Pico-Gen™ Patented biochips for reliable and consistent picodroplet production

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Contents

What is Pico-Gen™? ................................................................................................................... 2

Why should I choose Pico-Gen™? .............................................................................................. 2

Pico-Gen™ Specifications ........................................................................................................... 3

Pico-Gen™ Geometry and Size ................................................................................................... 3

Interfacing ................................................................................................................................................... 4

Example Results with Pico-Gen™ Biochips ................................................................................ 4

Effect of picodroplet size on growth of single mammalian cells ................................................................ 5

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry analysis of picodroplets containing the protein -

chymotrypsinogen A (22.5 M) .................................................................................................................. 5

References ................................................................................................................................. 6

Contact ....................................................................................................................................... 6

Accreditation .............................................................................................................................. 6

Sphere Fluidics Limited .............................................................................................................. 7

Other Important Information .................................................................................................... 7

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What is Pico-Gen™?

Sphere Fluidics’ Pico-Gen™ biochips are designed to facilitate the production of reliable and

consistent picodroplets, with volumes ranging from as small as 35 picolitres up to 1,000

picolitres. These biochips are polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices, especially

designed for producing picodroplets from a single aqueous source. Made from soft polymer,

our microfluidic biochips are compatible with a wide range of commercially available biochip

connectors.

All Pico-Gen™ Biochips have an oil inlet in-line filter, which minimizes potential blockage of

the flow focus nozzles. Simple and safe ‘Plug & Play’ fluidic interfaces facilitate easy

connection of a Pico-Gen™ Biochip to external liquid reservoirs and picodroplet collection

devices. All channel surfaces have fluorophilic properties that work perfectly with Sphere

Fluidics’ specialist chemical products (e.g. Pico-Surf™, Pico-Break™).

The biochips are suitable for a number of applications, including single or multiple cell

encapsulation. They are compatible with a wide range of cell types (e.g. bacteria, yeast, CHO

cells, Hybridomas, B-cells, T-cells) and molecules.

Why should I choose Pico-Gen™?

High picodroplet production rate.

Highly mono-dispersed and reproducible picodroplets.

Optimal picodroplet range is 35 picolitres up to 1,000 picolitres.

Long residence time on biochip for easy visualisation.

Simple and safe ‘Plug & Play’ fluidic interface.

Wide range of sizes and designs available.

Excellent transparency for easy picodroplet visualisation.

Fluorophilic channel surface coating for improved performance.

Oil inlet in-line filter minimizes flow focus nozzle blockage.

Quick and reliable fluidic connection.

Single flow focus geometry.

Larger picodroplet sizes allow for longer incubation times.

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Pico-Gen™ Specifications

Product Code M001 M002 M003 M004

Slide Size (Length x Width x Thickness, mm)

75 x 25 x 1

PDMS Block Size (Length x Width x Thickness, mm)

15 x 16 x 4

Flow Focus Nozzle (a x b, m) 40 x 40 60 x 60 80 x 80 40 x 40

Picodroplet Diameter Range Ø 40 - 75 µm Ø 65 - 100 µm Ø 95 - 125 µm Ø 40 - 75 µm

Picodroplet Volume Range 35 - 220 pL 150 - 550 pL 500 – 1,000 pL 35 - 220 pL

Channel Surface Property Hydrophobic

Biochip Format 1 oil inlet, 1 aqueous inlet, 1 picodroplet outlet

In-line Filter 1 filter at oil inlet 2 inlet filters

Inlet/Outlet Hole Diameter 1,000 µm

Note: Sphere Fluidics will also consider custom-designing and production of small batches of

“non-standard” PDMS chips, which are not shown in this Product Data Sheet. If that is of

interest, please feel free to contact us for more information at:

Product.Orders@spherefluidics.com.

Pico-Gen™ Geometry and Size

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Interfacing

Sphere Fluidics’ biochips can be connected to external pumps via a simple ‘Plug & Play’ fluidic

interface consisting of, for example, 50 cm long PE tubing (OD 1.09 mm and ID 0.38 mm) and

a Luer Lock adaptor with a silicone sleeve connection. An example Fluidic Connector would

have 3 three assembled fluidic interfaces and is shown below. The User will have to make a

connector that suits their own needs.

Example Results with Pico-Gen™ Biochips

The Pico-Gen™ Biochips have been used in various applications, including single cell or

molecule encapsulation.

The resulting emulsion produced in Pico-Gen™ Biochips can be stored or incubated either in

a storage biochip or off-biochip (e.g. in micro-centrifuge tube or syringe).

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Some example applications of picodroplets generated with Pico-Gen™ Biochips are shown

below.

Encapsulation and growth of mammalian cells in various picodroplet volumes

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry analysis of picodroplets

containing the protein -chymotrypsinogen A (22.5 M)

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

m/z1000 2000 3000 4000

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 2498 (4.195) Sm (Mn, 50x3.00)1

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

m/z1000 2000 3000 4000

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 2495 (4.190) Sm (Mn, 50x3.00)1

A: 25677.11±4.51

2855

28271366

23621697

A83211

483435804655

4131 4926

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

m/z1000 2000 3000 4000

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 2496 (4.192) Sm (Mn, 50x3.00)1

A: 25666.09±2.90

2854

2851

284912001532 2565

1698

A83210

48943212 47863666

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

m/z1000 2000 3000 4000

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 2497 (4.193) Sm (Mn, 50x3.00)1

A: 25696.68±0.11

2855

2848

1366 28281786 2458

A83213

41863775 4294 4957

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

m/z1000 2000 3000 4000

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 2498 (4.195) Sm (Mn, 50x3.00)1

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1

Scan2450 2460 2470 2480 2490 2500 2510 2520

%

0

100

XLI 20120628 50 uM alpha CTG A droplet XL 01 99 1 TOF MS ES+ TIC

6.65e3

25252450 2464

2457

247125172502

2478 249624832489

2509

1

2

3

4 5

6

7

8

9

5 Scan 2494 6 Scan 2495

7 Scan 2496 8 Scan 2497 9 Scan 2498

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References

1. S. Abalde-Cela, B. Auguié, M. Fischlechner, W. T.S.Huck, R. A. Alvarez-Puebla, L. M. Liz-Marzán & C. Abell (2011). Microdroplet fabrication of silver-agarose nanocomposite beads for SERS optical accumulation. Soft Matter. 7: 1321-1325.

2. S. Ma, J. Thiele, X. Liu, Y. Bai, C. Abell, W. T. S. Huck (2012). Fabrication of microgel particles with complex shape via selective polymerization of aqueous two-phase systems. Small. 8: 2356-2360.

3. J. Pan, A. L. Stephenson, E. Kazamia, W. T. S. Huck, J. S. Dennis, A. G. Smith & C. Abell (2011). Quantitative tracking of the growth of individual algal cells in microdroplet compartments. Integr. Biol. 3: 1043-1051.

4. N. Wu, F. Courtois, R. Surjadi, J. Oakeshott, T. S. Peat, C. J. Easton, C. Abell & Y. Zhu (2011). Enzyme synthesis and activity assay in microfluidic droplets on a chip. Eng. Life. Sci. 11: 157-164.

5. J. Zhang, R. J. Coulston, S. T. Jones, J. Geng, O. A. Scherman & C. Abell (2012). One-step fabrication of supramolecular microcapsules from microfluidic droplets. Science. 335: 690-694.

Contact

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email us at:

Support@spherefluidics.com

Please mention ‘Pico-Gen™’ in the subject line.

Accreditation

Sphere Fluidics is an ISO9001:2015 accredited company for the provision of Life Sciences

products and services.

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Sphere Fluidics Limited

Sphere Fluidics (SF) is an established Life Science Tools company providing unique

collaborative services and products for single cell analysis, engineering and isolation. The

Company has patented novel biochip systems, including specialist chemicals, which

automatically process millions of miniaturised tests in picodroplets (i.e. small compartments

of a picolitre volume). The technology enables the rapid screening and characterisation of

single cells and their products in the search for unique and highly valuable variants among

huge cell populations. Sphere Fluidics’ versatile technologies assists the discovery and

development of new biopharmaceuticals, enzymes, cell therapies and innovative ways to

study diseases, such as cancer, auto-immune disorders and infectious diseases, while saving

time and reducing costs.

For more information please visit: www.spherefluidics.com.

Pico-Gen™, Pico-Surf™ and Pico-Break™ are trademarks of Sphere Fluidics Limited.

Other Important Information

"NOT FOR SALE OR USE OR OFFER FOR SALE WITHIN THE USA OR FOR IMPORT INTO THE

USA." No license or right is granted to use this product within the United States or for any

use not contemplated by the product label. Liability for patent infringement may result from

use or sale of this product within the United States.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: SPHERE FLUIDICS MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS

OR IMPLIED, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OF NON-

INFRINGEMENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OR OTHERWISE, THAT

EXTEND BEYOND THE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS LABEL. No agent of Sphere Fluidics is

authorized to make any warranties or representations beyond those contained herein or to

modify the warranties or restrictions contained herein. Sphere Fluidics disclaims any liability

whatsoever for special, incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of this

product.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE USER OR BUYER FOR ANY AND

ALL LOSSES, INJURIES OR DAMAGES RESULTING FOR THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT, WHETHER

IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT

EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID, OR AT SPHERE FLUIDICS’ ELECTION, THE REPLACEMENT

OF PRODUCT.

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www.spherefluidics.com

Sphere Fluidics Limited Sphere Fluidics Inc. The Jonas Webb Building PO Box 9509 Babraham Research Campus Trenton Cambridge NJ08650 Cambridgeshire USA CB22 3AT United Kingdom Tel: +44 1223 802400 Tel: +1 888 258 0226