title: Aqueous two-phase microdroplets with reversible phase transitions.
abstract: Aqueous two-phase systems contained within microdroplets enable a bottom-up approach to mimicking the dynamic microcompartmentation of biomaterial that naturally occurs within the cytoplasm of cells. Here, we demonstrate the generation of femtolitre aqueous two-phase droplets within a microfluidic oil channel. Gated pressure pulses were used to generate individual, stationary two-phase microdroplets with a well-defined time zero for carrying out controlled and sequential phase transformations over time. Reversible phase transitions between single-phase, two-phase, and core-shell microbead states were obtained via evaporation-induced dehydration and water rehydration. In contrast to other microfluidic aqueous two-phase droplets, which require continuous flows and high-frequency droplet formation, our system enables the controlled isolation and reversible transformation of a single microdroplet and is expected to be useful for future studies in dynamic microcompartmentation and affinity partitioning.
authors: Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6493, USA.
authors: Jonathan B
authors: JB
authors: Boreyko
authors: Prachya
authors: P
authors: Mruetusatorn
authors: Scott T
authors: ST
authors: Retterer
authors: C Patrick
authors: CP
authors: Collier
mesh_terms: D044085:Microfluidics; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D044367:Phase Transition; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D014867:Water