License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: August 23, 2022
Last Modified: December 30, 2023
Protocol Integer ID: 69014
Abstract
Protocol for loading syringes with small amounts of liquid sample for injection into droplet microfluidic devices.
Protocol materials
HFE 7500 Perfluorinated Oil
PE tubing Scientific CommoditiesCatalog #BB31695-PE/2
Preparing Syringes
Preparing Syringes
5m
5m
Take out a syringe
Equipment
Luer Lok Syringe (1mL)
NAME
BD Biosciences
BRAND
309628
SKU
Add 27g needle to the syringe
Equipment
Precisionglide Needle
NAME
BD
BRAND
301629
SKU
Use the needle and syringe to draw out approximately 200 µL of HFE 7500 Perfluorinated OilBecton Dickinson (BD)
Cut approximately 20 centimeters of PE tubing Becton Dickinson (BD)Catalog #BB31695-PE/2 with a razor and attach it to the needle tip.
Note
Cutting the tubing at an angle makes for easier insertion into microfluidic device downstream
Loading the Syringe
Loading the Syringe
5m
5m
Push the syringe so that the HFE7500 oil starts dripping at end of the tubing.
Note
Make sure to keep the syringe pointed up so that the air leaves the syringe first. There must be no air bubbles in the syringe or needle.
Put the tube into the solution that you would like to load, and slowly draw the syringe to pull the solution into the tubing and syringe.
Note
Keep the syringe upright the whole time so that the oil remains on the bottom of the syringe.
Ensure there are no air bubbles in the tubing - if there are, push syringe to clear the air bubbles then pull to draw again.
Interfacing with the Device
Interfacing with the Device
5m
5m
Attach the loaded syringes to the syringe pumps
Note
You may have to keep the syringe pump and syringe upright to keep the oil on the bottom and the solution on top. *This is only necessary for large volumes of sample solution*
Insert the other end of the tubing into the appropriate hole in the microfluidic device, using a tweezer or by hand.
Set the appropriate syringe diameter and pump rates into the syringe pump and press start. You may want to begin the pumps with a higher pump rate in order to get the syringes to pressurize more quickly.