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Synthesis of magnetic hydrogel microparticles for bioassays and tweezer manipulation in microwells

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Abstract

We report new methods for the synthesis and efficient manipulation of magnetic hydrogel microparticles. Through the development of a high-pH rinsing scheme, we achieve a simple and flexible synthesis strategy for the generation of geometrically and chemically complex magnetic microgels, eliminating the need for perfusion streams and other features that limit production rates and particle complexity. We further demonstrate the ability to combine magnetic functionality with both coding and target capture motifs within the same barcoded particle for enhanced applications in microRNA detection. We use a magnetic tweezer to assist in the positioning of particles in substrate-patterned microwells, and also for selective retrieval of particles. The magnetic particle manipulations and the substrate-mediated patterning techniques described in this work hold great potential for the development of a versatile platform for nanoliter-scale reactions with multifunctional hydrogel microparticles.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Singapore-MIT Alliance and NSF grants DMR-100614 and DMR-1006147.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Su Kyung Suh, Stephen C. Chapin, T. Alan Hatton & Patrick S. Doyle

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  1. Su Kyung Suh
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  2. Stephen C. Chapin
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  3. T. Alan Hatton
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  4. Patrick S. Doyle
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Correspondence to Patrick S. Doyle.

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Suh, S.K., Chapin, S.C., Hatton, T.A. et al. Synthesis of magnetic hydrogel microparticles for bioassays and tweezer manipulation in microwells. Microfluid Nanofluid 13, 665–674 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-012-0977-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-012-0977-8

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