Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40400483›Full record

ArticleSmall (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)2025

Cap-Drop: A Pre-Programmed, Self-Powered Capillary Microfluidic System for Passive Droplet Generation and 3D Cell Culture Modeling.

Pezhman Jalali, Bahareh Zarin, Azam Zare, Sorosh Abdollahi, Mohsen Hassani, Maryam Vatani, Mohammadreza Farrokhnia, Razieh Salahandish, Hossein Hejazi, Amir Sanati-Nezhad

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Pezhman JalaliBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1696-8636
Bahareh ZarinBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Azam ZareBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Sorosh AbdollahiBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Mohsen HassaniBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Maryam VataniBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Mohammadreza FarrokhniaBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Razieh SalahandishBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Hossein HejaziDepartment of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Amir Sanati-NezhadBioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-2309-2388

Funding

CIHR
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

3D cell culture models and precision diagnostics have advanced significantly through microfluidic systems, yet their broad implementation remains limited by challenges in scalability, integration, and portability. Effective 3D cell culture models require systems that maintain sample integrity, minimize evaporation, and avoid crosstalk while handling various biofluids. However, current platforms often depend on active pumping, bulky components, and complex controls, which hinder portability, usability, and affordability. To address these challenges, the Capillary Droplet microfluidic (Cap-Drop) is presented, a novel capillary-driven platform that generates and immobilizes droplets with precision, eliminating the need for external pumps or intricate setups. Unlike conventional system, where moving droplets complicate tracking and identification, Cap-Drop ensures fixed droplet positioning, allowing seamless tracking and analysis. By integrating hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials with several innovative capillary elements -including passive vents (PV), pressure reducer (PR), stop valves (SV), delay channels, and bubble trap (BT)-Cap-Drop enables robust droplet formation (40 to 500 nL) for biofluids of varying properties. The pre-programmed design of PV in corporation with other capillary elements autonomously seals microwells (MWs), ensuring consistent sample digitization and supress risk of evaporation. Cap-Drop is optimized and offers a transformative platform for microfluidic technologies in mechanistic cellular studies, preclinical drug screening, and clinical diagnostics.

Indexed as

Cell Culture Techniques, Three DimensionalMicrofluidicsHumans3D cell culturecapillary microfluidicsdroplet arrayshigh‐throughput screeningmicrowell arrays

Identifiers

PMID40400483
PMCPMC12199121

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.