title: Static microdroplet arrays: a microfluidic device for droplet trapping, incubation and release for enzymatic and cell-based assays.
abstract: We describe the design, fabrication and use of a single-layered poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic structure for the entrapment and release of microdroplets in an array format controlled entirely by liquid flow. Aqueous picoliter droplets are trapped en masse and optically monitored for extended periods of time. Such an array-based approach is used to characterize droplet shrinkage, aggregation of encapsulated E. coli cells and enzymatic reactions. We also demonstrate that trapped droplets may be recovered from the microfluidic array for further processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK CB2 1GA.
authors.forename: Ansgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bratton
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Demello
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abell
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hollfelder
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005453:Fluorescence; D005696:Galactosidases / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D016944:Sulfolobus / Q000201:enzymology; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D004798:Enzymes; D005696:Galactosidases; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein; C013830:baysilon