Call for Speakers 2026

TrapJet is a single-cell dispensing approach that combines microfluidic cell-trap arrays with thermal drop-on-demand actuation to place individual cells at defined locations. Cells are first hydrodynamically isolated and held in traps that function as temporary “storage” sites, decoupling cell selection from the ejection event. A short thermal pulse generates a transient vapor bubble near the nozzle, producing a controlled pressure impulse that ejects a picoliter-scale droplet containing the trapped cell. By separating trapping, timing, and ejection, TrapJet targets reliable one-cell-per-drop operation, high spatial resolution, and scalable parallelization for patterned cell deposition, organ-on-chip seeding, and cell-level screening workflows.

Real-time monitoring of cellular responses is essential for pharmacological screening and next-generation diagnostics. Here, we present an optical biochip concept that integrates near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensors (SWCNT) with microfluidic platforms to enable dynamic, label-free analysis of cellular processes across diverse biological applications. These nanosensors emit in the NIR biological transparency window and combine high photostability with exceptional sensitivity to biomolecules. Through tailored surface functionalization, they can be designed to detect metabolites, neurotransmitters, and stress-associated signaling molecules, providing a biochemical fingerprint of cellular state.

From new developments, we introduce a one-step fabrication method based on transmission laser welding (TLW) of thermoplastics. We adapt these well-known technologies to closed-cell thermoplastic foams. By using closed cell thermoplastic foams, it is possible to produce fluidic devices in one step (Figure 1). Indeed, localized laser heating collapses the foam cells, causing cell walls to fuse and simultaneously form a leak-proof channel. We evaluate the feasibility of the technique and investigate the influence of laser output power on channel geometry. By applying optimized parameters, the method enables the formation of X- and Y-junctions with controlled size. The resulting channels exhibit smooth internal surfaces and near-cylindrical cross-sections.

The inefficiency of current drug development, with up to 85% of all biomedical research failing to deliver valuable insights. The cited reasons are multifaceted and controversially discussed. One is the use of inadequate models that do not replicate the complexity of human tissues. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models lack critical structural and functional aspects of native tissues, limiting their predictive power for drug efficacy and toxicity. This study investigates the use of a next-generation droplet-based microfluidic platform, known as pipe-based bioreactors (pbb), to culture 3D cancer spheroids of human colorectal carcinoma HCT 116 cells. Two cultivation strategies - reclining and hanging droplets - were systematically compared to closely mimic traditional techniques, with spheroid growth dynamics, cell viability, and the effects of different feeding regimens analyzed, including measurements of glucose, lactate, glutamine, and glutamate levels

The evolution from conventional drug treatment to combination therapies and switching to drug carriers for enhanced drug availability has gained significant progress in cancer cures. However, restricted synthesis approaches still limit the easy yet efficient designing methods which provide maximum loading capacity into the carriers, thereby allowing enhanced bioavailability of the drug in the system. Herein, we hypothesized challenging an innovative technique, i.e., acoustics with an oscillating membrane for drug loading into protein carriers (AcoPro-Drug), to test and hence introduce a new possibility in this regime. The current approach unwraps a couple of complexities, i.e., firstly analyzing the impact of acoustic microstreaming on structural and functional aspects of biomolecules (proteins) as nanocarriers. Secondly, developing an acoustofluidic platform to examine drug-loading in these nano-protein carriers, for the synthesis of protein-drug nanoconjugates, thereby calculating the maximum loading efficiency and functional stability of acoustically-synthesized drug carriers.

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms reproduce key features of human tissues within controlled microenvironments, offering new possibilities for disease modeling and drug testing. However, conventional fabrication methods are often labor-intensive, require specialized equipment, and limit design flexibility. LCD-based three-dimensional (3D) printing provides a rapid, low-cost alternative for producing complex microfluidic architectures. In this work, we present a tumor-on-a-chip (ToC) platform fabricated using LCD 3D printing and a biocompatible resin. The device integrates hydrogel compartments, perfusable microchannels, and sensor-compatible interfaces within a single structure. This approach enables simplified fabrication, reduced material constraints, and adaptable device geometries, demonstrating a versatile and accessible strategy for the development of organ-on-a-chip systems for biomedical research and therapeutic testing.

The LaPoC project focusses on the development of a new kind of Surface-Acoustic-Wave-based multi-channel biosensor chip to detect Troponin-tnt levels of patients blood serum for quick. Critical posterior wall myocardial infarction (PMI) often show unspecific symptoms and are hard to detect by ECG. The typical diagnostic involves time-consuming lab test for Troponin-tnt levels. The goal of the project is to provide a quick test for point-of-care medical personell to confirm the presence of PMI and to quick respond with the necessary medical treatment, improving the speed of diagnostics and thus improving patient survival-rate and well-being. The lecture describes the history of the project, current state of development, results and outlook for the future.

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