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Versatile wetting measurement of microplate wells
Enoch Ming Wei Ng1, Brandon Huey-Ping Cheong1, Yang Yu2
1Laboratory for Optics and Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton VIC3800, Australia.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|December 3, 2016
Summary
This study introduces a new method for measuring liquid wetting using small volumes in microplate wells. The technique accurately determines contact angles, crucial for understanding liquid behavior in various applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Materials Science
- Surface Science and Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Contact angle measurements are essential for characterizing liquid-sample interactions and surface wetting properties.
- Traditional methods may require larger liquid volumes or specialized equipment, limiting their application in high-throughput screening.
- Microplate-based assays are widely used, but precise wetting characterization within them has been challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel method for measuring contact angles using small liquid volumes directly in microplate wells.
- To assess the impact of liquid composition and drop placement on measurement accuracy.
- To provide a convenient and accurate tool for evaluating wetting characteristics in microplate formats.
Main Methods:
- A direct dispensing method was employed to introduce small liquid volumes (4.4–6 μl) into standard microplate wells.
- Contact angles were measured using optical tensiometry, analyzing drop profiles.
- Experiments involved protein solutions and phosphate-buffered saline with varying concentrations of Tween 20.
- Numerical simulations were performed to validate measurements under non-axis-symmetric conditions.
Main Results:
- No significant variance in contact angle was observed for enhanced green protein samples across the tested volumes.
- Increasing concentrations of the non-ionic detergent Tween 20 in phosphate buffer resulted in decreased contact angles, indicating altered wetting.
- Accurate contact angle measurements were obtained even when liquid drops were positioned up to 7° from the well's lowest point.
- Numerical simulations confirmed the reliability of the method, even with asymmetric drop shapes.
Conclusions:
- The described method provides a reliable and convenient approach for measuring contact angles with small liquid volumes in microplates.
- This technique is suitable for assessing the wetting properties of diverse liquid samples, including biological solutions and formulations.
- The findings support the utility of microplate-based contact angle analysis for various scientific and industrial applications.
