Detecting exosomes specifically: a multiplexed device based on alternating current electrohydrodynamic induced nanoshearing

Exosomes show promise as non-invasive biomarkers for cancers, but their effective capture and specific detection is a significant challenge. Herein, we report a multiplexed microfluidic device for highly specific capture and detection of multiple exosome targets using a tuneable alternating current electrohydrodynamic (ac-EHD) methodology - referred to as nanoshearing. In our system, electrical body forces generated by ac-EHD act within nanometers of an electrode surface (i.e., within the electrical layer) to generate nanoscaled fluid flow which enhances the specificity of capture and also reduce nonspecific adsorption of weakly bound molecules from the electrode surface. This approach demonstrates the analysis of exosomes derived from cells expressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), and exhibits a 5-fold detection enhancement compared to hydrodynamic flow based assays. The device was also sensitive enough to detect approximately 2750 exosomes/µL (n = 3) and also capable of specifically isolating exosomes from breast cancer patient samples. We believe this approach can potentially find its relevance as a simple and rapid quantification tool to analyze exosome targets in biological applications

A microfluidic-SERSplatform for isolation and immuno-phenotyping of antigen specific T-cells

T-cells play a major role in host defense mechanisms against many diseases. With the current growth of immunotherapy approaches, there is a strong need for advanced technologies to detect and characterize these immune cells. Herein, we present a simple approach for the isolation of antigen specific T-cells from the complex biological sample based on T-cell receptor (TCR) and peptide major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) interaction. Subsequently, we characterize those antigen specific T-cells by profiling TCR expression heterogeneity. Our approach utilizes an alternating current electrohydrodynamic (ac-EHD) based microfluidic platform for isolation and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for TCR expression profiling. The use of ac-EHD enables specific isolation of T-cells by generating a nanoscopic shear force at the double layer of the sensing surface which enhances the frequency of pMHC and TCR interactions and consequently shears off the nonspecific targets. TCR expression profiling of the isolated T-cells was performed by encoding them with SERS-labelled pMHCs followed by SERS detection in bulk as well as in single T-Cell. In proof-of-concept experiments, 56.93 ± 7.31% of the total CD4+T-cells were captured from an excess amount of nonspecific cells (e.g., PBMCs) with high specificity and sensitivity (0.005%). Moreover, TCR analysis data using SERS shows the heterogeneity in the T-cell receptor expression which can inform on the activation status of T-cells and the patient’s response to immunotherapy. We believe that this approach may hold potential for numerous applications towards monitoring immune status, understanding therapeutic responses,and effective vaccine development

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Effect of rotation on ferro thermohaline convection saturating a porous medium

445-452<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:arial;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">The double diffusive effect of ferro thermohaline convective instability in a ferrofluid, saturating a rotating porous medium heated from below and salted from above, has been studied using Brinkman and Darcy models. The effect of salinity has been incorporated in the magnetization and density of the ferrofluid. Linear stability analysis is carried out. The onset of thermohaline convection is analyzed both by stationary as well as oscillatory modes. In all cases it is found that the porous medium of small permeability and large rotation tend to stabilize the system. It has been observed that stationary mode is favorable for Darcy model whereas for Brinkman model, possibility of oscillatory mode of instability cannot be ruled out. It is also found that the ratio of mass transport to heat transport decides the stabilizing factor. Numerical computations are made and are illustrated graphically.</span

Effect of magnetic field dependent viscosity on ferroconvection in sparsely distributed porous medium*

166-171<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">The effect of magnetic field on viscosity of ferro fluid-inducing convection in a sparsely distributed porous medium heated from below has been studied. A linear stability analysis is carried out for both stationary and oscillatory modes. It is found that stationary mode alone is favourable when compared with oscillatory mode. The variation of heat dependent <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">viscosity with respect to magnetic field tends to stabilize the system. Numerical results are obtained and are illustrated graphically for various permeability values. </span

Effect of magnetic field dependent viscosity on ferroconvection in rotating medium

159-165<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">In the present investigation, the authors have studied the effect of magnetic field dependent viscosity of ferrofluid inducing convection in a rotating medium. A linear stability analysis is used. Investigations are made for both stationary and oscillatory modes for various values of the Taylor number, magnetisation parameter and for different coefficient of <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">viscosity. It is found that the field dependent viscosity delays the onset of convection. Numerical computations are made and <span style="font-size:13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr"="">illustrated <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">graphically also. </span

Ferroconvection in an anisotropic densely packed porous medium

446-449Ferrofluids find immense applications in various fields of science, engineering, medicine and agriculture. The study of convection in ferro-fluids is quite interesting especially when magnetic particles can be treated as suspension of particles represented as porous medium in presence of carrier fluids. These suspended particles need not constitute uniform distribution, there can be some amount of anisotropy in the distribution. In this paper ferroconvective instability in an anisotropic densely packed magnetic particle, treated as porous medium, is studied. The anisotropy is assumed to be along the vertical direction. It is found that the presence of porous medium inhibits the convection and anisotropy favours the convection. </span

Effects of rotation and anisotropy of a porous medium on ferroconvection

436-440<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:arial;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">The ferroconvective instability in a rotating anisotropic porous medium heated from below has been analyzed using both Brinkman and Darcy model for various anisotropic parameter values. To investigate the effect of anisotropicity the system is assumed to have vertical permeability different from that of the permeability along horizontal direction. Linear stability analysis is carried out for both oscillatory as well as stationary modes. It is found that stationary mode is favorable for Darcy model, whereas oscillatory mode is also possible for Brinkman model for large rotation. Further small permeability and large rotation tend to stabilize the system. The vertical anisotropy tend to destabilize the system for both the models. Numerical computations are made and are illustrated graphically.</span