DROPLAY: laser writing of functional patterns within biological microdroplet displays. Issue 23 (31st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chan, Chi Long; Bolognesi, Guido; Bhandarkar, Archis; Friddin, Mark S.; Brooks, Nicholas J.; Seddon, John M.; Law, Robert V.; Barter, Laura M. C.; Ces, Oscar
• Is Part Of: Lab on a chip. Volume 16:Issue 23(2016)
• Page Start: 4621
• Page End: 4627
• Publication Date: 2016-10-31
• Subjects: Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Combinatorial chemistry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 543.0813
• DOI: 10.1039/c6lc01219a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-0197

Abstract

Abstract : In this study, we introduce an optofluidic method for the rapid construction of large-area cell-sized droplet assemblies with user-defined re-writable two-dimensional patterns of functional droplets. Abstract : In this study, we introduce an optofluidic method for the rapid construction of large-area cell-sized droplet assemblies with user-defined, re-writable, two-dimensional patterns of functional droplets. Light responsive water-in-oil droplets capable of releasing fluorescent dye molecules upon exposure were generated and self-assembled into arrays inside a microfluidic device. This biological architecture was exploited by the scanning laser of a confocal microscope to 'write' user defined patterns of differentiated (fluorescent) droplets in a network of originally undifferentiated (non-fluorescent) droplets. As a result, long lasting images were produced on a droplet fabric with droplets acting as pixels of a biological monitor, which can be erased and re-written on-demand. Regio-specific light-induced droplet differentiation within a large population of droplets provides a new paradigm for the rapid construction of bio-synthetic systems with potential as tissue mimics and biological display materials.