Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
A Multilayer Microfluidic Platform for the Conduction of Prolonged Cell-Free Gene Expression
Published on: October 6, 2019
End-to-end automated microfluidic platform for synthetic biology: from design to functional analysis
Gregory Linshiz1, Erik Jensen2, Nina Stawski3
1Fuels Synthesis and Technologies Divisions, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA ; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA ; DNA Synthesis Science Program, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 USA.
Background:
Synthetic biology aims to engineer biological systems for desired behaviors. The construction of these systems can be complex, often requiring genetic reprogramming, extensive de novo DNA synthesis, and functional screening.
Results:
Herein, we present a programmable, multipurpose microfluidic platform and associated software and apply the platform to major steps of the synthetic biology research cycle: design, construction, testing, and analysis. We show the platform's capabilities for multiple automated DNA assembly methods, including a new method for Isothermal Hierarchical DNA Construction, and for Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformation. The platform enables the automated control of cellular growth, gene expression induction, and proteogenic and metabolic output analysis.
Conclusions:
Taken together, we demonstrate the microfluidic platform's potential to provide end-to-end solutions for synthetic biology research, from design to functional analysis.
