Compact, cost-efficient microfluidics-based stopped-flow device.
Stopped-flow technology is frequently used to monitor rapid (bio)chemical reactions with high temporal resolution, e.g., in dynamic investigations of enzyme reactions, protein interactions, or molecular transport mechanisms. However, conventional stopped-flow devices are often overly complex, voluminous, or costly. Moreover, excessive amounts of sample are often wasted owing to inefficient designs. To address these shortcomings, we propose a stopped-flow system based on microfluidic design principles. Our simple and cost-efficient approach offers distinct advantages over existing technology. In particular, the use of injection-molded disposable microfluidic chips minimizes required sample volumes and associated costs, simplifies handling, and prevents adverse cross-contamination effects. The cost of the system developed is reduced by an order of magnitude compared with the cost of commercial systems. The system contains a high-precision valve system for fluid control and features automated data acquisition capability with high temporal resolution. Analyses with two well-established reaction kinetics yielded a dead time of approximately 8-9 ms.
Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH (IMM), Carl-Zeiss-Str. 18-20, 55129 Mainz, Germany.
Regina
R
Bleul
Marion
M
Ritzi-Lehnert
Julian
J
Höth
Nico
N
Scharpfenecker
Ines
I
Frese
Dominik
D
Düchs
Sabine
S
Brunklaus
Thomas E
TE
Hansen-Hagge
Franz-Josef
FJ
Meyer-Almes
Klaus S
KS
Drese
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry
D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate