ABSTRACT
We present a simple, automated method for high-throughput formation of droplet interface bilayers (DIBs) in a microfluidic device. We can form complex DIB networks that are able to fill predefined three dimensional architectures. Moreover, we demonstrate the flexibility of the system by using a variety of lipids including 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPhPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC).
Subject(s)
Lipid Bilayers/chemistry , Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/instrumentation , Microfluidic Analytical Techniques/methods , Fluorescein/chemistry , Oils/chemistry , Phosphatidylcholines/chemistry , Water/chemistryABSTRACT
We demonstrate that nanolitre-sized droplets are an effective tool in coupling two-dimensional separations in both time and space. Using a microfluidic droplet connector, chemically separated components can be segmented into nanolitre droplets. After oil filtering and droplet merging, these droplets are loaded into a second dimension for comprehensive separations.