title: 3D Droplet Microfluidic Systems for High-Throughput Biological Experimentation.
abstract: Herein, we describe the development of a multilayer droplet microfluidic system for creating concentration gradients and generating microdroplets of varying composition for high-throughput biochemical and cell-based screening applications. The 3D droplet-based microfluidic device consists of multiple PDMS layers, which are used to generate logarithmic concentration gradient reagent profiles. Parallel flow focusing structures are used to form picoliter-sized droplets of defined volumes but of varying composition. As proof of concept, we demonstrate rapid enzymatic activity assays and drug cytotoxicity assays on bacteria. The 3D droplet-based microfluidic platform has the potential to allow for high-efficiency and high-throughput analysis, overcoming the structural limitations of single layer microfluidic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dong-Ku
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Xiuqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Soongwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jin-young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joshua B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Edel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University , Cheongjoo 361-763, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Ik
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bionano Technology, Hanyang University , Sa-3-dong 1271, Ansan 426-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: deMello
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D007700:Kinetics; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D053148:Caspase 3