Laser-emitting aqueous bioreactors for ultrasensitive bioactivity analysis

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics
• Microfluidics
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Aqueous droplets are natural bioreactors and optical resonators but suffer from short lifespans due to evaporation, limiting their use in long-term bioreactions.
• Existing whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) sensors have limited detection sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable platform for laser-assisted analysis within aqueous droplets.
• To enhance the lifespan and detection sensitivity of droplet-based bioreactors.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of laser-emitting aqueous bioreactors (LEABs) encapsulated in fluorocarbon oils.
• Integration of LEABs with microfluidic droplet technology.
• Utilizing unique lasing characteristic fingerprints for analysis.

Main Results:

• LEABs demonstrated a lifespan extension of over 1,000-fold compared to aqueous droplets in air.
• Detection sensitivity was enhanced by over 100-fold due to the interaction of reactions with resonating light.
• Applications demonstrated include monitoring enzyme activity, cellular metabolism, and laser threshold-gated screening of single yeast.

Conclusions:

• LEABs provide a stable and long-lasting platform for laser-assisted biochemical analysis.
• This technology significantly enhances detection sensitivity and enables new applications in biological research.
• The platform bridges laser technology and biochemical applications, expanding the scope of laser-based analysis.