Open AccessParametric studies on droplet generation reproducibility for applications with biological relevant fluids
Author(s) -
Wiedemeier Stefan,
Eichler Marko,
Römer Robert,
Grodrian Andreas,
Lemke Karen,
Nagel Krees,
Klages ClausPeter,
Gastrock Gunter
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.201700086
Subject(s) - microfluidics , reproducibility , nanotechnology , biochemical engineering , materials science , parametric statistics , process engineering , chemistry , chromatography , engineering , statistics , mathematics
Although the great potential of droplet based microfluidic technologies for routine applications in industry and academia has been successfully demonstrated over the past years, its inherent potential is not fully exploited till now. Especially regarding to the droplet generation reproducibility and stability, two pivotally important parameters for successful applications, there is still a need for improvement. This is even more considerable when droplets are created to investigate tissue fragments or cell cultures (e.g. suspended cells or 3D cell cultures) over days or even weeks. In this study we present microfluidic chips composed of a plasma coated polymer, which allow surfactants‐free, highly reproducible and stable droplet generation from fluids like cell culture media. We demonstrate how different microfluidic designs and different flow rates (and flow rate ratios) affect the reproducibility of the droplet generation process and display the applicability for a wide variety of bio(techno)logically relevant media.