One-step photostructuring of multiple hydrogel arrays for compartmentalized enzyme reactions in microfluidic devices

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

We present a technique for the simultaneous photostructuring of hydrogels on the mu m scale with different compositions on one substrate. The existing methods (e.g. spin-coating of the hydrogel precursor and application of simple moulds or spacers) have less potential to integrate spatially separated functional hydrogel dots as needed for the fabrication of complex polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on-glass microfluidic chips. Here, we report a method for the fast production of precisely placed hydrogel structures with adjustable height (<= 80 mu m) and width (<= 500 mu m) on glass substrates utilizing black polyoxymethylene moulds. The integration of several chambers for different hydrogel precursor solutions in one mould allows the simultaneous photopolymerization of hydrogels with different compositions. To visualize the difference in composition of the hydrogel dots and to demonstrate the precision in structuring, various quantum dots were added to the hydrogel precursor solutions and physically entrapped during the photopolymerization. To show the high potential of our photostructuring method, a microfluidic double-chamber reactor was designed and the variability in the performance of tri-enzymatic cascade reactions with optionally spatially separated or non-separated enzymes beta-galactosidase, glucose oxidase, and horseradish peroxidase was visualized.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2141-2155
Number of pages15
JournalReaction chemistry & engineering
Volume4
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85075215847
WOS 000498642100007
ORCID /0000-0002-4531-691X/work/148607601

Keywords

Keywords

  • Immobilization, Microstructures, Fabrication, Biocatalysis, Transaminase, Polymersomes, Microreactor, Systems, Single, Amines