APPLICATION

CUSTOM MICROFLUIDICS WORKFLOWS

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Standardized solutions often fail to address the unique requirements of complex research. Microfluidic chips, however, can be fabricated in a variety of configurations, serving as building blocks for workflows that are precisely tailored to each project. By combining and reconfiguring these blocks, workflows can be adapted as needs evolve without compromising on performance.

1. GENERATION

Every workflow begins with droplet generation. By flowing immiscible liquids—water and oil—through microfluidic channels, the oil phase shears the aqueous phase into micrometer-sized droplets, enabling precise compartmentalization.

Single cells or molecules are loaded into droplets based on Poisson statistics. Proper dilution ensures most droplets remain empty, enabling consistent single-cell or molecule encapsulation.

Different chip designs can support multiple aqueous streams, customizable to the specific application. Due to laminar flow during droplet formation, reagents remain separate until mixing occurs within the droplet. This enables incompatible reagents to be encapsulated simultaneously, preventing interactions until they mix within the droplet.

Single-flow

Single aqueous stream (e.g. cell solution)

Co-FLOW

Two aqueous streams (e.g. cell solution and lysis reagents)

Multi-flow

Three or more aqueous streams (e.g. cell solution, lysis reagents, capture hydrogels)

Droplets can be reinjected into additional microfluidic chips for further manipulation

2. REAGENT ADDITION

For assays where components cannot be mixed during droplet generation, high-voltage techniques allow precise reagent introduction after encapsulation. For example, enzyme-secreting bacteria can be encapsulated, with the substrate introduced later to ensure the reaction occurs only after sufficient enzyme production.

Droplets are collected in tubes allowing further manipulation with specialized microfluidic modules

ADD REAGENTS CONTINUOUSLY

Reagents added into each droplet by inducing a charge that triggers controlled coalescence

ADD REAGENTS CONTINUOUSLY

Reagents added into each droplet by inducing a charge that triggers controlled coalescence

Inject

Used to introduce homogenous solutions (reagents, substrates)

Merge

Used to introduce distinct objects (cells, beads, particles)

ADD REAGENTS SELECTIVELY

Targeted introduction of reagents to fluorescent droplets only

3. ADDITIONAL MANIPULATIONS

Further manipulations can be performed, with the channel configuration of microfluidic chips determining the types of operations that can be executed.

Mix

Efficiently mixes droplet contents, ensuring uniform distribution of reagents

Split

Splits droplets into multiple smaller droplets for parallel processing of samples.

Store

Stores droplets for long-term incubation and monitoring of growth.

4. DROPLET DETECTION & SELECTION

The final step of microfluidic workflows typically involves detecting or selecting droplets based on fluorescence signals. Detection identifies droplets with specific fluorescence signatures, providing information about the presence or absence of target molecules or markers. Selection isolates droplets of interest by physically separating them, ensuring only selected droplets are processed downstream for further analysis or manipulation.

Detection

Identifies and quantifies droplets based on fluorescence signatures

Selection

Isolates droplets based on fluorescence for downstream analysis

RESULT

After selection, droplets can be processed for detailed analysis, tailored to specific research inquiry

Dispencing

Isolate individual cells into separate wells

Cultivation

Cultivate isolated single cells to maintain genetic consistency

Sequencing

Identify target variant sequences

Other

Compatible with diverse platforms for downstream analysis

Custom Chip Design

Channels can be designed in any configuration to align with your research workflows. Our custom-manufacturing service ensures precise fabrication to meet the specific requirements of your experiments.

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