Lung cancer is a complex disease associated with gene mutations, particularly mutations of Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are the two major types of lung cancer. The former includes most lung cancers (85%) and are commonly associated with EGFR mutations. Several EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), including erlotinib, gefitinib, and osimertinib, are effective therapeutic agents in EGFR-mutated NSCLC. However, their effectiveness is limited by the development (acquired) or presence of intrinsic drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key gene regulators that play a profound role in the development and outcomes for NSCLC via their role as oncogenes or oncosuppressors. The regulatory role of miRNA-dependent EGFR crosstalk depends on EGFR signaling pathway, including Rat Sarcoma/Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1/2 (Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK1/2), Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT), Nuclear Factor Kappa-Light-Chain-Enhancer of Activated B Cells (NF-kB), phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), and growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2). Dysregulated expression of miRNAs affects sensitivity to treatment with EGFR-TKIs. Thus, abnormalities in miRNA-dependent EGFR crosstalk can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as therapeutic targets in NSCLC. In this review, we present an overview of miRNA-dependent EGFR expression regulation, which modulates the behavior and progression of NSCLC.

Microfluidic devices are a rising technology to automatize chemical and biological operations. In this context, laser ablation has significant potential for polymer-based microfluidic platforms’ fast and economical manufacturing. Nevertheless, the manufacturing of epoxy-based microfluidic chips is considered highly cost full due to the demand for cleanroom facilities that utilize expensive equipment and lengthy processes. Therefore, this study targeted investigating the feasibility of epoxy resins to be fabricated as a lab-on-chip using carbon dioxide laser ablation. The chemical structural properties and thermal stability of the plain epoxy resins were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, a specific migration test was performed to quantify potential migrants by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to prove that the cured epoxy resin would not release unreacted monomers to the biological solution test, which caused inhibition of the sensitive biological reactions. By investigating the impact of this process on microchannels’ dimensions and quality, a laser technique using CO₂ laser was used in vector mode to engrave into a transparent epoxy resin chip. The resulting microchannels were characterized using 3D laser microscopy. The outcomes of this study showed considerable potential for laser ablation in machining the epoxy-based chips, whereas the microchannels machined by laser processing at an input power of 1.8 W and scanning speed of 5 mm/s have an aspect ratio of about 1.19 and a reasonable surface roughness (Ra) of ~ 15 µm. Meanwhile, the bulge height was 0.027 µm with no clogging, and HAZ was ~ 18 µm. This study validated the feasibility of quick and cost-effective CO₂ laser microfabrication to develop epoxy resin-based microfluidic chips without the need for cleanroom facilities that require expensive equipment and lengthy process.

Cell separation using microfluidics has become an effective method to isolate biological contaminants from bodily fluids and cell cultures, such as isolating bacteria contaminants from microalgae cultures and isolating bacteria contaminants from white blood cells. In this study, bacterial cells were used as a model contaminant in microalgae culture in a passive microfluidics device, which relies on hydrodynamic forces to demonstrate the separation of microalgae from bacteria contaminants in U and W-shaped cross-section spiral microchannel fabricated by defocusing CO₂ laser ablation. At a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min in the presence of glycine as bacteria chemoattractant, the spiral microfluidics devices with U and W-shaped cross-sections were able to isolate microalgae (Desmodesmus sp.) from bacteria (E. coli) with a high separation efficiency of 92% and 96% respectively. At the same flow rate, in the absence of glycine, the separation efficiency of microalgae for U- and W-shaped cross-sections was 91% and 96%, respectively. It was found that the spiral microchannel device with a W-shaped cross-section with a barrier in the center of the channel showed significantly higher separation efficiency. Spiral microchannel chips with U- or W-shaped cross-sections were easy to fabricate and exhibited high throughput. With these advantages, these devices could be widely applicable to other cell separation applications, such as separating circulating tumor cells from blood. Graphical Abstract

Cell separation using microfluidics has become an effective method to isolate biological contaminants from bodily fluids and cell cultures, such as isolating bacteria contaminants from microalgae cultures and isolating bacteria contaminants from white blood cells. In this study, bacteria cell was used as a model contaminant in microalgae culture in a passive microfluidics device, which relies on hydrodynamic forces to demonstrate the separation of microalgae from bacteria contaminants in U and W-shaped cross-section spiral microchannel fabricated by defocusing CO₂ laser ablation. At a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min in the presence of glycine as bacteria chemoattractant, the spiral microfluidics devices with U and W-shaped cross -sections were able to isolate microalgae (Desmodesmus sp) from bacteria (E. coli) with a high separation efficiency of 92% and 96% respectively. At the same flow rate in the absence of glycine, the separation efficiency of microalgae for U- and W-shaped cross sections were 91% and 96% respectively. It was found that the spiral microchannel device with a W-shaped cross-section with a barrier in the center of the channel showed significantly higher separation efficiency. Spiral microchannel chips with U- or W-shaped cross sections were easy to fabricate and exhibited high throughput. With these advantages, these devices could be widely applicable to other cell separation applications, such as separating circulating tumor cells from blood.

Curcumin can behave potently as an anti-inflammatory agent, but unfortunately, it suffers from a detrimental aqueous solubility and a limited bioavailability, which hinders its usage in clinical applications. Formulating a polymeric nanosized biocompatible system can increase the delivered curcumin fraction intra-articularly for inflammatory diseases. Poly(glyceryl adipate) nanoparticles were synthesized using a polycondensation process yielding six different polymers, which was followed by a preparation of different curcumin-loaded formulations using the nanoprecipitation method. The selected formulation exhibited a particle size of 115.8 ± 10.9 nm, a mean PDI of 0.191 ± 0.038, a zeta potential of −22.9 ± 1.5 mV, and an EE of about 95%. This formulation was subjected to physicochemical characterization, including TEM, FTIR, DSC, and an in vitro release study. The stability was assessed in the presence of sodium sulfate at different concentrations, and the long-term stability was assessed through three months of storage. The cytocompatibility was evaluated by an MTT assay on normal and cancerous cell lines, revealing no significant cytotoxicity, and RT-qPCR was done in order to point out the anti-inflammation effect of the produced nanoparticles. Finally, a molecular docking study was held against Bruton’s tyrosine kinase. The formulation’s findings demonstrate the potential of nanoparticles, providing a basis for further in vivo studies targeting arthritis therapy.