Microfluidics

The purpose of this study is to design, fabricate and optimize microfluidic mixers to investigate the kinetics of protein secondary structure formation with Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy. SRCD allows us to use wavelengths below 220 nm where differences between the CD spectra of random coil and the various secondary structure types are most pronounced. Microfluidic mixing allows a fast initiation of the protein folding reaction. By combining this with SRCD, we can clarify an intense debate in the protein folding community as to when, in the process of...

The goal of this project is to develop a fully integrated lab-on-a-chip microdevice for performing complex immunological assays and to apply it to the sensitive detection of PAH-protein adducts produced by environmental exposure. The ultimate device will consist of a microfluidic cartridge with embedded sensors capable of performing a wide variety of assays. Specific steps that will be demonstrated include sample preparation, mixing with reagents, incubation, and multiple target detection. Although these capabilities will be demonstrated for the detection of PAH-protein adducts, the...

We present the design, fabrication and results of microfabricated interfaces for the patterned delivery of foreign molecules via electroporation into developing embryos. We show how these systems can be used to ‘draw’ two-dimensional patterns of tracer molecules, DNA and mRNA into the yolk and cells of zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) at different stages of development. We demonstrate the successful delivery of two-dimensional patterns of trypan blue (normal dye), texas red (fluorescent dye), pCS2eGFP DNA and GFP-mRNA in both chorionated and dechorionated embryos. Both DNA and...

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is the translation of tiny particles, nanometer to micrometer scale, resulting from non-uniform electric fields. Particle motion is dictated by the complex permittivity of the particle, the complex permittivity of the carrier solution (e.g. aqueous buffer), and the local electric field gradient. DEP is an attractive microfluidic manipulation technique because electric fields can be used to exert forces on uncharged particles or biological organisms. DEP has been used in applications ranging from particle separation to bacteria characterization. Here we propose...