"V-junction": a novel structure for high-speed generation of bespoke droplet flows.
We present the use of microfluidic "V-junctions" as a droplet generation strategy that incorporates enhanced performance characteristics when compared to more traditional "T-junction" formats. This includes the ability to generate target-sized droplets from the very first one, efficient switching between multiple input samples, the production of a wide range of droplet sizes (and size gradients) and the facile generation of droplets with residence time gradients. Additionally, the use of V-junction droplet generators enables the suspension and subsequent resumption of droplet flows at times defined by the user. The high degree of operational flexibility allows a wide range of droplet sizes, payloads, spacings and generation frequencies to be obtained, which in turn provides for an enhanced design space for droplet-based experimentation. We show that the V-junction retains the simplicity of operation associated with T-junction formats, whilst offering functionalities normally associated with droplet-on-demand technologies.
Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland. andrew.demello@chem.ethz.ch.
Yun
Y
Ding
Xavier
X
Casadevall i Solvas
Andrew
A
deMello
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D066292:Lipid Droplets / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000378:metabolism*
D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon; D008899:Mineral Oil