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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Microfluidic Chip for ICPMS Sample Introduction
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A Microfluidic Chip for ICPMS Sample Introduction

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Dropspots: a picoliter array in a microfluidic device.

Christian H J Schmitz1, Amy C Rowat, Sarah Köster

  • 1Department of Physics, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Lab on a Chip
|February 12, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Researchers developed a simple microfluidic device to immobilize thousands of tiny aqueous drops for detailed timelapse studies. This innovative technology also allows for the easy recovery of these individual drops after experiments.

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Microfluidics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Studying small-scale biological or chemical reactions requires precise control over individual reaction volumes.
  • Current methods for handling femtoliter- to picoliter-scale droplets can be challenging for long-term observation and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a microfluidic device capable of immobilizing and enabling timelapse studies of numerous small aqueous drops.
  • To facilitate the subsequent recovery of these droplets for further analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Design and fabrication of a microfluidic chip with an array of well-defined chambers.
  • Encapsulation of aqueous drops within an inert carrier oil.
  • Immobilization of droplets within the microfluidic chambers.

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  • Observation of droplets over time using timelapse microscopy.
  • Development of a method for droplet recovery.

    • Main Results:

    • Successfully immobilized thousands of femtoliter- to picoliter-scale aqueous drops.
    • Enabled stable, long-term timelapse imaging of individual droplets.
    • Demonstrated the ability to recover droplets after experimental observation.

    Conclusions:

    • The developed microfluidic device offers a robust platform for high-throughput screening and analysis of small-volume samples.
    • This technology simplifies the study of individual droplets, overcoming limitations of previous methods.
    • The device's capacity for drop recovery enhances its utility in various biochemical and cell biology applications.