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Bulk double emulsification for flow cytometric analysis of microfluidic droplets.
David J Sukovich1, Samuel C Kim, Noorsher Ahmed
1Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. adam@abatelab.org.
The Analyst
|November 14, 2017
Summary
This study presents a simple method for bulk double emulsification of microfluidic droplets, enabling analysis and sorting using standard flow cytometers. The technique allows droplet identification based on nucleic acid content without specialized equipment.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Droplet microfluidics is crucial for biological and chemical applications.
- High-throughput analysis and sorting of microfluidic droplets are essential but challenging.
- Current methods often require custom-built microfluidic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, generalizable method for bulk double emulsification of microfluidic droplets.
- To enable analysis and sorting of these droplets using commercially available flow cytometers.
- To demonstrate droplet identification based on nucleic acid content.
Main Methods:
- A novel bulk double emulsification technique for microfluidic emulsions.
- Integration with standard commercial flow cytometry for droplet analysis.
- Application in identifying droplets containing specific nucleic acid content.
Main Results:
- Successfully demonstrated bulk double emulsification of microfluidic droplets.
- Achieved droplet analysis and sorting capabilities using conventional flow cytometers.
- Validated the method for identifying droplets based on nucleic acid presence.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a straightforward approach for analyzing and sorting microfluidic droplets.
- It eliminates the need for custom microfluidic emulsifiers or sorters.
- This technique broadly enhances the utility of droplet microfluidics in research and diagnostics.
