Advancing Microfluidic Screening for Metabolic Engineering and Antibody Discovery
Summary: Harnessing Microfluidics and Biosensors for Efficient Molecule Production
This 2021 study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates how the Pico-Mine® platform is transforming high-throughput screening. Through a biosensor-in-microdroplet approach, researchers successfully streamlined molecule production across multiple cell libraries. This microfluidic-assisted workflow, compatible with various biosensors, reveals enhanced potential for discovering novel antibody and metabolic engineering targets.
Research highlights
- Study Title: Sorting for Secreted Molecule Production Using a Biosensor-In-Microdroplet Approach
- Authors: Emily K. Bowman, James M. Wagner, Shuo-Fu Yuan, Matthew Deaner, Claire M. Palmer, Simon D’Oelsnitz, Lauren Cordova, Xin Li, Frank F. Craig, Hal S. Alper
- Published In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106818118
Key findings
- Scalable Screening Methodology: This study used Pico-Mine®’s high-throughput droplet-based system to screen secretor cell libraries across various microbes, accelerating the discovery of productive targets in metabolic engineering.
- Cell and Library Agnostic Workflow: By coencapsulating cells with biosensors or using pico-injection, researchers optimized workflows across different cell types, from E. coli to Yarrowia lipolytica.
- Broad Utility in Antibody Discovery: The biosensor-based microdroplet approach offers a versatile screening option for antibody discovery and other high-value targets.
Additional Highlights
- Enhanced Throughput: Up to two million droplets, each encapsulating individual cells, were screened using Pico-Mine®, providing high-resolution data on molecule secretion.
- Flexible Applications: This method is adaptable for both industrial and research applications, including drug discovery, enzyme engineering, and metabolic optimization.
The Next Generation: Cyto-Mine® Chroma
Automate. Accelerate. Analyze millions of cells in a single day.
Think Cyto-Mine®, but supercharged, enabling multiplexing and greater assay flexibility to fit your needs. It means that you can examine vastly greater numbers of cells — and isolate the most valuable ones— with unparalleled precision.
Cyto-Mine® Chroma
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