Microdroplet Technology Droplet-based microfluidics has recently been applied to a wide range of applications, including biological assay, combinatorial synthesis, and high-throughput screening. In particular, microdroplets of pico- to nanolitre volumes are capable of enclosing various biological soft matter. Unlike solid wells, they are a more active system, and can move or stop, split or merge with others, and select different paths for sorting at timed intervals. For example, microfluidic abacus channels are demonstrated for the sequential addition of droplets at the desired location [Lab Chip 2009, 9, 207]. A precise temporal control of microdroplets such as synchronization and combinatorial pairing of droplets is also required to achieve a variety range of chemical and biochemical reactions inside microfluidic networks [Biomicrofluidics 2011, 5, 034117]. Recently, we reported a single-cell-based assay using a mesh-integrated microwell array which enables easy trapping and consistent addition of droplets in a high-throughput manner [Lab Chip 2012, 12, 1594]. The mesh-integrated droplet array provides a microfluidic platform for simple storage and on-demand merging of droplets. The openness of the system allows easy access to individual droplets and variable integration with other functional modules. By integrating the single-cell droplet-generating channel, the mesh-integrated microarray allows immediate confinement of single cells and total isolation of each chamber throughout the entire droplet manipulation process. With further development, this device may provide a novel screening platform, especially for various microbes directly harvested from a natural environment. Related Articles: |
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Hyewon
Roh, Hwisoo
Kim, Je-Kyun Park, "Construction of a fibroblast-associated tumor spheroid
model based on a collagen drop array chip," Biosensors,
11 (12), 506 (2021). OPEN ACCESS |
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Hwisoo
Kim, Hyewon
Roh, Haseong Kim, Je-Kyun Park, "Droplet contact-based spheroid transfer technique as
a multi-step assay tool for spheroid arrays," Lab
Chip,
21 (21), 4155-4165 (2021). |
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Juhwan
Park, Kyoung G. Lee, Dong Hyun Han, Ji-Soo Lee, Seok Jae Lee, Je-Kyun Park,
"Pushbutton-activated microfluidic dropenser for droplet digital PCR,"
Biosens.
Bioelectron., 181, 113159 (2021). |
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Juhwan Park, Hwisoo
Kim, Je-Kyun Park, "Microfluidic channel-integrated hanging drop array
chip operated by pushbuttons for spheroid culture and analysis ," Analyst, 145
(21), 6974-6980 (2020). |
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Simple devices enhance the embedment of spheroids into hydrogel arrays, AIP Scilight -- by Mary Alexandra Agner, Scilight 2018, 290005 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5047432 |
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Hwisoo Kim, Chang Hyun Cho, Je-Kyun Park, "High-throughput
culture and embedment of spheroid array using droplet contact-based spheroid
transfer," Biomicrofluidics, 12 (4), 044109
(2018). |
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Younggeun Jo, Fengshan
Shen, Young
Ki Hahn, Ji-Ho Park, Je-Kyun Park, "Magnetophoretic sorting of single cell-containing
microdroplets," Micromachines, 7 (4), 56 (2016).
OPEN ACCESS
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Youn-Hee Park, Do-Hyun
Lee, Eujin Um, Je-Kyun Park, "On-chip generation of monodisperse giant unilamellar lipid vesicles containing quantum dots," Electrophoresis,
37 (10), 1353-1358 (2016). |
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Do-Hyun Lee, Miran Jang, Je-Kyun Park, "Rapid one-step purification of
single-cells encapsulated in alginate microcapsules from oil to aqueous phase
using a hydrophobic filter paper: Implications for single-cell experiments," Biotechnol.
J., 9 (10), 1233-1240 (2014).
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Do-Hyun Lee, Je-Kyun Park, "Reduction in microparticle adsorption using a lateral interconnection method in a PDMS-based microfluidic device," Electrophoresis, 34 (22-23, 3119-3125 (2013). |
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Do-Hyun Lee, Chae Yun Bae, Jong-In Han, Je-Kyun
Park,
"In situ analysis of heterogeneity in the lipid
content of single green microalgae in alginate
hydrogel
microcapsules,"
Anal.
Chem.,
85 (18), 8749-8756
(2013).
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Jisun Lee, Myung Gwon Lee, Cheulhee Jung, Youn-Hee
Park, Chaeyeon Song, Myung Chul Choi, Hyun Gyu
Park, Je-Kyun Park,
"High-throughput nanoscale lipid vesicle synthesis
in a semicircular contraction-expansion array
microchannel," BioChip
J., 7
(3), 210-217 (2013).
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Joonwoo
Jeong, Eujin Um, Je-Kyun Park, Mahn Won Kim, "One-step preparation of magnetic
Janus particles using controlled phase separation of polymer blends and nanoparticles," RSC
Adv., 3 (29), 11801-11806 (2013). |
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Eujin Um, Eugene
Rha, Su-Lim Choi,
Seung-Goo Lee, Je-Kyun Park, "Mesh-integrated microdroplet
array for simultaneous merging and storage of single-cell droplets," Lab
Chip, 12 (9), 1594-1597 (2012).
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Do-Hyun
Lee, Wonhye
Lee, Eujin
Um, Je-Kyun Park,
"Microbridge structures for uniform interval
control of flowing picoliter droplets in
microfluidic networks,"
Biomicrofluidics, 5 (3),
034117 (2011). |
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Eujin Um, Seung-Goo Lee, Je-Kyun Park, "Random breakup of microdroplets for single-cell encapsulation," Appl. Phys. Lett., 97 (15), 153703 (2010). |
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Do-Hyun Lee, Hyundoo
Hwang, Je-Kyun Park,
"Generation and manipulation of droplets in an
optoelectrofluidic device integrated with
microfluidic channels," Appl. Phys.
Lett., 95 (16), 164102 (2009).
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Eujin
Um, Je-Kyun Park, "A microfluidic abacus channel for
controlling the addition of droplets," Lab
Chip,
9 (2), 207-212
(2009).
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Eujin Um, Dae-Sik Lee, Hyun Bong Pyo, Je-Kyun Park, "Continuous generation of hydrogel beads and encapsulation of biological materials using a microfluidic droplet-merging channel," Microfluid. Nanofluid., 5 (4), 541-549 (2008). |