Acoustic sorting of microfluidic droplets at kHz rates using optical absorbance

Richter, E. S., Link, A. , McGrath, J. S., Sparrow, R. W., Gantz, M., Medcalf, E. J., Hollfelder, F. and Franke, T. (2023) Acoustic sorting of microfluidic droplets at kHz rates using optical absorbance. Lab on a Chip, 23(1), pp. 195-202. (doi: 10.1039/D2LC00871H) (PMID:36472476)

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Abstract

Droplet microfluidics allows one to address the ever-increasing demand to screen large libraries of biological samples. Absorbance spectroscopy complements the established fluorescence detection by alternative target identification and providing quantifiable data on chromo- rather than fluorophores. However, this is limited by speed and sensitivity. In this paper we increase the speed of sorting by including acoustofluidics, achieving sorting rates of target droplets of 1 kHz. We improved the devices design for detection of absorbance using fibre-based interrogation of samples with integrated lenses in the microfluidic PDMS device for focusing and collimation of light. This optical improvement reduces the scattering and refraction artefacts, improving signal quality and sensitivity. The novel design allows us to overcome limitations based on dielectrophoresis sorting, such as droplet size dependency or material and dielectric properties of samples. Our acoustic activated absorbance sorter removes the need for offset dyes or matching oils and sorts about a magnitude faster than current absorbance sorters.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 813786 (EVOdrops).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Sparrow, Dr Raymond and Richter, Esther and Franke, Professor Thomas and Link, Mr Andreas and McGrath, Dr John
Authors: Richter, E. S., Link, A., McGrath, J. S., Sparrow, R. W., Gantz, M., Medcalf, E. J., Hollfelder, F., and Franke, T.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
Journal Name:Lab on a Chip
Publisher:Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:1473-0197
ISSN (Online):1473-0189
Published Online:01 December 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry
First Published:First published in Lab on a Chip 23(1): 195-202
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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