Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Co-axial Flow Focus Device

作者： Russell H. Cole1, Tuan M. Tran2, Adam R. Abate3,4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,University of California, San Francisco, 2Joint UCSF/UCB Bioengineering Graduate Group,University of California, San Francisco, 3Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences,University of California, San Francisco, 4California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences,University of California, San Francisco

简介：

Overview

This article describes the fabrication and testing of an all polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device designed for generating double emulsions. The device utilizes coaxial flow focusing and simplifies the production process by eliminating the need for specialized surface treatments.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

• Microfluidics
• Emulsion generation
• Soft lithography

Background

• Double emulsions are important in various applications in chemistry and biology.
• Traditional methods often require complex fabrication techniques and surface treatments.
• The use of PDMS allows for easier and more efficient device production.
• Coaxial flow focusing is a key technique for generating double emulsions.

Purpose of Study

• To develop a simplified method for producing double emulsions.
• To facilitate high throughput screening in biochemical applications.
• To enable the directed evolution of enzymes and identification of rare phenotypes.

Methods Used

• Designing microfluidic structures using AutoCAD software.
• Printing designs on circuit board film with high resolution.
• Applying SU-8 photoresist on silicon wafers for device fabrication.
• Testing the performance of the PDMS double emulsion generator.

Main Results

• The PDMS device successfully generated double emulsions down to 14 µm.
• The fabrication process was simplified compared to traditional methods.
• The device demonstrated potential for high throughput applications.
• Results indicate effectiveness in producing stable double emulsions.

Conclusions

• The all PDMS double emulsion generator is a viable alternative to complex devices.
• This method can significantly enhance research capabilities in chemistry and biology.
• Future applications may include enzyme evolution and phenotype identification.

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