08:00 | Conference Registration, Materials Pick-Up, Coffee, Tea and Networking in Exhibit Hall (Banquet Room Ozora) |
| Conference Plenary Session Chaired by: Professor Lydia Sohn and Professor Noah Malmstadt |
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| Venue: Tsuru A |
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09:00 | | Keynote Presentation Nanobiodevices and Quantum Life Science for Future Healthcare Yoshinobu Baba, Professor, Nagoya University, Japan
We have investigated nanobiodevices and quantum life science for biomedical applications and healthcare. Nanowire devices are extremely useful to isolate extracellular vesicles from body fluids and vesicle-encapsulated microRNA analysis. The device composed of a microfluidic substrate with anchored nanowires gives us highly efficient collections of extracellular vesicles in body fluids and in situ extraction for huge numbers of miRNAs (2,500 types) more than the conventional ultracentrifugation method. Nanowire devices gave us the miRNA date for several hundred patients and machine learning system based on these miRNA data enabled us to develop the early-stage diagnosis for lung cancer, brain tumor, pancreas cancer, liver cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, and Parkinson disease. We succeeded to identify high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma-specific extracellular vesicles by polyketone-coated nanowires and the spatial exosome analysis using cellulose nanofiber sheets to reveal the location heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles. Nanowire-nanopore devices combined with AI (machine learning technique) enable us to develop mobile sensors for SARS-CoV-2, PM2.5, bacteria, and virus in the environment. Nanopore sensing is applied to the identification of viral vector characteristics with the sub-nm resolution. MEXT Quantum Leap Flagship Program (Q-LEAP), which I lead, has been developing biological nano quantum sensors, quantum technology-based MRI/NMR, and quantum biology and biotechnology. Nanodiamonds, with nitrogen-vacancy centers (NVC), and quantum dots are applied to develop quantum sensors for quantum switching intra vital imaging for iPS cell based regenerative medicine, and quantum photo immuno-therapeutic devices for cancer. Nanodiamond with NVC is applied to in situ measurements of intracellular thermal conductivity and implication of thermal signaling in neuronal differentiation revealed by manipulation and measurement of intracellular temperature. |
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09:30 | | Keynote Presentation Title to be Confirmed -- Overview of the Organ-on-a-Chip Field Nancy Allbritton, Frank and Julie Jungers Dean of the College of Engineering and Professor of Bioengineering, University of Washington in Seattle, United States of America
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10:00 | | Keynote Presentation Fabrication of Engineered Lipid Nanoparticles Using Microfluidic Devices Manabu Tokeshi, Professor, Hokkaido University, Japan
Recently, the production of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) using microfluidic devices has attracted much attention. Microfluidic devices provide many advantages for drug-loaded LNP production, including precise LNP size controllability, high reproducibility, high-throughput optimization of LNP formulation, and continuous LNP-production processes. Various microfluidic devices have been developed and used to produce LNPs encapsulating RNA, DNA, ribonucleoproteins (RNPs), drugs, and others. In fact, microfluidic devices are also being used in the development of Onpattro®, which was approved by the FDA in 2018 as an RNA interference therapeutic drug. Recently, we developed a microfluidic device named iLiNP® (invasive lipid nanoparticle production) device for LNP production based on computational fluid dynamics and LNP formation mechanism. It enabled the LNP size tuning at 10 nm intervals in the size range from 20 to 100 nm. Using this device, we have not only developed pharmaceutical applications by producing LNPs encapsulating nucleic acids and drugs, but also devices integrating the post-processing of LNP production and devices for mass production. Moreover, very recently, we have found that iLiNP devices are also highly suitable for the fabrication of functional (engineered) lipid nanoparticles such as artificial exosomes and virus-like particles. In this lecture I will present these results. |
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10:30 | Mid-Morning Coffee Break and Networking with Exhibitors, Colleagues and View Posters |
11:00 | | Keynote Presentation Microfluidic Platforms for Immunotherapy and Genome Editing Aram Chung, Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University, Korea South
The internalization of biomolecules in cells, such as DNAs, RNAs, plasmid DNAs, proteins, and CRISPR systems, is an indispensable process for studies ranging from basic biology to clinical applications. Tools such as viral vectors, cationic lipids, and electroporators have traditionally been used to deliver external biomolecules into cells; however, they are suboptimal for achieving high levels of delivery while preserving cell viability, phenotype, and function.
To address these challenges, our research group is focusing on developing next-generation microfluidics-based intracellular delivery platforms. By leveraging intrinsic fluid-cell interactions within confined microchannels, we create transient discontinuities on the cell membrane, internalizing external biomolecules into the cells. Using this principle, we have successfully demonstrated highly effective biomolecule delivery into various cells, including human primary stem and immune cells with high cell stability. In this talk, I will discuss our recent microfluidic intracellular delivery platform developments and their promising applications in genome editing and cancer immunotherapy. |
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11:30 | | Keynote Presentation Innovative Applications of Lipids and Microfluidics: Tools for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Biosensing Tae-Joon Jeon, Professor, Inha University, Korea South
This seminar will explore the use and potential of biomimetic membranes and their derivatives in various scientific and engineering applications. These membranes have potential as drug delivery platforms and biosensing technologies. In addition, the integration of functional membrane proteins into these biomimetic constructs has opened up opportunities for engineering applications. This talk will highlight our groundbreaking work with biomimetic membranes, including innovative applications such as drug delivery systems, aquaporin-based water purification technology, and biosensing applications. Of particular interest, our research introduces a novel drug delivery platform called "vesosomes" or "peas-in-a-pod". These liposomes have multiple compartments that allow for controlled and sustained release of contents. In addition, we will present how microfluidic systems are being used to more effectively fabricate drug delivery systems and biosensors. |
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12:00 | | Conference Chair Understanding Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Design to Optimize Lipid Nanoparticle Fabrication Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
3D printing brings with it a plethora of advantages for microfluidic applications. Principle among these are rapid prototyping, iterative design, and the ability to avoid the cost and overhead of cleanrooms. However, there is also an inherent advantage in being able to design and build devices in a truly three-dimensional, rather than layer-by-layer, geometry. One simple domain in which the advantages of true 3D routing are clear is in mixing. Control over a 3D geometry allows for multiple complex mixing configurations--herringbones, relamination mixers, chaotic advection--to be trivially constructed and recombined. We have deployed these principles of 3D design to design simple, compact devices for the high-throughput manufacture of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). LNPs are drug delivery vehicles of increasing importance: they have demonstrate effectiveness and scalability as the delivery vehicles for mRNA-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging research is demonstrating that they have broad applications in vaccine delivery and beyond. This talk discusses how microfluidic mixing controls the size, structure, and uniformity of LNPs with several drug-like payloads including mRNA and therapeutic peptides. |
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12:30 | Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall (Japanese Bento) -- Network with Exhibitors and Colleagues, View Posters |
| Session Title: Lab-on-a-Chip and Microfluidics 2024 -- Technologies and Applications |
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| Venue: Tsuru A |
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14:00 | | Keynote Presentation CRISPR/Cas Assays Fully Integrated Into Paper-based Platforms Daniel Citterio, Professor, Keio University, Japan
There has been a rapid growth in the development of analytical assays based on the CRISPR/Cas nuclease enzyme system. On the other hand, paper-based analytical devices (PADs) have gained a lot of attention as platforms potentially suitable for point-of-care testing (POCT) applications. Despite both approaches having multiple advantages, their combination into fully integrated POCT devices has rarely been reported. In most combinations of CRISPR/Cas technology with PADs, the latter is simply used for a final signal detection step, while otherwise the assay is performed in the liquid phase in tubes. This presentation will be showing that the two technologies can be successfully combined into fully integrated devices, and that the CRISPR/Cas system is suitable for on-device storage, a prerequisite for future POCT applications. As a proof-of-concept for a practical assay of clinical relevance, a PAD for the highly sensitive quantitative determination of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) is presented. The developed assay achieved a limit of detection in the order of 30 pg/mL in undiluted spiked porcine blood plasma samples, and was also applied to undiluted spiked whole blood with signal readout on a portable smartphone setup. The presented results demonstrate that the CRISPR/Cas system is a promising tool for use in the development of highly sensitive paper-based assays. |
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14:30 | | Keynote Presentation Nanoscale Electrokinetics Empowers Mechano Phenotyping of Single Cells Hirofumi Shintaku, Professor, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
Nanopore electroporation uses nanostructures to create focused electric fields, which form pores in lipid bilayers of living cells with low invasiveness. We introduce ELASTomics, an approach that parallelly profile cell surface tension and gene expression of thousands of single cells leveraging nanopore electroporation and single-cell RNA-sequencing. We show that our system dissects the heterogeneity in cellular mechanics and uncovers the transcriptomic regulatory mechanism in cancer malignancy, cell differentiation, and cellular senescence. |
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15:00 | | Keynote Presentation Designer Microstructures by Assembly at Aqueous Phase-Separating Interfaces Anderson Shum, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering; Director, Advanced Biomedical Instrumentation Centre, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Aqueous phase separation gives rise to a variety of structures in aqueous multi-component systems. The dynamic interplay between phase separation and interfacial phenomena are delicately determined by the molecular interactions of the underlying components with each other, as well as with the solvent phases and the interfaces formed. Hence, formation and assembly of microstructures can by manipulated by designing the molecular arrangements of the components and solvents, as well as adjusting the phase behaviors and interfacial properties. The relationship between the properties and the molecular arrangements is intriguing but remains inadequately investigated. The level of complexity and hierarchical that can be involved calls for systematic investigation across multiple scales ranging from microscale to molecular scale. A thorough understanding of these will not only enable the bottom-up design of new materials, but may also shed light on how biological systems, such as biomolecular condensates, operate. In this talk, I will share some of our findings in conducting experiments in assembling material structures at aqueous phase-separating interfaces. |
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15:30 | Late-Afternoon Coffee and Tea Break and Networking in the Exhibit Hall + Poster Viewing |
16:00 | Title to be Confirmed. Sven Rudolf Kreutel, Chief Executive Officer, Particle Metrix GmbH and CEO, Particle Metrix Inc., USA
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16:30 | How to Take Your Chips Out of the Lab? Exploring PDMS Volume Production Jing Chen, Founder & CEO, Hicomp Microtech
This talk delves into the journey of scaling microfluidic chips from laboratory prototypes to market-ready products through PDMS volume production. It will cover the intricate process of transitioning from PDMS to industrial-standard injection molding, highlighting the efficiency and challenges involved. A case study on liquid biopsy using PDMS chips will illustrate practical applications, followed by a discussion on pricing strategies for PDMS manufacturing. The talk will conclude with a look at the future potential of PDMS applications in life sciences. |
17:00 | | Keynote Presentation 3D Printed Fluidic Devices Michael Breadmore, Professor, University of Tasmania, Australia
An overview of our research into 3D printed fluidic devices with our latest developments on at-site nutrient measurement in soil. |
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| Joint Session -- Flow Chemistry Track and Microfluidics Track Joined Together |
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| Venue: Tsuru A and B |
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17:30 | Has the Flow Changed? From Microfluidic Research to Meso Reactor Synthesis Paul Watts, Distinguished Professor and Research Chair, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
When microfluidic reactor technology was first introduced it was seen as being a research and development tool suitable for small scale production, however it is now being used to produce large quantities of product. The key driver in these examples being safety, where the excellent mixing and heat transfer characteristics of micro structured reactors enables these highly exothermic reactions to be safely performed. Nevertheless there is now a plethora of commercial reactors on the market, which means that most companies are investigating this technology to rapidly screen reactions utilising continuous flow, leading to the identification of reaction conditions that are suitable for use at a production level. It is this system flexibility that has the potential to reduce both the time taken and risk associated with transferring reaction methodology from research to production. A selection of reactions demonstrated using this technology will be outlined, which enable local production within Africa. |
18:00 | Flow Reactors for Sustainable Colloidal Synthesis of Nanocrystals Noah Malmstadt, Professor, Mork Family Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
Nanocrystal materials including metals, metal carbides and phosphides, and perovskites have broad applications in the transition to sustainable energy. In particular, they can serve as next-generation catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion, fuel cell membranes, and biofuel upgrading. While there are well-established routes to the colloidal synthesis of these materials, they are highly sensitive to local reaction environment, and it has been challenging to scale their production using traditional chemical manufacturing technologies. On the other hand, millifluidic flow reactors, which can deliver excellent reaction environment uniformity, are a promising route to the production of colloidal nanocrystals. Recent work has demonstrated that scaling millifluidic reactors via parallelization can approach industrially relevant product throughput. Flow reactors are also powerful tools for reaction discovery. Here, we present two examples of how flow reactor systems can be used to understand the parameter space of nanocrystal synthesis reactions and identify targeted reaction conditions. The first of these examples is the production of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) in ionic liquids (ILs). Ionic liquid (IL) solvents represent a special class of low-volatility, generally safe solvents that are particularly easy to recycle. While the capacity to produce metallic NPs in ILs has been known for decades, we know little about the mechanism of these reactions and in particular how solvent choice can guide this mechanism. To discover the mechanism of Pt NP fabrication in ILs, we have constructed a flow reactor with in-line spectrophotometric monitoring of the products. To determine reaction component concentration from the complex spectral data, we have implemented a machine learning (ML) algorithm that can determine concentration. By measuring product concentration as a function of residence time, we are able to determine the IL solvent-dependent reaction kinetics. The second example involves synthesizing photoactive perovskite nanocrystals in a parallel flow reactor system. By controlling hydrodynamic resistance across the channel network, we are able to rapidly screen composition space for the reactants. Analyzing these high throughput data with a neural network facilitates the construction of a map between reactant composition space and product crystal phase space, allowing for manufacturing to target a desired product phase. |
18:30 | Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall with Japanese Beer and Japanese Sake -- Network with Exhibitors, Colleagues and View Posters |
20:00 | Close of Day One of the Conference |