A multifunctional pipette
Journal article, 2012

Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful laboratory toolbox for biologists, allowing manipulation and analysis of processes at a cellular and sub-cellular level, through utilization of microfabricated features at size-scales relevant to that of a single cell. In the majority of microfluidic devices, sample processing and analysis occur within closed microchannels, imposing restrictions on sample preparation and use. We present an optimized non-contact open-volume microfluidic tool to overcome these and other restrictions, through the use of a hydrodynamically confined microflow pipette, serving as a multifunctional solution handling and dispensing tool. The geometries of the tool have been optimised for use in optical microscopy, with integrated solution reservoirs to reduce reagent use, contamination risks and cleaning requirements. Device performance was characterised using both epifluorescence and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, resulting in similar to 200 ms and similar to 130 ms exchange times at similar to 100 nm and similar to 30 mm distances to the surface respectively.

cells

flow

microfluidic probe

push-pull perfusion

device

Author

Alar Ainla

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Gavin Jeffries

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Ralf Brune

Physical Chemistry

Owe Orwar

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Aldo Jesorka

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Lab on a Chip - Miniaturisation for Chemistry and Biology

1473-0197 (ISSN) 1473-0189 (eISSN)

Vol. 12 7 1255-1261

Subject Categories

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

DOI

10.1039/c2lc20906c

More information

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5/3/2019 7