title: Coalescence-assisted generation of single nanoliter droplets with predefined composition.
abstract: We demonstrate the generation of highly accurate nanoliter droplets with a predefined composition. This composition control over a single droplet is achieved by merging two droplets with known concentrations and defined volumes. A forced coalescence is accomplished by synchronizing two piezoelectric-based active droplet generators. A microscope-mounted CCD camera is used to record, quantify and monitor the process to assure its high fidelity. The device is disposable, surfactant free, simple to operate and does not require microelectrode fabrication. It delivers a single on-demand droplet with adjustable high resolution mixing ratios up to 9 at a volume range of 1-10 nanoliters. The presented platform offers, for the first time, a means to perform droplet-based high-throughput screening in the nanoliter range.
authors.affiliation: Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion, Haifa, Israel 32000.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: Avital
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: Avishay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bransky
authors.forename: Shulamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levenberg
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D008839:Microelectrodes; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D019301:Oleic Acid; C013830:baysilon; D008899:Mineral Oil