Smart palm-size optofluidic hematology analyzer for automated imaging-based leukocyte concentration detection

A critical function of flow cytometry is to count the concentration of blood cells,which helps in the diagnosis of certain diseases.However,the bulky nature of commercial flow cytometers makes such tests only available in hospitals or laboratories,hindering the spread of point-of-care testing(POCT),especially in underdeveloped areas.Here,we propose a smart Palm-size Optofluidic Hematology Analyzer based on a miniature fluorescence microscope and a microfluidic platform to lighten the device to improve its portability.This gadget has a dimension of 35×30×80 mm and a mass of 39 g,less than 5%of the weight of commercially available flow cytometers.Additionally,automatic leukocyte concentration detection has been realized through the integration of image processing and leukocyte counting algorithms.We compared the leukocyte concentration measurement between our approach and a hemocytometer using the Passing-Bablok analysis and achieved a correlation coefficient of 0.979.Through Bland-Altman analysis,we obtained the relationship between their differences and mean measurement values and established 95%limits of agreement,ranging from−0.93×10^(3)to 0.94×10^(3)cells/μL.We anticipate that this device can be used widely for monitoring and treating diseases such as HIV and tumors beyond hospitals.

Relationship Between Leaf Structure and Aloin Content in Six Species of Aloe L.

The leaf structure, content and the storage location of aloin in the leaves of six species of Aloe L. were studied by means of semi-thin section, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescent microscope. Results showed that all leaves consisted of epidermis, chlorenchyma, aquiferous tissue and vascular bundles. The leaves had the xeromorphic characteristics, including thickened epidermal cell wall, thickened cuticle, sunken stomata and well-developed aquiferous tissue. With the exception of thus, there were remarkable differences in leaf structure among the six species. The chlorenchyma cells were similar to palisade tissues in Aloe arborescens Mill. and A. mutabilis Pillans, but isodiametric in A. vera L., A. vera L. var. chinensis Berg., A. saponaria Hawer and A. greenii Bali. A. arborescens, A. mutabilis, A. very and A. vera var. chinensis included large parenchymatous cells at the vascular bundles, whereas no such cells were observed at the vascular bundles of A. saponaria and A. greenii. In A. arborescens, A. mutabilis and A. vera, the aquiferous tissue sheaths were present and composed of a layer of small parenchymatous cells without chloroplasts around the aquiferous tissue. While there were no aquiferous tissue sheaths in A. vera var. chinensis, A. saponaria and A. greenii. The HPLC revealed that the content of aloin was high in A. arborescens, low in A. vera, and very low in A. saponaria among the six species. The fluorescent microscopy showed that the yellow-green globule only appeared in the large parenchymatous cells of vascular bundles, vascular bundle sheath and aquiferous tissue sheath, but not in the chlorenchyma and aquiferous tissue. Consequently, the large parenchymatous cells of vascular bundles, vascular bundle sheath and aquiferous tissue sheath were the storage location of aloin. They were positively correlated with the content of aloin.

NIR-Ⅱ Excitation and NIR-I Emission Based Two-photon Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopic Imaging Using Aggregation-induced Emission Dots

Near-infrared(NIR)lights are powerful tools to conduct deep-tissue imaging since NIR-Ⅰ wavelengths hold less photon absorption and NIR-Ⅱ wavelengths serve low photon scattering in the biological tissues compared with visible lights.Two-photon fluorescence lifetime microscopy(2PFLM)can utilize NIR-Ⅱ excitation and NIR-Ⅰ emission at the same time with the assistance of a well-designed fluorescent agent.Aggregation induced emission(AIE)dyes are famous for unique optical properties and could serve a large two-photon absorption(2PA)cross-section as aggregated dots.Herein,we report two-photon fluorescence lifetime microscopic imaging with NIR-Ⅱ excitation and NIR-Ⅰ emission using a novel deep-red AIE dye.The AIE-gens held a 2PA cross-section as large as 1.61×10^(4)GM at 1040 nm.Prepared AIE dots had a two-photon fluorescence peak at 790 nm and a stable lifetime of 2.2 ns under the excitation of 1040 nm femtosecond laser.The brain vessels of a living mouse were vividly reconstructed with the two-photon fluorescence lifetime information obtained by our home-made 2PFLM system.Abundant vessels as small as 3.17µm were still observed with a nice signal-background ratio at the depth of 750µm.Our work will inspire more insight into the improvement of the working wavelength of fluorescent agents and traditional 2PFLM.

Image Restoration Phase-Filtering Lateral Superresolution Confocal Microscopy

Image restoration phase-filtering lateral superresolution confocal microscopy, a new approach, is proposed to achieve lateral superresolution using a confoeal microscope. This approach uses a lateral superresolution pupil filter to preliminarily improve its lateral resolution and uses a siagle-image superresolution restoration technique based on a maximum likelihood estimate to further improve its lateral resolution. The new approach has the advantages of a low cost and the remarkable superresolution effect without excessive system complexity. Experiments indicate that the proposed approach can improve the lateral resolution of a confocal microscope from 0.3μm to less than 0.1 μm when λ = 632.8 nm and NA=0.85.

A Mesoscopic Self-assembled Ring of a Femtomole Fluorescein Sessile Droplet on Glass Slide Support

Since the solvent evaporation of a droplet on a hydrophobically pretreated glass slide, femtomole amount of fluorescent materials is carried by the evaporation and results in outward capillary flow to the perimeter of the droplet spot where the solute deposits, and forms a fluorescent ring like deposit (RLD) with submicrometer-scale structures.

NIR-IIb excitable bright polymer dots with deep-red emission for in vivo through-skull three-photon fluorescence bioimaging

It is of great significance to study the brain structure and function in deep-tissue for neuroscience research and bio-medical applications because of the urgent demand for precise theranostics.Three-photon fluorescence microscopic(3PFM)bioimaging excited by the light in near-infrared IIb(NIR-IIb,1,500–1,700 nm)spectral region is one of the most promising imaging techniques with the advantages of high spatial resolution,large imaging depth,and reduced scattering.Herein,a type of NIR-IIb light excitable deep-red emissive semiconducting polymer dots(P-dots)with bright 3PF and large three-photon absorption cross-section(σ3)at 1,550 nm was prepared.Then the P-dots were functionalized with polystyrene polymer polystyrene graft ethylene oxide functionalized with carboxyl groups(PS-PEG-COOH)and modified with NH2-poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)to synthesis photochemically stable and biocompatible P-dots nanoparticles(NPs).Further the P-dots NPs were utilized for in vivo 3PFM bioimaging of cerebral vasculature with and without the brain skull under 1,550 nm femtosecond(fs)laser excitation.In vivo 3PFM bioimaging of the mice cerebral vasculature at various vertical depths was obtained.Moreover,a vivid three-dimensional structure of the mice vascular architecture beneath the skull was reconstructed.At the depth of 350μm beneath the brain skull,3.8μm blood vessels could still be clearly recognized.NIR-IIb excitable P-dots assisted 3PFM bioimaging has great potential in accurate deep tissue bioimaging.

CdTe-paper-based Visual Sensor for Detecting Methyl Viologen

This study developed a method on detecting methyl viologen(paraquat)using a CdTe-paper-based visual sensor.The CdTe Qdots were immobilized on the paper using glycerin.The volume percentages of CdTe in glycerin were optimized to be 50%.The sensing principle is that the methyl viologen quenches the fluorescence intensity of CdTe Qdots in a concentration dependent manner.The sensor is linearly response to the logarithm concentration of the methyl viologen in the range from 0.39μmol/L to 3.89 mmol/L with a detection limit of 0.16μmol/L and the corre-lation coefficient R^(2) of 0.99.Three parallel experiments at the methyl viologen concentration of 38.89μmol/L give a relative error of 2.45%,which indicates a good reproducibility.The sensor is not disturbed by other pestisides in-cluding omethoate,anilofos,machete and glyphosate isopropylamine salt.The advantages of this sensor are dis-posable,stable,convenient,and easy to operate.

Target Extension-Activated DNA Walker on Nanoparticles for Digital Counting-Based Analysis of MicroRNA

MicroRNAs(miRNAs),especially exosomal miRNAs,are promising noninvasive biomarkers in early-stage cancer diagnosis and disease treatment monitoring.However,their precise and sensitive quantification remains challenging due to their small size and low abundance.Herein,we have developed a nanoparticle-confined DNA walker strategy for the specific detection of miRNA.In the existence of the target miRNA;the on-particle DNA walking reaction will be initiated,providing a fluorescence-positive nanoparticle.Otherwise,the nanoparticle would be fluorescence-negative.Utilizing the total internal reflection fluorescent microscope(TIRFM)to digitally count the fluorescence-positive nanoparticles,the proposed method possesses a detection limit of 0.2 pmol/L miRNA and can accurately distinguish the single-base mismatched target.This design combines the merits of the DNA walker for signal amplification and the TIRFM for highly sensitive detection,paving a new way for the digital counting-based analysis of exosomal miRNAs.

Sub-diffraction-limit cell imaging using a super-resolution microscope with simplified pulse synchronization

Stimulated emission depletion(STED) microscope is one of the most prominent super-resolution bio-imaging instruments, which holds great promise for ultrahigh-resolution imaging of cells. To construct a STED microscope, it is challenging to realize temporal synchronization between the excitation pulses and the depletion pulses. In this study, we present a simple and low-cost method to achieve pulse synchronization by using a condensed fluorescent dye as a depletion indicator. By using this method, almost all the confocal microscopes can be upgraded to a STED system without losing its original functions. After the pulse synchronization,our STED system achieved sub-100-nm resolution for fluorescent nanospheres and single-cell imaging.

Research on Several Inspection Methods to Determine the Sequence of Photocopying and Stamping

Detennining the sequence of document production and stamping is one of the most important issues in the field of questioned document identification.In China,whether a contract or a document is legal or not,highly depends on the relationship between the generation time of the document?s content and its stamping.Usually,a formal(legal)document would become effective once a seal is affixed,and normally,the content of the document is generated first and then subsequently stamped after being approved by the relevant personnel.Therefore,correctly identifying the sequence used to produce a document is necessary to detennine whether it is authentic or whether it may have been forged.However,because of the interference of many factors,the identification of such kind of forged documents has long been considered one of the most difficult technical issues in the field of questioned document identification.In this work,four nondestructive approaches to determine the order of photocopying and stamping were investigated:The stereomicroscope method,fluorescence microscopy,the three-dimensional pseudo-color method,and the contour ring method.Each method is associated with its own advantages and disadvantages,but all have been shown to produce some useful results relevant for determining the sequence of photocopying and stamping.