Chemical reactions in microdroplets by electrostatic manipulation of droplets in liquid media

Abstract

A microchemical reaction method involving microdroplets is proposed. Microdroplets are formed in a chemically stable medium on electric panel devices. These devices are substrates which have electrode arrays or electrode dots, and its surfaces are coated by an insulating film (such as Teflon or polypropylene) to prevent discharge and electrolysis of solutions. Microdroplets can be separately manipulated by a traveling electric field, which arises on applying a sequential voltage to the electrodes. Droplets moved smoothly at 1 Hz and voltage 400 V_0-p. Reagents were then put in droplets that were collided and coalesced, resulting in chemical reactions that included alkalization of phenolphthalein and the luciferin–luciferase reaction.