Microfluidic devices have revolutionized chemical and biological studies through their ability to analyze fast reaction kinetics using minimal reagent volumes. Microfluidic devices prove especially useful tools to study condensed phase phenomena such as the initial interaction of two solutions or the rearrangement of molecules in solution. We have engineered microfluidic devices achieving optimal flow-focusing conditions such that the fastest mixing is obtained. Through the analysis of various nozzle widths and volumetric flow rates, we were able to determine the relationship between these variables and the width of the focused stream. Furthermore, the IR transparent devices can easily be interfaced with IR spectrometers. Interfacing these microfluidic devices with an IR spectrometer enables us to probe the conformational dynamics of protein folding by investigating modifications to the vibrational coupling within the peptide backbone. The design of these devices allows such events to be studied at early time scales with precision control.

Interfacing microfluidics with IR spectroscopy

245th National Meeting (2013)

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