Oil microsealing: a robust micro-compartmentalization method for on-chip chemical and biological assays.
A simple and robust method to compartmentalize aqueous solutions into an array of independent microchambers is presented. The array of microchambers fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane) are filled with the sample solution through a microfluidic channel and then sealed with oil to isolate the microchambers from each other. A water reservoir close to the microchambers allows the maintainance and incubation of sub-nanoliter solutions (e.g., at 37 °C) within the chambers for hours without any problem of evaporation. Once assembled, the device is self-sustainable and can be used for different application purposes. As a demonstration, the device configuration is shown to be suitable for spatiotemporal control of the inner solution conditions by light stimulation through a photomask. This method was applied for the generation of regular EmGFP (emerald green fluorescent protein) expression arrays, selective photobleaching, photopatterning of calcium concentration, and cell culture in independent microchambers.
Yamada
Ayako
A
Department of Chemistry Ecole Normale Supérieure 24 rue Lhomond, F-75005 Paris, France.
Barbaud
Fanny
F
Cinque
Lucia
L
Wang
Li
L
Zeng
Qian
Q
Chen
Yong
Y
Baigl
Damien
D
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D009821:Oils; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins