W0210

About Small Streams and Shiny Rocks: Macromolecular Crystal Growth in Microfluidics. Mark van der Woerd¹, Darren Ferree¹, Scott Spearing³, Lisa Monaco³, Josh Molho², Michael Spaid², Mike Brasseur², ¹Universities Space Research Association, 4950 Corporate Dr. Suite 100, Huntsville, AL 35805, ²Caliper Technologies Corp, 605 Fairchild Dr, Mountain View, CA 94043, ³Morgan Research, 4811A Bradford Dr., Huntsville, AL 35805.

We are developing a novel technique with which we have grown diffraction quality protein crystals in very small volumes, utilizing chip-based, microfluidic (“LabChip(”) technology. With this technology volumes smaller than achievable with any laboratory pipette can be dispensed with high accuracy. We have performed a feasibility study in which we crystallized several proteins with the aid of a LabChip® device. The protein crystals are of excellent quality as shown by X-ray diffraction.

The advantages of this new technology include improved accuracy of dispensing for small volumes, complete mixing of solution constituents without bubble formation, highly repeatable recipe and growth condition replication, and easy automation of the method.

We have designed a first LabChip( device specifically for protein crystallization in batch mode and can reliably dispense and mix from a range of solution constituents. We are currently testing this design. Upon completion additional crystallization techniques, such as vapor diffusion and liquid-liquid diffusion will be accommodated.

Macromolecular crystallization using microfluidic technology is envisioned as a fully automated system, which will use the ‘tele-science’ concept of remote operation and will be developed into a research facility aboard the International Space Station.