DESIGN OF A MICRO-FLUIDIC DEVICE FOR THE ANALYSIS OF PROTEINS EXPRESSION VARIABILITY

Abstract

[EN] The recent progress in micro fabrication methods has provided an excellent tool and a change of paradigm on single cell research. Microfluidic devices allow unprecedented experimental approaches with robust control of the environmental variables, rapid prototyping, flexibility and affordable costs. In this study, the benefits of microfluidic technology are exploited in the field of synthetic biology. A bibliographic review of current technologies leads to the design of a device with the purpose of studying the effect of quorum sensing communication mechanism in protein expression variability. Experimental requirements are analysed in order to provide a functional tool for laboratory research. The main design challenge consist on the trapping mechanism for E. Coli cells due to a single cell volume of around 1.3 µm3 , which approaches the limits of manufacturable structures. The proposed device, named the microDISA device, is simulated to solve by means of finite elements methods the distribution profiles of velocities, pressures and concentrations to assure convenient operating conditions during experimentation. Simulation is also employed as a tool to iteratively improve the designed geometry and provide useful information of the device before prototyping.