2024年
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering(2024/January)
Au/SiC Microfluidic Devices Fabricated by Rapid Laser Cladding for Photocatalytic Degradation of Water Pollutants
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:8.4 / Rank:91.2
The increasing proliferation of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC) products has led to the emergence of SiC powder as an industrial byproduct. To reutilize the SiC efficiently, we propose a facile method for fabrication of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC. Our approach involves affixing the SiC onto a glass surface with laser cladding, followed by sputter deposition of a gold film and laser annealing. The resulting nanogold-coated SiC plate exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the injection of hot electrons into the SiC via surface plasmon resonance. Unlike chemical reduction, which requires hours for the synthesis, purification, and isolation of Au/SiC, our approach accomplished this in just 30 min. When illuminated, the Au/SiC plate generated electron–hole pairs that formed radicals in the presence of water and oxygen, leading to the decomposition of methylene blue. Furthermore, the Au/SiC plate can be integrated into a microfluidic device for an enhanced degradation rate and efficiency. This research provides a simple and environmentally friendly approach to the production of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC and contributes to sustainable development.
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:8.4 / Rank:91.2
The increasing proliferation of third-generation semiconductor silicon carbide (SiC) products has led to the emergence of SiC powder as an industrial byproduct. To reutilize the SiC efficiently, we propose a facile method for fabrication of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC. Our approach involves affixing the SiC onto a glass surface with laser cladding, followed by sputter deposition of a gold film and laser annealing. The resulting nanogold-coated SiC plate exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity due to the injection of hot electrons into the SiC via surface plasmon resonance. Unlike chemical reduction, which requires hours for the synthesis, purification, and isolation of Au/SiC, our approach accomplished this in just 30 min. When illuminated, the Au/SiC plate generated electron–hole pairs that formed radicals in the presence of water and oxygen, leading to the decomposition of methylene blue. Furthermore, the Au/SiC plate can be integrated into a microfluidic device for an enhanced degradation rate and efficiency. This research provides a simple and environmentally friendly approach to the production of photocatalytic plates from reclaimed SiC and contributes to sustainable development.
Microchemical Journal (2024/January)
Integration of a Micro-Transparent heater-integrated electrochemical (μTHE) cell for investigation of the thermal stability of cytochrome c redox variants
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:4.8 / Rank:80.8
Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) is a powerful technique that combines spectroscopic and electrochemical properties to investigate the redox potential and spectral characterization of chemical or biological molecules. Recently, SEC has gained attention in quantitative analysis, particularly in exploring the role of redox-active proteins in electron transfer networks related to biological systems. The microfluidic technique is used to investigate the spectroelectrochemical properties of the redox potential of metalloproteins under accurate temperature environments. However, conventional heater systems suffer from long ramping times and the transparency of heat systems would influence the spectroscopic information. In this study, we fabricated a micro-transparent heater-integrated electrochemical (μTHE) cell. The μTHE cell allows for spectroelectrochemical studies to investigate the thermal stability of cytochrome c at specific temperatures and the transparent ITO heater integrated into the μTHE cell offers rapid and accurate temperature control during the measurements, avoiding interference with spectroscopic information. The μTHE cell could regulate the oxidation/reduction forms of cytochrome c by the electrochemical process, and the ITO heater provides the precise temperature control for the observation of the absorption spectrum of cytochrome c at different temperatures. By taking advantage of rapid heating and transparency, the μTHE cell offers a facile platform for investigating the spectroelectrochemical properties of redox-active molecules in a well-controlled environment.
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:4.8 / Rank:80.8
Spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) is a powerful technique that combines spectroscopic and electrochemical properties to investigate the redox potential and spectral characterization of chemical or biological molecules. Recently, SEC has gained attention in quantitative analysis, particularly in exploring the role of redox-active proteins in electron transfer networks related to biological systems. The microfluidic technique is used to investigate the spectroelectrochemical properties of the redox potential of metalloproteins under accurate temperature environments. However, conventional heater systems suffer from long ramping times and the transparency of heat systems would influence the spectroscopic information. In this study, we fabricated a micro-transparent heater-integrated electrochemical (μTHE) cell. The μTHE cell allows for spectroelectrochemical studies to investigate the thermal stability of cytochrome c at specific temperatures and the transparent ITO heater integrated into the μTHE cell offers rapid and accurate temperature control during the measurements, avoiding interference with spectroscopic information. The μTHE cell could regulate the oxidation/reduction forms of cytochrome c by the electrochemical process, and the ITO heater provides the precise temperature control for the observation of the absorption spectrum of cytochrome c at different temperatures. By taking advantage of rapid heating and transparency, the μTHE cell offers a facile platform for investigating the spectroelectrochemical properties of redox-active molecules in a well-controlled environment.
Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2024/April available online)
Development of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic device for motile spermatozoa sorting
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:10.7 / Rank:3/77=3.8%
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
生醫所 李博仁 (通訊作者) / JIF:10.7 / Rank:3/77=3.8%
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine (2024/03/21)
A Study on Intelligent Optical Bone Densitometry
生醫所 孫家偉 (通訊作者) / JIF:3.7 / Rank:46/122=37.7%
Osteoporosis is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, particularly affecting the aging population. The gold standard diagnostic tool for osteoporosis is Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). However, the expensive cost of the DXA machine and the need for skilled professionals to operate it restrict its accessibility to the general public. This paper builds upon previous research and proposes a novel approach for rapidly screening bone density. The method involves utilizing near-infrared light to capture local body information within the human body. Deep learning techniques are employed to analyze the obtained data and extract meaningful insights related to bone density. Our initial prediction, utilizing multi-linear regression, demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.98, p-value = 0.003**) with the measured Bone Mineral Density (BMD) obtained from Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). This indicates a highly significant relationship between the predicted values and the actual BMD measurements. A deep learning-based algorithm is applied to analyze the underlying information further to predict bone density at the wrist, hip, and spine. The prediction of bone densities in the hip and spine holds significant importance due to their status as gold-standard sites for assessing an individual’s bone density. Our prediction rate had an error margin below 10% for the wrist and below 20% for the hip and spine bone density.
生醫所 孫家偉 (通訊作者) / JIF:3.7 / Rank:46/122=37.7%
Osteoporosis is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, particularly affecting the aging population. The gold standard diagnostic tool for osteoporosis is Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). However, the expensive cost of the DXA machine and the need for skilled professionals to operate it restrict its accessibility to the general public. This paper builds upon previous research and proposes a novel approach for rapidly screening bone density. The method involves utilizing near-infrared light to capture local body information within the human body. Deep learning techniques are employed to analyze the obtained data and extract meaningful insights related to bone density. Our initial prediction, utilizing multi-linear regression, demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.98, p-value = 0.003**) with the measured Bone Mineral Density (BMD) obtained from Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). This indicates a highly significant relationship between the predicted values and the actual BMD measurements. A deep learning-based algorithm is applied to analyze the underlying information further to predict bone density at the wrist, hip, and spine. The prediction of bone densities in the hip and spine holds significant importance due to their status as gold-standard sites for assessing an individual’s bone density. Our prediction rate had an error margin below 10% for the wrist and below 20% for the hip and spine bone density.
Biomedical Optics Express (2024/04)
Brain tumor grading diagnosis using transfer learning based on optical coherence tomography
生醫所 孫家偉 (通訊作者) / JIF:2.9 / Rank:60/204=29.4%
In neurosurgery, accurately identifying brain tumor tissue is vital for reducing recurrence. Current imaging techniques have limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative methods. This study validated a binary hierarchical classification of brain tissues: normal tissue, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), high-grade glioma (HGG), and low-grade glioma (LGG) using transfer learning. Tumor specimens were measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and a MobileNetV2 pre-trained model was employed for classification. Surgeons could optimize predictions based on experience. The model showed robust classification and promising clinical value. A dynamic t-SNE visualized its performance, offering a new approach to neurosurgical decision-making regarding brain tumors.
生醫所 孫家偉 (通訊作者) / JIF:2.9 / Rank:60/204=29.4%
In neurosurgery, accurately identifying brain tumor tissue is vital for reducing recurrence. Current imaging techniques have limitations, prompting the exploration of alternative methods. This study validated a binary hierarchical classification of brain tissues: normal tissue, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), high-grade glioma (HGG), and low-grade glioma (LGG) using transfer learning. Tumor specimens were measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), and a MobileNetV2 pre-trained model was employed for classification. Surgeons could optimize predictions based on experience. The model showed robust classification and promising clinical value. A dynamic t-SNE visualized its performance, offering a new approach to neurosurgical decision-making regarding brain tumors.
