Compact, cost-efficient microfluidics-based stopped-flow device

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2011-01, Vol.399 (3), p.1117-1125
• Main Authors: Bleul, Regina, Ritzi-Lehnert, Marion, Höth, Julian, Scharpfenecker, Nico, Frese, Ines, Düchs, Dominik, Brunklaus, Sabine, Hansen-Hagge, Thomas E, Meyer-Almes, Franz-Josef, Drese, Klaus S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Food Science; Laboratory Medicine; Low sample amounts; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - economics; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation; Microfluidics; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Original Paper; Polymethyl Methacrylate - chemistry; Short dead time; Stopped flow
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-4446-5

Stopped-flow technology is frequently used to monitor rapid (bio)chemical reactions with high temporal resolution, e.g., in dynamic investigations of enzyme reactions, protein interactions, or molecular transport mechanisms. However, conventional stopped-flow devices are often overly complex, voluminous, or costly. Moreover, excessive amounts of sample are often wasted owing to inefficient designs. To address these shortcomings, we propose a stopped-flow system based on microfluidic design principles. Our simple and cost-efficient approach offers distinct advantages over existing technology. In particular, the use of injection-molded disposable microfluidic chips minimizes required sample volumes and associated costs, simplifies handling, and prevents adverse cross-contamination effects. The cost of the system developed is reduced by an order of magnitude compared with the cost of commercial systems. The system contains a high-precision valve system for fluid control and features automated data acquisition capability with high temporal resolution. Analyses with two well-established reaction kinetics yielded a dead time of approximately 8-9 ms.