LabAutomation 2006 - SLAS

MP41
Ulrike Honisch
Greiner Bio-One
Frickenhausen, Germany
Ulrike.Honisch@gbo.com
Where Laboratory Technologies Emerge and Merge
Co-Author(s)
Norbert Gottschlich
Heinrich Jehle
Greiner Bio-One
Advanced High-Throughput Platforms for Protein Crystallography
In recent years, the area of protein crystallization has been subject to fundamental developments. The demand for sophisticated and
diversified platforms for automated high-throughput crystallography, especially with regard to optical properties, multiple screening
capabilities, suitability for small sample volumes and surface tension lowering substances, has resulted in the creation of highly specialized,
multi-faceted devices.
Microplates with low birefringent background (LBR plates) allow a more effective drop inspection with polarized light. Hydrophobic plate
surfaces effectively prevent the deformation of crystallization drops, even when surface tension-reducing substances such as detergents or
ethanol are contained within. Thus, flat bottom crystallization plates become convenient even for the crystallization of membrane proteins.
As an alternative to classical microplates, plastic microstructured devices offer the possibility to apply a totally different technique to vapor
diffusion, namely liquid-liquid diffusion. This can be achieved in a high throughput manner combined with the benefits of low protein and
reagent consumption, ease of handling and time conservation. Further advantages of plastic microstructured devices are a broad selection
of available raw materials and surface treatments as well as reasonable costs of manufacture.
MP42
Matthew Hulvey
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, Missouri
hulveymk@slu.edu
Co-Author
R. Scott Martin
Saint Louis University
Development of a Microchip-based Endothelium Mimic
This talk will cover methods used to create an endothelium mimic in a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microfluidic device. The creation of
this endothelium mimic is an initial step towards the creation of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) mimic. The proposed BBB mimic is to involve a
three-dimensional fluidic device that contains a polycarbonate membrane coated with endothelial cells to mimic the tight cellular junctions
found at the BBB. The primary focus of this poster will involve the work done thus far to achieve this BBB mimic, including chip fabrication,
assembly, and characterization. Initial work involved the incorporation of microvalves into the fluidic device. These microvalves were used
to control the path of fluid flow in the microchip, so as to selectively coat channels with endothelial cells. The use of these valves as well as
principles regarding their operation will be discussed. Also included will be a discussion of incorporating a polycarbonate membrane into
the fluidic device. Specifically, this work involves placement of the membrane between fluidic layers and characterization of the membrane
as a tool for transport studies. Thus far, fluorescence microscopy and diaminofluorescein have been used to evaluate the transport of nitric
oxide at the membrane/fluidic channel intersection. Finally, we will describe the use of alternative methods such as the use of laser ablation,
as opposed to soft lithography, to create fluidic channels for microvalving applications.
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