Fig. 4: DEs can be trapped on chip and subjected to continuous modulation of the external environment.
From: Elastin-like polypeptide coacervates as reversibly triggerable compartments for synthetic cells
a Diagram illustrating the microfluidic device, which incorporates a dial-a-wave (DAW) junction for selective feeding and U-shaped hydrodynamic traps for DE containment. b Working principle of the DAW junction. The top image depicts a ‘switch-off’ trigger when higher pressure is applied at inlet 2 (PBS), while the bottom image depicts the “switch-on” trigger allowing the feed from inlet 1 (containing 10 µM FITC in PBS) to flow into the main channel containing the traps. c Trapping process for DEs, with the top panel showing a DE entering and being confined within the trap, whereas the bottom panel demonstrates that once a trap is filled, the incoming DE bypasses the filled trap. White arrows indicate the DE trajectories. d–f Computational simulation results for the fluid flow in microfluidic chip. d The fluid velocity cloud chart within the trap array. e Fluid velocity distribution along the longitudinal axis of the traps. f Fluid velocity distribution along the vertical axis of the traps.
