices in PDMS. The technique uses an open-source tool, Autodesk Fusion, to allow users to generate microfluidic channel designs using simple dropdown boxes and numerical inputs for a range of designs. The click-and-connect ball-and-socket joints are integrated to allow the combination of simple devices into existing complex assemblies. The ready .stl file can be used for fabrication.&nbsp;&ldquo;Direct applications of the developed technology have thus far been limited to proof-of-concept examples, such as mixers (above) and droplet generators (below),&rdquo; the team notes. &ldquo;Initial results have, however, been very promising and the aim is to use the devices in real-world applications soon. Work is currently being completed hoping to apply the technology to clinical testing and research.&rdquo;<h2 dir="ltr">Practical use of the fabrication technique in PDMS</h2>For practical use, the team manufactured two microfluidic devices and tested them on PDMS. A fluid mixing device (dye-mixing) was manufactured using the interconnecting module design. The channels were manufactured from scaffold modules with a CAD-designed geometry of 350x350&mu;m and thermally bonded to produce microfluidic channels. &ldquo;Droplet generator scaffolds were printed at 350&mu;m and 100&mu;m widths using the open-source Autodesk Inventor add-in and used to fabricate devices in PDMS.&rdquo;With the proposed method for rapid prototyping of low-cost soft-lithographic channel moulds for fabrication of microfluidic channels in PDMS, the users will be able to print their own designs using the open-source CAD tool add-in. The methodology also allows users to fabricate microfluidic devices from PDMS with household equipment and no hazardous chemicals. &nbsp;&ldquo;This simple yet innovative approach dramatically lowers the threshold for research and education into microfluidics and will make possible the rapid prototyping of point-of-care lab-on-a-chip diagnostic technology that is truly affordable the world over,&rdquo; the research concludes.The research was published in PLOS ONE under open-access terms for <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0245206" target="_blank">public viewing</a>.<h2 dir="ltr">References</h2>[1] Bhattacharjee N., Urrios A., King S., and Folch A., &ldquo;The upcoming 3D-printing revolution in microfluidics,&rdquo; Lab Chip, vol. 16, no. 10, pp. 1720&ndash;1742, 2016, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1039/c6lc00163g" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1039/c6lc00163g</a> PMID: 27101171[2] Felton H, Hughes R, Diaz-Gaxiola A (2021) Negligible-cost microfluidic device fabrication using 3D-printed interconnecting channel scaffolds. PLOS ONE 16(2): e0245206. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245206" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.phone.0245206</a> &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">About the University Technology Exposure Program 2022</h2>Wevolver, in partnership with <a href="https://mouser.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a> and <a href="https://www.ansys.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ansys</a>, is excited to announce the launch of the University Technology Exposure Program 2022. The program aims to recognize and reward innovation from engineering students and researchers across the globe. Learn more about the program <a href="http://www.wevolver.com/student-program" target="_blank">here</a>.<img alt="university-technology-exposure-program-mouser-ansys" src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU0NDc4NTQyNzYzLTE2NTQ0Nzg1NDI3NjMucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dii">

3D-printing technology used to fabricate low-cost microfluids on millimeter scale [Image Credit: Research Paper]

The users will be able to print their own microfluidic channel design using the open source CAD tool, enabling rapid prototyping and lowering the entry barriers.

How 3D-printing technology be used to fabricate low-cost microfluids on mm-scale?

This article was discussed in our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte&source=gmail&ust=1651619086659000&usg=AOvVaw31M1Y-wsRw4c0h8-at-VxZ" href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Next Byte podcast</a>.&nbsp;<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/e2238814-9212-4010-afb6-ac48d637140f?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe>The full article will continue below.<hr>Watching a bird like an ostrich running reveals a locomotive mechanism far closer to a creature like the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex than the human leg, and few could doubt its efficacy &mdash; leading a team at the Dynamic Locomotion Group of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) to wonder if current approaches for bipedal robot designs could benefit from being more bird.&ldquo;No current bipedal robot can run quickly, untethered, in natural environments over long distances,&rdquo; the researchers explain in a recently-published paper. &ldquo;However, these activities are commonplace for terrestrial animals. Paradoxically, animals vastly outperform current robots despite considerably slower sensing and information transfer rates.&rdquo;<h1>Inspired by, and defining, nature</h1>Before you can take inspiration from bird locomotion, however, you need to ascertain why it&rsquo;s so effective &mdash; and that&rsquo;s not necessarily an easy task. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the nervous system, it&rsquo;s not electrical impulses, it&rsquo;s not muscle activity,&rdquo; claims senior author Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz. &quot;We hypothesized a new function of the foot-leg coupling through a network of muscles and tendons that extends across multiple joints.&ldquo;These multi-joint muscle-tendon coordinate foot folding in the swing phase. In our robot, we have implemented the coupled mechanics in the leg and foot, which enables energy-efficient and robust robot walking. Our results demonstrating this mechanism in a robot lead us to believe that similar efficiency benefits also hold true for birds.&rdquo;<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wwH40rYJt9g?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-1_19="true" id="501349169"></iframe> Dubbed BirdBot, the resulting design is used to prove the team&rsquo;s hypothesis in two directions: firstly that taking inspiration from the leg of a bird can boost the performance of a bipedal robot while simultaneously boosting energy efficiency; and secondly using the resulting robot design to determine the aspects of the leg which contribute most to the efficiency of its living inspiration.Each leg of the BirdBot design uses just two actuator motors, with a traditional third replaced by a clever joint system featuring a joint based on intrinsic engaging and disengaging abilities. As the robot&rsquo;s foot touches the ground and experiences load, the joint system tenses and stiffens to support the weight; as it&rsquo;s lifted off and swung, a bi-stable snap-through joint driven by elastically-stored energy unlocks the leg into a slack configuration.<h1>Simply better</h1>The BirdBot approach comes with a host of improvements over traditional designs, its creators claim. The most immediately obvious: It&rsquo;s electronically simpler, using only two motors and with no need for on-board sensing or complicated control circuitry. Instead, the leg itself handles locking and unlocking automatically &mdash; and can even handle stabilization using a single feed-forward motor command.Its biggest enhancement: Efficiency. Compared to the Cheetah-Cub design published back in 2013, BirdBot requires around a quarter of the energy for locomotion &mdash; putting its performance within the range, its creators say, of &ldquo;an animal of equivalent weight.&rdquo;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5ODY0MDM4NzU4LWJpcmRib3QzLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A picture of the BirdBot prototype, seen next to a diagram making its major parts including knee and hip motors and the tendons which allow it to engage and disengage a clutch-like leg. Further photographs are given of the robot being tested on a treadmill with tethered guidance.">The 3D-printed BirdBot prototype operates with just two motors per leg, relying on a mechanical &quot;clutch&quot; system inspired by birds&#39; legs for the remainder of its operation.&ldquo;Previously, our robots had to work against the spring or with a motor either when standing or when pulling the leg up, to prevent the leg from colliding with the ground during leg swing. This energy input is not necessary in BirdBot&rsquo;s legs,&rdquo; Badri-Spr&ouml;witz, who also led the Cheetah-Cub team, explains.Other advantages claimed in the paper detailing BirdBot&rsquo;s design include the ability to stand upright through torque loading, with all actuators unpowered &mdash; &ldquo;reminiscent,&rdquo; say its creators, &ldquo;of a flamingo standing while sleeping&rdquo; &mdash; and of being highly scalable, with one prototype created during the work standing 1.75m (around 5.7 feet) tall and able to hold the weight of a human being.&ldquo;On the basis of our analysis and physical demonstrations,&rdquo; the team concludes, &ldquo;we suggest that BirdBot&rsquo;s leg design can become a blueprint for large legged machines.&rdquo;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjQ5ODY0MDUyNDkwLWJpcmRib3Q0LmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photographs showing the small BirdBot prototype next to an unpowered large-scale 1.75m version based on the same principles. A researcher is seen placing his weight on the leg in its standing position, then stepping off to the floor and lifting the leg to its swinging position.">A large-scale version of the leg proved capable of holding the weight of an adult human &mdash; and its creators say it could be scaled up still further.That&rsquo;s not to say their work is finished, however. The current motorized BirdBot prototype, which uses off-the-shelf actuators fitted to a 3D-printed trunk and legs, has been tested on a treadmill with tethered guidance.To create a version capable of standing freely and moving in three dimensions will require further research to prevent pitching, potentially involving a revised design or a shift to hip-only actuation. While operable without sensor input, the team also suggests that an investigation into how the clutch mechanism could be used alongside direct actuation and sensory feedback control to &ldquo;merge the benefits of both systems.&rdquo;The team&rsquo;s work has been published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055" target="_blank"><cite>Science Robotics</cite></a>, with an open-access version available via author referral <a href="https://is.mpg.de/publications/bb01" target="_blank">on the MPI publication page</a>.<h1>References</h1>Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz, Alborz Aghamaleki Sarvestani, Metin Sitti, and Monica A. Daley: <cite>BirdBot achieves energy-efficient gait with minimal control using avian-inspired leg clutching, Science Robotics Vol. 7 Iss. 64</cite>. DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055" target="_blank">10.1126/scirobotics.abg4055</a>.Alexander Badri-Spr&ouml;witz (as Alexander Spr&ouml;witz), Alexandre Tuleu, Massimo Vespignani, Mostafa Ajallooeian, Emilie Badri, and Auke Jan Ijspeert: <cite>Towards dynamic trot gait locomotion: Design, control, and experiments with Cheetah-cub, a compliant quadruped robot, The International Journal of Robotics Research Vol. 32 Iss. 8</cite>. DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0278364913489205" target="_blank">10.1177/0278364913489205</a>.

The prototype motorized BirdBot, seen here with legs in the locked position, uses a quarter the energy of its immediate predecessor.

Created by the Dynamic Locomotion Group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS), BirdBot serves two purposes: Demonstrating a more efficient bipedal robot design, and furthering our understanding of how birds' legs work.

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