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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.03.22.001065

Monodisperse drops templated by 3D-structured microparticles

Wu, C.-Y.·Wang, B.·de Rutte, J.·Ouyang, M.·Joo, A.·Jacobs, M.·Ha, K.·Bertozzi, A.·Di Carlo, D.
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Abstract

The ability to create uniform sub-nanoliter compartments using microfluidic control has enabled new approaches for analysis of single cells and molecules. However, specialized instruments or expertise have been required, slowing the adoption of these cutting-edge applications. Here, we show that 3D-structured microparticles with sculpted surface chemistries template uniformly-sized aqueous drops when simply mixed with two immiscible fluid phases. In contrast to traditional emulsions, particle-templated drops of a controlled volume occupy a minimum in the interfacial energy of the system, such that a stable monodisperse state results with simple and reproducible formation conditions. We describe techniques to manufacture microscale drop-carrier particles and show that emulsions created with these particles prevent molecular exchange, concentrating reactions within the drops, laying a foundation for sensitive compartmentalized assays with minimal instrumentation.

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Wu, C.-Y., Wang, B., de Rutte, J., Ouyang, M., Joo, A., Jacobs, M., Ha, K., Bertozzi, A., Di Carlo, D.. 2020-03-25. Monodisperse drops templated by 3D-structured microparticles. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.22.001065

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