Hydrophobic particle-coated aqueous droplet reaction chamber

摘要

The present invention describes a reaction chamber consisting of a reactant-containing aqueous solution, which may be in droplet form, coated with a hydrophobic powder such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, polyethylene or hydrocarbon-coated particles such as hydrocarbon-coated silica. The polymer particles are preferably less than 500 microns in size. Charcoal, metal powder or silica powder can be inserted inside or on the surface of the reaction chamber droplet. Also, a reaction chamber droplet containing a first reactant such as an enzyme-bound bead can be combined with a second reaction chamber droplet containing a second reactant to mix the reactants in the two chambers resulting in a subsequent reaction. A dialysis or filtration membrane can also be placed on a reaction chamber droplet for dialysis using the droplet chamber. Electrochemical reactions can be performed by placing the droplet chamber between two electrodes and producing current flow between them. A temperature-sensitive reaction such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) can also be performed by heating or cooling the droplet chamber. When the reaction chamber droplet is used for processes such as tissue culture, the use of this system reduces adhesion of the cells to the surfaces of a container.