Development of a microfluidic photochemical flow reactor concept by rapid prototyping

Area of Science:

• Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Commercial microfluidic systems are expensive and lack flexibility for specialized applications like DNA-encoded library technology (DELT).
• Photochemical reactions are crucial for DELT but require tailored reactor designs not met by off-the-shelf equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a modular, flexible, and affordable flow photoreactor using rapid prototyping for DELT applications.
• To demonstrate the adaptability of the custom photoreactor for photochemical reactions, including those involving DNA-tagged substrates.

Main Methods:

• Developed custom microfluidic flow photoreactor modules using rapid prototyping technology.
• Validated the photoreactor with a photochemical pinacol coupling reaction at 368 nm.
• Adapted the system for DNA-tagged substrates using 454 nm LEDs and assessed DNA recovery.

Main Results:

• Optimized conversion rates by adjusting microfluidic flow photoreactor design parameters.
• Successfully demonstrated photochemical reactions with DNA-tagged substrates.
• Confirmed the feasibility of the modular flow photoreactor through successful DNA recovery.

Conclusions:

• Rapid prototyping enables the creation of customized, modular, and cost-effective flow photoreactors for DELT.
• The developed flow photoreactor module is adaptable for various photochemical applications, including those with DNA-tagged substrates.
• This approach significantly enhances the development of DELT and flow chemistry equipment.