An ATPS‐based droplet microfluidic device for protein partitioning.
Saved in:
| Title: | An ATPS‐based droplet microfluidic device for protein partitioning. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Moreno‐Sibaja, Federico1 (AUTHOR), Hernández‐Cid, David2 (AUTHOR), Ceballos‐Medina, Javier3,4 (AUTHOR), Cerón‐Torres, Daniel Abirán5 (AUTHOR), Reyes‐Avendaño, Jorge Antonio5 (AUTHOR), Gallo‐Villanueva, Roberto Carlos5 (AUTHOR), Pérez‐Gonzalez, Victor Hugo5 (AUTHOR), Mata‐Gómez, Marco Arnulfo5 (AUTHOR) mmatag@tec.mx |
| Source: | Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. Jul2026, Vol. 101 Issue 7, p1324-1331. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Microfluidic devices, Protein fractionation, Microencapsulation, Fluorescent proteins, Polyethylene glycol, Liquid-liquid extraction, Microfluidics |
| Abstract: | Background: Droplet microfluidics uses immiscible phases to manipulate discrete volumes inside microchannels, and it is applied in synthesis of biomolecules, encapsulation, drug delivery and cell analysis. The use of aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPS) is a strategy for the fractionation of biomolecules. Here, we combined both techniques to fabricate a microfluidic device based on a polymer–salt ATPS, composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 and phosphate salt buffer (PO4), capable of generating droplets and partitioning red fluorescent protein (RFP), used as a model of study. Partition behavior, droplet size and frequency were characterized, employing a polydimethylsiloxane microdevice for this purpose. Results: The microdevice exhibited either a two‐phase or droplet behavior in the absence and presence of RFP. In both scenarios, the model protein was partitioned towards the salt‐rich phase (PO4), as in traditional ATPS. In addition, by controlling fluid velocity, different regimes of droplet formation were observed, i.e. dripping and jetting. RFP was partitioned and encapsulated in both regimes. The microdevices exhibited a partition coefficient, Kp, of 0.34 ± 0.016, which is comparable with that obtained in traditional systems (Kp = 0.39 ± 0.012). Droplet size diminished as Ca, μU/σ, increased. Droplet breakup time has the same effect when increasing velocity ratio, while frequency of droplet formation increased. COMSOL computational simulations were performed, exhibiting good agreement with experimental results. Conclusion: The microfluidic device proved to be a useful platform to generate droplets by using polymer PEG–salt ATPS under controlled conditions. Besides, it allowed partitioning and encapsulation of the model protein. This microfluidic platform presents a viable alternative for protein separation and encapsulation, which can further support high‐value‐biomolecule separation. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194753557 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: An ATPS‐based droplet microfluidic device for protein partitioning. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moreno‐Sibaja%2C+Federico%22">Moreno‐Sibaja, Federico</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hernández‐Cid%2C+David%22">Hernández‐Cid, David</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ceballos‐Medina%2C+Javier%22">Ceballos‐Medina, Javier</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cerón‐Torres%2C+Daniel+Abirán%22">Cerón‐Torres, Daniel Abirán</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reyes‐Avendaño%2C+Jorge+Antonio%22">Reyes‐Avendaño, Jorge Antonio</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gallo‐Villanueva%2C+Roberto+Carlos%22">Gallo‐Villanueva, Roberto Carlos</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pérez‐Gonzalez%2C+Victor+Hugo%22">Pérez‐Gonzalez, Victor Hugo</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mata‐Gómez%2C+Marco+Arnulfo%22">Mata‐Gómez, Marco Arnulfo</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> mmatag@tec.mx</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Chemical+Technology+%26+Biotechnology%22">Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology</searchLink>. Jul2026, Vol. 101 Issue 7, p1324-1331. 8p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microfluidic+devices%22">Microfluidic devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Protein+fractionation%22">Protein fractionation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microencapsulation%22">Microencapsulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluorescent+proteins%22">Fluorescent proteins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polyethylene+glycol%22">Polyethylene glycol</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Liquid-liquid+extraction%22">Liquid-liquid extraction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microfluidics%22">Microfluidics</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background: Droplet microfluidics uses immiscible phases to manipulate discrete volumes inside microchannels, and it is applied in synthesis of biomolecules, encapsulation, drug delivery and cell analysis. The use of aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPS) is a strategy for the fractionation of biomolecules. Here, we combined both techniques to fabricate a microfluidic device based on a polymer–salt ATPS, composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 8000 and phosphate salt buffer (PO4), capable of generating droplets and partitioning red fluorescent protein (RFP), used as a model of study. Partition behavior, droplet size and frequency were characterized, employing a polydimethylsiloxane microdevice for this purpose. Results: The microdevice exhibited either a two‐phase or droplet behavior in the absence and presence of RFP. In both scenarios, the model protein was partitioned towards the salt‐rich phase (PO4), as in traditional ATPS. In addition, by controlling fluid velocity, different regimes of droplet formation were observed, i.e. dripping and jetting. RFP was partitioned and encapsulated in both regimes. The microdevices exhibited a partition coefficient, Kp, of 0.34 ± 0.016, which is comparable with that obtained in traditional systems (Kp = 0.39 ± 0.012). Droplet size diminished as Ca, μU/σ, increased. Droplet breakup time has the same effect when increasing velocity ratio, while frequency of droplet formation increased. COMSOL computational simulations were performed, exhibiting good agreement with experimental results. Conclusion: The microfluidic device proved to be a useful platform to generate droplets by using polymer PEG–salt ATPS under controlled conditions. Besides, it allowed partitioning and encapsulation of the model protein. This microfluidic platform presents a viable alternative for protein separation and encapsulation, which can further support high‐value‐biomolecule separation. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194753557 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/jctb.7816 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1324 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Microfluidic devices Type: general – SubjectFull: Protein fractionation Type: general – SubjectFull: Microencapsulation Type: general – SubjectFull: Fluorescent proteins Type: general – SubjectFull: Polyethylene glycol Type: general – SubjectFull: Liquid-liquid extraction Type: general – SubjectFull: Microfluidics Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: An ATPS‐based droplet microfluidic device for protein partitioning. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Moreno‐Sibaja, Federico – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hernández‐Cid, David – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ceballos‐Medina, Javier – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cerón‐Torres, Daniel Abirán – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Reyes‐Avendaño, Jorge Antonio – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gallo‐Villanueva, Roberto Carlos – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pérez‐Gonzalez, Victor Hugo – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mata‐Gómez, Marco Arnulfo IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02682575 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 101 – Type: issue Value: 7 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |