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High-throughput screening by droplet microfluidics: perspective into key challenges and future prospects
Emory M Payne1, Daniel A Holland-Moritz, Shuwen Sun
1Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. rtkenn@umich.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|June 6, 2020
Summary
Droplet microfluidics enables high-throughput screening (HTS) in small volumes. Addressing challenges in storage, containment, and analysis will drive wider adoption of this powerful laboratory automation technology.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Laboratory Automation
Background:
- Droplet microfluidics has advanced laboratory operations for high-throughput screening (HTS) using nanoliter to femtoliter volumes.
- Despite progress in droplet manipulation and analysis, widespread adoption for HTS applications remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the challenges hindering the broad implementation of droplet-based HTS.
- To highlight key strategies addressing these challenges for commercial development.
Main Methods:
- Review of advancements in droplet storage, manipulation, and analysis.
- Identification of critical factors for implementing droplet HTS, including library generation and sample tracking.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in automating laboratory operations within droplet microfluidics.
- Key challenges for droplet HTS include stable storage, chemical containment, library generation, sample tracking, and chemical analysis.
Conclusions:
- Addressing the identified challenges is crucial for the widespread adoption and commercialization of droplet HTS.
- Recent advances indicate a promising future for droplet microfluidics in high-throughput screening applications.
