Microfluidic Fabrication of Colloidal Nanomaterials-Encapsulated Microcapsules for Biomolecular Sensing.
Implantable sensors that detect biomarkers in vivo are critical for early disease diagnostics. Although many colloidal nanomaterials have been developed into optical sensors to detect biomolecules in vitro, their application in vivo as implantable sensors is hindered by potential migration or clearance from the implantation site. One potential solution is incorporating colloidal nanosensors in hydrogel scaffold prior to implantation. However, direct contact between the nanosensors and hydrogel matrix has the potential to disrupt sensor performance. Here, we develop a hollow-microcapsule-based sensing platform that protects colloidal nanosensors from direct contact with hydrogel matrix. Using microfluidics, colloidal nanosensors were encapsulated in polyethylene glycol microcapsules with liquid cores. The microcapsules selectively trap the nanosensors within the core while allowing free diffusion of smaller molecules such as glucose and heparin. Glucose-responsive quantum dots or gold nanorods or heparin-responsive gold nanorods were each encapsulated. Microcapsules loaded with these sensors showed responsive optical signals in the presence of target biomolecules (glucose or heparin). Furthermore, these microcapsules can be immobilized into biocompatible hydrogel as implantable devices for biomolecular sensing. This technique offers new opportunities to extend the utility of colloidal nanosensors from solution-based detection to implantable device-based detection.
The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
Xi
0000-0001-7406-8444
X
Xie
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
Weixia
0000-0002-5835-2020
W
Zhang
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.|Department of Food Science, Cornell University , Ithaca, New York 14853, United States.
Alireza
A
Abbaspourrad
Jiyoung
J
Ahn
Andrew
A
Bader
Suman
S
Bose
Arturo
A
Vegas
Jiaqi
J
Lin
The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
Jun
J
Tao
The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
Tian
T
Hang
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
Hyomin
0000-0002-0968-431X
H
Lee
Nicole
N
Iverson
Gili
G
Bisker
Linxian
L
Li
Michael S
MS
Strano
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Department of Physics, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
David A
DA
Weitz
Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Daniel G
0000-0003-0151-4903
DG
Anderson
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000032:analysis; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D004867:Equipment Design; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000032:analysis; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry
D000925:Anticoagulants; D002214:Capsules; D003102:Colloids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006493:Heparin; D005947:Glucose
Microcapsules; biomolecular sensing; microfluidic fabrication; nanosensors