High-Throughput Protein Crystallization in an Integrated Droplet-Based Microfluidic Platform

Joana Ferreira; Filipa Castro

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_20

High-Throughput Protein Crystallization in an Integrated Droplet-Based Microfluidic Platform

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2652:347-359. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_20.

Authors

Joana Ferreira^{1

2}, Filipa Castro^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ CEFT - Transport Phenomena Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
² ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
³ ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. filipaj@fe.up.pt.
⁴ LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. filipaj@fe.up.pt.

PMID: 37093486
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_20

Abstract

We present an integrated droplet-based microfluidic platform for high-throughput protein crystallization experimentation. The device consists of commercially available micro-junctions and PFA tubing assembled for different functions: droplet generation, incubation, and observation. Herein, we describe a complete methodology to generate hundreds of droplets with controlled properties (i.e., size, generation frequency, and composition). Therefore, multiple trials can be carried out under controlled experimental conditions for the screening and optimization of protein crystallization conditions.

Keywords: Droplet flow; Microdroplets; PFA tubing; Precipitant; Protein crystallization; Supersaturation; Temperature control.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Crystallization / methods
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques*
Microfluidics* / methods
Proteins / chemistry

Substances

Proteins