REACTIONS WITHIN MICROFLUIDIC CHANNELS

摘要

The present invention generally relates to microfluidics and, in particular, to microfluidic systems useful for determining reactions. In one aspect, two or more fluids are introduced into a microfluidic channel, and are allowed to come into contact. At or near the interface between the fluids, reactants contained within the fluids may react. By determining the reaction rate between the reactants with respect to position within the microfluidic channel, information about the reaction between the reactants can be obtained. The reaction rate may be determined, for instance, by measuring the rate of reaction at two or more points within the channel. In some cases, e.g., if the reaction rate can be determined optically or visually, the channel may be imaged and the image analyzed to determine the reaction rate. As a non-limiting example of a reaction, the reactants may be an enzyme and a substrate, and by determining reaction rates within the channel, Michaelis-Menten kinetics (or other reaction kinetics) of the enzymatic reaction may be determined. It should be understood, however, that other reactions besides Michaelis-Menten kinetics and/or enzymatic reactions may also be determined, including other catalytic or chemical reactions, and the like. The reaction profiles may be linear or non-linear, e.g., second order, third order, etc.