Synchronized Reagent Delivery in Double Emulsions for Triggering Chemical Reactions and Gene Expression
Open access
Date
2021-08-12Type
- Journal Article
Abstract
Microfluidic methods for the formation of single and double emulsion (DE) droplets allow for the encapsulation and isolation of reactants inside nanoliter compartments. Such methods have greatly enhanced the toolbox for high-throughput screening for cell or enzyme engineering and drug discovery. However, remaining challenges in the supply of reagents into these enclosed compartments limit the applicability of droplet microfluidics. Here, a strategy is introduced for on-demand delivery of reactants in DEs. Lipid vesicles are used as reactant carriers, which are co-encapsulated in double emulsions and release their cargo upon addition of an external trigger, here the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The reagent present inside the lipid vesicles stays isolated from the remaining content of the DE vessel until SDS enters the DE lumen and solubilizes the vesicles’ lipid bilayer. The versatility of the method is demonstrated with two critical applications chosen as representative assays for high-throughput screening: the induction of gene expression in bacteria and the initiation of an enzymatic reaction. This method not only allows for the release of the lipid vesicle content inside DEs to be synchronized for all DEs but also for the release to be triggered at any desired time. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000493445Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Small MethodsVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
WileySubject
double emulsions; droplet microfluidics; liposomes; reagent deliveryOrganisational unit
03807 - Dittrich, Petra / Dittrich, Petra
00002 - ETH Zürich
03602 - Panke, Sven / Panke, Sven
Funding
167123 - Microfluidic device for ultrarapid phenotypic susceptibility testing of pathogenic microbes (SNF)
681587 - Engineering of hybrid cells using lab-on-chip technology (EC)
More
Show all metadata