Droplet merger microfluidic chip enables massively parallel single-cell genetic analysis

February 15, 2012 — Microfluidics company Dolomite and genetic technology developer GigaGen are collaborating on a novel Droplet Merger Chip for massively parallel single cell genetic analysis. The 15 x 22.5mm glass microfluidic chip merges 2 droplet streams consistently and quickly.

The chip can be used for DNA amplification, biochemical analysis, single cell analysis and high-throughput experimentation, among other applications. It avoids high-voltage electronic instrumentation for droplet merger under electrostatic forces. The Droplet Merger Chip squeezes droplets together in a carefully designed merging chamber. Future versions could be disposable.

Figure. Droplet merging of two individual droplet streams in the new Droplet Merger Chip, Dolomite and GigaGen.

GigaGen Inc. filed a patent application describing the chip design and its applications in the field of genetic analysis of cells. As part of a license agreement with GigaGen Inc., Dolomite will be offering the technology starting in 2012 to research users in academia and commercial users in a range of application areas. Dolomite’s partnership with Sphere Fluidics opens up a range of available surfactants, noted Dr. Andrew Lovatt, CEO of Dolomite, to optimize droplet behavior and stability under various temperature and biological conditions.

Also read: Microfluidics: $4B in 2016, thanks to life sciences

Dolomite’s Microfluidic Application Centre helps turn microfluidic application concepts into commercial products. For further information on Dolomite, visit www.dolomite-microfluidics.com.

GigaGen provides technology to clinical researchers and physicians, unlocking personalized genetic data and guiding disease treatments from routine blood draws. GigaGen has developed a patent-pending core technology for high-throughput measurement of dozens of genetic loci in millions of single cells in parallel. The technology combines advanced microfluidics, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics to genetically analyze millions of single cells per hour. For further information, visit www.gigagen.com.

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One thought on “Droplet merger microfluidic chip enables massively parallel single-cell genetic analysis”

  1. Shigui Zhu

    I am interested in the isolation of genes from single cells. The ideal platform would be I sort about a thousand of cells, then use microfluidics to convert mRNA into cDNA, then get some amplification, finally collect the PCR products. Could you suggest any microfluidics work for these? Thanks, Shigui

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