In-chip direct laser writing of a centimeter-scale acoustic micromixer

A centimeter-scale micromixer was fabricated by two-photon polymerization inside a closed microchannel using direct laser writing. The structure consists of a repeating pattern of 20  μm×20  μm×155  μm acrylate pillars and extends over 1.2 cm. Using external ultrasonic actuation, the micropillars locally induce streaming with flow speeds of 30  μm s −1 . The fabrication method allows for large flexibility and more complex design

Imaging Local Acoustic Pressure in Microchannels

A method for determining the spatially resolved acoustic field inside a water-filled microchannel is presented. The acoustic field, both amplitude and phase, is determined by measuring the change of the index of refraction of the water due to local pressure using stroboscopic illumination. Pressure distributions are measured for the fundamental pressure resonance in the water and two higher harmonic modes. By combining measurement at a range of excitation frequencies, a frequency map of modes is made, from which the spectral line width an

A Resonant Scanning Dipole-Antenna Probe for Enhanced Nanoscale Imaging

We present a scanning antenna probe that provides 35 nm optical hotspots with a 16-fold excitation enhancement. A resonant optical antenna, tuned to operation in the visible, is carved into the aluminum-coated scanning probe. The antenna resonances, field localization, excitation, and polarization response are probed in the near-field by scanning over single fluorescent nanobeads. At the same time, the distance-dependent coupling of the emission to the antenna mode is mapped. Good agreement with theory is obtained. The presented scanning antenna approach is useful for both nanoscale plasmonic mode imaging and (bio)imagin

Numerical study of submicroparticle acoustophoresis using higher-order modes in a rectangular microchannel

Manipulation of submicrometer particles in Lab-on-a-Chip systems using acoustophoresis is challenging due to the effect of acoustic streaming. We numerically study the transition from radiation force dominated to streaming-induced drag force dominated acoustophoresis using the fundamental and higher-order resonances of a water-filled rectangular microchannel. We consider the cases of single mode excitation and simultaneous double mode excitation. The acoustic fields at resonance are calculated using a second-order perturbation expansion of the thermoviscous acoustic problem. We show that the acoustophoretic forces using simultaneous mode excitation can be obtained from a linear combination of the single mode forces. We find that the critical size of suspended particles at the transition scales inversely with the square root of the resonance frequency. Particle tracing shows radiation-dominated concentration of 800 nm diameter polystyrene particles using the fifth-order resonance at 9.8 MHz. For smaller particles we find a streaming-assisted concentration regime where particles are concentrated into the streaming regions close to the walls. In case of double mode excitation, the particle concentrations increase a factor 4 to 18 times for 200 nm to 800 nm particles respectively. We include the numerical model, consisting of a COMSOL implementation and MATLAB control script, as supplemental material

Complement Activation in the Disease Course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Its Effects on Clinical Outcomes

BACKGROUND: Excessive activation of immune responses in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is considered to be related to disease severity, complications, and mortality rate. The complement system is an important component of innate immunity and can stimulate inflammation, but its role in COVID-19 is unknown. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, single center study was performed in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Plasma concentrations of complement factors C3a, C3c, and terminal complement complex (TCC) were assessed at baseline and during hospital admission. In parallel, routine laboratory and clinical parameters were collected from medical files and analyzed. RESULTS: Complement factors C3a, C3c, and TCC were significantly increased in plasma of patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy controls (P < .05). These complement factors were especially elevated in intensive care unit patients during the entire disease course (P < .005 for C3a and TCC). More intense complement activation was observed in patients who died and in those with thromboembolic events. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 demonstrate activation of the complement system, which is related to disease severity. This pathway may be involved in the dysregulated proinflammatory response associated with increased mortality rate and thromboembolic complications. Components of the complement system might have potential as prognostic markers for disease severity and as therapeutic targets in COVID-19