Droplet Based Microfluidics By Shear-Driven Microemulsions

Droplet based microfluidics presents a platform with features that enable both novel experimental methods and solutions to traditional challenges for biological and chemical analyses. With the ability to accommodate a wide array of materials ranging from gases, oils, and aqueous solutions to organic solvents, it has been proven as a versatile and robust system for a diverse field of bioengineering applications. Using immiscible phases to discretize continuous fluid streams, individual nano- to femtoliter-sized reactors can be generated at rates up to thousands per seconds. Particles with extremely narrow size distribution can be created while controllably encapsulating cells, proteins and nanoparticles. In addition to the unique properties offered by the platform, a variety of manipulation techniques have been developed. This chapter will highlight the various techniques and methods required to carry out the basic droplet microfluidic operations.