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High-Throughput Protein Crystallization in an Integrated Droplet-Based Microfluidic Platform

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Advanced Methods in Structural Biology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2652))

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Abstract

We present an integrated droplet-based microfluidic platform for high-throughput protein crystallization experimentation. The device consists of commercially available micro-junctions and PFA tubing assembled for different functions: droplet generation, incubation, and observation. Herein, we describe a complete methodology to generate hundreds of droplets with controlled properties (i.e., size, generation frequency, and composition). Therefore, multiple trials can be carried out under controlled experimental conditions for the screening and optimization of protein crystallization conditions.

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Acknowledgments

J. F. acknowledges funding from CEFT under FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) through a postdoctoral scholarship. This work was financially supported by: HealthyWaters (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000069), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); and LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/00532/2020 and UIDP/00532/2020 (CEFT), UIDB/00511/2020 and UIDP/00511/2020 (LEPABE), funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEFT – Transport Phenomena Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Joana Ferreira

  2. ALiCE – Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Joana Ferreira & Filipa Castro

  3. LEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Filipa Castro

Authors
  1. Joana Ferreira
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  2. Filipa Castro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Filipa Castro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade da Beira Interior, CICS-UBI, Covilhã, Portugal

    Ângela Sousa

  2. University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

    Luis Passarinha

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© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

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Ferreira, J., Castro, F. (2023). High-Throughput Protein Crystallization in an Integrated Droplet-Based Microfluidic Platform. In: Sousa, Â., Passarinha, L. (eds) Advanced Methods in Structural Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2652. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3147-8_20

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3146-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3147-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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