title: A multifunctional pipette.
abstract: Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful laboratory toolbox for biologists, allowing manipulation and analysis of processes at a cellular and sub-cellular level, through utilization of microfabricated features at size-scales relevant to that of a single cell. In the majority of microfluidic devices, sample processing and analysis occur within closed microchannels, imposing restrictions on sample preparation and use. We present an optimized non-contact open-volume microfluidic tool to overcome these and other restrictions, through the use of a hydrodynamically confined microflow pipette, serving as a multifunctional solution handling and dispensing tool. The geometries of the tool have been optimised for use in optical microscopy, with integrated solution reservoirs to reduce reagent use, contamination risks and cleaning requirements. Device performance was characterised using both epifluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, resulting in ~200 ms and ~130 ms exchange times at ~100 nm and ~30 μm distances to the surface respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, SE-41296, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Alar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ainla
authors.forename: Gavin D M
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Jeffries
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: Owe
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Orwar
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jesorka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions