Selective cell encapsulation, lysis, pico-injection and size-controlled droplet generation using traveling surface acoustic waves in a microfluidic device

Lab Chip. 2020 Nov 7;20(21):3914-3921. doi: 10.1039/d0lc00723d. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Abstract

We generate droplets in a microfluidic device using a traveling surface acoustic wave (TSAW), and control droplet size by adjusting TSAW power and duration. We combine droplet production and fluorescence detection to selectively-encapsulate cells and beads; with this active method, the overwhelming majority of single particles or cells are encapsulated individually into droplets, contrasting the Poisson distribution of encapsulation number that governs traditional, passive microfluidic encapsulation. In addition, we lyse cells before selective encapsulation, and pico-inject new materials into existing droplets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Encapsulation
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices*
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques*
  • Microfluidics
  • Sound