The living cell is a complex, crowded system comprised of distinct compartments, each of which house unique solution conditions. The non-ideal solution dynamics of these environments resulting from the high concentration of biological macromolecules can be modeled using segregative and associative aqueous phase separation, independent from the additional complexity of <i>in vivo</i> systems. By dispersing these solutions within a continuous oil phase, a large number of individual phase-separated aqueous emulsion droplets are produced. In this research, aqueous phase-separated water-in-oil emulsion droplets containing both neutral polymer phase separation utilizing poly(ethylene glycol) and dextran, as well as complex coacervation of protamine sulfate have been incorporated into a single system using a fluorinated oil-based continuous phase. Microfluidic production of these droplets enables controllable incorporation of individual polymer solutions, leading to phase-separated systems ranging in composition across the phase diagram. This allows for control over the partitioning behavior of various biological molecules and probes within the droplets, as well as the potential encapsulation of bio-relevant reactions.

Microfluidic production of biomimetic water-in-oil emulsion droplets utilizing aqueous phase separation

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.