Enabling off-chip analysis for in-droplet enzyme reactions using acoustophoresis

• Acoustophoresis is a commonly used technique to manipulate microbeads suspended in single-phase fluids [1]. Fornell et al. demonstrated that acoustophoresis can also be used to manipulate microbeads in droplets when the acoustic properties of the continuous phase match with the acoustic properties of the dispersed phase [2]. Water-in-oil droplets can be considered to be ideal vials for liquid mixing and reactions, as they allow for high throughput, low cross-contamination and low reagent consumption. Droplet microfluidics has previously been applied to study enzyme reactions [3,4]. However, these approaches are limited by on-chip detection and analysis since the enzyme is mixed with the product of the reaction inside the droplets. Here, we present an acoustofluidic chip where we can start the enzymatic reaction by injecting enzyme-coupled microbeads into the droplets containing the substrate by pico-injection and then stop the enzymatic reaction by removing the enzyme-coupled microbeads using acoustophoresis [5]. The analysis can then be performed off-chip, which allows for longer exposure times compared to performing the analysis in-line.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Strömningsmekanik och akustik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Acoustofluidics

Droplet microfluidics

Time-controlled reaction

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot mikrosystemteknik

Engineering Science with specialization in Microsystems Technology

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