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Patterning of Protein-Sequestered Liquid-Crystal Droplets Using Acoustic Wave Trapping.
Parinamipura M Naveenkumar1, Harsha Maheshwari1, Venkat Gundabala2
1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 22, 2023
Summary
Researchers created organized liquid-crystal droplet assemblies for controlled chemical reactions. This method enhances enzyme kinetics, paving the way for advanced biosensing devices.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Spatially organized structures are crucial for controlling multistep chemical reaction kinetics.
- Designing hierarchical assemblies of liquid-crystal (LC) droplets for biological reactions remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop reversible and reconfigurable 1D assemblies of protein-bioconjugate-sequestered LC droplets.
- To demonstrate spatially localized enzyme kinetics using these assemblies.
Main Methods:
- Combining microfluidics with noninvasive acoustic wave trapping technology.
- Utilizing monodisperse LC droplets (≈19 or 62 μm) sequestered with enzymes (glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase).
Main Results:
- Achieved tunable spatial geometries and lattice dimensions in aqueous media.
- Demonstrated higher initial reaction rates for enzyme cascades in LC droplet assemblies compared to controls.
- Attributed enhanced kinetics to direct substrate transfer between closely positioned enzymes.
Conclusions:
- Successfully fabricated 1D assemblies of LC droplets with controlled spatial organization.
- Showcased enhanced enzyme kinetics through spatially localized reactions.
- Provided a foundational step for developing LC-based biosensing devices.
